Instruction

If you're a new teacher, about to be a new teacher, or you support new teachers, then this webinar series is for you! Join acclaimed educators Tom Hierck and Alex Kajitani for an engaging and insightful look at exactly how you can set yourself up for success this school year and avoid some of the biggest mistakes new teachers make—all while caring for yourself, too. Regardless of how you have arrived at this teaching job, you'll leave with real tools and strategies that you can implement immediately to be a highly effective teacher who loves what they do.

This workshop is designed to equip you with the essential skills to confidently lead any classroom, whether you're a new teacher or a substitute stepping in. This session will focus on providing practical and well-tested strategies and resources to help you gear up for the start of the year.

Rachel E. Morris is an instructional coach in the Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa. Her expertise in instructional strategies, data analysis, and collaborative problem-solving has empowered educators to enhance their teaching practices and improve student outcomes.

Samantha K. Dykes is an instructional coach at Linn-Mar Community School District in Marion, Iowa, where she has been a driving force in inspiring innovation through professional development.

Rachel Swearengin teaches fifth grade in Olathe Public Schools and serves as a field educator for the Kansas State Department of Education, leading professional development and contributing to assessment and planning committees.

Join us at the Effective Instruction Institute to elevate your instructional practices and boost student achievement! Effective Tier 1 instruction allows students to thrive while minimizing the need for additional support. By mastering grade-level essential standards, students build a solid academic foundation that supports lifelong learning. At the Effective Instruction Institute, teachers will sharpen their instructional skills to ensure student achievement. Learn how to support students to and through proficiency by attending the Effective Instruction Institute.

Shanna K. Helmke has been a dedicated educator since 2011. Alongside her work as an instructional coach, she also serves as an adjunct professor at Mount Mercy University in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, furthering her commitment to fostering excellence in education.

Enhance your instruction and engage your students through our webinar. Join author Erik M. Francis he unveils strategies that will prompt and encourage students to develop, demonstrate, and deepen their learning through inquiry and questioning. Participants will learn different ways to phrase and pose good questions that will “hook” students, inspire curiosity, set the instructional focus, serve as assessments, and personalize learning. Explore how teaching and learning with an inquiring mind ensures the experience is educational, enriching, and exciting for all.

In this workshop, instructional coaches and school leaders will explore the SIMPLE Approach. This comprehensive system combines The SIMPLE Shift and The SIMPLE Blueprint to build sustainable coaching cultures and promote teacher and student growth. Participants will learn how to implement The SIMPLE Shift to transform school culture and align coaching initiatives with school improvement goals while applying The SIMPLE Blueprint to create structured, data-driven coaching programs. Through collaborative activities, attendees will connect coaching practices with leadership strategies, ensuring alignment and support. By the end of the workshop, you will return to your school with practical tools and a strategic action plan for developing impactful coaching programs that drive lasting change.

Effectively supporting beginning teachers is crucial for both retention and developing their expertise. In the second edition of her book Supporting Beginning Teachers, Dr. Tina H. Boogren shares research that is critical to understanding how mentors and coaches can support those just now entering the field. During this interactive webinar, Dr. Boogren will detail specific strategies for designing an effective mentoring program that provides essential physical, emotional, instructional, and institutional support.