Category: Event Type

Digging Into the New 5th Grade Science Standards

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     October  9, 2025    Day #1  (MUST ATTEND BOTH SESSIONS)
          January 14, 2026    Day #2  (MUST ATTEND BOTH SESSIONS)
 
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

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

Fee:      $100 for both sessions -  WRESA Members  
          $150 for both sessions -  Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. Contact LaDonna Sluder
at lsluder@wresa.org or 828-774-5681 (ext 102) if you need to change
the name of the person attending.

CEUs:     10 Contact Hours 
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: 5th Grade Teachers and Coaches
What to Bring: Your own device

Description:

Digging into the New 5th Grade Science Standards is a dynamic two-day experience designed to move beyond surface-level understanding and immerse teachers in the core ideas and practices of the new science standards. Participants will learn how Science and Engineering Practices can be lifted in their classrooms using phenomenon-based learning, student discourse, and the Ambitious Science Teaching Framework. This will be a two-day workshop with time between sessions.

Presenter:

Carla Billups has worked for over 34 years in elementary science education as a
teacher in Haywood County Schools and the Elementary STEM Coach for Buncombe
County Schools where she worked to implement and design curriculum for 24
elementary STEM labs. Prior to this work, she was an elementary Math and Science
teacher for 6 years of her 26 years as an elementary school teacher. Carla has also
been an adjunct instructor for Western Carolina University where she taught Elementary
Science Methods. She was an instructor for the ExxonMobil Teachers Academy for 14
years and for AIMS Education Foundation for 23 years. She served as the president of
the North Carolina Science Leadership Association and co-authored, the Fungus
Among Us, the Good, the Bad, and the Downright Scary made NSTA’s Outstanding
Science Trade book list in 2017. She has received the North Carolina SMT’s
Outstanding Instructional Leader Award, NCSLA’s Michael C. Jackson Distinguished
Service Award, and NCSTA’s Jo Duckett Wallace Elementary Distinguished Service
Award.

Jennifer Redfearn, Ed.D. joined the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of
Teaching in August of 2023 in the capacity of Senior STEM Specialist. In this role, she
supports teachers across the state of North Carolina with professional development and
curriculum development regarding the New North Carolina Science Standards. Before
joining NCCAT, Dr. Redfearn served with Guilford County Schools as a high school
science teacher and central office administrator. She was recently honored with the
Distinguished Service in Science Education in North Carolina Award from the North
Carolina Science Teachers Association, and the Education Award from the National
Association of Negro Business and Professional Women's Clubs, Inc., Greater
Greensboro Chapter. Redfearn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a
Master of Arts in Teaching degree in Biology Education, both from North Carolina
Agricultural and Technical State University. She also holds a Doctorate in Curriculum
and Instruction, Secondary Education from Liberty University.

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

 

A Paradigm Shift: Adapting Your Culture from Providing to Improving Through Collective Leadership

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     March 26, 2026       
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

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

Fee:      $125  WRESA Members  
          $250  Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. Contact LaDonna Sluder
at lsluder@wresa.org or 828-774-5681 (ext 102) if you need to change
the name of the person attending.

CEUs:     5 Contact Hours 
Limit:    50 Participants
Audience: K-12 Administrators, Curriculum Coaches and Central Office Administrators
What to Bring: Your own device

Description: 

Dawn Brookhart will provide professional development and learning focusing on the critical components of creating the conditions and modeling the expectations necessary to enhance student learning through Student-Focused Coaching.  The content will be grounded in the principles outlined in the book Instructional Leadership in Student-Focused Coaching:  Creating Effective Systems.  The training will provide practical insights and strategies for administrators, coaches, and educators. 

Administrators often struggle with balancing supervision and evaluation, which can create an imbalance in their role as instructional leaders.  This session highlights how coaching empowers administrators to model their expectations for teaching and learning, rather than directing them as traditional managers.  Through a collective leadership model, defined levels of autonomy help build trust and collaboration, not only between the coach and administrator, but also with the instructional staff.  Together, the coach and administrator move the model forward, with teachers leveraging the coach’s services and utilizing the administrator’s instructional support to improve student learning.  Participants will engage in collaborative conversations and immersive learning experiences to understand what it takes to lead complex change as instructional leaders in schools.  

