This session will provide rationale behind why structuring the physical areas of your classroom and providing visual supports can help create a more organized and functional learning environment for students with unique learning needs. Participants will be offered a variety of different examples that could guide their own classroom planning and organization. Targets of this session will include room arrangement, student work areas, and physical and/or visual boundaries, as well as a variety of visual supports.
Non-speaking does not mean non-reading. This dynamic, hands-on session empowers educators with practical strategies to deliver phonics and literacy instruction to students with complex communication needs. Participants will rotate through engaging stations that model accessible tools like AAC, eye-gaze boards, and alternate pencils. You’ll learn how to build phonological awareness, support independent reading, and assess literacy without relying on oral responses. Walk away with materials, ideas, and confidence to help every learner find their voice through literacy.
Alternate Assessment Coordinator/Professional Learning Facilitator, Des Moines Public Schools
Adam holds a Professional Learning Facilitator position and serves as the Alternate Assessment Coordinator for Des Moines Public Schools, specializing in support of students with Intellectual Disabilities. Over the past two years, he has additionally contributed his expertise as a... Read More →
I am a special education teacher, now serving students, families, and staff as an autism strategist for Des Moines Schools. I look forward to learning and collaborating throughout this Summer Institute.
This session is designed to empower educators with the knowledge and practical strategies needed to explicitly teach social and emotional learning (SEL) competencies and positive behavioral expectations. This offering underscores the critical link between explicit instruction in SEL and effective behavior management, highlighting how a clear and intentional approach can lead to more positive, engaging, and productive learning environments. By enhancing students' access to both academic and social learning, educators can foster holistic development.
BCBA - Behavior Strategist, Des Moines Public Schools
I am a BCBA and Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with excellent teaming, problem solving and communication skills, and am committed to providing exceptional service through collaboration, modeling, coaching and consultation to increase skills and decrease barriers for the... Read More →
This session will provide rationale behind why structuring the physical areas of your classroom and providing visual supports can help create a more organized and functional learning environment for students with unique learning needs. Participants will be offered a variety of different examples that could guide their own classroom planning and organization. Targets of this session will include room arrangement, student work areas, and physical and/or visual boundaries, as well as a variety of visual supports.
Ready to unlock the next level of phonics instruction? This session will equip you with the foundational tools of structured literacy, reinforcing the critical connection between word recognition, decoding, and reading comprehension. You'll explore newly designed phonics checklists and FastBridge to learn how to write meaningful IEP goals and monitor progress with confidence. Whether you’re just entering the game or already have your phonics power-ups, this session will level up your assessment toolkit and clarify the “why” behind the code.
Special Education Professional Learning Facilitator, Des Moines Public Schools
Purple MAE Cohort in Educational Leadership (UNI - 2025)Endorsement in Special Education Consulting (Morningside - 2023)MS in Education with an Emphasis in Special Education (ISU 2020)Elementary Education: ELA, Reading, and Special Education (ISU 2015)Advocate for the Science of Reading... Read More →
Unlocking Literacy Stats: A Beginner’s Guide to Capti-Assess ReadBasix
New to Capti-Assess ReadBasix? This session is your beginner’s guide to unlocking the potential of this diagnostic tool. We’ll walk through the basics of navigating the ReadBasix platform, understanding the six foundational reading subtests, and interpreting student data. Then we’ll explore how to connect data insights to the design of specially designed instruction (SDI), with a focus on actionable next steps for targeting student needs. Whether you’re just getting started or need a refresher, this session will equip you with the tools to make data-informed decisions that support student growth. Note: This is for high school practitioners only.
Pixel by Pixel: Building Counting Strategies One Stage at a Time (Stages 1-4)
Ready to press start on deeper numeracy understanding? Join us on a pixelated journey through the first four stages of counting development, where every skill mastered is a power-up for student success! In this interactive session, we’ll explore how counting strategies evolve—stage by stage—and how to recognize where your students are on their numeracy quest. You’ll gain practical tools, hands-on ideas, and easy-to-implement supports to help learners "level up" from one stage to the next. Whether your students are just starting to count coins (counting from one) or strategizing their moves (counting on and back), you’ll walk away with everything you need to guide them on their path to numeracy victory!
