WSTC Spring Institute
This event was formerly known as the "Interdisciplinary Conference" and is a Summer Institute-style training opportunity that focuses on high quality, concentrated professional development for non-teaching staff - health, education managers, family support, home visitors, etc.
| Dates: | April 18-20, 2011 |
| Location: | Red Lion, Bellevue, WA |
| Deadlines: | Hotel deadline - 3/23/11 |
| Registration: | Click here to Register |
| Agenda: | Draft Agenda |
| Fees: | $205 for WSTC Members (ask Katy if you don't know if your program is a member), $295 for non-members |
| Accommodations: | $95 + tax, Deadline 3/23/11, Red Lion Bellevue, 425-455-5240 |
| Information: | Email or call Katy Warren at 425-453-1227. |
Courses offered, all 2.5 days:
Family Support Emerging Topics
Audience: Family advocates, home visitors, parent engagement specialists
Instructor – Deborah Northern, M. Ed., Puget Sound ESD, Deborah Northern, M. Ed. is a skilled trainer in professional development, dedicated and committed to thriving communities and the continued improvement of the quality of life for all children, youth and families. Deborah brings over 19 years of experience with Head Start, ECEAP, K - 20 Education Systems, Training and Development, Program Design and Evaluation, Family Services, Diversity, Equity, Leadership and Community Partnerships. She is currently the Family Engagement Manager with Puget Sound Educational Service District.
Course Description: This course will cover a number of emergent issues in working with families, including:
“Moving On Yet Staying Involved”: Transition From Early Learning to Public Schools for Families. Coordinating with school districts to promote continuity of services and effective transition of children and families from our early learning programs into the school system is an important effort in Head Start and ECEAP. School readiness is an important preparation step not only for children in our programs but parents as well. We have an opportunity to maximize the personal and leadership development families experience while with us. In Family Support, we strive to ensure that families are prepared to continue to be an advocate and the first and best teacher for their child throughout the educational journeys.
There are major differences in the parent involvement experience in our Head Start and ECEAP programs vs. the public schools. This session will explore these differences approaches that will help provide families with information and tools they can use as they move forward, empowering families to support their children’s academic success.
To Thine Own Self Be True : Understanding Compassion Fatigue - Day in, day out, Family Support staff may find it difficult to continue to provide hope and when constantly presented with heart wrenching, emotionally distressing situations and circumstances heard from the families we serve. It is possible to practice healthy, ongoing self-care while successfully continuing to care and provide support for others.
Most people never take the time to understand how their jobs affect them emotionally. The social realities of shrinking community resources, increasing needs of children and families, etc. cuts, can take its toll. It is then, self care becomes a very important aspect of our work.
To stay on the path of personal wellness begins with one small step: awareness. A heightened awareness is important to ensuring that we are “at our best” to “do our best” work with children and families. With support, insightful information, and authentic self-care, you can begin to understand the complexity of the emotions you've been juggling and, most likely, suppressing. This session will focus on how to understand the dynamics of compassion fatigue and develop personal strategies to effectively address it.
Integrating CLASS into your program
Audience: Education managers, supervisors, directors
Instructor – Maria Wilson, Head Start T&TA Network - Maria Wilson is the Washington StateCenter Manager/ECE Specialist for the Head Start/Early Head Start Region X TTA Centers.
Course Description:
Here in Washington we have many education managers and specialists trained in being ‘reliable observers’ in the CLASS assessment tool. Now we need to take the next, more complicated step – fully integrate CLASS into your Head Start or ECEAP program in a systemic way. This training will help supervisors, coordinators, trainers, and consultants already trained in CLASS to work with teachers on CLASS™ concepts and practices. The training covers a review of CLASS™ dimensions, practice defining the dimensions in teacher-friendly language, practice giving feedback based on CLASS™ dimensions and observations, problem-solving around CLASS™ coaching dilemmas, and a range of options for inserting CLASS™ into professional development strategies (e.g., training, coaching, and professional learning communities).
The integration of CLASS into ongoing program practice will help programs raise the quality of teaching and classroom interactions overall, and will help guide our state’s professional development needs in years to come.
Coaching for Success - A Framework for Thinking Using a 5 Step Coaching Process
Audience: Home Visitors, Professional Development specialists, others who regularly mentor and coach parents or employees
Instructor – Constant Hine, Horizons in Learning- Constant Hine is a nationally recognized dynamic, motivational and inspirational education speaker, coach, trainer, consultant and author. She specializes in helping professionals present information to children and adults using respectful, individualized, and diverse teaching strategies to engage all learners and ensure successful learning experiences. She brings a practical and "down-to-earth" style to her presentations, consulting and books.
She has an MA in Teaching/ECE from Nova University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She has over 20 years experience in the field of education. She has been a classroom teacher, (working with 2 year olds to high school students). As a supervisor, program evaluator, consultant and adult educator she has had the opportunity to work with programs throughout North America. She currently lives in Lakewood, CO where her consulting business, Horizons In Learning, is located.
Course Description:
This course offers professional development specialists, coaches and home site visitors an opportunity to learn practical strategies to increase their own intentional scaffolding and coaching strategies and become more effective at supporting the early childhood professionals and parents they work with. Participants will learn practical coaching strategies that increase and expand the continuum of intentional skills and interactions to support early childhood teachers and parents to become more successful to meet the needs of children. Participants will learn and practice the 5-step Closing the Gap Coaching process and a Framework for Thinking.
Health Emerging Topics
Audience: Health coordinators, specialists, teachers, family supervisors
Instructors – Various
Course Description:
This course will cover a number of emerging topics in Health, using a variety of experts around the region. More information to follow!