Category: Event Type

Amie Dean – Behavior Interventions That Work – Nov 2026

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     November 6, 2026
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: WCU Health and Human Sciences Building
          3971 Little Savannah Road
          Cullowhee, NC 28723

***Note that parking directions will be provided in an email
closer to the time of the event.
 Fee:     $25 (Lunch Provided)
          FREE for NC NTSP teachers - Contact your BT Coordinator for
          the registration code

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. If you need to change the
name of the person attending, send an email to registrations@wresa.org
with the information of the person who will attend in your place.

CEUs:      5 Contact Hours
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: K–12 general education teachers, special education teachers, 
instructional coaches, interventionists, related service providers,
school leaders, and district staff
What to bring?: Your own charged device

Description: Do you have a plan for what to do when a student doesn’t comply with your request? Do you want to avoid power struggles with challenging students? This session will guide you in developing a preventative plan for handling issues from low-level distractions to more chronic behaviors. You will reflect on your current practices, learn the purpose of behavior, how to respond vs. react, and how to reboot your current systems to support student behavior and GAIN instructional minutes. This is a practical, strategy-filled session with concrete steps you can implement immediately to help students – and yourself. 

Presenter:  Amie Dean is an educator who spent years teaching in classrooms with challenging students. She believes most teachers want to help these students, but they are not trained on HOW to do it. Amie’s mission is to help teachers implement positive, practical strategies to reach the most challenging students. 

If you have additional questions, contact Michelle Bean at mbean@wresa.org

If you are unsure whether your school system is a WRESA member, click  WRESA MEMBER List.

REGISTRATION COMING SOON!

PEAK – Purposeful, Ethical AI for K-12 *

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     November 20, 2026 
Time:     9:00am – 3:30pm 
Type:     In-Person

Location: Haywood Community College
          Health and Sciences Building
          185 Freedlander Dr.
          Clyde, NC 28721

Fee:      WRESA Members - $45
          Non-members   - $70
          (Lunch Included)

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. If you need to change the
name of the person attending, send an email to registrations@wresa.org
with the information of the person who will attend in your place.


CEUs:     6 Contact Hours 
Limit:    30 Participants
Audience: K-12 Educators, Curriculum Coaches and Administrators
What to Bring: Your own device

Description:

Join us on November 20, 2026, at Haywood Community College for PEAK: Purposeful, Ethical
AI for K–12 Learning—a hands-on conference designed to help educators move beyond AI hype and
use emerging tools with intention.
Explore how AI can strengthen human agency, standards-aligned instruction, assessment, accessibility,
and authentic learning. Sessions will help educators build practical skills, create useful teaching tools, and
redesign learning experiences while keeping human judgment at the center. Breakout sessions for
elementary and secondary educators, as well as beginners to experienced AI users. Not more screen time.
More purposeful learning time.

Presenters:

Vera Cubero 
Vera recently retired after 30 years in public education in NC, from the classroom to the state level.  Most
recently, she served as the Emerging Technologies Consultant, where she led the NC AI implementation
and the NC AI Guidelines.  After retiring, she started Cubero Consulting, where she supports districts and
businesses in implementing responsible AI and serves as Strategic K12 Advisor to MagicSchool AI.

Stacy Lovdahl
Stacy Lovdahl is the Western Digital Learning Consultant for the North Carolina Department of Public
Instruction (NCDPI) and an AI literacy trainer with more than 24 years of experience in educational
technology. A former middle school science teacher and instructional technology facilitator, she helps
educators thoughtfully integrate AI, digital tools, and high-impact instructional practices to strengthen teaching
and learning. Stacy has led professional learning across North Carolina and nationally, empowering educators
to use generative AI in purposeful, ethical and standards-aligned ways.

If you have additional questions, contact Candie Sellers at csellers@wresa.org

REGISTER

 

Productive Math Interventions

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     November 17, 2026
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: WRESA
          200 Ridgefield Ct, Suite 206
          Asheville, NC 28806

 Fee:     $ 70 WRESA Members
          $105 Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. If you need to change the
name of the person attending, send an email to registrations@wresa.org
with the information of the person who will attend in your place.

CEUs:      5 Contact Hours
Limit:    35 Participants
Audience: K-5 Classroom Teachers and Curriculum Coaches
What to bring?: Your own charged device

Description:
In this interactive one-day learning experience, educators will explore how to use student
thinking to identify instructional priorities, make key mathematical ideas explicit through
purposeful representations and mathematical language, and design intervention experiences
that include routines, contextual problems, and meaningful practice or games.
Together, we will consider how intervention can go beyond “more practice” to offer students
intentional access to important mathematical ideas. Participants will engage in examples and
plan instructional experiences that connect conceptual understanding, problem solving, fluency,
and communication.

