Workshops
AI Tools for Standards Aligned Literacy Rich Instruction
9:00-3:00
Location: Caldwell County Schools Boardroom
Facilitator- Stacy Lovdahl, NCDPI Western DTL Consultant
0.5 Content Credit
Use AI tools to integrate high leverage literacy instruction into any content area. Explore resources from the Literacy Instruction Standards and the Academic Discourse Playbook and learn how to use them alongside your own teacher and district materials to create a personalized AI. Use a North Carolina custom-designed prompt to unpack your standards and create engaging, literacy-rich lessons tailored to your standard course of study. Next, explore feedback and differentiation tools to leverage AI to personalize your classroom and learn how to use Google Gemini tools available in your EDU workspace to powerup your workflow and classroom instruction. Participants will leave with an AI-rich toolbox and actionable resources.
School Law Updates-School Attorney Chris Campbell (Virtual)
9:00-11:30
.25 Admin CEU
Employment Legal Issues
- Basics of Employee Investigations and Performance Issues
- Employee Free Speech
- Emerging Law Topic (to be announced in advance)
Members- FREE
Non-members- $35
February 11, 2026
School Law Updates-School Attorney Chris Campbell (Virtual)
9:00-11:30
.25 Admin CEU
Special Education Legal Issues
- Special Education Discipline for Non-E.C. Administrators
- The Intersection of MDRs, Threat Assessments, and Alternative Placements for EC Students
- Emerging Law Topic (to be announced in advance)
Members- FREE
Non- Members- $35
February 24, 2026
Crucial Influence
9:00 am-4:00 pm
Catawba County Schools BT Resource Room
Crucial influence, a continuation of Crucial Conversations, uses years of social science research to teach the Six Sources of Influence model. This course reveals the personal, social, and structural sources that shape behavior and teaches a method for using these sources to influence the employees around you and to get results.
***Total cost of book is $256- NWRESA will cover $100 per participant, districts will be responsible for the remaining $156.
.5 Admin Credit
Members- $100
NonMembers- $75/day + 256/book= $331
March 3, 2026
Number Talks with Computation Fluency
9:00-3:00
Wilkes County Schools Boardroom
Alycen Wilson, Retired Instructional Coach
Join us for a full day of enhancing our math instruction.
Our morning will be about strengthening student fluency through Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division. Our afternoon will move into Number Talks and how to increase conceptual understanding and numeration in our students.
Fluency with Addition, Subtraction, Multiplication and Division
Engage in an interactive workshop dedicated to enhancing fluency, tailored for educators seeking to strengthen students' computational skills and conceptual mastery. This session delves into proven strategies and techniques that promote fluency development, including the use of manipulatives, games, and digital tools to reinforce multiplication and division facts. Participants will explore differentiated instruction methods to meet diverse learning needs, while also focusing on fostering deeper understanding through problem-solving approaches. Through collaborative activities and reflective discussions, attendees will leave with a comprehensive toolkit of instructional resources and practical techniques to effectively cultivate fluency in their classrooms, empowering students to tackle mathematical challenges with confidence and proficiency.
Number Talks
This Math Number Talks workshop is designed to empower educators with powerful instructional strategies that enhance students' mathematical reasoning and fluency. In this interactive session, participants will delve into the art of Number Talks, exploring how short, purposeful discussions around mathematical concepts promote deeper understanding and critical thinking. Through guided practice and real-life examples, attendees will learn to implement Number Talks effectively across various grade levels, fostering a classroom environment where all students feel confident in sharing and justifying their mathematical thinking. By the end of the workshop, educators will be equipped with the skills and confidence to integrate Number Talks seamlessly into their daily math routines, promoting a collaborative learning community that nurtures mathematical proficiency and problem-solving skills among students.
.5 Content Credit
Members Free
Non-Members- $75
March 10, 2026
AI Meets Design Thinking
9:00am-3:00pm
Wilkes County Schools Boardroom
Jordan Caldwell, Northwest DTL Consultant
Take project-based learning (PBL) to the next level by integrating AI tools into the design thinking process! In this session, you'll discover how AI can support teachers in the planning of Design Thinking activities and how AI can support brainstorming, prototyping, research, and content creation, empowering students to tackle real-world challenges with innovation. Learn how to leverage AI for idea generation, rapid iteration, and multimedia project development while fostering creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking. Walk away with practical strategies and AI-powered resources to enhance student-driven learning and design thinking in any subject area!Members-Free
Non-Members- $75
.5 General Credit
March 13, 2026
Poverty Matters: Creating Resilient Schools, Families and Communities
9:00 am- 3:00 pm
Wilkes County Schools Stone Center
This full-day professional development session will immerse participants in understanding how poverty affects students, families, and communities. The day will begin with a powerful poverty simulation designed to foster empathy and insight into the daily challenges faced by those living in poverty. Following a thought-provoking keynote address, the afternoon will focus on exploring practical strategies and available resources that support schools and families across the Northwest Education Region of North Carolina. Participants will leave equipped with greater awareness and actionable tools to make a meaningful difference in their classrooms and communities.
.5 General Credit
Members-Free
Non-Members- $75
March 23, 2026
"Power of Mattering", Recruitment/Retention Strategies
9:00-3:00pm
Wilkes County Schools Board Room
Facilitated by: Dr. Betsy Rosenbalm, Dr. Terry Worrell, Dr. Stephanie Dishciavi, and DeAnna Finger
As school leaders, we know that people don’t stay where they don’t feel seen, valued, or significant. Based on Zach Mercurio’s book The Power of Mattering, this interactive session invites assistant principals and principals to explore how the concept of “mattering” can shape school culture, strengthen relationships, and enhance staff commitment. Participants will reflect on how their daily actions communicate to students, teachers, and colleagues that they truly matter, analyze how Mercurio’s research and insights intersect with their own leadership practices, and consider how cultivating a culture of mattering can be a powerful lever for attracting and retaining high-quality educators. Join us to discover practical strategies for creating a school environment where everyone—students and adults alike—feels purpose, belonging, and significance.
.5 Admin Credit
Members- Free
Non-Members- $75
March 26, 2026
Expanding Your Tech Toolbox-NCCAT
APP State Campus Hickory - Room 1222
Jason Lineberger, NCCAT Digital Learning Specialist
In this slice of NCCAT's popular four-day seminar, Expanding Your Tech Toolbox, teachers will learn about a variety of instructional tech tools designed to engage students, showcase learning, elevate thinking, and promote collaboration. The tools curated in this list will be free, easy-to-use, and versatile. Add new tools to your tech toolbox!
.5 General Credit
Members- Free
Non-Members- $75
April 1, 2026
Leading Professional Learning: The NCCAT Way
9:00-3:00
Wilkes County Schools Boardroom
Emily Myers, NCCAT Senior Math Specialist
In the rapidly evolving landscape of professional learning, fostering a sense of community among adult learners is crucial for enhancing engagement, collaboration, and sustained learning. This interactive workshop will equip leaders with the strategies and resources necessary to create and facilitate high-quality professional learning.
.5 Admin Credit
Members-Free
Non-Members $75