Breakout Sessions

10:00-11:10 Breakout Session 1

11:20-12:30 Breakout Session 2

Mass Planning as Spiritual Leadership

Recent research suggests principals are spiritual leaders of the school. At the heart of any Catholic community is the celebration of the Eucharist. Principals can support teachers in Mass planning and execution by helping foster disciplined approaches to liturgy and ritual, dedicating time and resources to developing supportive patterns of behavior. Best practices in both liturgy planning and school management are needed.

Available only for Breakout Session 2

Session is FULL -- please select another session.

Teachers attending this session are eligible for Catechist Recertification and need to register on Critis for credit.

Father Ron Nuzzi

Through nationally-held workshops, Nuzzi has provided guidance and education to leaders of Catholic schools in 49 states, and his work in the private, faith-based sector has given him a unique perspective on the moral, ethical, and religious dimensions of education.

Best Practices in Religious Education in the Classroom

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Teachers attending this session are eligible for Catechist Recertification and need to register on Critis for credit.

Alex Porter Macmillan, Ed.D.

Alex teaches religious studies at St. Ignatius College Preparatory and is a doctoral candidate at the University of San Francisco’s Institute of Catholic Educational Leadership, but most importantly, is married to his wonderful wife Michele with whom he is still celebrating their first child, Michaela, who will be two years old on February 14th.

Mindfulness & Social and Emotional Learning: A Culturally Responsive Approach

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Meena Srinivasan

Meena is a thought leader in the field of mindfulness in education and social emotional learning. She currently works as a Program Manager in Oakland Unified School District’s Office of Social and Emotional Learning. She is also the author of Teach, Breathe, Learn: Mindfulness In and Out of the Classroom (Parallax Press, 2014).

Collaborative Problem Solving with Students - Alternatives to Discipline As Usual

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Joseph Gumina, Ph.D.

Joe is the lead psychologist in the Pediatrics Department at CPMC and an instructor in the counseling psychology program at USF. He sees children, teens, and families for therapy and also does developmental, mental health, and educational evaluation. He is a graduate of our San Francisco Catholic Schools

Enhancing Social Justice Teaching and Learning in the Classroom with Technology Tools

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Teachers attending this session are eligible for Catechist Recertification and need to register on Critis for credit.

Melissa Collins

Melissa is the Director of School Programs for Beyond Technology Education. With over 30 years in education and training, she has been a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and curriculum writer. Currently she works with K-12th grade teachers, helping them find balance, success and effectiveness in using technology tools in their classrooms.

Academic Life Coaching for Middle School Students: Improving Academics, Boosting Confidence & Reducing Stress

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Sandra Oltranti

Sandra is a certified Academic Life Coach and credentialed elementary school teacher with 15 years of teaching experience in Catholic Schools. Her focus is helping students develop tools to exercise leadership in their life and achieve personal objectives. These tools help boost confidence, reduce stress, and improve communication with parents and teachers.

Breaking Open the Word: An Exploration into Lectio Divina for 2nd-8th Grade Students

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Teachers attending this session are eligible for Catechist Recertification and need to register on Critis for credit.

Jocelyn Pierre-Antoine

Jocelyn is the principal of St. Bede School in Hayward, CA. As a proud product of Catholic education, she has ministered in schools for 20 years, serving as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal. She facilitates retreats for administrators, teachers, and students. Jocelyn also leads Diocesan catechetical formation sessions throughout the Bay Area.

Restorative Justice Practices that Strengthen Classroom/School Community

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Rodney Pierre-Antoine

Rodney has been an educator for over 17 years, serving in a variety of capacities: as a teacher, school principal and network administrator. He earned a Masters in Educational Leadership from the University of Notre Dame. Rodney’s commitment has remained fixed on increasing access to academic excellence for all children. Rodney is the founder of Ripple Academy and is excited to partner with the families and community organizations in the Dimond District to develop a high quality school that will form civic-minded students who share freely of their talents to serve their surrounding community.

The ABC’s of Mindfulness: Introductory mindfulness practices to incorporate into the classroom reducing stress and anxiety

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Ashley Crouch, MFT

Ashley is a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in the Hayes Valley neighborhood of SF. She holds a Master’s Degree in Integral Psychology from California Institute of Integral Studies and a BA in Cultural Anthropology from Wake Forest University. Ashley is a trained teacher of Mindful Self-Compassion from UCSD Center for Mindfulness and MindfulSchools.org. She facilitates mindfulness workshops throughout the Bay Area at various private schools, corporations and institutions.

