Digging Into the Data

Presenter: Douglas Superintendent Kevin Case

Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. in  Room 3

The Douglas Board of Education continues to further embrace our strategic direction. The board chose to “lean into” our Focus Area of Adaptability: Strategy 2 – Identify, collect and analyze data needed to make informed decisions and adjust daily operations as necessary. Join us to review, discuss and become aware of different data points the board is looking at and how it impacts their decision making. Join the conversation about how focusing on different data points encourage growth, increased knowledge, informed decision making and reflection.

Empowering Educators: Leveraging Instructional Coaches for Teacher Growth

Presenter: Tea Area School District Instructional Coach Tracy Schmidt,  Instructional Coach John Westhoff, Instructional Coach Olivia Esslinger, Instructional Coach Laura Berg, Instructional Coach Valerie Sheppard, Curriculum/CSI Director Samantha Walder

Thursday, 10:30 a.m. to 11:20 a.m. in  Room 2

Join us to explore how the Tea Area School District maximizes the impact of instructional coaches, collaborating closely with building principals to support teachers in aligning classroom goals to building goals. Learn firsthand how Plan, Do, Study, Act (PDSA) cycles of improvement support this alignment to foster a culture of ongoing learning and development.

10 Things Your Staff Need to See & Hear From You

Presenter: Arlington School District PK-12 Principal Lisa Parry

Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in  Rooms 8-9-10

I grew up in nursing homes—they call them care centers now—and, like you, I have spent my life in the world of PK-12. These experiences have shaped the teacher and leader I have become, and I am eager to share what I have learned with you. Please join me for an actionable and relatable session focused on helping each one of us be the change our schools need now more than ever.

The Role of Socks in a Construction Project

Presenter: Chamberlain Superintendent Dr. Justin Zajic

Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 12:20 p.m. in  Room 2

In this session, a principal and an SRO explain some of the low-cost ways they have improved safety in their district. The ideas are practical, easy-to-implement, and cheap. From doors to donuts, these ideas are all about building and maintaining safety that everyone can buy into.

Resources and Training Opportunities to Keep Your School Safe

Presenter: S.D. DPS Office of Homeland Security School Safety Director Brett Garland and School Safety Specialist Angela Waldner

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in  Rooms 6-7

The South Dakota School Safety Center provides an update on the abundant resources and opportunities designed to keep schools safe, including evidence-based resources in behavioral threat assessment, school infrastructure security, and programs aimed at helping children in crisis, heal and thrive. Two of those resources, Handle With Care and Youth Mental Health First Aid, are programs that further the School Safety Center’s holistic approach in keeping schools safe, while promoting school-community partnerships to help children exposed to trauma.

Idea Incubation: Cultivating Connections through Family Engagement

Presenter: Black Hills Special Services Director of Community and Family Services Division and Deputy Director Dr. Pam Lange

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in  Room 2

This interactive forum within the education conference, focusing on cultivating innovative ideas and effective programming for enhancing family and community engagement in education. Participants will engage in collaborative discussions, idea generation activities, and sharing of best practices to strengthen partnerships between schools, families, and communities. The session will explore creative strategies, equity-focused initiatives, and technology integration to foster meaningful engagement and support student success.

Farm to School – What can it Do for your District?

Presenter: Huron School District School Nutrition Director Amanda Reilly and Farm to School Coordinator Karla Sawvell

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in  Room 1

School Nutrition departments from all South Dakota schools are facing supply chain issues with each delivery, causing interruptions in meal service. What if the solution was quite literally in our state’s own backyard? South Dakota growers and their expertise can help reduce these issues, and when food dollars are invested in real local food, everyone at each step of the food value chain, our students, community, and local economies receive the benefits.

Insurance Hot Topics

Presenter:

ASBPT Director and ASBSD Chief Financial Officer Holly Nagel & Risk Program Administration Program Administration Vice President Ryan Doyle

Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. in  Rooms 11-12

In this collaborative session, we will discuss hot topics in insurance, ranging from Property, Liability, Cyber and various other coverages. We will review preventative actions, potential coverage pitfalls and emerging issues to help reduce risk and unexpected claims.

