2025 NAREN Wisconsin Conference

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.