2025 GOCSD Innovation Summit

Join us for an insightful session where we’ll share effective strategies and ideas for 6-12 classroom teachers, grounded in the science of reading. Drawing on the valuable insights from our district’s 6-12 teachers participating in LETRS, this presentation will offer practical, research-based approaches to enhance literacy instruction. Whether you're looking to strengthen reading comprehension, vocabulary, or writing skills, you'll leave with actionable strategies to support diverse learners and improve outcomes in your classroom. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from both research and real-world teacher experiences!

Professional learning that transfers from workshop to workplace with high levels of implementation is a challenge for all who lead professional learning sessions. Examine and apply a design model that supports the development of a quality professional learning session that increases the probability of implementation of learning into practice with the goal of making a difference for student learning.

Professional Learning Communities are successful as a result of high levels of collaboration that are focused on the right outcomes in which all team members are highly engaged. While often taken for granted, to achieve this level of collaboration requires intentional group member engagement and careful facilitation. Explore strategies and skills needed of all group members that will result in teams collaborating around desired outcomes with the greatest effectiveness and efficiency.

"A thinking student is an engaged student." - Peter Liljedahl. When students are highly engaged and thinking critically, their learning is deeper and lasts longer. Students standing instead of sitting, working at vertical surfaces, and working collaboratively are all practices that keep students engaged and thinking critically. In this session, you will learn how two teachers implemented the ideas from Peter Liljedahl's groundbreaking book Building Thinking Classrooms in their classrooms. Participants do not need to have read the book in order to participate in this introductory session.

School counselors play a vital role in student success, yet their responsibilities are often misunderstood. This session will clarify the differences between counselors and other faculty while showcasing how they support SEL education and student well-being. Participants will explore practical strategies for collaboration and uncover the hidden strengths of school counselors—like maintaining a poker face in outlandish situations and mastering the art of open-ended questions. By understanding these skills, educators can work more effectively with counselors to create a supportive learning environment where students thrive.