2025 ROE8 Summer Institute: Full Schedule

10:00am CDT

Teacher Developed Student Behavior Intervention Plans LIMITED

Monday June 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

This session will provide tips and tricks on developing student intervention plans while waiting for an official BIP to be developed. The session will be based around how to do a student listening session, gather data from the session and then what to do with it.

Speakers

Linsey McDanel

Kindergarten Teacher, FSD 145

McDanel has been a kindergarten teacher for 21 years. She has a special education and elementary education license. Her and her husband have 5 children, 3 of which have been adopted through foster care. It was through their needs and our inadequacies that McDanel and her husband found... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
210

Local Presenter/Educator

10:00am CDT

Unlocking Potential: Empowering Educators to Support Students Impacted by Trauma LIMITED

Monday June 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

201A

Who holds the key to ensuring our students reach their fullest potential? YOU are the key! This presentation aims to provide educators of all levels with an understanding of what trauma really means, how it may present within our students, its effects on the brain, and how this knowledge can shift our mindsets as educators in supporting our students. The goal is to equip educators with tools to foster supportive, safe, connected and empathetic learning environments that nurture the social, emotional, and academic development of all students, especially those affected by trauma. It takes just one genuine connection to change the trajectory of someone's life.

Speakers

Sarah Nauman

School Counselor, Dorothy Simon Elementary: Winnebago School District

Sarah Nauman, MSEd, LCPC, PEL is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor and an ISCA 2024 School Counselor of the Year Honoree that has spent over a decade in the field of counseling including roles within clinical and mental health counseling and school counseling. She is currently... Read More →

Nauman ROE8 YOU are the Key!.pdf crdownload

Monday June 9, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
201A

Local Presenter/Educator

11:00am CDT

Playful Pathways: Using Games to Teach Emotional Regulation in Early Childhood LIMITED

Monday June 9, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

201D

Presenters: Sam Buss (Special Education Coordinator for Ogle County Educational Cooperative) and Lynn Kalnins (Principal of Chana Education Center - Therapeutic Alternative School)

Young children learn best through play, making games a powerful tool for teaching emotional regulation. In this engaging session, participants will explore how to use interactive and developmentally appropriate games to help children recognize, express, and manage their emotions. From fostering self-awareness to building coping skills, attendees will learn practical strategies for incorporating play into everyday routines to support social-emotional growth. The session will feature hands-on activities, examples of games, and tips for adapting them to diverse needs, empowering educators and caregivers to nurture emotional resilience in a fun and meaningful way.

Speakers

Lynn Kalnins

Principal, Chana Education Center

Lynn is currently the Assistant Principal at Chana Education Center, with a lengthy background in Special Education, Instructional Design and Practice, and Curriculum. CEC houses two programs: a K-age 22 therapeutic public day program for students with significant special education... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
201D

Local Presenter/Educator

11:00am CDT

The Importance of Teaching Communication and Ways to Build It LIMITED

Monday June 9, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

210

This session will discuss the decline of students ability to communicate effectively with each other and explore ways to build communication in ways that engage all students.

Speakers

Linsey McDanel

Kindergarten Teacher, FSD 145

Monday June 9, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
210

Local Presenter/Educator

12:50pm CDT

Stressed to Death LIMITED

Monday June 9, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT

210

Educators are facing the highest levels of stress and burnout in decades, often being forced to address and prioritize the health and well-being of others over their own. Stressed-out educators are less productive, struggle with absenteeism, and have a much higher risk for illness and major medical problems. In this session, learn about the negative impacts of stress on the body from a recovering stress-a-holic and Sudden Cardiac Arrest survivor who was quite literally stressed to death at the age of 28 while working as a school administrator. Hear Heather’s story of survival, learn about the negative impacts of stress on the body, strategies for managing and coping with the many pressures facing educators, and strategies for moving from stressed and overwhelmed to healthy and successful. This presentation is for anyone and everyone!

Speakers

Dr. Heather Baker

Principal, Winnebago CUSD 323/Dorothy Simon Elementary School

On February 1st, 2018, Heather died on the floor at work after suffering from Sudden Cardiac Arrest at the age of 28.Working long hours each day trying to make a name for herself in the world of education, Heather never knew that you could literally become stressed to death.Since... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT
210

Local Presenter/Educator

12:50pm CDT

Supporting Every Learner: SEL Strategies for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities LIMITED

Monday June 9, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT

208

Presenters:
Samantha Buss, LCSW, CADC
Special Education Coordinator

Trisha Bailey, EdD, NCSP, BCBA
School Psychologist

In this session, participants will explore practical strategies and tailored approaches to support social-emotional learning (SEL) for students with low-incidence disabilities. Through engaging discussions, hands-on activities, and real-world examples, attendees will learn how to adapt SEL frameworks to meet the unique needs of these learners. The session will highlight the importance of building emotional awareness, fostering communication, and promoting self-regulation skills while addressing challenges and leveraging strengths. Participants will leave with actionable tools and resources to create inclusive and supportive environments that empower all students to thrive socially and emotionally.