Objectives: 🟢 Understand the progression of counting strategies in Stages 1–4 🟢 Discover classroom-ready strategies to support growth at each stage
This training is tailored for beginning educators who wish to enhance their understanding of Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and the execution of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and practical exercises, participants will acquire essential skills to comprehend their pivotal role in the development of the FBA and grasp the fundamental elements of BIPs. This knowledge will equip participants to implement interventions effectively, that promote positive change for students with behaviors that interfere with learning in a school setting. This is a repeat session from the 2024 Special Education Summer Institute.
Professional Learning Facilitator, BCBA, Des Moines Public Schools
Charla is a Professional Learning Facilitator at Des Moines Public Schools with a specialized focus on behavior. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2018, Charla has a storied career spanning nearly two decades, dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities.With... Read More →
Join us for an engaging and meaningful quest into the world of trauma-informed teaching, designed specifically for educators working with students who have intellectual disabilities. In this interactive session, we’ll uncover how trauma impacts learning and behavior, especially for students who may communicate and experience the world differently. You'll gain practical, compassionate strategies to co-regulate, build trust, and support healing—while also taking care of yourself in the process.
While this session focuses on students with Intellectual Disabilities, the content can be adapted to support any student who has experienced trauma
Trigger Warning: There will be mention of trauma and abuse in this session.
Alternate Assessment Coordinator/Professional Learning Facilitator, Des Moines Public Schools
Adam holds a Professional Learning Facilitator position and serves as the Alternate Assessment Coordinator for Des Moines Public Schools, specializing in support of students with Intellectual Disabilities. Over the past two years, he has additionally contributed his expertise as a... Read More →
Helping students improve their writing skills can feel like the ultimate boss battle. In this session, we’ll break down writing into manageable moves using evidence-based practices that really work. Learn how to build strong sentences and paragraphs with The Writing Revolution, and tackle longer writing pieces with the SRSD model. We’ll also draw from The Writing Rope to connect foundational strands into a cohesive instructional game plan. Walk away with lesson templates and strategies that help students power-up their writing—no cheat codes required.
Special Education Professional Learning Facilitator, Des Moines Public Schools
Purple MAE Cohort in Educational Leadership (UNI - 2025)Endorsement in Special Education Consulting (Morningside - 2023)MS in Education with an Emphasis in Special Education (ISU 2020)Elementary Education: ELA, Reading, and Special Education (ISU 2015)Advocate for the Science of Reading... Read More →
In this session, we’ll explore morphology instruction and its powerful impact on students’ word recognition and language comprehension. We’ll start by defining key elements of morphology instruction, then dive into strategies for selecting high-leverage words and word parts, and implementing engaging practice activities that help students master them. You'll leave with a teachable routine for decoding unfamiliar multisyllabic words and ideas for incorporating morphology into instructional planning and data analysis.
🎮 Level Up with Data: Using Assessments to Power Instructional Moves Get ready to activate your inner data detective! In this session, we’ll explore how to unlock the full potential of math screeners and progress monitoring tools to guide targeted instruction in K–8 classrooms. We’ll walk through how to interpret student assessment data and areas to target instruction. Perfect for special education teachers and support staff, this session focuses on turning assessment into action—so you can help every student level up with confidence and clarity. Objectives: 📊 Learn how to analyze screening and progress monitoring data 🚀 Design instruction that’s responsive, intentional, and student-centered
I am a special education teacher, now serving students, families, and staff as an autism strategist for Des Moines Schools. I look forward to learning and collaborating throughout this Summer Institute.
