Professional Learning Opportunities

One of the main functions of the Erie Catt Teacher Center is to provide professional learning opportunities for educators (teachers, teaching assistants, teacher aides, and all other school-related professionals). ECTC sponsors classes to support State educational initiatives and partners with other Centers to extend opportunities.

Responsibilities

Teachers who wish to take an ECTC course must register online and complete the registration process.
Attend and complete all requirements for classes in which you have successfully enrolled.
Upon completing the course, participants are required to complete our Course Evaluation Form.
If you are unable to participate in a course after you've registered, you must notify ECTC two weeks prior by contacting Joe Winiecki at 716-805-3125, jwiniecki@e2ccb.org, or Laura Hamberger, lhamberger@e2ccb.org at 716-805-3113.
Erie-Catt Teacher Center understands that as educators and learners in ECTC courses, we are committed to the ethical use of technology to support our learning objectives and professional growth. Technology can be a valuable tool for generating ideas, enhancing discussions, and providing insights, but its use should always align with the principles of academic integrity, respect, and fairness.

Click to register -> Summer 2026 Course Registration Form Link .

Our Summer Course Registration will OPEN on June 1st, 2026. Summer Session 1 Registration ENDS on June 19th, 2026. Registration Fees are due the week of June 22nd, 2026

Erie-Catt Teacher Center Registration Policy

Registration Fee Policy

A Registration Fee of $1 per hour is charged for each Course
(Example: Greatest ECTC Course Ever - 15 hours: Registration Fee = $15)

Please follow the policy below to ensure a smooth registration process:

Complete one online registration form for each course you would like to register for (i.e., if you register for two courses, please complete two registration forms).
Make payment to E2CC BOCES (check or money order) by the payment due date below - one check for each course (this will enable us to return checks if a course does not run or you would like to drop out of a course before the withdrawal deadline). If the name on the check does not match your registration name, please add a note with the payment. Please write the course name on the memo line. Follow this procedure for each course you register for.
Send your payment via US Mail to: Erie-Catt Teacher Center, c/o Joe Winiecki, 3000 Schoolview Road, Eden, NY 14057
- OR -
Inter-School Mail to: Erie-Catt Teacher Center, Eden GLP, c/o Joe Winiecki
Confirmation - After you register online, you will receive an email that we received your registration (at the email address indicated on the registration form(s) you submitted). Once the Erie-Catt Teacher Center receives your payment (check or money order), we will confirm your course participation to the email address you provided. We will send a course reminder email a week or two before the course start date.
Refunds - Registration refunds will be issued in the following ways: Payment(s) will be returned, or a refund will be sent if the course fails to run. Payment(s) will be returned or a refund issued if you request to withdraw from the course at least 2 weeks before the start date. No Refund will be given if you do not complete the course. No refund will be issued if you withdraw within 2 weeks of the course start date. Regarding additional sections: Payment(s) will be returned if you are on a waiting list and additional sections of the course are not scheduled. Once additional dates are scheduled for the additional section, you will have additional time to reply to express your desire to attend or withdraw.

As always, contact the Center if you have questions.

Course Registration Information:

Individuals may register for as many courses as they like. Individuals will be notified of the status of their course registration(s). Individuals should complete one form for each class they would like to register for and make payment before the deadline date. Multiple course registrations cannot be put on a single form. Contact the Center if you have questions: 716-805-3125 or email jwiniecki@e2ccb.org.

Most of the courses are run through Google Classroom (or similar platforms). If a course is run in Google Classroom, it is imperative to use a "personal" Google Account (not a school account). The instructors generally release sections of the course every 4-7 days, allowing participants to complete the coursework on their own schedule. Some assignments have deadlines, and our instructors understand that most of our participants have at least one full-time job. If a participant can't complete an assignment by the deadline, they can request a short extension.

CTLE Certificates: Erie-Catt will send a hard copy of a CTLE Certificate to participants (in our TC Consortium) who complete courses in a timely fashion. Our internal process typically takes between 10 days and two weeks. Certificates are sent via inter-school mail and the US mail. Delivery times may vary from a few days to over a week. We appreciate your patience with our process.

If you are interested in a course and your District requires prior approval, please obtain it now. Obtaining prior approval now will reduce registration issues. In some situations, educators register and drop courses because their District does not approve them, or does not approve them in a timely fashion. We appreciate your consideration of this matter.

Erie-Catt Teacher Center understands that as educators and learners in ECTC courses, we are committed to the ethical use of technology to support our learning objectives and professional growth. Technology can be a valuable tool for generating ideas, enhancing discussions, and providing insights, but its use should always align with the principles of academic integrity, respect, and fairness.