Practical Project-Based Learning for Developing Social Justice-Minded Students

This session will be practical and helpful to teachers (especially gr.5-8) who want to learn how to incorporate a social justice teaching framework into their curriculum.

Review of the importance of teaching emotional intelligence and empathy when utilizing this framework
Share social justice teaching resources and projects that we have utilized, integrated, and run successfully in ELA, religion, and social studies courses
Provide insight into the successes and challenges of teaching within this framework.

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Micaella Colla and Katie Nejasmich

Ms. Colla and Ms. Nejasmich are co-teachers in an eighth grade ELA classroom. Ms. Colla is in the process of completing her dissertation in Education at the University of San Francisco. Ms. Nejasmich shares her expertise in ELA as the Literacy Coach to her middle school students. The presenters want you to leave their session ready to engage with your own students on critical issues of our day and give them the voice and the tools to make a difference in the world.

Using Raz-Plus as Your Reading Solution

In this session you will learn about:

Navigating Raz-Plus teacher and student resources
Assignment features
Setting up and customizing student rosters
Using the digital File Cabinet to organize resources
Using reports to inform instruction

Session is FULL -- please select another session.

Katie Baer

Katie Baer is the Learning A-Z Professional Development Manager for the West Region. Katie is a California Multiple Subjects Credentialed teacher. She has been teaching elementary education since 1993. She has also supported teachers as a Literacy Coach, Curriculum Coordinator and Professional Learning Director in bay area schools and non-profit organizations.

Exploring the Role Parents, Schools and Peers Play in Technology/Social Media Education

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Liz Briggs Farrell

Liz is the founder of TechTalks, a local consulting organization helping to educate parents on issues of technology and social media. She also writes a monthly parenting column for San Francisco’s Marina Times. She is the mother of three children who aims to practice what she preaches when it comes to digital media. Liz has worked at Common Sense Media and was also a morning news producer for KTVU Channel 2. She is a product of Catholic schools in the Diocese of Oakland.

Introduction to STEAM & Inquiry-Based Learning

Twenty-first century careers demand that students develop STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) habits of mind. STEAM topics are focused on together not only because these fields are deeply intertwined in the real world, but because that is how students learn these content areas most effectively. In this workshop, teachers will explore ways to use inquiry-based methods to engage students in investigating the world around them. Workshop participants will:

• Articulate the importance and goals of STEAM education in the 21st century

• Identify the principles and practices of inquiry-based learning

• Define criteria for a strong inquiry-based learning experience

• Explore online resources for collaborative learning

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Alia Williams-Ashley

Alia started her career with the Chicago Public Schools as a middle school math and science teacher. Later she worked in the Milwaukee Public Schools as the District Curriculum Specialist for Science on special projects to create partnerships between MPS and local organizations. During her summers, she wrote grants to fund a summer program she developed called the Summer Math and Science Institute (a STEM program) where children from her church community could learn math and science principles using themes, such as Amusement Parks, the Human Body, the Environment and Baseball. Alia serves as a National Consultant for Catapult Learning and is a regional instructional coach in the Los Angeles area.

Close Reading

Close reading is a thoughtful, critical analysis of text that leads to a deeper understanding of the text’s form, academic vocabulary, author’s purpose, and overall meaning. Research has shown that close reading helps increase the reading proficiency of all students and is critical for college and career readiness. This workshop will explore the use of close reading at all grade levels as a way to build the knowledge that is essential for comprehension of complex texts. Workshop participants will:

• Review the process for creating text-dependent questions

• Discuss the five steps to the close reading process

• Explore how discussion and writing support a deeper understanding of the text

Session is FULL -- please select another session.

Dr. Sebastian Cognetta

Dr. Cognetta has facilitated various sessions in public and non-public schools throughout the West Coast. He has worked directly with the principals in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles facilitating school, classroom, and individual student data analysis using the student growth percentile model. He has presented sessions designed to support teachers as they transitioned to the Common Core State Standards focusing on backward planning. Sebastian has also performed professional development with Educators Cooperative where he has supported literacy initiatives, school reform initiatives, and provided ongoing professional development for educators.

