Special to the Register
RICHMOND —
The Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children (KECSAC) will host the ninth annual Alternative Strategies for Educating Students At-Risk Conference July 27-29 at Eastern Kentucky University.
The conference, in the Perkins Building, is designed to provide educators and administrators who work with students at risk the skills, resources and inspiration necessary to meet the various challenges that they face daily.
Featured speakers include: Dr. Stephen Sroka, educator and motivational speaker who integrates cutting-edge research with reality-based strategies for dealing with the issues that face youth today, including sex, drugs, violence, academic achievement as well as mental health and school safety; Elizabeth Breaux, master educator and author who believes that a calm, caring environment, innovative teaching strategies and constant positive feedback are key to at-risk student success; Maria Banks, master educator and K-12 literacy development supervisor for the Wissahickon School District in Ambler, Pa., who’ll present “Using Differentiation to Create Community & Foster Comprehension;” and Hasan Davis, the deputy commissioner of operations for the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice, who will deliver the closing keynote emphasizing his personal story of triumph and change.
In addition to the keynote presentations, some of the breakout sessions include: “Culturally Responsive Teaching in Appalachia,” “Accessing Principles of Restorative Justice and Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports to Address Discipline Issues with School-Age Youth,” “Writing for Hope and the Community Connection” and “Real World Number Sense.”
Conference participants will earn 18 EILA hours. As part of registering and attending the conference, participants will receive a copy of Elizabeth Breaux’s book, “How to Reach & Teach: ALL Students Simplified.” For the second consecutive year, thanks to the generosity of KECSAC’s state agency partners, the conference fee of $150 will be waived for all participants. Recognizing that districts are facing fiscal challenges and to make quality professional development available to as many educators as possible, KECSAC offers the conference free of charge.
