Michigan DEC Conference€¦ · Brazelton Touchpoints Approach – This session highlights the vital ... stakeholders teaching and/or working within the birth‐three field. Age level:

2020 Michigan DEC Conference

Meeting the Needs of All Learners

Register Online: www.michigandec.org/event.php?ID=77

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Join Us for the 2020 Michigan DEC Conference!

Registration (7:30am-8:00am) Foyer Area

Sign‐in Process – Thank you for your interest in the Michigan DEC Annual Conference. We will begin the day by having

participants sign in and secure a conference packet. We look forward to spending this time together learning more

about the important practices and issues that benefit and impact children birth to eight.

SCECHs – We offer State Continuing Education Clock Hours (SCECHs) to those attending the Michigan DEC Annual

Conference. Participants who are interested in SCECHs will register for their clock hours using their name and Personal

Identification Code (PIC). To earn SCECHs you MUST sign in before the conference day begins and sign out at the

conclusion of the conference. Once the conference begins, we will not be able to continue the SCECHs registration

process. Please let us assist you in completing all required steps before 8:00am.

Morning Coffee – Once participants have signed in, received their conference materials, and registered for any

SCECHs; they are invited to help themselves to the complimentary morning refreshments that will be available outside

the French Auditorium. We will plan on starting the day’s activities at 8:00am with all participants in the French

Auditorium.

On Site Payments – For any unpaid balances or questions regarding the conference registration fee, participants may

stop by the payment area. Registration fees may be paid onsite by cash, check or credit card. Participants must be paid

in full prior to attending the conference unless other arrangements have been made in advance.

Vendor Displays – Visit our many exhibitors that will be available in the main hallway from 8:00am to 3:00pm.

Welcome & Opening Keynote (8:00am-9:30am) French Auditorium

All means ALL One Administrator’s Journey from Early Childhood Principal to

State Director of Special Education with

Will Jensen, State Director of Special Education,

Office of Inclusive Opportunities,

Nevada Department of Education

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Morning Breakout Session 1 (9:40am-10:55am)

Session Topic Presenters

1A Thinking Outside the Bucket – Using braided funding is one way to bolster

inclusive opportunities for young children with disabilities.

Participants will explore permissible braided funding models that can be

leveraged to increase inclusivity while also enhancing quality.

Age level: Birth to 8

Content Level: Introductory

Conference Strand: Practice

Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Families, Practitioners, Researchers

Will Jensen,

Director, Office of

Inclusive

Opportunities,

Nevada

Department of

Education

1B Early Childhood is where it’s AT! – This session will explore a

multidisciplinary approach to assistive technology practices used in a play‐

based early childhood special education classroom. Supports specifically

focusing on communication, environmental adaptations, and visual/tactile

supports will be examined. Participants will focus on creating action plans to

support assistive technology in their classroom.

Age level: 3 to 5

Content Level: Intermediate

Conference Strand: Practitioners for Practitioners

Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Practitioners

Kelsey Brewer,

Teacher, Early

Childhood Special

Education,

Gratiot‐Isabella

RESD

Carolyn Parker,

Speech Language

Pathologist,

Gratiot‐Isabella

RESD

1C Addressing the Needs of Children and Families: A Focus on the

Brazelton Touchpoints Approach – This session highlights the vital

supports offered through the Touchpoints approach developed by Dr. T. Berry

Brazelton, a pediatrician dedicated to learning about the value of positive

relationships. Research supporting this approach, along with key components

of this evidence‐based approach are outlined. Practical application tips for

supporting young children and families impacted by trauma are provided.



Conference Strand: Family and Practitioner Collaboration

Target Audience: Families, Practitioners

Holly Hoffman,

Professor, Human

Development and

Family Studies,

Central Michigan

University

Margaret

Desormes,

Director, Child

Development &

Learning Lab,

Central Michigan

University

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Morning Breakout ‐ Session 1 (9:40am-10:55am) Continued


1D Partnering with Families of Dual Language Learners – Learn how

educators and families can collaborate to support English literacy development

for children who are learning two languages at once. Gain strategies and tips

that focus on literacy skills that transcend languages.




