Past Event: 2023 Fall Conference
Date: October 19th & 20th, 2023
Location: Hilton Garden Inn; Sun Prairie, WI
For hotel accommodations, please contact the Hilton Garden Inn Hotel at (608) 856-4500 and let them know you're staying for the WASCD Fall Conference. Reduced rate pricing closes approximately three weeks prior to the event or when the room block is full.
To register for the conference, click the button below!
Thank you to our 2023 Fall Conference Vendors!
Bryan Goodwin - Keynoter & Featured Speaker
Bryan Goodwin is the president and CEO of McREL International, a Denver-based nonprofit education research and development organization. Goodwin, a former teacher and journalist, has been at McREL for more than 20 years, serving previously as chief operating officer and director of communications and marketing. Goodwin writes a monthly research column for Educational Leadership and presents research findings and insights to audiences across the United States and in Canada, the Middle East, and Australia. He has also authored several texts. This includes The New Classroom Instruction That Works.
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo - Keynoter & Featured Speaker
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo was the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District in 2016 and 2017 by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe holds a BA in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from St. Norbert College, a MS in Educational Psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, a MS in Educational Leadership, and a PhD in Leadership, Learning, and Service from Cardinal Stritch University. Joe is also an adjunct professor in the Educational Leadership Department at Viterbo University. Joe has taught Kindergarten, 2nd Grade, and 5th Grade. He was also a school counselor and high school coach prior to taking on an elementary principal position in 2005. He has served as a principal in suburban and rural Wisconsin. Joe is an author, leadership guru, and motivator!
Tentative Schedule:
Thursday, October 19th
7:30-9:00 - Registration
8:00-8:45 - "0" Hour Sessions
9:00-10:30 - Keynote Workshop Part I (Bryan Goodwin)
Vendor Break
10:50-11:50 - Breakout Session I
11:50-12:50 - Lunch Provided
12:50-1:50 - Breakout Session II
Vendor Break
2:10-2:30 - WASCD General Session & Instructional Leader of the Year Announcement
2:30-3:30 - Keynote Workshop Part II (Bryan Goodwin)
3:45-6:00 - The Famous WASCD Social (Live music, raffles, appetizers, cash bar)
Friday, October 20th
7:30-8:00 - Annual Membership Meeting (Optional)
7:30-8:30 - Breakfast and Registration
8:30-9:30 - Breakout III
Vendor Break
9:50-11:15 - Closing Keynote (Joe Sanfelippo)
Lunch on October 19th and Breakfast on October 20th are included in the registration cost.
Meal Choices for the WASCD Fall Conference:
October 19
Lunch
Pasta with Chicken and Garlic Cream Sauce
Pasta with Red Sauce and Spicy Italian Sausage
Caprese salad with plum tomatoes, fresh mozzarella cheese and sweet basil
Caesar salad with herbed croutons, parmesan cheese and Caesar dressing
Fruit and berry platter
Focaccia bread
The Famous WASCD Social
Lattice chips
Soft pretzels with cheese sauce and whole grain mustard
Party mix, mixed nuts, popcorn, and caramel corn
Meatballs with marinara
Italian stuffed mushrooms
Vegetable spring rolls
October 20
Breakfast
Muffins, Danish pastries, fruit
Scrambled eggs & bacon
Cheesy skillet potatoes
Biscuits and gravy
Coffee and water will be available all day on both days
Sessions & Descriptions
October 19th: "0" Hour Session ~ Option 1 ~ Prairie Room B
What Every Educator Needs to Know About AI
Tony Frontier; Author, Consultant, Professor
What Every Educator Needs to Know About AI
Tony Frontier; Author, Consultant, Professor
Recent advancements in natural-language artificial intelligence tools will revolutionize how educators and students interact with information and engage in their current roles. What do educators need to know about these powerful tools and how they can be used to support, rather than undermine, student learning? Since 2018, Tony has been presenting on the topic of AI to help teachers and leaders understand what the future may hold and what we can do to navigate this transformational change. The future is now. (The contents of this workshop will be published as a book by ASCD in spring of 2024)
October 19th: "0" Hour Session ~ Option 2 ~ Cardinal Room
The Principal-Coach Partnership: How Leaders Can Elevate The Work of Coaches To Improve Student Achievement
Dianna Kresovic; Literacy Center Director and Consultant; CESA 6
The Principal-Coach Partnership: How Leaders Can Elevate The Work of Coaches To Improve Student Achievement
Dianna Kresovic; Literacy Center Director and Consultant; CESA 6
The outcome of an effective instructional coaching program ultimately leads to an increase in student achievement. The partnership of the coach and principal is crucial to a program’s effectiveness, building internal capacity to improve instruction. In this session, you will learn the four High-Leverage Practices that support this work. You will leave with actionable next steps, as well as a few key tools that will help guide you in your coaching journey, supporting wherever your entry point is!
