Professional Learning

View our options for Professional Learning below by clicking on the tabs for PLA Facilitated Courses, Gifted Endorsement Courses, ASD Endorsement Courses, or Additional PL. Descriptions and registration links are included with the details for the courses, and courses are listed in order of the start date for each class.

You can also view our entire
Calendar

PLA Facilitated Courses

PLA Offerings: 2024-2025 School Year

The BEESS Portal to Professional Learning Alternatives (PLA) is a partnership between the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Student education (BEESS) and the Bureau of Educator Certification. Available to Florida educators since 2003, the courses are funded by the Florida Department of Education Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services (BEESS). Courses are coordinated by the Florida Diagnostic and Learning Resources System (FDLRS) Administration Project and the eighteen FDLRS Network Associate Centers, a FLDOE/BEESS project, in collaboration with the Florida Center for Interactive Media at FSU.

The courses listed on this page are the ones that are facilitated by our center, and will be taught by either FDLRS Heartland personnel or by teachers from one of the Heartland districts (DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, or Highlands). For the 2024-2025 school year, educators can elect to register for ANY of the PLA courses offered through any FDLRS Center. The list of Facilitated courses and their descriptions can be found on the statewide portal (https://fl-pla.org), and registration is centrally located on the FDLRS Upcoming Courses page. There is also a General FAQ document available that has additional details about what a Facilitated PLA Course entails.

Participants will access the materials through the online learning portal for PLA courses, in addition to attending mandatory Zoom "face-to-face" meetings. Participants will receive information about their first virtual meeting, which will occur on Day 1 of the course, in the week prior to the start date. During this first meeting, login information and how to access materials will be discussed, as well as class pacing and other details about coursework.

DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, and Highlands counties will all register using either the links listed with each course below, or at the main FDLRS Upcoming Courses webpage.

Quarter 1 (July to September 2024)

Exploring Structured Literacy

Course Dates: August 29 through November 14, 2024 (11 week course)
Inservice Points: 40 inservice points (also satisfies 20 SWD point requirement). This course meets the 40 hours for the reading instruction certification requirement for teachers established in Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., Renewal and Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate.
Instructors: Amanda Beeler & Summer Sorrells
Description: This course will allow educators to develop, increase, and demonstrate knowledge of explicit, systematic, sequential, and multi-sensory approaches to reading instruction as outlined in the 40-hour in-service requirement identified in Florida Statute s. 1012.585(3) F.S. In order for educators to effectively meet the needs of students with persistent reading difficulties and disabilities, including dyslexia, emphasis of this professional learning opportunity is focused on reading instruction that builds a strong, cumulative, and logical foundation of phonology, sound-symbol associations, syllables, morphology, semantics, and syntax.
Meetings: There will be four required virtual evening meetings during the course: August 29, September 19, October 10, and October 24.
Course Flyer
Registration Link (Registration is closed: course at capacity)

Exploring Structured Literacy

Course Dates: July 23 through October 3, 2024 (11 week course)
Inservice Points: 40 inservice points (also satisfies 20 SWD point requirement). This course meets the 40 hours for the reading instruction certification requirement for teachers established in Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., Renewal and Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate.
Instructor: Sasha Tack
Description: This course will allow educators to develop, increase, and demonstrate knowledge of explicit, systematic, sequential, and multi-sensory approaches to reading instruction as outlined in the 40-hour in-service requirement identified in Florida Statute s. 1012.585(3) F.S. In order for educators to effectively meet the needs of students with persistent reading difficulties and disabilities, including dyslexia, emphasis of this professional learning opportunity is focused on reading instruction that builds a strong, cumulative, and logical foundation of phonology, sound-symbol associations, syllables, morphology, semantics, and syntax.
Meetings: There will be four required virtual evening meetings during the course: July 23, August 13, September 3, and September 17.
Course Flyer
Registration Link (Registration is closed: course at capacity)

Foundations of ESE

Course Dates: July 16 through September 24, 2024
Inservice Points: 60 inservice points (also satisfies 20 SWD point requirement)
Instructor: Sonja Bennett
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about students with disabilities as related to state and federal legislation and case law. The course provides information about appropriate legal and ethical practices and different disability categories. The course content includes information on how to create a successful learning environment, the components and team members of the individualized education process and using models of support for students with disabilities to ensure success with the general education curriculum.
Meetings: There will be three required virtual evening meetings during the course: July 16, August 27, and September 10, 2024
Course Flyer
Registration Link (Registration closed)