Target Audience: Administrators, Practitioners, Researchers

Tomoko

Wakabayashi,

Associate

Professor,

Oakland University

1E HighScope Daily Routine Adaptations for IEPs – Explore ideas for

creating adaptations within the HighScope Daily Routine for young children who

have IEPs. Attendees will have the opportunity to work through a matrix that

will provide strategies for supporting students with special needs within the

inclusive preschool environment.

Age level: 3 to 5



Target Audience: Practitioners

Melissa L. Weimer,

Teacher, Early

Childhood Special

Education,

Holly Area Schools

1F More Than IQ: Emotional/Social Intelligence in Education – Being

aware of oneself and others allows for healthy communication and

relationships to flourish for students, families and educators in ways they never

felt possible. Social and emotional intelligence is the key to implementing

positive growth of an entire educational environment for the better.


Content Level: Advanced

Conference Strand: Professional Development

Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Families, Practitioners

Lisa Goyette and

John Ball,

Co‐Founders,

Celebrate Hope,

LLC

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Morning Breakout ‐ Session 1 (9:40-10:55am) Continued


1G The Journey from ZS to B‐K Early Childhood Endorsement Revision –

The Michigan Department of Education has collaborated with stakeholders

from across Michigan to build a child‐first certification system that prepares

effective educators to use differentiated support to meet the needs of the

whole child. In this session, presenters will share details about the process and

progress of the stakeholder review and revision of the Early Childhood

Endorsement into a birth to kindergarten certification.



Conference Strand: Policy


Noel Kelty,

Interim Director of

Early Childhood

Development and

Family

Engagement,

Michigan

Department of

Education

Gina Garner,

Consultant,

Michigan

Department of

Education

Morning Breakout ‐ Session 2 (11:05am-12:20pm)


2A Hands on Learning For ALL: Schoolwide Project on Animals – Join

Central Michigan University's Child Development Learning Laboratory (CDLL)

team as they describe a school wide project focused on animals. The team will

outline the entire year project from beginning stages and through many child‐

led changes. Final documentation and lessons learned will be shared and a tour

of the CDLL will be included.



Conference Strand: By Practitioners for Practitioners

Target Audience: Practitioners

Margaret

Desormes,

Director, Child

Development &

Learning Lab,

Central Michigan

University

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Morning Breakout ‐ Session 2 (11:05am-12:20pm) Continued


2B Early On Center for Higher Education Early Intervention Faculty

Community of Practice (CoP) – Learn about resources and activities of the

Early On Center and how they support pre‐service professionals working with

infants and toddlers with delays and/or disabilities and their families.

Opportunities for collaboration with other faculty, administrators, and

stakeholders teaching and/or working within the birth‐three field.




Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Researchers

Kari Holmberg,

Coordinator, Early

On Center for

Higher Education,

Office of

Innovative

Projects,

Clinton County

RESA

2C Supporting Social‐Emotional Learning and Behavior Through an

MTSS Lens – This session will provide an overview of the CSEFEL Pyramid

Model for Supporting Social Emotional Competence in Infants and Young

Children and its unique application utilized by Rochester Community Schools

Early Childhood Department. This session will explore effective visual and

verbal strategies that early childhood educators can utilize to reinforce a

nurturing and responsive relationship with their students and to promote an

enhanced student engagement in learning and play in highly structured

environments. Participants will leave this session with explicit strategies to

respond to social, emotional, and behavioral challenges through a tiered

intervention framework.

Age level: 3 to 5




Laura Milner,

School Social

Worker, Rochester

Community Schools

Amy Phaneuf,

School Social

Worker, Rochester

Community Schools

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2D Exploring a Continuum of Least Restrictive Placement Options for

PreK – This session includes a brief overview of legal requirements regarding

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), as well as a review of a variety of

placement options along a continuum of services from general education

inclusion to self‐contained, segregated programs. Participants will review

fictional case studies and engage in dialogue about LRE placement challenges.

Age level: 3 to 5



Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Families, Practitioners

Elaine Tadajewski,

Early Childhood

Compliance

Consultant,

Oakland Schools

2E Toxic Stress and Brain Development: Leveraging Research to

Improve Student Outcomes ‐ Emerging research confirms that early

experiences profoundly affect brain development. Toxic stress can derail healthy

development by weakening brain architecture. This breakout session unpacks the

research on brain development and gene‐environment interactions, focusing

specifically on trauma and strategies early childhood advocates can use to support

students and families.



