"Empowering every educator. Walking further together."

Paraprofessionals

Paraprofessionals 101 (Newbies)
Presenter:  Dr. Kennedi Strickland-Dixon
Date: August  10, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 3:30pm
Format: In Person at West40
Audience: Paraprofessionals
Description: A foundational training that blends special education basics with practical tools like active listening, collaboration, and self-care strategies to support student learning and professional growth.

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Paraprofessionals Supporting Independence (Veterans)
Presenter: Holly McCarthy
Date: August 10, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 3:30pm
Format: In Person at West40
Audience: Paraprofessionals
Description: Empower paraprofessionals to support students with neurodiverse behavioral and learning needs. Grounded in trauma-informed practices and ABA strategies, this session offers practical techniques for fostering independence and trust.

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The Proactive Paraprofessional: Communication, Collaboration, and Confident Support
Presenter: Dr. Nimisha Bhatt + Demian LaPointe
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 11:30 am
Format: Virtual
Audience: Paraprofessionals
Description: Paraprofessionals play a critical role in creating calm, collaborative, and student-centered classrooms. In this interactive (virtual) session, participants will explore proactive communication strategies, relationship-building techniques, and practical classroom supports that strengthen partnerships with teachers and students. Through reflection, discussion, and real-world scenarios, participants will learn how to use questioning, proximity, small-group support, and data collection intentionally to prevent escalation and increase student success. Participants will leave with practical tools and one proactive strategy they can implement immediately.

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Support Staff

Customer Service for Support Staff I: Customer Service and Why it Matters
Presenters: Grand Canyon University
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 2:00pm
Format: Virtual
Audience:  School and District Support Staff including office personnel, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, paraprofessionals, custodians and more
Series Details: This is part of a series of sessions designed for support staff to focus on customer service. Subsequent sessions will be held at upcoming Empower ED dates. You do NOT need to attend every session.
Description: Every interaction contributes to a school’s culture and reputation. This session explores what great customer service looks like in education and how it supports positive relationships. Participants can reflect on communication habits, practice de-escalation techniques, and identify strategies to ensure that all visitors and families feel welcomed and valued. 

Key Focus Areas:

• Foundations of positive and consistent customer service

• Communication and empathy in everyday interactions

• Strategies for handling challenging conversations with professionalism

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Technology Integration

From Hype to Help: Making AI Work in Your Classroom
Presenter: Colleen Ross
Date: August 10, 2026
Time: 12:30 -  2:00pm
Format: In Person at West40
Audience: K-12 Classroom Teachers
Description: Whether you're already using AI with your students or still side-eyeing the whole thing, this session is for you. Over 90 minutes, we'll talk about what it means to be AI fluent, how to coach students toward using AI wisely, and how AI can take some work off your plate when it comes to planning and differentiation. Bring a laptop and leave with a stack of ideas you can use.

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Gemini Gems: Every Teacher's Ultimate AI Best Friend
Presenter: Yesenia Nicoson, PreK-12 Instructional Technology Coach (Bloomington 87)
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 11:30am
Format: Virtual
Audience: K-12 Classroom Teachers, Specialists, Administrators, Coaches, and Staff across all subject areas
Description: Discover how to leverage Gemini "Gems" to create your very own customized AI assistants tailored precisely to your instructional needs. Whether you are designing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) frameworks, mapping out project-based learning (PBL) units, or modifying materials for diverse learners, Gems can save you hours of prep time. This interactive session will demonstrate how educators across all content areas, from math and literacy to fine arts and physical education, can instantly implement these powerful tools to supercharge their workflows and engage students from day one.

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NotebookLM: Beyond the Regular Spiral Notebook
Presenter: Yesenia Nicoson, PreK-12 Instructional Technology Coach (Bloomington 87)
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 12:30 -  1:30pm
Format: Virtual
Audience: K-12 Classroom Teachers, Specialists, Administrators, Coaches, and Staff across all subject areas
Description: Think you know digital note-taking? Think again! Explore NotebookLM, an intelligent research assistant that transforms your documents, PDFs, and links into a localized, interactive learning guide. This session will highlight how K-12 professionals in any role or discipline can use NotebookLM to synthesize curriculum materials, generate instant study guides, plan complex units, or collaborate across departments. Learn how to turn scattered resources into a cohesive, AI-powered workspace that works for your unique educational context.