Presenter: 
Meredith Stanley is an independent math coach and specialist for K-8. A former
elementary classroom teacher and instructional coach for Buncombe County, she is a
two-time finalist for the Presidential Award for Math and Science, a Buncombe County
Teacher of the Year, a Buncombe County Math Teacher of the Year, and a National
Board certified teacher. She received her Master’s in Mathematics Teaching from Mount
Holyoke College and currently lives in Asheville with her husband and two children. She
loves to run, hike, and gather random assortments of objects for counting collections.
You can find her (and a bank of her recommended instructional resources) at
www.meredith4math.com and @meredith4math.

If you have additional questions, contact Candie Sellers at  csellers@wresa.org

If you are unsure whether your school system is a WRESA member, click  WRESA MEMBER List.

REGISTER

From Open Way Learning: Using Storytelling in Your Classroom

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     March 18, 2027
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Ext. Center
          455 Research Drive
          Mills River, NC 28759

 Fee:      $75 - WRESA Members
          $115 - Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund Policy for our WRESA
Courses. However, you are welcome to send a colleague
in your place. Send an email to registrations@wresa.org 
if you need someone to take your place.

CEUs:      5 Contact Hours
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience:  Grades 3-12 Teachers (any subject)
What to bring?: Your own device

Description:

Discover how to use student voice and choice to strengthen learning and extend a lesson’s impact beyond the classroom. Whether you teach art, science, ELA, history, or any other subject, students must communicate information. Students also must interpret a variety of data and information that is communicated in visual formats. This session will use a variety of resources (digital to analog) to highlight this skill. Join us to incorporate some amazing tools into your lessons and explore more ways for you and your students to express yourself. (This session highlights the SEP: Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information and the Communication Skill in NC Portrait of a Graduate.- best suited for teachers of grades 3-12, any subject).

For more information about the class, contact Michelle Taylor at michelle@openwaylearning.org and/or 828-206-3014

For questions/issues about registering for the course, send an email to registrations@wresa.org or call WRESA at 828-774-5681

If you are unsure whether your school system is a WRESA member, click  WRESA MEMBER List.

REGISTER

Get Your Co-Teaching Year Off on the Right Foot!

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     Schedule a time between Sept 1st and Dec 15th, 2026
Time:     45 minutes, scheduled at the team's convenience

Type:     Virtual - 45-Minute Meeting with Rick Welsh

Fee:      $35 per co-teaching team of 2
CEUs:     2 Contact Hours
Limit:    One co-teaching pair per session
Audience: Co-teachers Grades 2-12
What to bring to the meeting with Rick Welsh?: 2 devices, 1 device for
the Zoom meeting and another to run a Microsoft Powerpoint.

Description:

Early in the school year is the right time to establish strong co- teaching behaviors. Provide your co-teaching staff with a live, team-by-team, professional development, designed to help them reflect, recalibrate, and strengthen their collaborative practice.

Teams Receive:

  • A Window into Co-Teaching- An introduction to 20 behaviors that contribute to successful co- teaching.
  • A detailed analysis of their co-teaching relationship (based on a brief, confidential, 5 – 10 – minute survey).
  • Your PlayBook for Co-Teaching- a digital resource with over 100 field-tested coteaching strategies.
  • A 35–45-minute private consultation, via Zoom, with Rick Welsh, Director of CoTeach America, to discuss their data and to learn how to use Your PlayBook for Co-Teaching to enhance their co-teaching practices throughout the year.

Presenter: Rick Welsh has over 40 years of experience working with teachers and students. He is currently the Director of Co-Teach America. Following Graduate School at UNC in 1980 he served as a Public School Speech/Language Pathologist. Since 1994 he has worked in the field, consulting with teachers to support their co-teaching efforts.

If you have additional questions contact April Spencer at aspencer@wresa.org  

If you are unsure whether your school system is a WRESA member, click  WRESA MEMBER List. 

REGISTER

 

From Open Way Learning: Phenomenal Use of Phenomena – Mar 2027

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     March 16, 2027
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Ext. Center
          455 Research Drive
          Mills River, NC 28759

 Fee:      $75 - WRESA Members
          $115 - Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund Policy for our WRESA
Courses. However, you are welcome to send a colleague
in your place. Send an email to registrations@wresa.org 
if you need someone to take your place.

CEUs:      5 Contact Hours
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience:  Grades 3-12 Science Teachers What to bring?: Your own device

Description:

Join us for a day of digging into phenomena. Co-design lessons with tons of resources. Learn how to best incorporate phenomena into lessons, and how to expand phenomena into student driven instruction. You will have time to plan a phenomena based lesson and explore community connections to make your standards relevant and real to your students! This session is most appropriate for grades 3-12 science teachers.