Matrix of Services

Course Dates: August 21 through September 20, 2024 (4 week course)
Inservice Points: 5 points
Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about the Matrix of Services. Content and activities examine the requirements for matrix completion and provide the opportunity to accurately complete a matrix for students with disabilities. The course identifies how student educational needs and services impact the matrix funding document.
Meetings: There will be four required virtual evening meetings during the course: August 21, August 28, September 4, and September 11.
Registration Link (Registration is closed: course is at capacity)

Quarter 2 (October to December 2024)

Components of Secondary Transition

Course Dates: November 14, 2024 through March 7, 2025 (12 week course)
Inservice Points: 60 points
Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
Description: This course has been designed to assist educators in identifying the components of effective transition planning and the essential elements that must be in place for an individual with disabilities to successfully transition from school to work or continued education and adult living. Participants will learn how to identify resources to assist students with post-secondary success that is centered around their strengths, preferences, and interest. Participants will gain an understanding of the timeline and legislative changes that have resulted in a positive impact on individuals with disabilities related to transition services. The content and activities in this course will prepare participants to implement best practices to prepare students for transition to post-secondary education, work, and adult living.
Meetings: There will be three required virtual evening meetings during the course: November 14, December 5, and January 29
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Differentiating Science Instruction

Course Dates: September 18 through December 4, 2024 (10 week course)
Inservice Points: 30 SWD points
Instructor: Lisa Shin
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about applying the guidelines of differentiation to science instruction for the purposes of increasing student achievement for all learners. Content and activities emphasize how to use pre-assessment, continuous assessment, and summative assessments to design and deliver effective science lessons for whole group initial instruction and how to effectively use flexible small group instruction and individualized instruction, when needed, to respond to each student’s needs.
Meetings: There will be three required virtual evening meetings during the course: September 18, October 2, and October 30.
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Matrix of Services

Course Dates: October 8 to November 5, 2024 (4 week course)
Inservice Points: 5 points
Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about the Matrix of Services. Content and activities examine the requirements for matrix completion and provide the opportunity to accurately complete a matrix for students with disabilities. The course identifies how student educational needs and services impact the matrix funding document.
Meetings: There will be four required virtual evening meetings during the course: October 8, October 15, October 24, and October 29
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Quarter 3 (January to March 2025)

Differentiating Mathematics Instruction

Course Dates: January 8 through March 9, 2025 (8 week course)
Inservice Points: 30 SWD points
Instructor: Lisa Shin
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about how to apply the guidelines of differentiated instruction to mathematics instruction. Emphasis is on evidence-based practices structured by a responsive decision-making framework for all students to achieve at the highest possible level. Content includes how to use pre-assessment, continuous assessment, and summative assessments to design and deliver effective lessons for initial instruction in mathematics and how to effectively use flexible small group instruction to respond to individual learner needs.
Meetings: There will be three required virtual evening meetings during the course: January 8, January 29, and February 12, 2025
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Exploring Structured Literacy

Course Dates: January 7 through March 25, 2025 (11 week course)
Inservice Points: 40 inservice points (also satisfies 20 SWD point requirement). This course meets the 40 hours for the reading instruction certification requirement for teachers established in Rule 6A-4.0051, F.A.C., Renewal and Reinstatement of a Professional Certificate.
Instructors: Amanda Beeler & Summer Sorrells
Description: This course will allow educators to develop, increase, and demonstrate knowledge of explicit, systematic, sequential, and multi-sensory approaches to reading instruction as outlined in the 40-hour in-service requirement identified in Florida Statute s. 1012.585(3) F.S. In order for educators to effectively meet the needs of students with persistent reading difficulties and disabilities, including dyslexia, emphasis of this professional learning opportunity is focused on reading instruction that builds a strong, cumulative, and logical foundation of phonology, sound-symbol associations, syllables, morphology, semantics, and syntax.
Meetings: There will be four required virtual evening meetings during the course: January 7, January 28, February 18, and March 4, 2025
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Instructional Practices

Course Dates: January 7 through April 8, 2025 (11 week course)
Inservice Points: 60 SWD points
Instructor: Toia Addison
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about how to select instructional practices which incorporate specific learning strategies and specialized materials to meet individual learner needs. Participants will also learn about analyzing educational activities to assist in the development and implementation of accommodations and modifications that allow students with disabilities to participate in the general curriculum in a meaningful way. Course content includes effective methods of communication, consultation, and collaboration with other educators, related services professionals and with families.
Meetings: There will be three required virtual evening meetings during the course: January 7, February 4, and April 1 from 4:30 to 6:30 PM
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Matrix of Services

