Dr. Lohmiller and Halley Gruber serve as Program Coordinators for the Neurosequential Network's Neurosequential Model in Education and run an educational non-profit, Educational Access Group, which supports districts, schools and youth-serving organizations with the sustainable integration of trauma-informed and brain-based content. Dr. Lohmiller hails from the world of public health and Halley comes from the classroom as an elementary educator. They are passionate about using the content of the Neurosequential Model in Education to support educators and students in navigating challenges and celebrating the successes that lead to more regulated, resilient and joyful schools.
Thursday February 20, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CST
Sandstone
Maintaining rigor in math while supporting students with significant gaps in math skills. The Success Lab at Kimberly High School encompasses a multitude of services for identified at-risk students. Within this system, KHS offers a classroom-based team-taught model as well as a math intervention system which prioritizes closing gaps in a 1:1 and/or small group setting.
Thursday February 20, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Sandstone 8/9
This presentation will highlight the range of alternative education programs offered at Oak Creek High School, showcasing how these innovative approaches cater to diverse student needs. From competency-based curricula that allow students to progress at their own pace to targeted credit recovery courses designed to help students catch up and stay on track, we will explore how these programs provide flexible, personalized pathways to success. Through these alternatives, Oak Creek High School is committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their full potential, regardless of their learning style or academic challenges.
Thursday February 20, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Tundra A/B
With over 35 years in education as both an Administrator and Family Engagement coordinator for our district, I have passionately worked with students and families who struggle with school and school attendance. Our session will focus on strategies we have implemented over the past 35 years as a district to engage students and families and improve their school experience. The presentation will include strategies we have used but is also extremely audience engaged. Students and Families first, always!!
Thursday February 20, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Tundra E/F
Fishing for Success: Our Alternative High School is in our second year offering a course that baits students' interest with fishing through interdisciplinary learning. Students make their own fishing poles, learn about marine life and the science of fishing, read and study about the lakes and rivers of our region, and reel in other skill sets along the way including navigation, technology, water safety, and social-emotional skills. We will share our materials, lesson plans, funding, and the ins-and-outs we've learned along the way that have hooked 100% attendance, positive behaviors, excellent engagement, and a waiting list for this course.
Thursday February 20, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Tundra C/D
Dr. Lohmiller and Halley Gruber serve as Program Coordinators for the Neurosequential Network's Neurosequential Model in Education and run an educational non-profit, Educational Access Group, which supports districts, schools and youth-serving organizations with the sustainable integration of trauma-informed and brain-based content. Dr. Lohmiller hails from the world of public health and Halley comes from the classroom as an elementary educator. They are passionate about using the content of the Neurosequential Model in Education to support educators and students in navigating challenges and celebrating the successes that lead to more regulated, resilient and joyful schools.
Thursday February 20, 2025 10:45am - 11:45am CST
Sandstone 1
"Bridging the Gap" offers a comprehensive approach to supporting 9th-grade at-risk students as they transition to high school. This presentation will explore effective strategies and interventions designed to address the unique challenges faced by these students. This presentation aims to equip stakeholders with strategies utilized at Ellsworth High School to ensure a smoother transition and empower at-risk students to thrive in their new educational setting.
Thursday February 20, 2025 1:15pm - 1:45pm CST
Tundra A/B
DBT STEPS-A is a curriculum developed by Jim and Liz Mazza that adapts the core principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to make them accessible and engaging for adolescents. Skills addressed include Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, Emotion Regulation, and Interpersonal Effectiveness. Each lesson in the curriculum is scripted, allowing anyone to pick up the book and begin facilitating the lessons. Join us to learn more about the curriculum, hear about successes and lessons learned from running DBT groups in an alternative Middle and High School, and participate in a lesson.
Thursday February 20, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Tundra C/D
Looking for easy SEL strategies you can implement right away? This session is for you! Attendees will walk away with resources, strategies, and easy-to-try SEL ideas they can implement the next day. Strategies can be adapted for any age!
