Keynote Presentations

Making the Connections

Presenter: Lorraine Thoreson

What can we do to keep students connected, in school, achieving, and out of trouble?  We all want the same things for our youth.  How can we work together with school-day and other community programs to offer the greatest opportunities for all students?   

Sustaining Successful Projects through the Winds of Change

Presenters: Dr. Kristine Meurer and Laurie Mueller

Public funding agencies and the recipients of their funds are at the mercy of multiple change forces that impact funding streams.  Those forces include legislative shifts in focus, changes in policy at the state and federal level, local program’s ability to identify and implement sustainable change, among others.  Some of the change forces are beyond our control, but there actions local programs can take to ensure sustainability. This interactive session addresses what sustainability means, explains what PED is asking you to describe on your RFAs and RFIs and identifies best practices that can be implemented at the local level.

Breakout Sessions

A Toolkit for Working Together and Building School, Family, and Community Partnerships

Presenter: Alicia Benavidez

This presentation features a toolkit designed for educators, families, and community that is full of handouts, training materials, and resources.  The toolkit is based on the six standards for parental involvement: Building Communication, Promoting Positive Parenting, Enhancing Student Learning, Improving Volunteerism, Supporting Decision Making and Advocacy, and Collaborating with the Community.  Each participant will receive a CD of the Toolkit.

SNACK Program

Presenter:Barbara Kitay

FERPA

Presenter: Beverly Hine

GARDEN: Growing Active Responsible DEdicated Nourished children throughschool-based gardening programs

Presenter: Nissa Patterson

Growing things in the earth is an age-old human tradition. Every culture and every people has a history of growing and collecting plants for food. In America many youth are not in touch with this tradition and are missing out the related health and social benefits of working the earth. This presentation covers the basics of gardening in the school environment. It explores the benefits of such programs, the history of school gardening in America, important steps for planning a program, the range of garden types, budget and staffing considerations, and helpful resource materials. Special emphasis is placed on planning an effective after school gardening program.

Brain Breaks

Presenter: Ann Paulls

This session examines ways to add activity to academics and academics to activity.  As a Physical Education teacher, the presenter incorporates content areas into activities in the gym and shares ways to add activity to the classroom without losing learning time.  You will also be given a brief overview of the connection between activity and academics success.

Stop Bullying Now. What you need to know today to reduce bullying and its effects in your school.  

Presenter: Jennifer Rodgers

This session introduces you to a large cache of FREE materials from US Department of Health and Human Services that helps children identify and discuss different causes and effects of bullying. Discussion includes current research, best practices, and a curriculum that you can use in conjunction with many classes, and that students can access on their own through the internet. Materials may be more appropriate for middle school, however, the information and techniques are relevant to all ages.

Conflict Management/Mediation

Presenter: Marianela Gish

This workshop covers the basic understanding of conflict, its cycle and the management of it. Participants are given an opportunity to explore their own responses to conflict and approaches to dealing with their own conflict. The participants will explore the problem solving process and the application of it in the mediation process to resolve conflicts.

Safe at School: School Violence

Presenter: Mike Tarter

A look at the inside world of violence onK-12 school campus’, including what is happening and why. See latest data and research, as well as a look a one New Mexico district and its journey to make students safe at school.

Truancy

Presenters:Ron Lucero & Bob Cleavall

The presentation shares information on how to access resources in your communities by region, type of service needed, or provider.  Also provided will be updated information on the Statewide Truancy Initiative.

Drugs Today: This Ain’t 10th Grade Chemistry Class

Presenter: Officer Shane Rodgers

This session provides you with an overview of what drugs our students are using. In addition, you will learn what to look for in terms of behavior changes, hidden or disguised paraphernalia, as well as a glossary of drug related slang. Time for question and answers.

Sexuality in High Risk Youth

Homeless Coordinators, FYRA Coordinators, Truancy Officers, Safe School personnel and other interested staff are invited to attend the HIV Session in order to understand prevention/intervention of HIV/STD, Hepatitis, Drug use among homeless youth who may be at a higher risk.

Before and After-school, Doing it Well

Presenter: Lorraine Thoreson

What makes a high quality before and after-school program?  How can we be sure we are offering the best program for youth?  We will discuss program quality standards, promising practices, and evaluation techniques that will ensure high quality sustainable programs.