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Differentiation & Instruction

Cultivating Respectful and Affirming Environments Through the Lens of Danielson 2a

Presenter: Diane Schoenheider
Date: August 10, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 2:00pm
Format: In Person at West40
Audience: PreK–8 educators, instructional coaches, and instructional leaders
Description: What does a truly respectful and affirming classroom environment look like? In this interactive session, participants will explore Danielson 2a and reflect on how classroom interactions, beliefs, expectations, and responses shape student experience and classroom culture. Together, educators will consider how respect, belonging, and shared responsibility influence learning environments across grade levels and content areas.

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From Sentences to Systems

Presenter: Sheila Daly,  Multilingual District Coach (Cicero 99)
Date: August 10, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 1:30pm
Format: Virtual
Audience: Teachers and Coaches
Description: Participants will explore how to design and scale writing frameworks that align to the science of learning while remaining adaptable to diverse classroom environments. We will peel back the curtain on sustainable teaching cycles, moving away from one-off professional development toward a model of continuous, evidence based support. This session will help bridge from "knowing" the Science of Learning to "implementing".

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Overview of the Illinois Comprehensive Numeracy Plan (IL-CNP)

Presenter: Dr. Anne Paonessa
Date: August 10, 2026
Time: 2:00 - 3:30pm
Format: Virtual
Audience: K-12 administrators, instructional coaches, math specialists/interventionists, and classroom teachers providing math instruction
Description: The Illinois Numeracy Plan offers an important opportunity for schools and districts to strengthen math instruction, build student confidence, and create more equitable math learning experiences. In this 90-minute virtual session, participants will explore the key ideas, priorities, and instructional shifts within the plan and consider what they mean for classroom practice, school leadership, and district support. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of the Illinois Numeracy Plan, reflection questions for their own context, and practical first steps for bringing the plan to life in schools and classrooms.

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Engage, Support, Create: Practical Systems for Specials Teachers

Presenter: Dr. LaVerne Coke Wright
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 8:30 - 10:00am
Format: In Person at West40
Audience: Music, Art, PE, Library, STEM, World Language, and other specials/elective teachers (K–12)
Description: Specials teachers create some of the most joyful and engaging spaces in schools—but they also face unique challenges in building routines, accountability, and strong student relationships across large groups and rotating schedules. This interactive session is designed specifically for music, art, PE, and other specials/elective teachers who want practical systems that strengthen classroom culture while keeping creativity and connection at the center. Participants will explore strategies for creating consistent structures, supporting positive behavior, building relationships, and embedding SEL practices into daily instruction without losing the joy of their content area. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use tools for classroom management, student engagement, relationship building, and accountability systems that work across a variety of specials settings.

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How do people REALLY Learn?

Presenter: Mike Czerniawski
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 11:30am
Format: In Person at West40
Audience: All Educators
Description: Want students to be college and career ready in the 21st century? Start by designing student experiences based on the science of how people actually learn. Thanks to recent research from multiple fields, we now know how to radically increase student learning. In this interactive session, learn about the four major principles that can transform teaching practice, using concrete examples. Then, ground what we explore in the reality of your schools. Throughout the session, generate ideas for curriculum, instruction, and assessment that will lead to significantly greater success for your students.

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Dyslexia in the Tier 1 Environment: A Look at the ISBE Dyslexia Guide

Presenter: Dr. Erika Lukasik
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 10:00 - 11:30am
Format: Virtual
Audience: K-12 Classroom Teachers
Description: This session provides an overview of the Illinois Dyslexia Guide, including key characteristics of dyslexia and how it may present in students across grade levels. Participants will build foundational understanding of dyslexia, explore common signs educators may notice in the classroom, and examine the impact on reading, writing, and learning. The session will also introduce practical, research-based strategies teachers can begin using immediately within core classroom instruction to better support students with dyslexia and other literacy needs.

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Classroom Management for New Teachers

Presenter: Mallory Lawler + Holly McCarthy
Date: August 11, 2026
Time: 12:30 - 3:30pm
Format: In Person at West40
Audience: New Teachers
Description: This interactive session equips new teachers with practical classroom management strategies that build strong, supportive learning environments from day one. Mallory Lawler will share proactive Tier 1 classroom management practices through the lens of instructional coaching and general education supports, including routines, expectations, engagement, and relationship building. Holly McCarthy, BCBA, will help educators understand challenging behaviors from a function-based lens and adjust supports to meet students behavioral needs. 

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