Thursday February 20, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Tundra E/F
Many high schools give students the opportunity to take the ASVAB as a precursor to entry into the Armed Services but it can be so much more! The Vine Street GEDO-2 program uses it as a career assessment tool to satisfy the career assessment requirement but goes farther with the full career assessment follow up and individualized career exploration.
Thursday February 20, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Sandstone 3
Students will share their personal stories as well as share with educators strategies and tactics that helped them find academic and school success while facing the trauma of their past.
Thursday February 20, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm CST
Sandstone 1
Our breakout focuses on integrating AI to enhance teaching and learning in Math and English. It aims to demonstrate how AI tools can create engaging assignments making education more effective and time-efficient. Participants will explore practical AI tools and learn how to incorporate them into their lessons. We will also discuss opportunities for students to explore the world of AI.
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Tundra E/F
Across the nation schools have found themselves at the epicenter of political disputes related to race and equity. This session will describe the use of an equity-centered framework in districts to engage students, especially those who are typically underserved by public education. The framework includes four key areas of educational equity as offered by the Great Lakes Equity/MAP Center: access, representation, participation, and high quality outcomes. This session will discuss the application of this framework, explore and provide example activities for each area, and give participants a chance to reflect and apply the activities.
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Tundra A/B
Explain the variety of programs used to meet the variety of needs of students, parents and families over 15+ years of experience in alternative education.
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Sandstone 1
Our programs constantly evolve to meet students’ needs. We all know Alt Ed requires flexibility; you will come away with insights from our journey, which can be a catalyst for new visions for your programs. Last year, Kelly shared our MHS Alt Ed program history, evolution, and next steps. This time, we’ll share how we’ve expanded both our department’s role and the students we support, what we continue to learn, and changes to the direction we thought we were headed last year! This will be an informal presentation style, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and share your ideas along the way.
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Tundra C/D
The mission of Vel R. Phillips school community is to help students realize a successful future. We foster restorative practices so students build communication skills and positive relationships with peers, adults, and themselves. We use best practices and model lifelong learning so students gain academic confidence.
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Sandstone 8/9
“Hey, throw them in a different room, they are ruining the learning environment for everyone” is a phrase that we hear a lot from other educators that need support for our kids. In this interactive presentation, I will share tools, strategies, and stories on my journey from being a one room schoolhouse to a success coach. It is a model that helps our neediest learners, while also being adaptive to the needs of the school. Leading this session is Jason Grabner, an At-Risk educator that has been a teacher, administrator, and success coach for the past 20 years.
Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm CST
Sandstone 3
Please join us for this very important meeting to help direct the path our organization will take for the following year! We will hold elections, discuss current issues, and hold our annual raffle.
Thursday February 20, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
Sandstone 7
Back by popular demand - Snacks and drinks will be available in the meeting room. First round is on us! Use your free drink ticket to enjoy a complimentary beer, wine, or soda, (Cash bar is also available), enjoy some snacks, and GET YOUR NETWORK ON! Members are welcome to stay for longer than one drink, but the drinks are on you after the first round! 🙂
Thursday February 20, 2025 4:00pm - 7:30pm 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.
Friday February 21, 2025 9:45am - 10:45am CST
Sandstone 7
In the evolving education landscape, breaking traditional boundaries to embrace virtual and alternative learning strategies has become crucial. These innovative approaches often hinge on three foundational elements: relationships, values, and academics. Join us to comprehensively explore how relationships, values, and academics can shape effective education strategies in virtual and alternative settings.
Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Tundra C/D
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.
Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Sandstone 3
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!
Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Tundra E/F
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.
Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Sandstone 1
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.
Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Sandstone 8/9
Would also like to fine tune this with the group...A bit of brain research and a lot of sharing of techniques and strategies to help students recover and learn after trauma. Based on "The Body Keeps the Score" and classroom experience.
Friday February 21, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CST
Tundra A/B