For more information about the class, contact Michelle Taylor at michelle@openwaylearning.org and/or 828-206-3014

For questions/issues about registering for the course, send an email to registrations@wresa.org or call WRESA at 828-774-5681

REGISTER

High Leverage Practices for All: 2-day PD

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     Oct 14, 2026 &   (MUST ATTEND BOTH DAYS)
          Oct 27, 2026  
    
Time:     8:30am - 3:30pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: WRESA   
          200 Ridgefield Ct, Suite 206
          Asheville, NC 28806

Fee:      Free

CEUs:     6 Contact Hours per day  
Limit:    30 Participants
Audience: K–12 general education teachers, special education teachers,
instructional coaches, interventionists, related service providers,
school leaders, and district staff
What to Bring: Your own charged device

Description:

High-leverage practices (HLPs) are instructional approaches educators in
K–12 settings can use to teach a wide range of learners and content. The 22
research-based practices are organized into four essential aspects of teachers’
work: collaboration, assessment, social/emotional/behavioral practices, and instruction.
Together, they provide a shared framework and common language to support students
with disabilities and those who benefit from additional instructional support.

This two-day professional development workshop introduces participants to selected
HLPs that can be used across grade levels and content areas. Participants will examine
how these practices connect to daily instruction, classroom routines, student
engagement, behavior support, and planning for generalization of learning.

In this 2-day professional development, participants will be introduced to the HLPs and
address the following content.

“WHAT TO TEACH” Pillar HLP 7: Learning environments

● HLP 9: Teach Social Behaviors
● HLP 14: Teach cognitive and meta cognitive strategies
● HLP 21 Teach students to maintain and generalize new learning.

“HOW TO TEACH” Pillar HLP 16 Explicit Instruction
● HLP 18: Active Student Engagement
● HLP 15: Scaffolded Instruction
● HLP 13: Adapt Curriculum Tasks & Materials
● HLP 19: Use Assistive and Instructional Technologies
● HLP 17: Use Flexible Grouping
● HLPs 8/22: Provide Positive & Constructive Feedback

Presenter: Kelly Doppke is an IDEA Consultant for the Western Region with the Office
of Exceptional Children, where she provides regional support to EC leadership and
school teams in LEAs and Charters across the area.

For more information, contact April at aspencer@wresa.org, or 828.774. 5681 ext 103

REGISTER

Finance Series for Superintendents, Finance Officers & HR Directors

Posted on by Webster 
Date:     September 22, 2026, October 13, November 3, January 12, 2027, and March 9, 2027  
Time:     11:30am – 3:00pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: WRESA
          200 Ridgefield Ct. Suite 206
          Asheville, NC 28806

Fee:      FREE with lunch included

CEUs:     3.5 Contact Hours per session or 1.75 for the entire 5 sessions
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: Superintendents, Finance Officers & HR Directors
What to bring?: Your own device

Description:
WRESA, in partnership with NCASBO, is providing  a structured, professional development series
for superintendents, finance officers, and human resource directors across the Western Carolina
Region.
This series will strengthen financial leadership capacity, improve transparency, and ensure
accountability in the management of public school funds. Training to be led by teams consisting of
one superintendent and one finance officer – a pairing that reflects the essential collaboration
required for effective financial management in school districts.

OUTCOMES –  Participants will:
• Leave each session with at least one ready to use tool
• Strengthen collaboration
• Increase operational efficiency
• Improve compliance readiness
• Understand the fiscal cycle
• Build a regional network of peers

Session 1: September 22, 2026 – Laying the Foundation
• NC Public School Fiscal Control Act/Fund Accounting/Chart of Accounts
• Financial Reporting Requirements
• Current Year Allotments
• Continuing Budget Resolutions & Budget Adoption
• Position Control & Staffing Alignment

Session 2:  October 13, 2026 – Building & Communicating the Budget
• Presenting Budgets to Boards of Ed. & Stakeholders
• Working on Budgets with Central Office Directors & Principals
• Annual External Audit & Preparing for Annual Audit Presentation
• Spending Projections for Current Year
• State & Federal Allotments for Special Populations
• Cash Management Requirements
• Investment of Idle Funds

Session 3: November 3, 2026 – Operational Controls & Assets
• Purchasing & Compliance – Board Approval Requirements
• Fixed Asset Tracking
• Property Disposal Rules
• Internal Controls & Risk Management
• Long Term Planning for Declining Enrollment

Session 4: January 12, 2027 – Preparing for the New Fiscal Year
• State Planning Allotments for 2027-2028
• Budget Projections for 2027-2028
• Salary Audit Exceptions

Session 5: March 9, 2027 – Fiscal Year End Close
• Planning and Preparing for Year-End Fiscal Close out
• Allotment Projects
• Fund Balance Projects

REGISTER

 

Shaping School Culture…One Conversation at a Time

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     January 28, 2027
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: WRESA
          200 Ridgefield Ct, Suite 206
          Asheville, NC 28806

 Fee:     $45 WRESA Members
          $70 Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. If you need to change the
name of the person attending, send an email to registrations@wresa.org
with the information of the person who will attend in your place.

