Ever wonder how the other guys get all of that money in their development shops? Wondering why your development program always seems to be in flux? This lively and informative session will cover the basics of developing and implementing a successful development program for your school. The session will focus on practical “how-tos” including developing the annual fund, donor strategies and cultivation plans. Participants will take away dozens of tools and tips to help make their development program more effective.​

Do you know about the STEM tools you have available to you through the CSCOE STEM library? Come experience ways that you can integrate robots, coding, 3Doodlers and more into your classroom through activities built with the classroom in mind. The STEM Playground is not a demo space where you will be taught how to use a tool. Rather it is a space where you will learn how to use the tool through participating in an activity that you can use in your classroom. This session is great for K-8 teachers as there are activities that span all grade levels.

Student use of generative AI in the classroom is helpful when students know how to properly use AI platforms. Educators will learn about utilizing AI platforms that have been created for school and student use. We will discuss how educators can safely facilitate student use, best practices, and AI literacy. ​​​​​​​​​

In this session, participants will learn about common accommodations that can be made in every classroom to make curriculum and instruction accessible to all learners. With some simple adjustments or the use of common technologies, students with exceptional learning needs can fully participate in the classroom. Co-presenter Dane Paul will share his story about witnessing the challenges of his sibling, who has a hearing impairment, and make recommendations for how students who are deaf or hearing impaired can be accommodated and included in the life of a Catholic school. 

This session is for teachers and administrators who must deal with difficult topics in school. Conflict within the staff, delivering difficult messages to parents, relating to co-workers, and other issues will be discussed. You will learn concrete communication strategies to help you be better able to listen to, relate, and communicate with those people in your life who challenge you. I will give you the words to say, the strategies to endure awkward silences, and skills to defuse anger, calm conflict and relate to others. You will leave with a renewed sense of confidence in handling the most difficult conversations with calm grace, empathic understanding, and strong boundaries.​​

As Catholic educators, we are deeply mission-driven, dedicated to our students, schools, and the mission of Catholic education. However, this dedication can lead to feeling completely depleted. How can we continue to grow in our vocation while avoiding burnout? This workshop delves into the concept of "vocation," offering insights and practical steps to achieve the elusive balance in life that we all seek. Participants will learn strategies for self-care, time management, and maintaining a sustainable passion for their work, ensuring they can continue to give without sacrificing their well-being.​​​​​​​

This suicide prevention training will meet the 1 hour MDE requirement for school faculty and staff. It seeks to provide participants a grounding in the warning signs of suicide in students and adults, best practices and resources around response for those struggling, and some hopeful ideas for the classroom which have been shown to be protective for student mental health.​​​​​​​​​​

All families seek to belong. Learn simple, effective strategies to partner with your parish(es) in building a culture of belonging. This session will provide practical tools to help families grow in Christ, enhancing the sense of community within the greater church and your school. Discover ways to create welcoming environments, foster meaningful connections, and support spiritual development. By working together, we can strengthen the bonds between families, parishes, and schools for the good of the entire faith community. Join us to make a lasting impact and nurture a thriving, inclusive community.

Most people go through their primary and secondary education with little to no formation in reading poetry. And yet it is a fundamental part of human culture. Thus, there needs to be a renewed appreciation for poetry in school curricula. It has to start, however, with the teacher's own love and understanding of poetry, which cannot be left to literature teachers alone. The Catholic mind and imagination has resources for appreciating poetry that go far beyond what even an addition to standard curricula could contribute.​

For far too long there has been a major misconception that Latino parents simply do not want to participate in their child’s education. This could not be further from the truth. This session will explore how Latino parents define involvement in their child’s education, reasons for their possible reticence to become involved, and ways to ensure that your Latino families are a vibrant part of your school community.​​​​

Discover the transformative power of movement and learning. This session explores how purposeful physical activity positively impacts concentration, reading, and writing skills. Research shows that thinking and learning are not all in our head and that physical activity creates an optimal condition for learning. Discover how to harness your students' restless energy and enhance their focus. Attendees will leave inspired, empowered, and equipped to support student success.​​​​​​​​