Summer 2026 ECTC Courses

Session 1

July 1, 2026 - July 21, 2026

PAYMENT DEADLINE for Summer Session 1 is June 22nd, 2026

ADHD in the Classroom: Strategies from a Teacher Who Has It

Erika Austin 15 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

This three-week course offers educators a practical, strengths-based approach to supporting students with ADHD, designed and taught through the dual lens of classroom experience and lived understanding. Rather than focusing on deficit models or compliance-based interventions, participants will explore how ADHD actually shows up in learning, behavior, motivation, and executive functioning in real classrooms. Through case studies, reflective practice, and immediately applicable strategies, teachers will learn how to design instruction, routines, and assessments that support attention, regulation, and engagement without lowering expectations or increasing workload. The course emphasizes realistic tools that benefit all learners while intentionally supporting students with ADHD. Participants will leave with concrete strategies for classroom structure, task design, movement integration, and communication, along with a deeper understanding of how to create learning environments where neurodivergent students can thrive.

Autism Awareness

Beth Funigiello 15 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

In 2023, the CDC determined that 1:36 individuals are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. While there is no cure for Autism, interventions and support provided within the school and the home can greatly reduce symptoms. This course is designed to bring awareness and information to best support our students with Autism.

Creating Genius Hour in the Elementary Classroom

Melissa Hartnett 12 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

Have you ever wanted to implement Genius Hour in your elementary classroom but have no idea where to begin? Implementing activities like these can be a wonderful experience for students and teachers; however, it can be very difficult for an elementary classroom. This course will introduce you to Genius Hour and teach you the basics of where to begin. Participants will read articles and watch videos on Genius Hour. They will then take what they have learned and create their own lesson/activity to implement into their classroom.

**Please be sure you have a Google account because this class will use Google Classroom.

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High - Book Study

Mykal Karl 15 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

This asynchronous, 15-hour book study supports educators in developing the skills, language, and emotional awareness needed to navigate high-stakes conversations in educational settings. Drawing from Crucial Conversations, participants examine how fear, power dynamics, emotional labor, and institutional culture influence communication with students, colleagues, families, and leadership. Through structured reading, guided reflection, and applied practice, educators learn how to stay grounded, speak with clarity, and foster psychological safety—especially when conversations involve conflict, accountability, feedback, or deeply held beliefs. The course emphasizes dialogue over debate, curiosity over certainty, and sustainable communication practices that reduce burnout and strengthen professional relationships. Due to the extremely late NYS budget, we do not have copies of this book for loan. Participants must obtain a copy of the book for this course.

Deliberate Optimism-Reclaiming the Joy in Education - Book Study

Kathy Halter 15 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

Attitude can make all the difference. When educators choose optimism―even in the face of the toughest challenges―they foster a school culture where students and staff feel safe, engaged, productive, and able to enjoy the healthy interactions that lead to real change. This book features many discussions and actions we can take now in our lives and in the classroom. There is a chapter on mental health and QR codes leading to additional resources, such as self-assessments and videos. Deliberate Optimism demonstrates how changing your mindset can help you rediscover your motivation―and create a school environment bound for success. This 15-hour workshop will leave you inspired and proud to be an educator. The entire workshop will be completed online. The ECTC has a limited number of course books for loan–and yes–you may want to buy yourself or a friend a copy–it is a keeper!

Engagement that Sticks - Embedding Games into Instruction

Jennifer Kibler 15 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

Engagement That Sticks is an online self-paced course for educators who want to use games to boost student engagement. Participants will explore a TED Talk, articles, and a variety of movement, focus, and team-building activities to fit their classrooms. Through hands-on exploration, reflection, and peer feedback, teachers will create a personalized toolkit of ready-to-use games. By the end, educators will have practical strategies to energize lessons, build classroom culture, and improve student engagement.

Podcast EDU-Stars: Learning From Voices in Education

Mykal Karl 15 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

This asynchronous, 15-hour podcast-based professional learning course invites educators to engage deeply with educator-led conversations that illuminate the instructional, emotional, relational, and systemic realities of teaching today. Through curated podcast episodes, structured reflection, and application-based activities, participants will explore how educators across roles and contexts make sense of their work, navigate complexity, and sustain themselves in the profession. Much like listening in on a professional dialogue, this course positions podcasts as a legitimate and powerful form of professional learning—one that honors voice, lived experience, and reflective practice. Each section centers on a featured education podcast and includes guided listening prompts designed to support self-awareness, instructional clarity, and professional renewal. The course concludes with participant-led exploration, encouraging educators to discover, evaluate, and share podcast resources aligned with their own interests, roles, and needs.

