MEDIA: UND plans triple-header for regional educators June 17-18

Pages & Pathways conference for regional educators hosts leaders in literacy, STEM and well-being

WHO: PreK-12 teachers in North Dakota and Minnesota.

WHAT: Pages & Pathways PreK-12 Science of Learning Conference.

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., June 17-18.

WHERE: UND Memorial Union, 2901 University Ave., Grand Forks, N.D.

COST: $30 for one day, $45 for both.

CONTACT: For questions, please contact Outreach for Teacher Recruitment and Retention team members Katie Stermer at katie.stermer@und.edu or Patricia Lopez at patricia.lopez@und.edu.

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Conference adds workshops to give regional educators deeper dive

The UND College of Education & Human Development — with support from the North Dakota Department of Public Instruction — has lined up a triple-header for this year’s Pages & Pathways PreK-12 Science of Learning Conference set for June 17-18 in the UND Memorial Union.

The two-day conference for teachers and others in the education profession will host speakers Stephanie Stollar, Bill Bass and Kelli Odden, leaders in literacy, STEM and well-being, respectively.

Outreach Specialist Katie Stermer, co-coordinator of Outreach for Teacher Recruitment and Retention, said organizers this year tried to prioritize local- and state-identified areas of need for PreK-12 educators within all three pathways.

“Not only are we excited to bring in three wonderful headliners who are leaders in their field, we also believe our 58 other presenters will provide relevant and timely learning opportunities,” Stermer said. “This isn’t a regular book study or one-size-fits-all professional event. Attendees will have up to nine options for learning within each session slot, so they can personalize their learning throughout the conference.”

Stermer said the conference also added longer workshops to give educators the chance to dive even deeper into their desired topics.

“Attendees will be able to explore, gather, analyze and discuss emerging instructional ideas and resources as well as experience community and collaboration with their PreK-12 peers across the state and region,” she said. “We want teachers to leave with concrete ideas for implementation in their classrooms and with resources to further nurture their curiosity and growth. And we hope teachers will leave with a renewed sense of excitement and energy for a new year of learning and innovation in the fall.”

About the headliners

Here is what the conference website had to say about the headliners …

• Literacy headliner Stephanie Stollar is passionate about using MTSS as the framework for helping all students become skilled readers. She’s the founder of the Reading Science Academy, an online community where more than 1,000 educators support each other to improve results in their schools. Stollar also advises the next generation of education policy leaders in her role as an assistant professor at Mount St. Joseph University. She served as a vice president at Acadience Learning, provided training and consultation to hundreds of school districts, worked as an assistant professor of school psychology and as a school psychologist. Stollar believes that by supporting all educators, high achievement is possible for every student.
• STEM headliner Bill Bass is an award-winning educator who currently serves as the innovation coordinator for Instructional Technology, Information, Library Media and Federal Programs in the Parkway School District in St. Louis. Bass focuses on the systemic use of technology to break down barriers to student learning experiences. As an international speaker, writer and professional developer, he focuses on systemic and sustainable integration of technology into classrooms at all grade levels.
• Well-being headliner Kelli Odden is the dean and chair of the Division of Education at Mayville State University. Odden has 33 years (and counting) of teaching experience in elementary, special education, early childhood and as an administrator. She teaches diversity, special education and early childhood courses at Mayville State University. Odden is actively involved in the National Association for Early Childhood Teacher Educators as the organization’s president-elect. Her research interests focus on social and emotional guidance in early childhood, adult mental health, educational leadership, humor as a teaching strategy and relationship building as a teaching tool. She believes working with professionals in the field and pre-service teachers daily is an absolute joy.

“This conference is a great example of how a higher education institution may be able to support our PreK-12 educators in our schools,” Stermer said. “We hope attendees are left feeling that UND is an education leader that values teacher retention efforts.”

>> CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS: The first 250 North Dakota teachers to register are eligible to receive up to two continuing education credits free of charge thanks to a grant from North Dakota EPSCoR. That can be a savings up to $160.

>> REGISTRATION IS OPEN: Educators may register online now.