2025 NAREN Wisconsin Conference: Full Schedule

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8:00am CST

Breakfast Buffet-Sandstone 7

Friday February 21, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am CST

Sandstone 7

Friday February 21, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am CST
Sandstone 7

8:30am CST

Current Charter Schools Roundtable

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST

Tundra C/D

Amy Daul will be leading the Current Charter Schools roundtable.

Keynote Speakers

Amy Daul

Green Bay

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST
Tundra C/D

Roundtable

8:30am CST

GEDO Programs Roundtable

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST

Sandstone 1

Randy Kent will be leading the GEDO Programs roundtable.

Keynote Speakers

Randy Kent

Teacher, Fond du Lac School District

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST
Sandstone 1

Roundtable

8:30am CST

Middle School Roundtable

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST

Tundra E/F

Rachel Tamborino will be leading the Middle School roundtable.

Keynote Speakers

Lead teacher at Lemonweir Academy, a public STEAM charter school in Mauston, Wisconsin serving grades 6-12. We focus on helping students refind their love of learning, their academic self-confidence, and educational joy. We believe in hands-on applicable learning that can be found... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST
Tundra E/F

Roundtable

8:30am CST

Rural Schools Roundtable

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST

Sandstone 8/9

Shanna McMullin will be leading the Rural Schools roundtable.

Keynote Speakers

Shanna McMullin

Bloomer High School

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST
Sandstone 8/9

Roundtable

8:30am CST

Urban Schools Roundtable

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST

Sandstone 3

Tad Peterson will be leading the Urban Schools roundtable.

Keynote Speakers

Tad Peterson

Teacher, School District of La Crosse

Friday February 21, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am CST
Sandstone 3

Roundtable

9:45am CST

Keynote Speaker-Thomas Thibodeau: Servant Leadership

Friday February 21, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST

Sandstone 7

Thomas Thibodeau is the distinguished Professor of Servant Leadership at Viterbo University where he has taught since 1984. Through the years his infectious enthusiasm, compassion, and commitment to leadership and service have also inspired countless colleagues and community members. He is the founder of the Master of Arts in Servant Leadership, the first master’s degree of its kind in the nation, and also a founding member of hospitality and fellowship resource Place of Grace, in La Crosse. Thibodeau is a popular professor, talented public speaker, and an extremely active community member who lives the Viterbo values. He regularly leads The Ethical Life seminars, often team teaching with Rick Kyte, and also offers a Serving the Common Good seminar focused on homelessness.

Keynote Speakers

Tom Thibodeau

Servant Leadership, Keynote Presenter

Tom Thibodeau has taught at Viterbo University for thirty-five years. Twenty years ago, he helped to found the Place of Grace hospitality house in LaCrosse, Wisconsin which serves meals and human dignity. He is a proud husband, father, grandfather, active community member, and part... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Sandstone 7

Keynote Speaker(s)

11:00am CST

Courage to Change: Wisconsin Challenge Academy

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Tundra C/D

Make a Change? Climb to New Heights. The WI Challenge Academy is the reset button Wisconsin high school students behind on credits need. Finish high school on time, get in shape mentally and physically, and learn the life skills needed to reach your full potential. The Challenge Academy is a 5 1/2 month, quasi-military, residential, alternative education program offering students the opportunity to earn their HSED, replace negative habits with positive ones, and develop the life skills necessary to become successful, responsible citizens.

Keynote Speakers

Stephanie Knoepker

Challenge Academy

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Tundra C/D

Breakout #4

11:00am CST

GEDO2 Best Practices

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Sandstone 3

We would like to share the nuts and bolts of our GED Option 2 Program. We have been able to successfully develop a program where students build relationships, explore post-secondary options, build confidence, and learn content and test taking strategies in a very supportive and nurturing environment.

Keynote Speakers

Shelly La Court-Braun

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

Erin Hanson-Baisley

West Allis-West Milwaukee School District

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Sandstone 3

Breakout #4

11:00am CST

Managing the MS Alternative Classroom

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Tundra E/F

This session will provide several strategies to successfully manage a MS Alternative Education classroom, including room set-up, setting high expectations, and using lighting, music and other techniques to create a calm learning environment. Be sure to bring your own best idea to share!

Keynote Speakers

Kathleen Woodman

MS Alternative Education Teacher, School District of Beloit

Wife, mother, teacher, farmer, dog-lover, reader, organizer. I returned to college to obtain a special education license in 2008 and an alternative education license in 2021, following 14 years of home schooling my own children. I have always believed that there should be many options... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Tundra E/F

Breakout #4

11:00am CST

Servant Leadership

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Sandstone 1

Keynote Speakers

Tom Thibodeau

Servant Leadership, Keynote Presenter

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Sandstone 1

Breakout #4

11:00am CST

Trauma Recovery Techniques: Lessons from The Body Keeps the Score

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Tundra A/B

Based on the book The Body Keeps the Score and classroom experience, our group will share techniques and strategies to help students recover and learn after trauma. Our presentation is based on Van der Kolk’s research and experience studying the effects of trauma on the brain and body.

Keynote Speakers

Jill Gonia Frey

School District of Waukesha

Jamie Piittmann

Hartford Union High School

I teach French and alternative education in a primarily GEDO2 based program. We also offer competency-based programming, with the majority of that based off-campus.

Erin Shramek

Dodgeland High School

Heather Brinkman

Reedsville School District

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Tundra A/B

Breakout #4

11:00am CST

Using AI tools to make your life easier

Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST

Sandstone 8/9

We will share a few AI tools that we have used in our alternative education program to assist us in developing and updating our curricular resources. We will also include time to experiment with these tools, network with colleagues, and share other resources with fellow participants. Come with an open mind and an idea of which area(s) you need resources in.

Keynote Speakers