NSSEO recently hosted its annual Institute Day on January 5, bringing staff together for a full day of professional learning, collaboration, and growth. This event kicks off the new year by dedicating a training day for educators and support personnel to step away from daily responsibilities and focus on expanding their skills, knowledge, and instructional practices. Staff selected from a wide range of sessions designed to strengthen their professional toolkit and directly support student success across NSSEO programs.
This year marked the first time Institute Day was held entirely at Harper College, with 1,682 staff members registered and 25 sessions offered throughout the day. Presenters traveled from across the country, including Boston, Portland, Atlanta, North Carolina, Indiana, and Illinois. Sessions included Doug Bolton’s Harnessing the Unique Power of Belonging, Jackie Rhew’s Establishing Boundaries for Emotional Wellness: A Key to Supporting Student Success, and Dr. Dithu Rajaraman’s Increasing Safety, Dignity, and Joy Across the Day from Greg Hanley’s group. Staff also participated in four targeted sessions led by the SLD Group, featuring Kellyn Sirach, Jessica Rodriguez, and Aubrey Durkin, with a focus on math, writing, and the three Ds: dyslexia, dyscalculia, and dysgraphia. Additional offerings included Sasha Long of The Autism Helper presenting on executive functioning and proactive behavior intervention, and Jennifer Rosinia, PhD, OTR, President of Kid Links Unlimited, Inc., who led sessions on sensory processing and understanding meltdowns. Along with a highly sought-after session titled 15 Big Ideas to Increase the Learning and Achievement of Students with Disabilities. Specialized full-day and half-day sessions were also provided for Vision, DHH, and nursing staff. The event was thoughtfully planned by Molly Dunne, Katie Krafton, and a large team of dedicated NSSEO and member district partners, resulting in a meaningful and energizing professional learning experience that continues to support excellence across the organization. Have a great rest of the school year, and see you all next year!!
Thank you to all of our volunteers who helped make this event a success in so many ways! Teamwork makes the dream work!
