InspireOK Session Descriptions    

Assessment Resources for Teachers - Eric Jones and Samantha Sheppard 
This session will give an overview of the instructional resources available to help math and science classroom teachers prepare their students for the OSTP. Content directors will cover the Oklahoma Academic Standards and corresponding frameworks as well as the Test and Item Specifications, the Test Blueprint, and the Practice Test.

Be a Coach, Not a Referee: A Classroom is a Team - Magdalena Grifaldo and Kelly Carter
Referees are enforcers; coaches motivate. This session will support you in leaning into your coach mentality and discovering the art of coaching through defining routines, establishing expectations, and sharing a vision of success. Learn effective strategies for team building, morning meetings, and visual cues to create a cohesive and high-performing team. Elevate your coaching game and empower your “athletes” to reach their full potential.

Best Practices in Secondary Transition Programs - Lori Chesnut and Claudia Beckner
Come learn about the implications of Oklahoma's new Alternate Diploma as related to improving transition services and transition programs/programming for both high school and extended transition programs. We will review a few basics of the alternate diploma, as well as the why for improving transition in your school/district, and share links and resources to assist educators in providing quality transition services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). A district representative panel will share their transition programs and services for high school and 18-22 populations.

Building Community - Shante Fenner and Debbie Medley
Building a community of peers and adults is essential for youth to learn and develop as individuals. This session will focus on creating an environment in which learning can better occur.

Classroom Management - Brenda Beymer-Chapman
Participants will understand how to develop classroom norms, rules, expectations, and structures to support effective classroom management and student behavior. Participants will also learn how our brain regulates behavior and how to use that information to promote learning.

Creating an Outstanding Indian Education Program - Jackie White
Join this session to learn new guidance in Title VI and Johnson-O'Malley, to review compliance issues, and to learn how to avoid audit findings that have plagued school district.  In addition, learn about communication and learning techniques that will allow you to break through some of the barriers that are unique to Native American students. 

Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) and Instructionally Embedded Assessments - Caroline Misner 
This session will give an in-depth overview of the instructional resources provided by DLM and the SDE for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities and an example of how to plan a lesson to support the varying needs of students in the classroom. The purpose of this session is to provide an interactive experience for educators to problem solve any barriers they have when instructing students with various disabilities and levels of functioning.

Dyslexia Awareness, Screening and Programming (2 Part Presentation) - Kristen Perez-Rickels and Melissa Ahlgrim
Following the first year of required dyslexia screening implementation, we have some lessons learned. Join us to learn more about the implementation of dyslexia screening and how this data can be used to design interventions and develop evidence-based programming for students at risk for characteristics of dyslexia. Information on communication with families will also be provided.

Innovative Methods of Coaching - Autumn Kouba
Everyone deserves a coach, but not everyone has access to one…or do they? This presentation provides peer coaching methods that focus on educators working together to support each other through mutual problem-solving, observations, collaborative teaching, and planning. The purpose is to continuously grow teaching and learning practices through reflection and peer collaboration. 

Leadership and Intentional Planning - Ryan Pieper 
This session will focus on what leadership should look like and the advantages of intentional planning in that role.

Mentors Matter - Autumn Kouba
Research shows that first-year teachers who have had the support of a mentor develop better classroom management skills, stay in the teaching profession longer, and maintain their initial enthusiasm longer. This presentation sets the foundation for mentor teachers to identify and support the needs of early career teachers, in an effort to encourage teacher retention. Mentors will learn effective practices that positively impact early career teachers and empower them to grow professionally.

Multi Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) & English Learners - Dr. Roni McKee 
MTSS and English Learners- identifying needs of English learner newcomer students and how to support them through the MTSS framework. This session is geared towards general education teachers and tier 1 instruction. Dive deeper into data that is already collected for Oklahoma English learners and learn how it can be used to better serve our students. In this session we will look at student ELAPs (English Language Academic Plans), WIDA Standards, and Can Do Descriptors, and student assessment reports to help educators understand student English language acquisition levels and goals. 

Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Mental Health: Building a Foundation for Long Term Success - Becca Damron-Whitehead and Abby Wilson 
When building a mental health MTSS framework, it is important to have a well-developed foundation to ensure successful implementation and long-term momentum. In this session, we will share strategies for building a strong mental health MTSS foundation, discuss best practices for tiered integration, and highlight initiatives that will support ongoing, collaborative partnerships across disciplines.

Needle Skills Training & Review of Health - Kellie Carter
This session will include hands-on needle skills training for those who are needing to start or complete their annual Diabetes Management Training along with a review of other mandatory health trainings in schools.

Oklahoma Academic Standards for English Language Arts and Updated Frameworks - Jason Stephenson and Sharon Morgan
This session will focus on the 2021 Oklahoma Academic Standards for ELA and how to support implementation with new updates to the ELA curriculum frameworks.

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Mathematics and Frameworks Update - Anthony Purcell and Brigit Minden
This session will focus on the 2022 OAS-M and feature highlights from the Oklahoma Math Framework to support the implementation of the 2022 standards in the 2023-24 school year.