Presenter: 

Dawn Brookhart, M.A.T., M.Ed., is an educational leader and consultant with nearly 30 years of experience in K-12 education. She has helped schools create evidence-based improvements that enhance student success, earning local and national recognition. Dawn founded a dyslexia and reading training academy in Pennsylvania and has held various leadership roles, including Principal and Director of Curriculum and Instruction. As a passionate advocate for the science of reading, she focuses on empowering educators through professional development and coaching. Dawn co-authored the book *Instructional Leadership with Student-Focused Coaching* and co-founded Ed Cap Consulting, LLC, along with The Reading League Pennsylvania. Her work emphasizes collaboration and high-quality education for all students.

Contact Candie Sellers at csellers@wresa.org with any questions.

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

REGISTER

Teach Like a Champion! – Online Book Study

Posted on by Richard 
Type:  Online and Self-Paced

Cost:  $45 - WRESA Members
       $70 - Non-members 

Credits: 20 Contact Hours

Description:

Based on the book “Teach Like a Champion”, this course explores many of Doug Lemov’s widely respected strategies for building effective teaching practices. Our goal is to introduce these strategies so you can learn how they can be applied in different classroom settings to enhance instructional quality. Through each module, you’ll gain insights on key practices such as setting high expectations, promoting student engagement, and refining instructional rigor—all essential elements to fostering a productive learning environment.

Let’s get ready to champion the craft of teaching together!

Certificate of Completion:

Note that you must make 100% on each quiz, and click “Mark as Complete” after completing each section of the course. Once you complete all of these course requirements, it will indicate that you are “100% complete”.

When it shows that you are “100% complete, a new section will pop up that allows you to download and print your Certificate of Completion for the course.  

For more information, please contact Jill Chambers at jchambers@wresa.org

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

***IMPORTANT NOTE:  Prior to registering, we encourage you to watch one of the registration help videos if you haven’t taken an Online Course with WRESA or if you need a refresher on the process.  Follow the directions below to view one of the videos:

1)  If you DO NOT have a WRESA account (which means you have not taken an online course with us), click on the following help video for how to register and enroll as a New User: Help Video for a New User.

2)  If you have taken an online course with us previously and already have a WRESA account, click on the following help video for how to add a course to your account as a Returning User: Help Video for a Returning User.

REGISTER

Close Read Strategies for Secondary Educators

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     December 4, 2025       
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. Contact LaDonna Sluder
at lsluder@wresa.org or 828-774-5681 (ext 102) if you need to change
the name of the person attending.

CEUs:     5 Contact Hours 
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: 6-12 ELA and Content Teachers, Media Coordinators, and Instructional Coaches
What to Bring: Your own device

Description:

Designed for grades 6-12, this session explores proven techniques from leading literacy experts like Timothy Shanahan, Sharon Vaughn, Timothy Rasinski, and Kelly Gallagher to enhance student comprehension and fluency.  The workshop covers summarization, questioning, visualization, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, and deep reading strategies. 

Presenter: 

Kendra Cameron-Jarvis is the Senior Literacy Specialist at NCCAT. With a career in education that began in 2004, Kendra has served in various roles including middle and high school ELA educator, Secondary Literacy Coach, and Instructional Technologist with Buncombe County Schools. She has also contributed to state-level initiatives with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, leading efforts such as the North Carolina Coaching Cohort and the AI Collaborative. Additionally, Kendra has shared her expertise as an adjunct professor in UNCA’s Education Department. Her extensive experience reflects a deep commitment to advancing literacy and educational practices.

If you have additional questions, contact Jill Chambers at  jchambers@wresa.org

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

REGISTER

The Reading and Writing Connection for Secondary Teachers

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     March 12, 2026    
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. Contact LaDonna Sluder
at lsluder@wresa.org or 828-774-5681 (ext 102) if you need to change
the name of the person attending.