The S.D. School Safety Center & Safe2Say South Dakota: Saving Lives and Keeping Schools Safe by Empowering Students & Community Members to Report Threatening or Concerning Behaviors with the Preeminent Anonymous Tip Reporting Platform for Schools

Presenter: S.D. DPS Office of Homeland Security School Safety Director Brett Garland and School Safety Specialist Angela Waldner

Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. in  Rooms 6-7

Hundreds of tips received and delivered, and two years later, see how Safe2Say South Dakota has saved lives and positively impacted schools. Learn how Safe2Say’s anonymous tip reporting platform keeps schools safe by educating and engaging students on what to watch for and what to report, while equipping them with resources to confidentially report concerns.

Tools for Supporting Paraprofessionals

Presenter: TIE Data Informed Practices Project Manager Kylie Steever

Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 4:50 p.m. in  Room 3

Paraprofessionals are essential to our school systems, yet on-going training and support for them can be challenging. In this interactive workshop we will discuss how to provide support for paraprofessionals within their daily duties as well as provide resources that can be implemented both in and out of the classroom. Topics that will be discussed include Roles and Responsibilities, Empowering Students to be Independent, Managing Behaviors, Communication and Training.

Student Success? It’s as Easy as T.L.C!

Presenter: Public School Superintendent, Author, Speaker and Consultant Sean Buchanan

Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in the Grand Ballroom

Leaders today face many challenges. Oftentimes, situations beyond our control such as poor funding or lack of parental support can exasperate us. In fact, many board members today find themselves “at the end of their rope” when it comes to getting students to succeed, especially in the twilight of a global pandemic. What principles can allow leaders and board members to get out of a mode centered around surviving, and into a mode centered around THRIVING? Attend this fast paced and humorous session to find out!

Better Boundaries: De-Fence Against Burnout

Presenter: Well365 Licensed Professional Counselor Audra Johnson & ASBPT Director and ASBSD Chief Financial Officer Holly Nagel

Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in  Rooms 8-9-10

Learning to advocate for ourselves- emotionally, physically, and spiritually is critical to minimizing burnout. Each of us is vulnerable to burnout and it can happen at any time. During this engaging session, we’ll examine how boundaries work, what prevents healthy boundary setting, and how to change your boundaries, if needed. When the session is over, you’ll leave knowing your boundary tendencies, how to care for YOU while your boundaries change, and how to compassionately share boundaries with others.

Renewing the Joys of Teaching

Presenter: South Dakota Secretary of Education Joseph Graves

Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 10:50 a.m. in  Room 2

Secretary of Education Joseph Graves will discuss his recently published book, Renewing the Joys of Teaching, and its thesis that the vocation of teaching will result in not just a good living, not just a happy career, but a joyful life. Through the philosophical school of Stoicism, Graves demonstrates that finding joy means fulfilling one’s life mission and utilizing Stoic techniques to appropriately understand the challenges of teaching school.

Learning About the South Dakota Teacher Apprenticeship Pathway

Presenter: DSU Dean of the College of Education Dr. David De Jong

Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in  Rooms 13-14

In this session, school leaders will learn about the SD TAP and review data from the first cohort of 78 teacher apprentices from all over South Dakota. This data includes retention, grade point average, competency testing, etc. We will also discuss national trends of apprenticeships in education.

We Don’t Have Time: Preparing our Schools to Meet Today’s Standards of Care

Presenter: Box Elder Assistant Chief of Police and Douglas School Board Member Chris Misselt

Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in  Rooms 11-12

Communities expect their district to be prepared for emergencies and we should meet today’s standards of care. Naloxone, stop the bleed, CPR, and mass casualty programs sound important but there’s only so much time. Come learn about training design to fit any PD or student schedule, gaps between pre-hospital rescuers and your school nurse, how to leverage medical, public safety, and lay partners, and why it all can be cheaper and easier than you think.

Strengthening Connections – Family Engagement in Rural Communities

Presenter: Black Hills Special Services Deputy Director of Community Family Services Morgan Vonhaden

Friday, 11:00 a.m. to 11:50 a.m. in  Room 1

This session is dedicated to exploring effective strategies and best practices for fostering family engagement within rural communities. Participants will delve into the unique challenges and opportunities faced by rural schools and families, and discover innovative approaches to building strong partnerships. Through interactive discussions, research, and collaborative activities, attendees will gain insights into creating inclusive and supportive environments that promote student success and community involvement.