Professional Development

PDA Offerings: 2023-2024 School Year

The BEESS Portal to Professional Development Alternatives (PDA) 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. There are courses available through the statewide portal (https://fl-pda.org), as well as courses offered locally through FDLRS Heartland.

The following courses will be taught by either FDLRS Heartland personnel or by teachers from one of the Heartland districts (DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, or Highlands). There is a General FAQ document available that has additional details about what a Facilitated PDA Course entails.

Participants will access the materials through the online learning portal for PDA 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, and Hendry counties: Use the Registration links 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 Endorsement Offerings: 2023-2024 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 Amy Trujillo, past-president of Florida Association for the Gifted. 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 2023-2024 School Year: Guidance and Counseling for the Gifted (Summer 2023), Curriculum and Instruction for the Gifted (Fall 2023), Theory and Development of Creativity (Winter 2024), and Nature and Needs of Students Who Are Gifted (Spring 2024). 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

Guidance and Counseling for the Gifted

• Course Dates: July 10 through September 27, 2023 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 60 Hours
• Instructor: Amy Trujillo
• 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 July 10, 2023 at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
• Deadline to Register: July 6, 2023

Curriculum and Instruction for the Gifted

• Course Dates: exact dates TBA - October through December, 2023 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 60 Hours
• Instructor: Amy Trujillo
• 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 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
• Deadline to Register: TBA

Theory and Development of Creativity

• Course Dates: exact dates TBA - January through March, 2024 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 60 Hours
• Instructor: TBA
• 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 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
• Deadline to Register: TBA

Nature and Needs of Students Who Are Gifted

• Course Dates: exact dates TBA - April through June, 2024 (11 weeks)
• Inservice Points: 60 Hours
• Instructor: TBA
• Description: Nature and Needs of Students Who Are Gifted provides an overview of the evolution of gifted education on the national, state, and local level. Major events affecting gifted education are described as well as major policies and procedures governing the delivery of gifted education. Cognitive, social, and emotional characteristics common to individuals who are gifted are identified along with strategies that can be used to meet the academic needs of different categories of students who are gifted.
• Meetings: The first virtual meeting will be on day 1 of the course at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
• Deadline to Register: TBA

ASD Endorsement Offerings: 2023-2024 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.

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).

ASD Registration

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

• Course Dates: August 7 through October 23, 2023 (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 7, 2023 at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
• Deadline to Register: August 3, 2023

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

• Course Dates: October 30, 2023 through February 5, 2024 (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 October 30, 2023 at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
• Deadline to Register: October 26, 2023

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

• Course Dates: February 12 through May 6, 2024 (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 February 12, 2024 at 5:00PM. Participants will receive instructions the week prior.
• Deadline to Register: February 8, 2024

2022-2023 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 button 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 YouFactors 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: Either see the flyer below for registration links, 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 4 Webinars

• Quarter 4 Weekly Webinar Flyer

Registration

1. April 2 to April 8: Engaging the Traumatized Student (SWD)
   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.
2. April 9 to April 15: Strategies to Improve Working Memory
   Working memory is the brain’s ability to remember and use relevant information while in the middle of an activity. In this webinar, viewers are given an in-depth knowledge of what working memory is and how it relates to students’ classroom success and teachers’ classroom management success. The differences between working memory and short-term memory are illustrated and viewers are given strategies to improve working memory in their classes – specifically by reducing the cognitive load and building cognitive capacity.
3. April 16 to April 22: Socially Traumatized (SWD)
   Gain an understanding of the landmine students must navigate on social media during this informative webinar. Discover how social apps can serve as gateways to trauma, mental health disorders, and suicide. Viewers will gain an understanding of how trauma associated with social media can result in PTSD and anxiety, what the signs are, and how these conditions can affect a student’s ability to learn. Discover strategies to help students avoid social media drama, while gaining critical insights for dealing with these issues.
4. April 23 to April 29: Mindset Matters
   This innovative webinar will reveal how Carol Dweck’s research-based theory can be applied in a classroom curriculum and/or small group counseling by using the acronym MINDSET to frame any lesson. Participants will understand how these lessons can give students an understanding of how the brain works, infuse them with the magic of grit, and demonstrate the benefits of learning. Since these concepts align with social/emotional, academic, and career domains, counselors and teachers will walk away with a clear way to structure lessons and groups.
5. April 30 to May 6: The Impact of Poverty on Learning (SWD)
   Low-income students are 4.5 times more likely to drop out of high school. Explore the impacts of poverty on students and learn techniques and strategies to help students overcome obstacles, gain confidence, and succeed academically.  In this webinar, participants will gain understanding of misconceptions about race, class, and culture, and will gain empowering strategies for addressing traumatic experiences and bridging the equity gap.