Upworthy: Good People — Stories of Quiet Courage, Care, and Hope - Book Study

Mykal Karl 15 Hours Online July 1 - July 21, 2026

This asynchronous, 15-hour book study invites educators to engage with Good People, a collection of real-world stories that highlight everyday acts of kindness, courage, care, and moral imagination. Rather than focusing on extraordinary heroes, this course centers on ordinary people responding humanely in difficult circumstances—a framing that deeply resonates with the lived experience of educators. Through structured reading, guided reflection, and application-based activities, participants explore how goodness shows up quietly in schools, communities, and relationships. The course supports educators in reconnecting with purpose, countering cynicism, and noticing how small acts of care and presence can sustain both individuals and systems—especially in times of fatigue, stress, or uncertainty. Due to the extremely late NYS budget, we do not have copies of this book for loan. Participants must obtain a copy of the book for this course.

Session 2

July 22, 2026 - August 11, 2026

PAYMENT DEADLINE for Summer Session 2 is July 8th, 2026

Easy Action Research for Educators

Mykal Karl 15 Hours Online July 22 - August 11, 2026

This course equips educators with the skills to conduct action research through reflective practice. Participants will explore how to identify classroom challenges, design interventions, collect and analyze data, and iterate on their findings to enhance student learning and professional development. By engaging in actionable strategies and leveraging freely accessible resources, participants will cultivate a habit of inquiry and reflection that fosters continuous improvement.

Exercise and Movement for Students and Teachers

Melissa Hartnett 15 Hours Online July 22 - August 11, 2026

Teachers and students have very high demands, and these demands continue to increase. There are some things out of our control, but finding activities to help improve mental health is something we can have some control over. Statistically, there has been an association between physical activity and mental well-being. When an individual’s mental well-being is more positive, they can perform better at school, their job, and in life. There are many workout programs out there, and many ask the question, “Where do I start?” In this course, you will explore and complete numerous workout programs for yourself and your students, as well as learn about the benefits of each of them. You will then develop a workout routine for yourself and a workout routine to implement in your classroom. You will explore workouts on YouTube, as well as look at different apps (many of these programs give you a free trial, so you don’t need to subscribe unless you really like it). This course is taught by a personal trainer who holds certification from the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Let’s Get A Better Understanding of Chronic Absenteeism

Kathy Halter 15 Hours Online July 22 - August 11, 2026

Chronic absenteeism is a major factor in poor academic achievement and dropping out of school. It has been a problem in many schools for years and has continued to grow over the past few years. More students simply refused to go to school each day, largely related to deteriorated mental health, motivation, and social anxieties. During this 15-hour workshop, we will discuss what we can do as educators to understand why absenteeism continues to be a problem.

Seeing Behavior Differently: Behavior = Communication

Heather Kerr–Puleo 15 Hours Online July 22 - August 11, 2026

This course will focus on seeing behaviors differently. It will provide educators with information to help them understand behavior as communication. Information will be provided about the 4 main functions of behavior and ways to help educators interpret behaviors to find the ‘why’ for their students. There will also be supportive and proactive strategies for responding to behavior that will be shared throughout the course. Tips, videos, articles, and helpful resources will be provided, along with opportunities to share students’ ideas and thoughts with others in the class. The course is run on Google Classroom.

Using Artificial Intelligence to Personalize Learning in 2026

Kathy Halter 15 Hours Online July 22 - August 11, 2026

Focus on personalized learning is a priority in education. We are now in a position to prioritize the unique needs of each student more than ever before. We now have access to data-driven insights, and with that, schools can customize learning experiences to support each student’s goals, learning style, and pace. With the help of AI tools, we will explore how they can personalize learning for all our students.

Words That Shaped the World: A 5-Week Exploration of History’s Greatest Speeches

Mykal Karl 15 Hours Online July 22 - August 11, 2026

What makes a speech unforgettable? Why do some words echo across history while others disappear? In this five-week, asynchronous course, educators will explore a small collection of the world’s most powerful speeches from 100 World’s Greatest Speeches. Together, we’ll read iconic moments from history, listen to voices that challenged injustice, and notice how storytelling, courage, and clarity of voice can move people to action. This is not a public speaking course and not a deep dive into rhetoric. Instead, it’s an opportunity to slow down, read meaningful texts, explore short videos, music, or podcasts for context, and try out creative, low-pressure activities that bring these speeches to life. Whether you teach history, elementary, or anything in between, this course invites you to think about how words shape culture—both in the world and in your classroom—and how intentional use of voice can support connection, student belonging, and thoughtful leadership in education.

