Summer Curriculum Institute Agenda
One-Day Conference Style Event
When: July 28, 2026
Time: 9 AM - 3 PM
Where: Smethport Area High School
Act 48: 5 Hours
Cost: $100
*Bill to District payment option must first be approved.
*Bill to District payment option must first be approved.
Last Day to Register: June 30, 2026
Presenter: Kelly Compton, Director of Educational Services
Teaching students and supporting families in high-poverty environments is more than a job; it is an act of courage. Together, we will get to the heart of the educator-student relationship by exploring how radical empathy can transform a classroom into a sanctuary of hope. We will delve into the 'Circle of Courage' model, which emphasizes the universal needs of every child. By focusing on the brilliance of each child through a lens of dignity and mutual respect, we can move from transactional interactions to transformational relationships. Discover how to fuel your practice with an unwavering belief in the capacity of every child to thrive.
Presenter: Susie Nussbaum, Trainer & Consultant
This interactive training explores the power of Peer Assisted Learning as a practical, high-impact strategy to increase student engagement and achievement.
Educators will be introduced to several evidence-based Peer Assisted Learning strategies, including K-PALS (designed for early learners to build foundational literacy skills through structured activities and peer support), PALS (a more advanced framework that uses reciprocal roles to strengthen reading fluency and comprehension), Partner Reading (a collaborative approach where students take turns reading, providing feedback, and supporting one another), and Paragraph Shrinking (a comprehension strategy that teaches students to identify the main idea and key details in a concise, student-friendly way).
Presenter: Steve Wolfe, Trainer & Consultant
A student’s educational experience is significantly impacted by consistent change and mounting pressures. Resilience is often mistakenly viewed as a solo endeavor - the result of “toughness” or “never giving up”. However, research shows that the single most significant factor in developing the capacity to adapt to difficulty is at least one meaningful relationship. This training: Resiliency: The Power of Relationship shifts the focus from individual endurance to the transformative power of social connection. Participants will explore both the impact of, and the strategies to develop intentional, authentic, and high-quality professional relationships.
Presenter: Stacey Dickerson, Teaching & Learning Specialist
Ready to move from teacher-led talk to student-powered conversations? In this interactive session, you’ll explore practical strategies and tools to increase student engagement, deepen learning, and build authentic student agency through discourse. Whether you're just getting started or looking to refine your approach, you’ll “level up” with ready-to-use talk moves, structures, and routines that make every voice count.
Choose your pathway, try it out, and leave with strategies you can implement tomorrow.
Presenter: Bonnie Burgess, Teaching & Learning Specialist
Ready to turn "screen time" into "brain time"? Join us for a hands-on exploration of how lending library tools—like Ozobots, Dash robots, Osmo, and LEGO Science kits—can be powerful "power-ups" for the regular education classroom.
In this session, we’ll move beyond the manual to show how purposeful play can drive math, literacy, and science standards. Teachers and paraprofessionals will learn to "co-pilot" these tools to boost inclusion and engagement for every learner.
Presenter: Rachael Gordon, Trainer & Consultant
In this hands-on workshop, educators will explore high-leverage, evidence-based math strategies designed to move the needle for struggling students. Grounded in the instructional hierarchy, this session moves beyond what to teach and focuses on how to match specific strategies to a student's unique stage of learning. Participants will walk away with a toolkit of practical, low-prep strategies ready for immediate use in individual or small-group settings.
Presenter: Whitly Breakey, School Psychologist and Trainer & Consultant
This informative workshop will provide participants with background knowledge on trauma and the impact it has on student growth and achievement. By the end of the session, all participants will have tools and resources to develop trauma informed classrooms that will benefit all students. Participants will leave the session with practical tools and strategies that can be implemented easily and effectively into the classroom.
Presenter: Brett Lasko, Trainer & Consultant
This session is designed to help educators better support diverse learners by understanding the differences between accommodations and modifications, applying them effectively in the classroom, and strengthening skills in writing clear, data-driven Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) for IEPs. Participants will engage in practical examples, discussion, and hands-on practice to ensure immediate classroom application.
Presenter: Ashley Olson, Trainer & Consultant
Explore effective strategies to strengthen school-family partnerships, improve communication, and increase meaningful family engagement. Walk away with practical tools you can use right away.
Presenter: Kelly Compton, Director of Educational Services
Data shouldn't just tell us where students are—it should tell us exactly where we need to go. This hands-on workshop bridges the gap between raw data and daily instruction by focusing on the core principles of Teacher Clarity.
We will move beyond simply 'looking at scores' and dive into the art of translating assessment trends into precise learning intentions and success criteria. Participants will learn how to deconstruct standards based on student needs, align their small-group instruction with real-time data points, and communicate 'the why' to students so they can own their learning journey. Turn your data from a backward-looking report into a forward-looking roadmap that ensures every lesson hits the mark.