Conference Strand: Research

Target Audience: Administrators, Practitioners

Lindsay Burris,

Research and

Instructional Data

Consultant,

Ingham ISD

2F Promoting Inclusion by Thinking Differently About Disability – This

session will provide an overview of the importance of establishing a sense of

belonging for ALL children by deconstructing commonly held beliefs about

disability. By identifying our beliefs about disability, we can begin to dismantle

institutional/systemic barriers to belonging and inclusion for ALL children.




Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Families, Practitioners,

Researchers

JoDell Heroux,

Associate Professor

of Special

Education,

Central Michigan

University

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2G The Vision, Challenge and Success of Inclusion – Learn how both an

urban and a rural preschool program are working to implement inclusion in

their preschool classrooms. We will share our successes and opportunities for

growth alongside our guiding philosophy of inclusive practices. If you are new

to the idea of inclusion or have begun your own journey, this workshop is for

you! We know that teaching our youngest learners is some of the hardest work

that we do, but also the most important. We want to inspire you to continue

your journey because it’s the right work!

Age level: 3‐5



Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Families, Practitioners,

Researchers

Alissa Hofstee,

Early Childhood

Special Education

Director,

Kent ISD

Nicole Skrabis,

Early Childhood

Special Education

Director,

Newaygo County

RESA

Lunch and Poster Sessions (12:20pm-1:10pm) First Floor Foyer Areas

Lunch is provided. Poster Session Display and Dialogue ‐ During lunchtime, stop by the poster session tables and talk with the

poster presenters about their projects, initiatives, displays and experience. Discover how their work may align with your

efforts. Engage with the poster presenters regarding their next steps and your common efforts on behalf of children and

families.

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Afternoon Keynote (1:15pm-2:15pm) French Auditorium

All means ALL Our Journey: A Personal Story Around Inclusion

with

Dr Scott Koenigsknecht, Deputy Superintendent,

P‐20 System and Student Transition,

Michigan Department of Education and

Jenny Koenigsknecht Public Awareness Specialist,

Office of Innovative Projects,

Clinton County RESA

Jane Scandary Award Presentation (2:15pm-2:30pm) French Auditorium

Jane Scandary Award – Join us in honoring this year’s recipient of the Jane Scandary Award for Excellence in the

Field of Early Intervention/Early Childhood Special Education. Ms. Scandary was one of Michigan’s important pioneers in

early intervention who after a lifetime of dedication and hard work in the field, passed away on February 9, 2017. To

honor her legacy, Ms. Scandary’s family established a memorial fund and has asked that contributions go toward

remembering her work and toward honoring those who follow in her footsteps of dedication and vision. Last year’s

recipient was Cheryl Granzo from Ionia ISD. This year we will be honoring another deserving individual who brings

energy and inspiration to the field in the spirit and work of Ms. Scandary.

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Afternoon Breakout ‐ Session 3 (2:45pm-4:00pm)


3A A Family Perspective on Inclusion – Join us as we continue the

conversation about a family’s perspective on inclusion. In this breakout session,

Scott and Jenny Koenigsknecht will be joined by their children. Together they

will present the challenging and inspiring moments they have experienced and

continue to experience on their collective journey. During the second part of

this breakout session, participants will be invited to join the family for a time of

Q and A. The goal of this time together is to help others become more familiar

with their experiences as a family, as well as the research and the benefits of

inclusion. For the Koenigsknecht family, it is these facets that have inspired

them to firmly support that all children, including those with special needs,

should be meaningfully engaged in all aspects of education and life rather than

watching from the sidelines.




Target Audience: Administrators, Faculty, Families, Practitioners, Researchers

Dr Scott

Koenigsknecht,

Deputy

Superintendent, P‐

20 System and

Student Transition

Michigan

Department of

Education

Jenny

Koenigsknecht,

Public Awareness

Specialist,

Office of

Innovative

Projects, Clinton

County RESA

3B The Revised DEC Position Paper on MTSS in Early Childhood – The

original DEC/NAEYC/NHSA joint position statement on RtI is currently

undergoing revision and may be in its final state by the time of this conference.

Learn about the process that took place and take a tour of the current (if not

final) version of this important document that will help set the stage for using

an MTSS framework to support all students in Early Childhood nationwide.





