Upcoming Events

Alaska RTI/MTSS Conference

Anchorage, AK

Tackling Attendance Challenges: A Multi-Tiered Approach to Address Absenteeism & Truancy

With Jessica Sprick

Preconference Full-day Workshop

January 24, 2025, 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. AKT

A growing body of research indicates that regular student attendance is one of the most critical yet underaddressed issues in schools today. In most schools, attendance problems have only gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. In Alaska, we currently have the highest rate of absenteeism in the nation. This preconference workshop presents strategies to effectively address student absenteeism across all grade levels. To start, participants will learn ways to implement schoolwide and classroom procedures to improve the attendance of all students at the universal, Tier 1 level of their support system. These sessions will include practical examples from schools for teaching students and families the importance of attendance, using simple motivational strategies, and identifying and addressing common barriers and causes of absenteeism. In the afternoon, participants will learn how to create layers of Tier 2 and Tier 3 supports and apply function-based thinking to craft effective intervention plans.

Early-Stage Interventions: Connecting Students with Challenging Behaviors Back into the School Environment

Presented by Tricia McKale Skyles

January 25, 2025, 9:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m. AKT

Repeated January 26, 2025, 9:45 a.m.-11:15 a.m. AKT

It’s easy to connect with students who are fully engaged and in compliance with our expectations. Students with challenging behaviors often test our ability to make those healthy connections. In this session, participants will explore early-stage interventions to create proactive plans that address misbehavior while building relationships and maintaining healthy connections between the student and the classroom.

The Invisible Barriers to Creating Classrooms that Work: Building Learning Environments Where All Students Belong

With Tricia McKale Skyles

January 25, 2025, 1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m. AKT

Repeated January 26, 2025, 1:45 p.m.-3:15 p.m. AKT

When learning environments are riddled with hidden rules and norms, students often struggle to meet expectations. When we make the invisible visible and overtly teach students how to navigate the learning space, students can thrive. In this session, participants will explore whether hidden rules and norms are creating challenges for students in the classroom and how to close these potential gaps to create schools and classrooms where all students belong.

Midwest Symposium for Leadership in Behavior Disorders

Kansas City, MO

Practical Program Design for Behavioral Classrooms: Addressing Intensive Behavioral Needs

With Jessica Sprick

Half-day Workshop

February 20, 2025, 1:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. CT

This workshop presents best-practice strategies for building a positive and proactive self-contained special education classroom for students with intensive behavioral needs. Participants will engage in a variety of activities to build an environment that increases engagement, improves student outcomes (behavioral and academic), integrates evidence-based practices, and promotes generalizability of skills to less restrictive environments. Participants will work with presenters to develop a specific action plan for applying these strategies in their own classrooms

NASP (National Association of School Psychologists) Convention

Seattle, WA

Creating Systems of Tier 2 and 3 Behavior Support

Presented by Jessica Sprick

Half-day workshop

February 21, 2025,12:45–4:00 p.m. PT

Design or refine your process for identifying and supporting students who require Tier 2 or 3 behavior support by creating a protocol of problem-solving processes and evidence-based interventions.


This session will help participants:

• Use multiple methods to identify students who require behavioral support (e.g., screening, referrals, red flag indicators)
• Design multiple layers of problem-solving processes to increase the clarity and efficiency of meeting students’ needs across a multitiered continuum
• Create a menu of ready-to-use and specialized behavioral interventions that can be applied when needed.

CEC (Council for Exceptional Children) Convention

Baltimore, MD

Developing a Positive Climate and Boosting Engagement

Presented by Jessica Sprick

Half-day workshop

March 15, 2025, 8:30 a.m.–11:30 a.m. ET

In this session, participants will explore how a comprehensive and positive approach to schoolwide and classroom climate can improve behavior, learning, and engagement. Participants will leave with specific strategies they can implement immediately to increase a sense of belonging for students, families, and staff. This session will provide ideas for universal schoolwide and classroom Tier 1 practices, as well as ways to develop a continuum of behavioral and engagement interventions at the Tier 2 and 3 level. Gain an understanding of how to guide staff in a process of continuous improvement to consciously construct and maintain an inviting and positive climate on an ongoing basis.

Idaho Prevention and Support Conference

Sun Valley, ID • For Idaho residents only

Tackling Attendance Challenges: A Multi-Tiered Approach to Address Absenteeism and Truancy

Presented by Jessica Sprick

Preconference full-day workshop

April 16, 2025

Registration opens February 2025, and attendance is limited to residents of Idaho. A growing body of research indicates that regular student attendance is one of the most critical yet underaddressed issues in schools today. In most schools, attendance problems have only gotten worse since the COVID-19 pandemic. This preconference workshop presents strategies to effectively address student absenteeism and truancy across all grade levels.

MAISD – Muskegon Area Intermediate School District

Muskegon, MI

Absenteeism: Interventions & Universal Practices (Building a Tier 1 Plan)

Presented by Tricia Berg, Ph.D.

Monday, June 23, 2025 and Tuesday, June 24, 2025 - 8:30 AM - 3:30 PM

Registration open through 6/16/2025 3:00 PM EST 

For students to be successful in school they need to be in school. Nationwide, far too many students are not in school. Missing just two days a month places students at significant increased risk of academic failure, social and behavioral difficulties in school, dropping out, and a host of other negative school and life effects. **This training is designed for Muskegon Area team attendance. Teams must include at least one school or district administrator and anyone who supports the attendance team.**