This will cover all the trends out there, including reels, hashtags, memes, and anything else that may come up between now and October. I will explain how those tactics help support your strategy, but they are not a strategy in themselves and should not be your sole focus when it comes to social. During this session, I will discuss the power of IG and FB Stories and how to show up on stories rather than posts (it's different, I promise!) This session will have a longer Q&A as I know this type of stuff triggers many questions from audiences.​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Join us for a hands-on exploration of Engineering is Elementary kits! This breakout session will delve into these engaging kits designed to spark curiosity and ignite a passion for STEM in your K-8 classroom. Prepare to roll up your sleeves, dive into creative problem-solving, and discover how to unleash the engineer within your students. From building bridges to designing windmills, we'll explore the endless possibilities these kits offer for hands-on learning and STEM enrichment. Whether you're a seasoned educator or new to STEM education, this session will inspire and equip you with practical strategies for integrating these kits into your curriculum. Come ready to play, learn, and laugh as we embark on an exciting journey through the world of Engineering is Elementary!​​

Struggling with setting screen limits in your classroom? This science-backed presentation provides the education teachers and families need to understand the science behind childhood screen addiction. We cover facts about healthy brain development, the dopamine reward pathway, the effect of video games and social media on the teen brain, and the warning signs of screen overuse and addiction. We conclude with the ScreenStrong Solution, a proven pathway for families to make the countercultural choice to move childhood back to the in-person world. By simplifying the science behind screen addiction, ScreenStrong empowers teachers to rethink screen use in the classroom, reclaiming focus and reconnecting with students.​

Many of us understand the importance of advance healthcare directives stating how to care for someone in medical need. But, do your school leaders, educators, and business office have a vision on the importance of advance educational directives for your school? How does your school care for and serve God’s students, families, and prospective families? It begins with a shared mindset: we are all part of the mission -- we are all part of the advancement of Catholic education -- we are all part of the admissions team! Let’s put a care plan in place for your school so that your community events, classroom experiences, and enrollment endeavors turn to gold! And, with first class customer service, our students and families will advance with us through graduation and beyond!

Our vision is for every student to be surrounded by leaders who nurture, inspire, and support them. The Catalyst Approach enhances classroom leadership, builds deeper relationships, and fosters a unified culture. With insights from over 50,000 classroom observations, our curriculum equips educators with strategies to improve learning and access for all students, including those with neurodivergence. We help educators appreciate their impact, fostering understanding and independence in students and staff, creating happier, calmer, and more connected learning environments. This session covers our mission, strategies, impacts, and support for implementation.​​​​​

Music is one of the most powerful gifts that God has given to His people in order for them to experience beauty and grace. In Catholic schools, our students have the added opportunity to offer this gift of music back to God in the context of liturgy, prayer, and concerts. In this session we’ll consider some of the ways to prepare and equip students for greater participation and leadership in musical and prayerful situations, and to maximize opportunities for them to recognize the value of music in their lives and in the Church.​​​​​​​

Attention Greater MN School Leaders! Are you interested in learning more about the Believe and Read literacy partnership? Join the literacy experts from Groves Literacy Partnerships to learn about the Groves Method Framework and how it can be employed at your school to positively impact teacher literacy instruction and lead to positive student literacy outcomes. CSCOE funds the Believe and Read program and it is successfully implemented in over 66 MN Catholic schools.​​​​​​​

In recent decades, virtue as a way of life has diminished in Catholic education. This talk will delve into the what, why, and how of virtue education, offering a comprehensive overview of its principles and benefits. Explore the reasons why integrating virtue into the curriculum can enrich students' moral development and enhance their overall educational experience. Hear from numerous educators who have successfully implemented virtue education in their classrooms, gaining confidence and finding it to be a valuable, rather than burdensome, addition. This session will provide practical insights and inspire a renewed commitment to virtue in Catholic education.

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a decades old, research-based framework proven to be effective for classrooms with a wide range of student abilities and learning challenges (aka, all classrooms.) One aspect of UDL calls educators to consider the significance and impact of the learning environment. This session focuses on classroom design and its impact on learner success. An interactive and visually-oriented presentation, participants will consider elements of classroom design and how learning spaces can present obstacles and opportunities for neurotypical and neuro-divergent students.​