October 19th: "0" Hour Session ~ Option 3 ~ Prairie Room A
Unlocking Your Authentic Confidence
Mark Duerwaechter; Retired Superintendent, Consultant
Keith Ahrens; Ahrens Education Group, Consultant
Unlocking Your Authentic Confidence
Mark Duerwaechter; Retired Superintendent, Consultant
Keith Ahrens; Ahrens Education Group, Consultant
Welcome to the "Unlocking your Authentic Confidence ". This comprehensive coaching program is designed to support individuals on their confidence journey by leveraging their strengths, identifying areas for growth, and ultimately reaching their full potential. Through a combination of deep self-awareness, team development, and organizational growth strategies, participants will embark on a transformative journey towards building authentic confidence, managing one’s inner critic, fostering balanced pride in work and humility in relationships while growing unstoppable careers.
October 19th: Keynote Workshop Part 1 ~ Bryan Goodwin ~ Grand Ballroom A/B
Learning That Sticks
Learning That Sticks
In far too many classrooms, the emphasis is on instructional strategies that teachers employ rather than on what students should be doing or thinking about as part of their learning. What's more, students' minds are something of a mysterious "black box" for most teachers, so when learning breaks down, they're not sure what went wrong or what to do differently to help students learn. It doesn't have to be this way. Learning That Sticks helps you look inside that black box. This session will provide you with a six-phase model of brain-based learning. The content in this session is based on the book Learning That Sticks: A Brain-Based Model for K-12 Instructional Design and Delivery.
October 19th: Breakout Session I ~ Curriculum Focus ~ Cardinal Room
Mathematical Readiness for College and Careers: What does it look like in our classrooms, our schools and our districts?
Mary E Mooney; Mathematics Consultant, WI DPI & Lisa Hennessey; Curriculum and Instruction Department, UW Madison
Mathematical Readiness for College and Careers: What does it look like in our classrooms, our schools and our districts?
Mary E Mooney; Mathematics Consultant, WI DPI & Lisa Hennessey; Curriculum and Instruction Department, UW Madison
This session provides an overview of recommendations from the UW System about the role of the Wisconsin Standards of Mathematics in preparing students for post-secondary options. This session will have a particular focus on high school courses including what to consider in a course sequence, what to consider when planning advanced learning pathways, and what students really need in order to be mathematically ready for their aspirations of college and career.
October 19th: Breakout Session I ~ Leadership Focus ~ Prairie Room B
Prairie View Elementary: Going From PLC Lite to PLC Right in Two Years Time
Brandon Krause; Principal; Prairie View Elementary (Beaver Dam, WI)
Prairie View Elementary: Going From PLC Lite to PLC Right in Two Years Time
Brandon Krause; Principal; Prairie View Elementary (Beaver Dam, WI)
Prairie View Elementary School made a decision that they wanted the highest results for their students. In order to do this, they made deliberate decisions to go beyond traditional teacher collaboration and turned the whole school into a PLC. This resulted in increased student achievement and Model PLC status in two focused years. While the journey continues, learn how Prairie View Elementary systematically became a Model PLC.
October 19th: Breakout Session I ~ Instruction Focus ~ Prairie Room A
Collecting and Analyzing Classroom-Based Student Impact Data within Collaborative Teams
JoAnn Miller; CESA 8
Collecting and Analyzing Classroom-Based Student Impact Data within Collaborative Teams
JoAnn Miller; CESA 8
In this session, we will explore how collaborative teams of educators can leverage the power of Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles to experiment with high-leverage classroom practices, collect authentic data, and foster a culture of continuous learning within their school communities.
This interactive session will introduce you to an approach that empowers teacher teams to experiment with classroom practices and collect real-time data to gauge their impact on students. We'll demonstrate the myImpact platform, a user-friendly tool designed to streamline data collection and analysis, enabling teachers to focus on meaningful professional conversations that elevate collective efficacy and student outcomes. You will leave the session with practical strategies and tools to transform classroom practices, enhance team collaboration, and ultimately, make a lasting impact on your students' learning journey.