Course Dates: January 9 through February 6, 2025 (4 week course)
Inservice Points: 5 points
Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about the Matrix of Services. Content and activities examine the requirements for matrix completion and provide the opportunity to accurately complete a matrix for students with disabilities. The course identifies how student educational needs and services impact the matrix funding document.
Meetings: There will be four required virtual evening meetings during the course: January 9, January 16, January 23, and January 30, 2025.
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Quarter 4 (April to June 2025)

Matrix of Services

Course Dates: April 3 through May 1, 2025 (4 week course)
Inservice Points: 5 points
Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
Description: This course enables educators to develop, increase and demonstrate knowledge about the Matrix of Services. Content and activities examine the requirements for matrix completion and provide the opportunity to accurately complete a matrix for students with disabilities. The course identifies how student educational needs and services impact the matrix funding document.
Meetings: There will be four required virtual evening meetings during the course: April 3, April 10, April 17, and April 24, 2025.
Course Flyer
Registration Closed

Gifted Endorsement Courses

Gifted Endorsement Offerings: 2024-2025 School Year

The Gifted Endorsement is designed to increase the level of knowledge, expertise, and understanding of educators working with students who are gifted. The endorsement is intended to raise the awareness of the unique characteristics, emotional/social needs, and other challenges and issues associated with the students who are gifted. It is designed to foster an understanding of historical, state, and national trends, policies and guidelines to ensure implementation of appropriate academic curriculum, differentiation strategies, educational intervention, and support for this diverse population.

FDLRS Heartland's free Gifted Endorsement Courses offered locally will be taught by Donna Trucchio and/or Gina Sandusky-Nelson. You will have mandatory virtual "face-to-face" meetings combined with online assignments, quizzes, and/or discussions on the Moodle platform. You must complete all coursework and submit your evaluation by the course end dates listed with each course in order to receive inservice credit.

The Gifted Endorsement Add-On Program consists of five courses (300 hours). Four Gifted courses will be offered through FDLRS Heartland during the 2024-2025 School Year: Special Populations of Gifted Students (Summer 2024), Guidance and Counseling for the Gifted (Fall 2024), Curriculum and Instruction for the Gifted (Winter 2025), and Theory and Development of Creativity (Spring 2025). You can enter the course cycle at any time, but you must complete all five courses in order to receive the Gifted Endorsement. Please see below for course descriptions and registration information.

DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration button below.
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course (some registrations may not be available yet).

Gifted Registration

Special Populations of the Gifted

Course Dates: July 10 through September 25, 2024 (11 weeks)
Inservice Points: 60 Hours
Instructor: Donna Trucchio
Description: Education of Special Populations of Gifted Students provides an overview of the challenges and issues that face diverse populations of gifted students as they struggle to gain acceptance, recognition, and access to appropriate gifted education to meet their individual needs. It examines policies and procedures to screen, identify, and provide appropriate modifications to curriculum for these gifted students. The module provides an overview of the types of diverse perspectives and their impact on the development of gifted abilities.
Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be July 10, 2024 at 4:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
Deadline to Register: July 7, 2024

Guidance and Counseling for the Gifted

Course Dates: October 1 through December 17, 2024 (11 weeks)
Inservice Points: 60 Hours
Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
Description: Guidance and Counseling for the Gifted provides an overview of the theory, research, practical strategies, and resources on guidance and counseling, with an emphasis on classroom applications in the gifted classroom. Participants will understand holistic developmental characteristics of gifted children, will be able to identify risk factors related to gifted students, and will be to support social skills, career exploration, and leadership development of gifted students.
Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be on day 1 of the course at 4:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
Deadline to Register: September 27, 2024

Theory and Development of Creativity

Course Dates: January 8 through March 25, 2025 (11 weeks)
Inservice Points: 60 Hours
Instructor: Donna Trucchio
Description: Theory and Development of Creativity provides an overview of the theory, research, practical strategies, and resources on creativity, with an emphasis on classroom applications in the gifted classroom. It is intended that, upon completion of this course participants attain the following goals, to increase knowledge of the nature and definition of creativity, to reflect on and learn ways to enhance personal creativity and to provide ideas and strategies for teaching others (students) to develop and use their creativity.
Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be on day 1 of the course at 4:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
Deadline to Register: January 5, 2025