Oklahoma Academic Standards for Physical Education, Health and Updated Frameworks - Shana Classen
In this presentation, participants will identify the shifts and examine organization of the new standards, discuss the resources to assist with the implementation of the Health Education Act, and examine the components of and explore how to access the 2023 Curriculum Framework Projects.

Oklahoma State Graduation Requirements - Ashton Frisby
The purpose of this session is to provide guidance for the school counselor, registrar, administrator, clerk, or other school personnel around the Oklahoma State graduation requirements. This session will include an overview of the general graduation requirements, graduation pathways, legislative updates, specifics on course coding, how courses count for high school credit, transcript guidance, and contains frequently covered topics regarding academic policy that pertains to graduation requirements.

Play with Purpose - Magdalena Grifaldo and Kelly Carter
Utilize play to support academic gains in the classroom with research backed practices, routines, and strategies. With an emphasis on the Oklahoma Academic Standards and making deep connections to content, this session will offer a full overview of the benefits of play and how to incorporate it into your classroom daily.

School Safety - Behavioral Threat Assessment 
A doctor cannot tell a patient when someone will have a heart attack. A medical professional looks at risk factors and warning signs to develop a treatment plan. The same is true for Behavioral Threat Assessment. To prevent acts of targeted violence, Student Threat Assessment Teams look at risk factors and warning signs in order to develop a mitigation plan. A school’s multidisciplinary, behavioral threat assessment team will be able to assess the level of concern and suggest appropriate interventions for students who may be heading down the pathway to violence.

School Safety - Run, Hide, Fight Training with The Department of Public Safety - Lt. Mike Fike
Run, Hide, Fight, outlines the steps experts say you should take in the midst of an active threat.

School Safety - Verbal De-Escalation (CPI) - Cindy Swearingen and Jason Gray, Office of School Safety and Security
Learn how de-escalation techniques and communication skills can potentially defuse tense situations and lead to more successful outcomes. Avoid potential conflict, both professionally and personally, by learning to organize your thinking process and respond with calm intention. Consider YOUR approach in order to prevent and respond in a crisis situation. Explore the communication process, conflict prevention, and understand why conflict occurs.

Social Studies; Enhancing the Science of Reading - Brenda Beymer-Chapman 
Social Studies content is vital to developing knowledge of the world we live in. Knowledge-building is a key component to becoming better readers and writers. In this session, we will explore texts and resources and discuss how they can be used to enhance both social studies and literacy.

Starting Your School Year with Family Engagement - Deb Wade
This session will focus on connecting with and engaging families using research-based strategies and resources that are effective not only at the start of school, but all year long.

Supporting Outcomes of Students with Disabilities in the General Education Classroom - Nancy Goosen
Come join us to learn about the various "Levels of Support" for ALL students' individual needs which may include some or all of the following: Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Targeted Interventions, and Prolong Intensive Intervention Services. If special education and related services are needed as a type of prolong intensive service, then what needs to be on the IEP?

Teacher & Leader Effectiveness for New Evaluators - Jaycie Smith
Utilize the TLE evaluation system to provide support to novice as well as veteran educators. This discussion will include TLE information on observations, evaluations, and the Professional Learning Focus. 

Teacher Certification Updates  - Jeff Smith
Teachers will learn about updates in teacher certification including new digital certificates. Other topics include adding certifications, background checks, and how to maximize the Oklahoma Educator Credentialing System.

The Importance of Providing Critical Feedback to Educators - Jaycie Smith
The conversations following observations and evaluations are crucial to school improvement, yet they can sometimes be uncomfortable. Join the discussion on how evaluators can effectively use communication strategies to fuel change within their sites.

The Power of Evidence-Based Behavior Intervention - Madison Pollock & Kristen Perez-Rickels
Need guidance on tier 2/3 behavior? Join us to learn about evidence-based practices for tier 2 and 3 behavior intervention and hear key tips for monitoring progress and identifying additional need. 

Using the Inquiry Arc in Social Studies to Engage Learners - Brenda Beymer-Chapman
Explore how implementing the social studies practices using the Inquiry Arc can engage learners in content understanding. We will discuss questioning, gathering evidence from sources, and how students show their knowledge through civil discourse and writing. We will also explore the social studies curriculum frameworks.

What Teachers Need to Know about the Alternate Diploma - Lori Chesnut and Claudia Beckner
Come learn about Oklahoma's new Alternate Diploma for students who are taught to alternate academic achievement standards and participate in Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP). We will provide information for teachers about the new graduation requirements, implementation of existing and new alternate standards, and resources to assist educators in providing quality transition services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Workforce & Academic Readiness with the Oklahoma Seal of Biliteracy - Cathleen Skinner
The Seal of Biliteracy is a credential recognizing students for workforce and academic skills, including biliteracy in English and another language. This credential opens doors to their future. Students who choose to pursue this have been found to attend classes, stay in school, achieve academically, and have higher rates of college acceptance. Learn how to support your students in achieving their Oklahoma Seal of Biliteracy.
 

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