Designing Experiential Retreats

Practical, hands-on materials and resources will be provided.

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Paula Pardini

Paula is an innovative educator with several decades of experience. She has an MA in Catholic Educational Leadership from USF. She is the founder of Caritas Creek, a faith-based environmental education program, with emphasis on experiential learning, faith community building, and environmental stewardship. For the past 15 yrs., Paula provides services in Bay Area Catholic schools through Building Bridges. She mentors teachers and administrators, provides faculty and student retreats and classroom faith community building experiences.

Experience Dyslexia Simulation

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Kori Riordan

Kori is a Learning Specialist/Tutor at San Francisco Friends School and Holy Name School providing one-to-one and small group support for students with learning challenges.

Her training includes multi-sensory instruction in language arts and math. Kori previously worked as a middle school math teacher and Resource Specialist at Ross School, a K-8 school in Marin.

Kori earned an MBA from Loyola Marymount University and holds a Multiple Subject and Education Specialist teaching credential and an MA in Special Education from Notre Dame de Namur. She is a Certified Mindfulness Instructor, member of the Northern California Branch of the International Dyslexia Association and member of the Association for Education Therapists. Kori is completing the requirements for a Certificate in Education Therapy from UC Riverside.

Learning Differences and Tools to Support Students in the Classroom

When students are given an opportunity to reflect on what does and doesn't work for them at school they remember who they are, and can uncover their unique gifts, passions, and learning styles. Self-exploration is a true source of motivation to focus and improve performance and attitude. Homework no longer is seen as just a chore, but becomes a service the student renders to herself. Students recognize and enjoy their own unique approaches to learning while managing academic stress. When educational pursuits become more about what “feels good” as authentic work to the student, it becomes clear how her education connects her to her city, neighborhood, family, and friends.

Session is FULL -- please select another session.

Jennifer Kramer

Jennifer has an M.A. in Special Education from the University of New Mexico and a B.A. in Psychology from the University of Puget Sound. She works knowing everyone can learn, grow, and enjoy the effort. Authentic interest is the bedrock of motivation. Cultivating it is Jennifer's mission.

Teaching Social Advocacy through Lessons of Genocide

This session will introduce teachers to ways in which they can safely and faithfully bring forth from the ashes of Holocaust and genocide a crucial resource for conscience-formation and faith development.

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Jim McGarry

Jim is a teacher of Religious Studies at Mercy High School San Francisco where, in 2007, he founded The Helen and Joe Farkas Center for the Study of the Holocaust in Catholic Schools.

The “Old/ New School” Approach to Promoting Quality Recess Activities

This presentation will help you develop a more structured recess program by promoting Physical Education activities and games at your school. We will give you playground guidelines to help promote games/ activities. Social interaction/ student behavior and yard preparation/ game centers.

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Michael Flynn and Anthony Balistreri

Michael Flynn is a native San Franciscan that has been teaching Physical Education for over 20 years. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, Master’s in Education, and a Physical Education Teaching Credential. His current position is Elementary Physical Education Specialist for the San Francisco Unified School District. Currently, Michael is working towards completing the National Board Teacher Certification. His desire is to continue motivating and encouraging students to find their path towards life-long fitness.

Tony Balistreri is a Bay Area native who has been teaching for the past nineteen years. He is an educator for Rhythm and Moves, Inc. where he has taught in both public and private kindergarten through eighth grade schools. He currently teaches at two Catholic schools in Marin County.

Student Leadership

This workshop is open to both classroom teachers and Student Council moderators. Teachers will be given time to discuss, plan, and develop strategies in helping students become effective leaders in the classroom, on campus, and in the community. The goal is to walk away with useful tools and procedures to help teachers foster student leadership at their sites. No need to be a Student Council moderator! Students leaders are found in every classroom and across all grade levels!

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Val Mattei

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STEM/Makerspace Workshop on a Budget - A fun teacher PD (Play Date)

The goal of this workshop is to provide a STEM/Makerspace lesson that teachers will be able to bring back to their school and adopt in their own classroom. Based on the third grade NGSS standards, Participants will keep a class set of project materials as well as a completed light and motion machine to model and share with students and fellows teachers.

Registration for this STEM/Makerspace workshop is limited to 2 participants per school (tech coordinator/director/STEM specialist and one classroom teacher preferably a third grade or science teacher).