Speakers

Samantha Buss

Special Education Coordinator/School Social Worker, OCEC/Chana

Samantha is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, currently working as a Special Education Coordinator at Ogle County Educational Cooperative, with a lengthy background in Special Education, Social-Emotional Learning, and Trauma-Informed Practices. OCEC provides specialized services... Read More →

Monday June 9, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT
208

Local Presenter/Educator

10:00am CDT

Seesaw: Overview & Create Your Own! LIMITED

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

210

An overview of what Seesaw has to offer as a digital platform for skills portfolio. We will have time to create your own assignment with tricks to make it quick and easy. Advanced Seesawers are welcome to come share, gather more tricks, or just have time to create more as you plan ahead!

Speakers

Jennifer Slater

Teacher, FSD 145 @Empire Elementary

Hello everyone! I’m Jennifer Slater, former 1st grade teacher at Jones-Farrar, an IB World School of 11 years (my 1st dream job, loved it, but my family needed me more present). Now, I am enjoying my next dream job of being Empire's PreK-4th grade art teacher! I grew up in the area... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
210

Local Presenter/Educator

11:00am CDT

Flip that classroom LIMITED

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

210

Flipping your classroom. I have been teaching a flipped classroom for 4 years. My masters paper was on this topic. This would be an intro session to introduce teachers/staff to a successful method that is not lecture based. It will cover methods, technology, differentiation, examples, and a Q&A.

Speakers

Beth Melancen

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
210

Local Presenter/Educator

10:00am CDT

Using Games in the Classroom LIMITED

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

210

Speakers

Cathy Parker

River Bend Schools

I am a Language Arts / Literature teacher with 27 years of experience. Seven of my years were spent in Special Education teaching children with learning disabilities. I am currently an 8th ELA Grade teacher. Four years ago, my colleagues and I implemented a weekly Game Club in our... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
210

Local Presenter/Educator

11:00am CDT

Quiet Kids: Empowering Introverts to Lead in a Noisy Classroom LIMITED

Wednesday June 11, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

206

Introverts are all around us and it is time we start taking notice of what they have to say in our schools and in our classrooms! This session will help you learn how to help create a learning environment that is conducive to learning for all students, not just extroverts. This introductory session will draw from the work of Susan Cain, author of “Quiet Power: The Secret Strengths of Introverted Kids” as well as the presenter’s experience teaching over the last 15 years.

Speakers

Alex T. Valencic

Professional Learning Coordinator, District

Alex Valencic is an educator, former small business owner, Boy Scout, volunteer drug prevention specialist, unrepentant bibliophile, and a geek of all things. Although his professional teaching career began in 2008, he likes to say that he started teaching when he was just thirteen... Read More →

Wednesday June 11, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
206

Local Presenter/Educator

11:00am CDT

Using Games in the Classroom LIMITED

Wednesday June 11, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

210

Speakers

Cathy Parker

River Bend Schools

Wednesday June 11, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
210

Local Presenter/Educator

12:50pm CDT

Simulating History: How role playing and simulations games can transform your social studies classroom LIMITED

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT

208

The session will start with a brief overview of how simulation and role playing games can work in the classroom (the focus will be on social studies, but other subject areas may find the information beneficial). We will then run through a quick simulation activity that they can take back to their classrooms or use as a model for creating their own activities. Attendees should ideally be jr high or high school social studies teachers, they do not need to have experience with role playing games.

Speakers

Dana Jarrard-Lameyer

Social Studies Teacher, Pearl City

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT
208

Local Presenter/Educator

12:50pm CDT

Tiny Hands, Big Gains: Nurturing Fine Motor Skills in Young Children LIMITED

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT

206

Educators will explore practical strategies and activities that support the development of fine motor skills in young children. Through hands-on experiences, participants will learn how to incorporate engaging, age-appropriate tasks that enhance coordination, strength, and dexterity. This session emphasizes the importance of fine motor skill development as a foundation for future academic and social success. We will discuss how to incorporate some activities into the classroom and then explore some of the materials that I use in my classroom. Participants are also encouraged to bring ideas of things that they do in their classroom to share with the group.

Speakers

Sara Wand

Kindergarten Teacher, Winnebago School District

Wednesday June 11, 2025 12:50pm - 1:40pm CDT
206

Local Presenter/Educator