During this breakout session, participants will:
Discover how to enhance collaborative team discussions by removing common barriers that often hinder productive conversations. Learn strategies to engage in more meaningful dialogues centered around student engagement and achievement.
Understand the critical link between collective efficacy—the belief that teachers can positively impact student learning—and actual improvements in student outcomes. Explore ways to nurture collective efficacy within your team.
Practice the development of an academic rubric teacher teams use over the course of multiple PDSA cycles to monitor the impact of successive strategy experiments.
Get hands-on experience with the myImpact platform, a web-based tool that simplifies data collection and transformation. See how classroom-level data can be transformed into actionable insights that drive reflective professional discussions.
October 19th: Breakout Session I ~ Feature ~ Grand Ballroom A/B
Building A Curious School
Bryan Goodwin
Building A Curious School
Bryan Goodwin
Curiosity is hardwired in all of us, but the longer students stay in school, the less curious they become. Why is that? Grounded in research, this engaging session uncovers the ways in which formal education seems to hinder our natural curiosity and shows educators how to intentionally cultivate inquisitiveness and wonder in schools. This session is based on the book Building a Curious School: Restore The Joy That Brought You To School.
October 19th: Breakout Session II ~ Curriculum Focus ~ Cardinal Room
The 90% Reading Goal at the Hayward Community School District's (K-5)
Hayward Community School District
The 90% Reading Goal at the Hayward Community School District's (K-5)
Hayward Community School District
Meet the leaders from Hayward Community School District as they reveal their three-year journey to get 90% of their students reading at or above grade level. In this session, Hayward leaders will share the evidence-based strategies and systems they use to assess, monitor, and support reading instructional practices for both individual students and groups. These systems include adult accountability and systems accountability that have led to 90% of our students in grades K-5 reading at or above grade level. Participants will leave with a start on their own Literacy Action Plan designed to create adult accountabilities, system accountabilities, and student results in their own schools and districts! Hayward will share their story as well as resources to make the 90% reading goal attainable to any school in Wisconsin.
October 19th: Breakout Session II ~ Leadership Focus ~ Prairie Room A
Leading With Purpose: A Workshop for Empowering School Communities
Dr. Anne Marie Marshall
Paige Richards, Build Capacity Consulting LLC
Leading With Purpose: A Workshop for Empowering School Communities
Dr. Anne Marie Marshall
Paige Richards, Build Capacity Consulting LLC
This session is designed to be the beginning of a larger conversation about becoming leaders of self before becoming effective leaders of others. We will offer opportunities for healthy self-reflection as a way to raise our own personal consciousness around leadership and empowering others. This session will provide a valuable opportunity for networking and building a community of practice, to support the ongoing professional growth of school administrators and building leaders.
October 19th: Breakout Session II ~ Feature ~ Grand Ballroom A/B
Balanced Leadership for Powerful Learning
Bryan Goodwin
Balanced Leadership for Powerful Learning
Bryan Goodwin
What makes a great school leader? Contrary to what many believe, the answer is not tied to a certain kind of personality but to specific behaviors and actions that have positive effects on student achievement—behaviors and actions that any school leader can learn and put into practice. Over the last decade, thousands of school principals have done that, by implementing "balanced leadership," an approach that recognizes the need to both maintain and challenge the status quo in order to move schools forward. This session is based on the book Balanced Leadership For Powerful Learning: Tools For Achieving Success In Your School.
October 19th: Breakout Session II ~ Instructional Practices Focus ~ Prairie Room B
Engaging Learners through Creative Collaborative Learning Spaces
Brittany Glad, 6-8 Fox West Charter School
Engaging Learners through Creative Collaborative Learning Spaces
Brittany Glad, 6-8 Fox West Charter School
This session will focus on building your toolbox to actively engage all learners. We will focus on how to engage all learners with the 4C's and ISTE standards woven into any content area. Attendees will experience creative collaboration and walk away with a toolbox full of templates/resources to share with their own professional learning communities. If you are looking for ways to bring the SPARK joy and laughter back into your educator's lives... This is the session for you! (Tech resources will be shared, so bring a device!)