Session 3

August 12, 2026 - September 2, 2026

PAYMENT DEADLINE for Summer Session 3 is July 29th, 2026

7 Mighty Moves: Strengthening Literacy Instruction Through Intentional Practices (Book Study)

Kathleen Saia 15 Hours Online August 12 - September 2, 2026

This 15-hour professional development course provides educators with an in-depth exploration of the book, "7 Mighty Moves", framework - seven high-leverage instructional practices that accelerate literacy development and deepen student understanding. Participants will engage in a blend of readings, modeled lessons, discussions, and classroom-based applications through Google Classroom. Educators will examine how each “Mighty Move” supports the Science of Reading, fosters student independence, and aligns with evidence-based literacy instruction. Participants will also get a window into real classroom applications, as the videos will be shared from the instructor’s classroom. Through reflection and collaboration, participants will design actionable strategies to integrate these moves into daily practice, enhancing student engagement, comprehension, and skill transfer across content areas. This asynchronous learning experience allows educators to participate flexibly while maintaining active engagement through peer discussion, reflective journaling, and application of tasks connected to their own classrooms. *Please note that you will need a personal Gmail account to access this course, as school emails are not compatible across districts.* Due to the extremely late NYS budget, we do not have copies of this book for loan. Participants must obtain a copy of the book for this course.

Dealing With Parents and Creating Productive Partnerships in Our Schools

Kathy Halter 15 Hours Online August 12 - September 2, 2026

Dealing with parents is probably the most difficult part of our job. This workshop will help us to deal with high-maintenance parents who never seem happy with the job you are doing. The goal of this workshop is to gather strategies and ideas for defusing emotionally charged parents. It will also help to develop a supportive parent-community relationship. This entire workshop will be completed online.

Exploring Interactive Math Games and Instructional Tools at the Kentucky Center for Mathematics Website (Level 1: Pre-K to 2)

Jennifer Kibler 15 Hours Online August 12 - September 2, 2026

Join us in a Kentucky Center for Mathematics math adventure. Teachers will explore 40+ ready-made interactive Google Slides activities and games that can be incorporated into math instruction and choice time in any math program. Each activity/game can be utilized on the Smartboard during math lessons or be accessed on 1-to-1 devices for partner play. Activities range from high-interest inquiry/guessing games to math talk games to skill-building games. This Level 1 class incorporates math content from Pre-K to Grade 2. Each focus area within the course will be identified by grade level. Participants will work within the focus areas to identify and share their Top 15 activities to be utilized in the classroom. The Kentucky Center for Mathematics is grounded in research, centered on practice, and focused on learners.

Google Sheets Part 1

Gina O’Kussick 15 Hours Online August 12 - September 2, 2026

In Part 1 of this course, you will learn how to create, manage, format, and organize content for any subject area or grade level using Google Sheets. You will also become familiar with the process for adding and editing visual objects and for applying transitions and animations. These skills will be useful in engaging, sharing, and collaborating with students and teachers. Knowledge in Google Sheets will promote engagement and achievement among your students.

The Power of Play: Embracing Fun in Middle and High School

Erika Austin 15 Hours Online August 12 - September 2, 2026

Play time isn’t just for the elementary levels! Together over the course of three weeks, we will explore the transformative potential of play in the middle and high school classroom. Let's delve into research on the benefits of play-based approaches, analyze peer-reviewed studies, and discuss practical strategies for integration immediately in September. We will discover various play-based pedagogies and collaborate to develop a toolkit of games and activities to enhance student engagement and learning. By the end of the course, participants will be empowered to create dynamic classrooms that spark curiosity, inspire creativity, and drive academic success in adolescent learners.

Instructional Materials Creation Workshop - Various Dates - July 1, 2025 - Aug. 28, 2025

Instructional Materials Creation Workshops (formerly titled "Working Wednesdays") are an opportunity for you and your colleagues to come to the Center and work to create classroom materials, curriculum, lessons, etc. Use our Ellison Dies, our Poster Maker, Book Binder, and/or Laminator to create and preserve the materials for classroom use. You will receive CTLE credit hours for the number of hours you work in our Center. The dates are July 1, 8, 9, 16, 22, 30, and August 6, 11, 12, 18 from 8:00 am - 2:00 pm. These dates/times are subject to change. Hours can be accumulated throughout the summer. Because each individual's hours may vary, you will pay for your total hours upon completion at $1 per hour. CTLE Certificates and Superintendent verification letters will then be issued. We look forward to seeing you!

Click a course title to download a course roadmap.

Click a course title to download a course roadmap

7 Might Moves

ADHD in the Classroom: Strategies from a Teacher Who Has It

Autism Awareness

Creating Genius Hour in the Elementary Classroom

Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High

Dealing With Parents and Creating Productive Partnerships In Our Schools

Deliberate Optimism - Reclaiming The Joy In Education

Easy Action Research for Educators

Engagement that Sticks - Embedding Games into Instruction

Exercise & Movement for Students & Teachers