CEUs:     5 Contact Hours 
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: 6-12 ELA and Content Teachers, and Instructional Coaches
What to Bring: Your own device

Description:

Focus on the connection between reading and writing, the cognitive skills required, and the implications for the secondary classroom.  Participants will learn effective instructional strategies for both analog and digital learning environments.

Presenter:  

Kendra Cameron-Jarvis is the Senior Literacy Specialist at NCCAT. With a career in education that began in 2004, Kendra has served in various roles including middle and high school ELA educator, Secondary Literacy Coach, and Instructional Technologist with Buncombe County Schools. She has also contributed to state-level initiatives with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, leading efforts such as the North Carolina Coaching Cohort and the AI Collaborative. Additionally, Kendra has shared her expertise as an adjunct professor in UNCA’s Education Department. Her extensive experience reflects a deep commitment to advancing literacy and educational practices.

***IMPORTANT NOTE: The Secondary Literacy Badge series focuses on a research-to-practice exploration of the foundational skills in literacy with a focus on secondary literacy.   You can earn an NCCAT Secondary Literacy Badge while deepening your own understanding of the building blocks of beginning reading.  This program is intended for teachers in grades 6-12 and is part of a 4-day badge series for secondary literacy.  Participants will learn effective instructional strategies for both analog and digital learning environments.  WRESA participants can take any number of the sessions; however, all four sessions must be completed to earn the NCCAT Literacy Badge.  Below are the dates and the topics of the four sessions of the Secondary Literacy Badge series:

  1. Sept 25, 2025 –  An Overview of the Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers
  2. Nov   6, 2025 –   Vocabulary for Secondary Teachers
  3. Feb    5, 2026 –   Comprehension for Secondary Teachers
  4. Mar  12, 2026 –   The Reading and Writing Connection for Secondary Teachers 

If you have additional questions, contact Jill Chambers at  jchambers@wresa.org  

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

REGISTER

Comprehension for Secondary Teachers

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     February 5, 2026
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. Contact LaDonna Sluder
at lsluder@wresa.org or 828-774-5681 (ext 102) if you need to change
the name of the person attending.

CEUs:     5 Contact Hours 
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: 6-12 ELA and Content Teachers, and Instructional Coaches
What to Bring: Your own device

Description:

Focus on participants analyzing current research and best practices for effectively teaching reading comprehension strategies for the secondary classroom.  Participants will apply new learning to create an implementation plan for teaching reading comprehension in their secondary classroom.  Participants will learn effective instructional strategies for both analog and digital learning environments.   

Presenter:  

Kendra Cameron-Jarvis is the Senior Literacy Specialist at NCCAT. With a career in education that began in 2004, Kendra has served in various roles including middle and high school ELA educator, Secondary Literacy Coach, and Instructional Technologist with Buncombe County Schools. She has also contributed to state-level initiatives with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, leading efforts such as the North Carolina Coaching Cohort and the AI Collaborative. Additionally, Kendra has shared her expertise as an adjunct professor in UNCA’s Education Department. Her extensive experience reflects a deep commitment to advancing literacy and educational practices.

***IMPORTANT NOTE: The Secondary Literacy Badge series focuses on a research-to-practice exploration of the foundational skills in literacy with a focus on secondary literacy.   You can earn an NCCAT Secondary Literacy Badge while deepening your own understanding of the building blocks of beginning reading.  This program is intended for teachers in grades 6-12 and is part of a 4-day badge series for secondary literacy.  Participants will learn effective instructional strategies for both analog and digital learning environments.  WRESA participants can take any number of the sessions; however, all four sessions must be completed to earn the NCCAT Literacy Badge.  Below are the dates and the topics of the four sessions of the Secondary Literacy Badge series:

  1. Sept 25, 2025 –  An Overview of the Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers
  2. Nov   6, 2025 –   Vocabulary for Secondary Teachers
  3. Feb    5, 2026 –   Comprehension for Secondary Teachers
  4. Mar  12, 2026 –   The Reading and Writing Connection for Secondary Teachers 

If you have additional questions, contact Jill Chambers at  jchambers@wresa.org  

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

REGISTER

AI for Literacy (Secondary)

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     February 24, 2026       
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. Contact LaDonna Sluder
at lsluder@wresa.org or 828-774-5681 (ext 102) if you need to change
the name of the person attending.

