2025 NAREN Wisconsin Conference

Amy Daul will be facilitating the CESA 7 and 8 regional meeting.

Fishing for Success:  Our Alternative High School is in our second year offering courses that baits students' interest to increase attendance, engagement, and progress towards graduation through interdisciplinary, proficiency-based learning.  Examples will be shared for how we have designed, delivered, and funded these options, such as a Fishing focus where students make their own fishing poles, learn about marine life and the science of fishing.  Information about materials, lesson designs, and the ins-and-outs we've learned along the way for our "Flex Options"  will be shared that have hooked days of 100% attendance, positive behaviors, excellent engagement, and waiting lists.

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.

DBT Key Concepts

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.
Program Evolution - McFarland High School Alt Ed

Amy Daul will be leading the Current Charter Schools roundtable.

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.

For those without a clearly defined role who do a little bit of everything on a day-to-day basis