This dynamic session is designed to boost your collaboration game by equipping you with practical strategies and essential insights for working effectively with associates. Through an engaging exploration of behavior skills training, clear role expectations, classroom management, and organizational techniques, you'll gain the tools to build a unified and empowered team. Walk away ready to energize your support staff and power up your classroom impact! This is a repeat session from 2024 titled Accelerating Associates.
Dive into the dynamic world of literacy instruction by Drs. Karen Erickson and David Koppenhaver by exploring their book “Comprehensive Literacy for All” along with updated information from the Comprehensive Literacy for All conference. This course will explore evidence-based practices and strategies to foster comprehensive literacy skills in diverse learners. Participants will start to explore the foundational principles of literacy development, including phonemic awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, while gaining practical tools for differentiation and individualized instruction.
Alternate Assessment Coordinator/Professional Learning Facilitator, Des Moines Public Schools
Adam holds a Professional Learning Facilitator position and serves as the Alternate Assessment Coordinator for Des Moines Public Schools, specializing in support of students with Intellectual Disabilities. Over the past two years, he has additionally contributed his expertise as a... Read More →
This dynamic training session is crafted for educators who are committed to proactively addressing student behaviors before they escalate at an individual student level and classroom structure level. Participants will delve into effectively implementing functionally aligned prevention strategies. The session will cover the essentials of identifying early warning signs and creating supportive environments to implement effective Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs) that prevent negative behaviors in school settings. Participants will leave equipped with practical tools and strategies, ready to foster a positive educational environment that proactively addresses students' behavioral needs according to their individualized BIP.
Professional Learning Facilitator, BCBA, Des Moines Public Schools
Charla is a Professional Learning Facilitator at Des Moines Public Schools with a specialized focus on behavior. A Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) since 2018, Charla has a storied career spanning nearly two decades, dedicated to enhancing the lives of individuals with disabilities.With... Read More →
BCBA - Behavior Strategist, Des Moines Public Schools
I am a BCBA and Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) with excellent teaming, problem solving and communication skills, and am committed to providing exceptional service through collaboration, modeling, coaching and consultation to increase skills and decrease barriers for the... Read More →
This session will provide time to review IEPs and complete the student planning grid for students with the support of facilitators. Time to create materials to match student needs will also be provided.
*Participants must have attended at least one of the sessions listed: Physical Structures and Visual Supports, Schedules and Routines, Independent Work Systems, or Delivering Instruction and Answering the 4 Questions
Unlocking Literacy Stats: A Beginner’s Guide to Capti-Assess ReadBasix
New to Capti-Assess ReadBasix? This session is your beginner’s guide to unlocking the potential of this diagnostic tool. We’ll walk through the basics of navigating the ReadBasix platform, understanding the six foundational reading subtests, and interpreting student data. Then we’ll explore how to connect data insights to the design of specially designed instruction (SDI), with a focus on actionable next steps for targeting student needs. Whether you’re just getting started or need a refresher, this session will equip you with the tools to make data-informed decisions that support student growth. Note: This is for high school practitioners only.
🧱 From Concrete to Concept: Using the CRA Model to Develop Conceputal Understanding in K-6 Mathematics
Ready to power up your math instruction? This session takes you on a hands-on journey through the CRA (Concrete–Representational–Abstract) model, a powerful framework for helping students build deep, lasting conceptual understanding in mathematics. You’ll explore how to use manipulatives, visual models, and abstract reasoning to guide learners through math concepts—not just procedures. Perfect for K–6 educators, especially those supporting diverse learners, this session offers practical strategies for designing instruction that meets students where they are and moves them forward—one level at a time. Whether you're teaching counting, place value, operations, or fractions, you'll leave with a toolkit of strategies that make math meaningful, accessible, and fun.
Objectives: 🎮 Understand the stages of the CRA model and how they support conceptual development 🎮 Explore concrete and visual strategies to bridge gaps in understanding 🎮 Learn how to design instruction that meets students’ unique needs through CRA 🎮 Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for leveling up math thinking in your classroom