Teachers attending this session will be meeting at St. Gabriel School.

Anxiety and Depression in Children and Early Adolescence

Session is FULL -- please select another session.

Dr. Jennifer Sauvé

Dr. Sauvé obtained a bachelor’s degree in Human Development (Developmental Psychology concentration) at Cornell University’s Department of Human Ecology.

While earning her PhD at the University of Maine in the specialized developmental-clinical track, Dr. Sauvé’s specialty area was peer relationships. Her work focused primarily on the friendship experiences of children and adolescents experiencing difficulties such as anxiety, depression, loneliness and peer victimization/bullying. In addition, she developed a particular interest in the experience of socially anxious youth during the transition to adolescence.

Understanding Behaviors With a Neurodevelopmental Lens

(for K-5 Teachers)

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Vibha Pathak, OTD, OTR/L

Vibha discovered a passion for working with children with special needs in high school when she volunteered at an inclusive preschool. This passion was solidified in occupational therapy school. With two children herself, she realizes the value of the time and sustained energy needed for meaningful relationships as a family. She believes that therapy for the child should be so ingrained in the daily routine that it fits in naturally with the child’s schedule. She loves spending time with her children, reading books, yoga and swimming.

Vibha holds a Clinical Doctorate degree in occupational therapy from the University of Southern California, Los Angeles. She has over five years experience working as a pediatric occupational therapist in private clinics and schools. Vibha is certified in administration/interpretation of the Sensory Integration and Praxis Tests (SIPT) and uses a sensory integration lens and methods in her therapy.

Mathletics

Session includes best practices in differentiation, student engagement and data collection with the program.

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Christine Gonzalez

Christine is a Client Success manager for 3P Learning, the parent company of Mathletics. Christine has been in the field of Education Technology for 13 years, the first 8 as a technology coach and educator at an elementary school in the suburbs of Chicago. In her role with 3P, Christine provides professional development and ongoing support for teachers to ensure client success and student engagement.

Disorganized, Distressed, and Disastrous

Using brain-based research, this worksop gives teachers practical tools to help students [those with diagnosed learning differences and those without] develop creative, positive, and successful study tools to rock their classes [and drive their teachers a little less crazy]...

Session is FULL -- please select another session.

Sarah Weidman

Ms. Weidman, Academic Life Coach and owner of The Stressless Student, works with students who have diagnosed learning challenges and those who simply feel overwhelmed. She helps students systemize their learning and overcome their studying woes using a unique approach that combine elements of practical study skills, Gretchen Wegner’s Anti-boring Approach to Powerful Studying-a research-based method for attention and memory, ten years of classroom teaching, and her personal interest in sports, yoga, and meditation.

She holds a multiple-subjects credential from Bay Area Teacher Training Institute, and a Master’s of Science from SUNY-Buffalo.

Everyone Can Code

Learn about Everyone Can Code, a new approach to coding that gives everyone the power to learn, write, and teach code from K-12+. Hear about Swift Playgrounds, an app for iPad that makes getting started with coding fun and interactive, and take a look at the accompanying teacher guide. Also explore App Development with Swift, a high school and college curriculum for Mac that shows students how to create apps from start to finish.

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Kevin Walsh

Kevin has worked in the education space for nearly 20 years. He leverages understanding of technology and pedagogy while demonstrating Apple Resources to empower teachers. Kevin has 6 Diocese and nearly 1500 private schools in Southern and Northern California providing him a unique perspective on Catholic education and key aspects of successful, faith based technology/learning experiences.

What’s New for iPad in Education

iPad is a powerful way to learn, and now iOS 11 delivers powerful new productivity tools. Explore the new Files app, the new Dock, intuitive multitasking, built-in screen recording, and new features in the Notes app. Learn about classroom workflows using the Classroom app, Apple apps, and more.

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Sabba Quidwai

Sabba is an Education Development Executive with Apple Inc. Sabba travels the Northern California region advising K12 leadership teams on planning academic technology initiatives. Sabba’s experience spans K-16 having led 1:1 mobile learning initiatives at Keck USC and Fairmont Preparatory Academy. Sabba is a former Social Science teacher and Apple Distinguished Educator and has a M.A. in Teaching Arts and a B.A in Social Science from the University of California Irvine.

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