October 19th: Keynote Workshop Part 2 ~ Bryan Goodwin ~ Grand Ballroom A/B
The New Classroom Instruction That Works
The New Classroom Instruction That Works
This session is based on the all new book The New Classroom Instruction That Works: The Best Research-Based Strategies For Increasing Student Achievement. You will learn about a collection of high-leverage strategies that can be used to advance learning in schools and make a difference in students' lives. Educators work incredibly hard, so we better focus on what is improven to have an impact.
The Famous WASCD Social!
October 19th: 3:45-6:00 PM
October 19th: 3:45-6:00 PM
This is where instructional leaders network!
Enjoy live music, appetizers, great company and a cash bar.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to mingle with our vendors in this relaxed setting.
Enjoy live music, appetizers, great company and a cash bar.
In addition, you will have the opportunity to mingle with our vendors in this relaxed setting.
Music provided by the one and only Dr. Tony Frontier!
Location: Hilton Garden Inn; Sun Prairie, WI
October 20th: Breakout Session III ~ Curriculum Focus ~ Cardinal Room
Effective Instructional Models for English Language Learners
Gretchen Lettau; CESA 2 Language & Culture Center
Effective Instructional Models for English Language Learners
Gretchen Lettau; CESA 2 Language & Culture Center
Join me for an engaging and informative one-hour conference session tailored to directors of curriculum and instruction, instructional coaches, principals, and teachers. This session aims to equip educators with essential knowledge and practical strategies to effectively support English Learners (ELs) in the classroom. We will explore key laws and policies pertaining to EL instruction, effective programming models, and the importance of creating inclusive learning environments that value students' diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.
October 20th: Breakout Session III ~ Leadership Focus ~ Prairie Room A
Establishing Trust: Building Capacity for Organizational & Leadership Success
John Krenek, Director of Curriculum and Instructions, Oak Creek-Franklin School District
Paige Richards; Build Capacity Consulting, LLC
Establishing Trust: Building Capacity for Organizational & Leadership Success
John Krenek, Director of Curriculum and Instructions, Oak Creek-Franklin School District
Paige Richards; Build Capacity Consulting, LLC
How does the Cognitive Coaching framework, a research-based coaching framework, develop a coach's skill set to support educators? Learn how the Oak Creek-Franklin Joint School District is committed to professional learning by implementing the Cognitive Coaching framework to build trust, credibility, and competence, and lead with empathy to provide continuous support to educators by “listening to understand.” Educator turnover is at an all-time high; educators are more likely to commit to the profession when they are supported and valued.
October 20th: Breakout Session III ~ Instruction Focus ~ Prairie Room B
ABC's of UbD
Chris VanHoof; Director of Teaching & Learning; Retired
ABC's of UbD
Chris VanHoof; Director of Teaching & Learning; Retired
Description: After years of teaching educators how to write unit plans using the Understanding by Design (Wiggins/Mctighe) framework, I’ve learned a few “tricks” that lead to greater clarity and ultimately better unit plans. In this session, I will share my presentations, handouts and insights gained along the way. If you are trying to teach others how to write unit plans or are just trying to understand it yourself, then this session is intended for you.
Target Audience: K-12 Educators, Site leaders, and instructional coaches
October 20th: Breakout Session III ~ Feature ~ Grand Ballroom A/B
Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone: Now People!!
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo
Get Out Of Your Comfort Zone: Now People!!
Dr. Joe Sanfelippo
Amazing things rarely happen in comfort zones. The mental habits we form put us in a place from which we rarely venture. Stepping outside of your comfort zone can be challenging, but the benefits of modeling that type of risk taking as a leader are essential to the growth of your staff. Taking the first step outside of your comfort zone is clearly the most difficult. Connecting current practice to new modes of learning can help us all realize our ability as leaders and propel our staff to places they never thought possible.
October 20th: Closing Keynote ~ Dr. Joe Sanfelippo ~ Grand Ballroom A/B
Changing The Narrative
Changing The Narrative
When is the last time something amazing happened in your school? How many people knew about it? The work done in schools all across the globe is spectacular. Kids gather…learn…leave…and make the world we live in a better place. So…amazing things happen all the time. School perception is often based on the narrative of those who attended years ago. Telling the real story of schools helps create a narrative that builds culture and gives everyone in your community an identity. Utilizing social media and empowering those around you to be the storytellers of your district is a great way to celebrate the success of students with parents and the community. FIND YOUR AUDIENCE...BUILD YOUR BRAND...CELEBRATE KIDS!!