CEUs:      5 Contact Hours
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: K-12 Administrators and Aspiring Administrators
What to bring?: Your own device

How Great Leaders Build Trust, Accountability, and High Expectations Through Everyday
Conversations

Description: 

Have you ever wondered why some schools naturally develop a positive, high-performing
culture while others struggle with conflict, inconsistency, and low morale? Or have you ever
walked away from a difficult conversation with an employee wondering, “Did I handle that the
right way?”

The reality is that school culture isn’t built through programs, slogans, or initiatives. It is shaped
by the conversations leaders have every day. Every interaction either strengthens trust,
reinforces expectations, or weakens the culture you’re trying to create.

In this interactive, full-day workshop, school leaders will discover practical strategies for creating
a culture where relationships matter, accountability is embraced, and teaching and learning
thrive. Participants will explore the Core Four of Leadership—Judgment, Relationships, Work
Ethic, and Integrity—and learn how those leadership qualities are brought to life through the
Five C’s of Sustainable School Culture: Communication, Consistency, Collaboration,
Commitment, and Compassion.

Throughout the day, participants will engage in realistic leadership scenarios, practice
navigating challenging conversations, and learn how to use artificial intelligence as a leadership
coach to prepare for difficult discussions, strengthen communication, and become more
reflective, confident leaders.

Participants will leave with practical conversation frameworks, AI-powered leadership tools, and
strategies they can immediately apply to shape a stronger school culture—one conversation at
a time.

Presenter BIO:

Scott Rhodes – Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources with Henderson County Public Schools
Mr. Rhodes is starting his 34th year in public education. He has served in Henderson County as
a teacher, coach, assistant principal, middle and high school principal, and now serves as
assistant superintendent for Human Resources.

Mr. Rhodes received his undergraduate degree in Health and Physical Education from Western
Carolina University and his master’s degree in School Administration from Gardner Webb
University.

Mr. Rhodes was selected as the 2015 NASSP, North Carolina Secondary Principal of the Year.

If you have additional questions, contact Candie Sellers at  csellers@wresa.org

If you are unsure whether your school system is a WRESA member, click  WRESA MEMBER List.

REGISTER

Facilitating Meaningful Math Discourse

Posted on by Richard Gabriel 
Date:     November, 4, 2026
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: WRESA
          200 Ridgefield Ct, Suite 206
          Asheville, NC 28806

 Fee:     $ 65 WRESA Members
          $100 Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. If you need to change the
name of the person attending, send an email to registrations@wresa.org
with the information of the person who will attend in your place.

CEUs:      5 Contact Hours
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: K-5 Classroom Teachers and Instructional Coaches
What to bring?: Your own device

Description:
This session focuses on strengthening classroom discourse through purposeful
planning and facilitation using the 5 Practices for Orchestrating Productive
Mathematical Discussions and the Launch–Explore–Discuss framework. Participants
will explore how to anticipate student thinking, monitor and select student work,
and sequence and connect ideas to build deep mathematical understanding. Through
hands-on tasks and reflection, educators will learn strategies to create inclusive,
student-centered discussions that elevate reasoning, promote equity of voice, and
make thinking visible. By the end of the session, teachers will leave with practical
tools to support meaningful discourse that advances both engagement and conceptual
understanding.

Presenter:
Meredith Stanley is a K–8 math specialist who partners with schools and districts
across North Carolina to provide student-centered professional learning. A former
elementary classroom teacher and instructional coach in Buncombe County, Meredith is
a two-time finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and
Science Teaching, a Buncombe County Teacher of the Year, a Buncombe County
Math Teacher of the Year, and a National Board–certified educator. She earned her
Master of Mathematics Teaching from Mount Holyoke College, where she also serves
as an instructor.
Meredith’s passion is helping students and teachers see themselves as confident,
capable mathematicians—a mission that drives all of her professional work. Learn more
and explore her recommended instructional resources at meredith4math.com.

If you have additional questions, contact Candie Sellers at csellers@wresa.org

If you are unsure whether your school system is a WRESA member, click  WRESA MEMBER List.

REGISTER