Curriculum and Instruction for the Gifted

Course Dates: April 2 through June 12, 2025 - (11 weeks)
Inservice Points: 60 Hours
Instructor: Gina Sandusky-Nelson
Description: Curriculum and Instruction for the Gifted provides an analysis of curriculum modifications for gifted learners based on the National Association for Gifted Children (NAGC) Standards for Graduate Programs in Gifted Education. Participants will be able to demonstrate adaptations in the content, process, product, affect, and learning environment of the classroom and curricula as they relate to gifted learners. Ultimately, course participants will design units of instruction that are powerful, aligned, engaging, authentic, and challenging.
Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be on day 1 of the course at 4:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
Deadline to Register: May 30, 2025

ASD Endorsement Courses

ASD Endorsement Offerings: 2024-2025 School Year

The Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement Program is designed to increase the level of knowledge, expertise, and understanding of educators working with K-12 students diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The endorsement is intended to raise the awareness of the unique characteristics, emotional/social needs, and other challenges and issues related to students with Autism Spectrum Disorder and its range of pervasive developmental disorders that adversely affect functioning and result in the need for specially designed instruction and related services. It is designed to foster an understanding of policies and guidelines to ensure implementation of appropriate curriculum, differentiation, strategies, educational intervention, and support for this diverse population.

FDLRS Heartland's free ASD Endorsement Courses offered locally will be taught by Cathy Gonzalez, an ESE Specialist and Autism Coach. You will have mandatory virtual "face-to-face" meetings combined with online assignments, quizzes, and/or discussions on the Moodle platform. You must complete all coursework and submit your evaluation by the course end dates listed with each course in order to receive inservice credit.

There are three modules (80 hours each) in the Autism Spectrum Disorder Endorsement which cover assessment, diagnosis, behavior analysis, positive behavior supports, assistive technology, communication systems, and field experience (embedded in each course). Participants must complete all three modules. Please see below for course descriptions and registration information.

Participants should verify with their school district that ASD Endorsement courses are in the District's Professional Learning Catalog, that the courses have been approved by the district, and are eligible for points. Please be advised that an endorsement is a rider on a valid Florida teaching certificate with another subject coverage. It cannot stand alone on the certificate. It is important to note that this add-on endorsement can only be added to your professional certification in conjunction with certification in any exceptional student education area.

ASD Registration

Nature and Needs, Assessment, and Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorders with Field Experience

Course Dates: August 5 through November 1, 2024 (11 weeks)
Inservice Points: 80 Hours
Instructor: Cathy Gonzalez
Description: Participants will be able to identify characteristics associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders(ASD), demonstrate an understanding of current trends and research-based methodologies used to create appropriate instructional programs for these students, and become familiar with formal and informal assessments used for diagnosis and instructional planning.
Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be August 5, 2024 at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
Deadline to Register: August 1, 2024
Course Flyer

Applied Behavior Analysis and Positive Behavior Supports for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders with Field Experience

Course Dates: November 4, 2024 through February 7, 2025 (11 weeks)
Inservice Points: 80 Hours
Instructor: Cathy Gonzalez
Description: This course provides participants with an understanding of how applied behavior analysis principles pertain to individuals with ASD, including implementation associated with teaching various skills and supporting behavior in educational settings. The functional assessment of problem behavior as well as proactive and preventative methods for addressing problem behavior will be addressed. In addition, evidence-based instructional strategies to develop communication, social, self-help, and academic skills will be emphasized and linked to behavioral needs.
Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be November 4, 2024 at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
Deadline to Register: November 1, 2024

Augmentative/Alternative Communication Systems and Assistive/Instructional Technology for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders with Field Experience

Course Dates: February 24 through May 21, 2025 (11 weeks)
Inservice Points: 80 Hours
Instructor: Cathy Gonzalez
Description: Participants will be able to describe and analyze communication needs, design strategies to facilitate intervention, and demonstrate an understanding of various communication interventions for students with Autism Spectrum Disorders; including AAC/AT. Participants will understand the importance of transition planning for students with ASD.
Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be TBA at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
Deadline to Register: February 21, 2025

Additional Professional Learning

2024-2025 School Year

We also offer various webinars, book studies, and other online, blended, or face-to-face professional learning. Please see the listings below, or see our calendar for information.

Depending on the type of training, participants may receive links to either the YouFactors portal for our Webinars, the EduCalc portal for our Secondary Math or Dyscalculia/Dysgraphia trainings, Google Classroom access, or Moodle access. Please read the descriptions of each of the courses/trainings to see the requirements and expectations of the class.

DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration buttons below
Highlands county: You must register in your Highlands PLM Portal and search for the title of the course

Weekly Webinars

Inservice Points: 3 inservice points per webinar completed, with some eligible as SWD points towards recertification.
Description: These short webinars are on a variety of topics for educators, ranging from behavior issues, classroom management, instructional strategies, trauma response, and school culture. Participants will use the AccuEd Connect online portal to view the webinar, and are required to submit a brief follow-up questionnaire and evaluation survey in order to receive their inservice points. Instructions on how to access the portal, as well as directions for the follow-up portions will be emailed to participants in the week before their webinar begins.
Registration: Use the Registration link for each quarter below, or go to our Learning Events page for separate listings. Highlands employees MUST register in their PLM Portal.
Deadline to Register: Participants will need to register by the Thursday prior to the week of the Webinar, please see dates on the flyer for more details.

Quarter 1 (July to September 2024)

1. Disruptive Behavior Disorders

Webinar Dates: August 18 through August 24, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: During this webinar, participants explore Disruptive Behavior Disorders including Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and Conduct Disorder and learn effective practices for working with students challenged by these disorders in the classroom. This module addresses Florida's professional learning requirements from SB 1108 - Students with Disabilities (SWD).

2. Mindfulness in Education

Webinar Dates: August 25 through August 31, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: This webinar will demonstrate to educators that students who have been instructed in “mindfulness” experience increases in test scores and executive functioning while showing decreases in stress, anxiety, depression, and bullying.

3. Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Webinar Dates: September 1 through September 7, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: This webinar focuses primarily on evidence-based intervention strategies, tips and accommodations you can use to help students prone to self-injury, especially those dealing with anxiety and depression. Educators will also understand the SMB Cycle, the SMB Addiction Model, and how Intervention Mapping can help. This professional learning series addresses Florida's professional learning requirements from SB 1108 - Students with Disabilities (SWD).

4. Lost Boys

Webinar Dates: September 8 through September 14, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: Positive reinforcement for good behavior is focused on students who are proficient at sitting still for long periods of time, a skill that many boys have not mastered. In this webinar, participants will gain insight and understanding of the role of gender in education and how to develop effective strategies to engage boys in the learning process.

5. Closing the Exits Off the Road to Responsibility

Webinar Dates: September 15 through September 21, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: This webinar will explore how traditional discipline practices actually allow students to take any available path to avoid responsibility. Learn six essential practices that will close those exits off the path and help students learn self-management. This professional learning series addresses Florida's professional learning requirements from SB 1108 - Students with Disabilities (SWD).

Quarter 2 (October to December 2024)

1. ACEs Informed Schools

Webinar Dates: October 6 through October 12, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: More than 2 out of 3 students have had to deal with at least one Adverse Childhood Experience (ACE) – such as the death of a parent, living with addiction or suffering abuse. Research shows that students who have endured two or more ACEs are far more likely to experience academic and behavioral issues. In this webinar, educators will explore how to identify and understand students who are struggling with traumatic events that have occurred in their young lives.

2. Executive Function Skills & Academic Success

Webinar Dates: October 20 through October 26, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: Executive function skills help children remember and follow multi-step instructions, avoid distractions, control rash responses, adjust when rules change, persist at problem solving, and manage long-term assignments. Learn how the brain works at EF skills and why some students have a more difficult time with mastery than others.

3. Suicide Prevention: When & How Educators Should Intervene

Webinar Dates: November 3 through November 9, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: How does an educator know whether a student is “just venting” or legitimately contemplating suicide? During this webinar, viewers explore tools and strategies to determine if a student or a co-worker may be at risk of suicide. Viewers will gain skills and strategies to assist a student or a co-worker who may be struggling with suicidal thoughts and gain an understanding of the overwhelming pain those considering suicide are facing.

4. Anxiety in the Classroom

Webinar Dates: November 17 through November 23, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: Anxiety conditions - separation anxiety, social anxiety, phobias, and generalized anxiety - are the most prevalent mental issues, and they often go unnoticed. But the impact on the students is significant. During this program, teachers, counselors and other professionals are shown the tools to support and teach this high-potential portion of the student population while avoiding an unmanageable classroom environment.

5. Mean Girls - Behind the Screen

Webinar Dates: December 1 to December 7, 2024
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: Social media platforms have become critical for young girls in their effort to stay connected to peers and parents. But as girls spend more time trying to stay "connected" online, they actually become more disconnected. As girls experience the turbulent times of childhood and adolescence, they often turn to social media to hide their fears, confusion, and anxiety from the outside world.