CEUs:     5 Contact Hours 
Limit:    45 Participants
Audience: 6-12 ELA and Content Teachers, Media Coordinators, and Instructional Coaches
What to Bring: Your own device

Description:

This workshop explores the exciting potential of artificial intelligence with practical skills and creative strategies for integrating AI into their literacy instruction.  Participants will discover how AI can transform reading, writing, and critical thinking.  

Presenter: 

Kendra Cameron-Jarvis is the Senior Literacy Specialist at NCCAT. With a career in education that began in 2004, Kendra has served in various roles including middle and high school ELA educator, Secondary Literacy Coach, and Instructional Technologist with Buncombe County Schools. She has also contributed to state-level initiatives with the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, leading efforts such as the North Carolina Coaching Cohort and the AI Collaborative. Additionally, Kendra has shared her expertise as an adjunct professor in UNCA’s Education Department. Her extensive experience reflects a deep commitment to advancing literacy and educational practices.

If you have additional questions, contact Jill Chambers at  jchambers@wresa.org

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

REGISTER

Franklin Covey 4 Disciplines of Execution for Educators

Posted on by Webster 
Date:     August 5, 2025 (Cancelled - To Be Rescheduled)
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

Location: WCU Biltmore Park
          28 Schenck Pkwy
          Asheville, NC 28803

Fee:      No Fee
Audience: K-12 Educators, School Administrators and District Superintendents
CEUS:     5 Contact Hours

Description:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If you have additional questions, contact Jan Webster at   jwebster@wresa.org

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

REGISTRATION WILL REOPEN WHEN IT IS RESCHEDULED

The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt – Online Book Study

Posted on by Richard 
Type:  Online and Self-Paced

Cost:  $45 - WRESA Members
       $70 - Non-members 

CEUs:  20 Contact Hours

This course examines the influence of  smartphone usage on young people growing up in a society that is dependent on digital devices. After each section, which will consist of reading 1-2 chapters in the book, you will write a summary about specific topics in that section. This is a self-paced course. You will be responsible for purchasing the book.

For more information, please contact Jan Webster at jwebster@wresa.org

***IMPORTANT NOTE:  Prior to registering, we encourage you to watch one of the registration help videos if you haven’t taken an Online Course with WRESA or if you need a refresher on the process.  Follow the directions below to view one of the videos:

1)  If you DO NOT have a WRESA account (which means you have not taken an online course with us), click on the following help video for how to register and enroll as a New User: Help Video for a New User.

2)  If you have taken an online course with us previously and already have a WRESA account, click on the following help video for how to add a course to your account as a Returning User: Help Video for a Returning User.

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

 

REGISTER

Science Lab Safety for Schools and School Systems

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     December 9, 2025 
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

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

Fee:      $25  WRESA Members  
          $50  Non-members

**NOTE: We have a No Refund policy for our WRESA courses. However, you
are welcome to send a colleague in your place. Contact LaDonna Sluder 
at lsluder@wresa.org or 828-774-5681 (ext 102) if you need to change
the name of the person attending.

CEUs:     5 Contact Hours 
Audience: K-12 Educators

Description:

Are your science labs or classrooms safe for teachers and students?  Have you had some turnover in your schools and want to make sure the people in your schools are properly informed on safety procedures?  Are your chemicals stored properly?  Are emergency procedures in place at your school?

How can you be sure?  Join us to create or improve upon your school science safety plan.  Make your classroom, your school, or your school system as safe as it can possibly be!

Presenter:  Gina Barrier, Director of Summer Programs & Extended Partnerships at the NCSSM Morganton will be your instructor.

For more information, contact April at aspencer@wresa.org

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

REGISTER