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2026 Summer Symposium
Venue: Ziock Ballroom B clear filter
Tuesday, June 9
 

10:00am CDT

Whose Story Is This? Integrating SEL into Literacy Through Character Analysis
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
Literacy instruction is one of the most powerful (and natural) spaces for social-emotional learning. This 60-minute session supports literacy educators and instructional coaches in intentionally integrating SEL into content instruction by leveraging Common Core character development standards to build empathy and perspective-taking.


Grounded in the CASEL competencies of Social Awareness, Relationship Skills, and Self-Awareness, participants will explore how read-alouds, close reading, and text-based discussions can help students analyze characters’ emotions, motivations, and decisions in ways that deepen both comprehension and social understanding. Educators will experience modeled strategies, three interactive discussion protocols (differentiated for elementary and secondary), and planning tools that align SEL outcomes with existing literacy goals, without adding new curriculum or instructional time.


Participants will leave with ready-to-use discussion prompts and a activity planning framework that empowers students to better understand themselves, others, and the collective “us” within stories and beyond.
Speakers
avatar for Courtney Donohoe

Courtney Donohoe

Program Manager - High School ELA/Founder, Cleveland Metropolitan School District/WellSpace Collaborative
Courtney Donohoe is the High School ELA Program Manager for Cleveland Metro Schools and founder of The WellSpace Collaborative, where she supports educators and students through effective literacy instruction, mindfulness, SEL, and instructional leadership practices. With a maste... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
  Breakout 1

11:00am CDT

Managing Stress with Guided Meditation and Chair Yoga
Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
To elevate our impact, we must first sustain our well-being. This restorative session offers educators a "protected space" to move from the high-energy demands of the classroom into a state of calm and clarity. Grounded in the understanding that our internal state directly influences our students' sense of safety, we will explore the Reflect and Restore framework. Participants will engage in guided reflective journaling, accessible chair yoga to release physical tension, and breathwork techniques designed for immediate classroom or home use. This isn't just a break—it’s a somatic reset that honors your identity as both a professional and a person.
Speakers
avatar for Liza Hale

Liza Hale

Program Manager, Teach Tank
Liza Hale (she/her) currently serves as Program Manager of Teach Tank, a collective of educators committed to building communities centered on love, learning and liberation. She is a Chicago-based educator and creative strategist with a passion for social justice and a demonstrated... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
  Breakout 2

2:00pm CDT

Becoming a Bridge Building Educator
Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
Disrespectful behavior, classroom disruption, and disengagement are among the most pressing challenges educators face today—particularly when working with students who have behavior issues and have historically experienced discipline through a lens of control rather than care. This high-impact session equips educators with research-based, culturally responsive strategies to transform challenging behavior into opportunities for growth, learning, and leadership.


Drawing from trauma-informed practices, neuroscience, and culturally sustaining pedagogy, participants will learn how to respond to disrespect without escalating conflict, protect their authority without damaging relationships, and establish classrooms rooted in structure, consistency, and belonging. Research shows that strong teacher-student relationships, clear expectations, and emotionally responsive instruction significantly improve behavior and academic outcomes diverse students and students who have trauma (Hammond, 2015; Ladson-Billings, 1995; Gregory et al., 2016).


Attendees will explore practical tools for de-escalation, restorative responses, executive-function support, and instructional strategies that increase engagement and reduce power struggles. Educators will leave empowered to manage classrooms with confidence, teach with clarity, and create learning environments where EACH student feels seen, valued, and capable of excellence.
This session is a call to shift from punishment to purpose and from compliance to connection.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Don Parker

Dr. Don Parker

Keynote Speaker and Professional Development Provider, DPCP Corporation
Dr. Don Parker is one of the nation’s leading experts on helping educators build trusting relationships with students who have trauma and challenging behavior. A nationally acclaimed keynote speaker, author, and professional development provider, he has inspired over 1 million ... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
  Breakout 4

2:00pm CDT

Repairing the Moment: Restorative Tools for Everyday Classroom Conflict
Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
When classroom conflict, student shutdowns, or escalations occur, educators often feel pressure to respond quickly,sometimes relying on reactive or punitive strategies that unintentionally damage relationships and psychological safety. This interactive session introduces Repairing the Moment, a restorative, SEL-aligned framework designed to help educators pause, reflect, and respond with intention when safety breaks down.


Participants will explore how everyday disruptions such as student withdrawal, peer conflict, or public escalation can become opportunities to strengthen relationships rather than fracture them. Using real classroom scenarios, educators will practice moving from reaction to repair through affective statements, decision mapping, community agreements, victim-offender dialogue, and structured restorative talk circles. Emphasis is placed on regulation before resolution, collective accountability, and repairing harm while maintaining adult authority.


Grounded in evidence-based restorative and SEL practices, this session equips educators with concrete tools they can immediately apply to build classrooms where belonging, trust, and connection lead the way.
Speakers
avatar for Eric Junco

Eric Junco

Director of Academic Cultivation & Engagement / Professor, Northern Illinois University
Dr. Eric Junco is a Director of Academic Cultivation & Engagement and Professor in the College of Education at Northern Illinois University. He teaches a range of undergraduate and graduate courses, including Teaching Science Methods, Classroom Management for Elementary Educators... Read More →
avatar for Miriam Ojaghi

Miriam Ojaghi

SEL and Middle School Consultant, Dekalb Regional Office of Education
Dr. Miriam “Mimi” Ojaghi is a Professional Learning Consultant & SEL Specialist at the DeKalb County Regional Office of Education. As a veteran of over 25 years in education, Mimi has worked in a jail, taught middle school and college, served as a director of after school programming... Read More →
Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Ziock Ballroom B
  Breakout 4
 
2026 Summer Symposium
From $128.36

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