Quarter 3 (January to March 2025)

1. Engaging Students One-on-One

Webinar Dates: January 12 through January 18, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: When interacting with students one-on-one, you have the power to impact their success in the classroom and in in life. Learn how to better engage with students in a one-on-one setting so that you can lead a student towards achieving independence. Guiding students to be motivated, successful learners requires building healthy teacher-student relationships.

2. Measuring Social-Emotional Learning

Webinar Dates: January 26 through February 1, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: Research continues to show that mastery of social-emotional skills is critical for academic and workplace success. But once a program has been implemented, how can progress be measured? Participants will gain an understanding of how to use self-reporting, observations from others, behavioral documentation and academic data points. Learn how becoming intentional about measuring these skills can help your school’s practice make the most impact on students.

3. Wired Differently: 5 Keys

Webinar Dates: February 9 through February 15, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: Current studies show that approximately 20 percent of all students are diagnosable for a mental, emotional, or behavioral health issue. This webinar will help teachers, counselors, administrators, and other professionals understand how to support and teach this high-potential portion of the student population - while avoiding an unmanageable classroom environment.

4. Engaging the Traumatized Student

Webinar Dates: February 23 through March 1, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: In this webinar, educators, counselors, and school social workers will be provided with the most important information to increase their effectiveness in working with traumatized students and helping them achieve their highest academic level. Explore what trauma is and is not, learn creative strategies for dealing with specific behaviors, and understand why students seem to sabotage their own academic performance.

5. Impactful Guidance with Good Measure

Webinar Dates: March 2 through March 8, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: School counselors, social workers, psychologists and people in related professions know you make a difference. But now, more than ever, it's important to show your impact - in a results-driven, data driven educational environment. But how do you quantify lessons on character? How do you measure whether or not a student "got it" from a counseling lesson?

Quarter 4 (April to June 2025)

DeSoto, Glades, and Hendry: Register

Highlands: Search for the course in your PLM Portal

Quarter 4 Webinar Flyer

1. Strategies to Improve Working Memory

Webinar Dates: March 30 through April 5, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: Viewers are given an in-depth knowledge of what working memory is and how it relates to students’ classroom success & teachers’ classroom management success.

2. Socially Traumatized

Webinar Dates: April 6 through April 12, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: Gain an understanding of the landmines students must navigate on social media and discover strategies to help students avoid social media drama, while gaining critical insights for dealing with these issues.

3. Mindset Matters

Webinar Dates: April 20 through April 26, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: Understand how lessons on mindset can give students an understanding of how the brain works, infuse them with the magic of grit, and demonstrate the benefits of learning.

4. The Impact of Poverty on Learning

Webinar Dates: April 27 through May 3, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 SWD points
Description: Explore the impacts of poverty on students and learn techniques and strategies to help students overcome obstacles, gain confidence, and succeed academically.

5. Building a Responsibility-Centered School Culture

Webinar Dates: May 4 through May 10, 2025
Inservice Points: 3 points
Description: Viewers will learn how critical consistency is and how it can help not only with classroom management but also with school-wide discipline.

Heartland ESE Academy

Specially Designed Professional Learning for ESE Teachers & Support Facilitators

Join us for a monthly event that provides relevant topics, professional learning, and collaborative opportunities with fellow ESE teachers and Support Facilitators across four districts.

ACADEMY HIGHLIGHTS

Open to ESE Teachers and Support Facilitators in the FDLRS Heartland Region
Content Expert Presenters
Instructional Strategies and Support
Best Practices for Teaching/Co-teaching
Coaching and Mentoring

ACADEMY DETAILS

Location: Heartland Educational Consortium
Dates: November 12 (Kickoff Event), January 15, and April 3
Times: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM
Academy Flyer

REGISTRATION

DeSoto, Glades, & Hendry: https://bit.ly/HeartlandSF-2024
Highlands: Register in your PLM Portal "2425 HEC: FDLRS ESE Academy"

Learning Ally Webinars

What is Learning Ally and How Can It Support Students?

Do you have questions about using Learning Ally or need some pointers about the system? We are hosting brief sessions on the following popular topics, with time for Q & A at the end of each session. Sessions are from 3:00 to 3:45 PM, with time for Q&A until 4:00 PM.

See our Flyer for details about each session and registration information.

SESSION LIST:

Introduction to Learning Ally: TBA
Hands-On in the Learning Ally Portal: TBA