Elaine Tadajewski,

Early Childhood

Compliance

Consultant,

Oakland Schools

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Afternoon Breakout ‐ Session 3 (2:45pm-4:00pm) Continued


3C Creating an MTSS Model for Including Children with Challenging

Behaviors ‐ This session explores how one school district's ECSE School Social

Worker and School Psychologist in partnership with general education PreK

developed a system for providing positive behavior supports within a tiered

framework (Multi‐Tiered System of Supports, or MTSS) for 3‐5‐year‐olds

experiencing challenging behaviors that impact their learning in their classroom

settings.

Age level: 3 to 5



Target Audience: Administrators, Practitioners

Elizabeth Roberts,

School

Psychologist,

Rochester

Community

Schools

Amy Phaneuf,

School Social

Worker,

Rochester

Community

Schools

3D Introduction to the New Essential Instructional Practices in Early

Mathematics: A framework to support the NEW! Essential

Instructional Practices in Early Mathematics – This sessions covers what

you should know, what you need to know and what you want to know about

the new, essential instructional practices in early mathematics; including

opportunities to provide feedback and share experiences. Explore how these

practices can support early childhood, general and special education teachers,

parents, administrators, coaches and consultants in building mathematicians in

PreK‐ third grades.




Target Audience: Administrators, Families, Practitioners

Cari O’Connor,

Early Childhood

Director,

Montcalm Area ISD,

Early Math Task

Force Member

Kim Fox,

Math Consultant,

Calhoun ISD

3E Listening to Resistance to Foster Shared Decision‐Making with

Families ‐ Collaborative decision‐making by early educators and families is

essential to partnerships. Reaching consensus requires recognizing and

addressing disagreement. Yet families from diverse backgrounds may

communicate disagreement in subtle ways easily missed by educators. We will

examine research‐based strategies early educators can use to listen for and

respond to parental resistance.




Target Audience: Families, Practitioners, Researchers

Christine Hancock,

Assistant Professor,

Wayne State

University

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Afternoon Breakout ‐ Session 3 (2:45pm-4:00pm) Continued


3E Listening to Resistance to Foster Shared Decision‐Making with

Families ‐ Collaborative decision‐making by early educators and families is

essential to partnerships. Reaching consensus requires recognizing and

addressing disagreement. Yet families from diverse backgrounds may

communicate disagreement in subtle ways easily missed by educators. We will

examine research‐based strategies early educators can use to listen for and

respond to parental resistance.




Target Audience: Families, Practitioners, Researchers

Christine Hancock,

Assistant Professor,

Wayne State

University

3F The Elephant in the Room: Moving from Bias to Authenticity ‐ This

interactive workshop will provide Early Childhood Providers with opportunities

to explore and acknowledge our biases in a safe environment. Through

exploration, providers will learn ways to prevent their own implicit bias from

impacting their work with families. Using that awareness, providers will be

empowered to develop deeper, authentic family relationships.




Target Audience: Administrators, Practitioners, Researchers

Sara Stockinger,

Special Education

Teacher Consultant,

Kalamazoo RESA

Danielle Palmer

Family Support

Specialist,

Kalamazoo RESA

3G Developing Children’s Self‐Regulation Skills: Strategies to Support

with Challenging Behaviors – There is a rising concern over the number of

young children who exhibit challenging behaviors in early childhood

classrooms. This workshop will strengthen teacher’s self‐efficacy through

learning effective strategies to support children with challenging behaviors.




Target Audience: Practitioners, Researchers

Lisa Keiper,

Program

Coordinator and

Lecturer,

Wayne State

University

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We gratefully acknowledge the co‐sponsorship of this conference by the Michigan Department of Education. Co‐

sponsorship by the Michigan Department of Education assumes the active participation of Department of Education staff

in planning and development of the agenda. No person shall be denied the opportunity to participate on the basis of race,

color, religion, national origin or ancestry, age, sex, marital status, or disability. The conference facility must meet federal

and state accessibility standards. Commercial products or services displayed or presented as a part of the conference are

not considered endorsed by the State Board of Education and the Michigan Department of Education.

Documents

Michigan DEC Conference€¦ · Brazelton Touchpoints Approach – This session highlights the vital ... stakeholders teaching and/or working within the birth‐three field. Age level: