Category: Event Type

Date:     January 13, 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: Grades 4-7 Educators, Coaches, and Administrators
What to bring?: Your own device

Description: 

This one-day workshop provides teachers with actionable methods for aiding elementary and intermediate learners (grades 4–7) across general and special education settings. The session focuses on overcoming hurdles that arise when heightened emotions disrupt a student’s ability to concentrate on academics. Attendees will investigate forward-thinking approaches, such as emotional regulation strategies, sequential problem-solving, visual aids, and executive function development, to empower students in balancing their school and home life.

Presenter:  

Serving the K-12 population of Buncombe County Schools in Asheville, North Carolina, Marlou DeVera brings over three decades of professional experience within educational environments. 

In her capacity as an autism and behavior specialist, she provides coaching and professional development for educators, focusing on proactive classroom programming and emotional regulation. Furthermore, she organizes and leads social skills groups for K-12 learners with diverse needs, partnering with therapists and special education and general education faculty.

Her extensive background includes previous roles as an exceptional children’s curriculum specialist and an intensive intervention teacher for middle school students on the spectrum. She also served as the director for a program facilitating the mainstreaming of K-12 students with high-functioning autism.

Marlou is recognized as a TEACCH Advanced Consultant through UNC-Chapel Hill and has completed clinical studies with Social Thinking in San Jose. She earned her Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of the Philippines.

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

Date:     October 23, 2026
Time:     8:30am – 3:30pm

Type:     In-Person

Location: WRESA
          200 Ridgefield Ct, Suite 206
          Asheville, NC 28806
          
 Fee:     $175 WRESA Members
          $265 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:   100 Participants
Audience: K-3 but could support schools with struggling 4th and 5th-grade students
What to bring?: Your own device

Description: 

Transform your reading instruction with Lindsay Kemeny, teacher and author of “7 Mighty Moves”! This workshop dives deep into the seven key moves that ensure reading success for all students.

Part 1: Cracking the Code

• Demystify phonemic awareness: Gain a clear understanding of this foundational skill and discover research-backed strategies for effective instruction, including scaffolds for struggling learners.
• Master explicit phonics: Learn how to make phonics engaging and ensure students develop a strong foundation in decoding skills.
• Unlock the power of decodable texts: Explore engaging routines and strategies for using decodable texts in whole-group and small-group settings.

Part 2: Building Fluency and Comprehension

• High-frequency words: Learn specific steps and strategies for teaching high-frequency words effectively.
• Gaining fluency: Move beyond traditional round-robin reading and discover effective methods for promoting meaningful fluency practice across all grade levels.
• Boosting vocabulary and comprehension: Explore how to leverage vocabulary instruction and background knowledge to enhance students’ understanding of text. Learn to incorporate writing strategies to improve students’ comprehension.

Throughout the workshop, Lindsay will share practical tips, engaging activities, and specific protocols to help you implement these “mighty moves” in your classroom. 

Exciting news!  The first 50 registrants will receive a free copy of 7 Mighty Moves courtesy of Scholastic.

Presenter:  

Lindsay Kemeny is an elementary school teacher, speaker, and author with a passion for literacy and applying research to practice. After her son was diagnosed with dyslexia and depression, she began her deep dive into effective literacy instruction for all children. She enjoys presenting locally and nationally, and co-hosting the Literacy Talks podcast. She is the author of the books, 7 Mighty Moves, 7 Mighty Moves Reading Resources, and Rock Your Literacy Block. She loves being in the classroom every day, teaching kids to read and write. 

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

Date:     October 20, 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. 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 Educators
What to bring?: Your own device

Description: 

In this session, educators will apply a trauma-informed lens to classroom management and student behavior. Participants will gain practical strategies and systems to foster high-trust relationships with every student and guide them toward meaningful reflection and accountability. We will also explore techniques for repairing harm and teaching essential Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) skills that support a resilient classroom community. 

Presenter:  

Brian Randall is the Regional Manager for the Public School Forum’s center for Resilience and Learning. His experience and focus is serving students who are navigating challenges in and out of school through facilitating joyful and rigorous experiences.  

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

Date:  December 9, 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. 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: Secondary Classroom Teachers and Instructional Coaches
What to bring?: Your own device and Standards or Curriculum Materials
for Planning

Description: 

Making Grade

Level Content Accessible, Memorable, and Meaningful for Secondary

Multilingual Learners

This workshop will cover the fundamentals of second language acquisition and provide an overview of multilingual learners in Western North Carolina. It will include a review of best practices, along with an explanation of why these approaches are effective, supported by relevant brain research.

Participants will be introduced to specific instructional strategies and will have dedicated time and support to develop lessons and activities aligned to grade-level content.

Participants are asked to bring standards or curriculum materials for planning, a fully charged device, and a colleague. If possible, ACCESS scores for the multilingual learners they serve should also be brought. While all teachers are welcome, the session focuses on strategies general education teachers can use when delivering content.

Participants will leave with:

• An understanding of multilingual learners
• Knowledge of effective instructional practices and the rationale behind them
• Awareness of how targeted strategies are developed and implemented
• Classroom-ready plans and materials

Presenter:  

Simone Wertenberger serves as the Director of ESL, Migrant Education, and World/Dual Language for Henderson County Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Psychology, and Education from Kalamazoo College in 2000, followed by a Master’s degree in Social and Cultural Foundations of Education and Human Development from DePaul University in 2004. Wertenberger has been a National Board Certified Teacher in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages since 2009 and is an OCDE Project GLAD® (Guided Language Acquisition Design) Certified Agency Trainer. Her professional background includes extensive K–12 classroom teaching experience, as well as both school-based and district-level administrative leadership.

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

Date:  December 8, 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. 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 and Standards or Curriculum Materials
for Planning

Description: 

Making Grade

Level Content Accessible, Memorable, and Meaningful for K-5

Multilingual Learners

This workshop will cover the fundamentals of second language acquisition and provide an overview of multilingual learners in Western North Carolina. It will include a review of best practices, along with an explanation of why these approaches are effective, supported by relevant brain research.

Participants will be introduced to specific instructional strategies and will have dedicated time and support to develop lessons and activities aligned to grade-level content.

Participants are asked to bring standards or curriculum materials for planning, a fully charged device, and a colleague. If possible, ACCESS scores for the multilingual learners they serve should also be brought. While all teachers are welcome, the session focuses on strategies general education teachers can use when delivering content.

Participants will leave with:

• An understanding of multilingual learners
• Knowledge of effective instructional practices and the rationale behind them
• Awareness of how targeted strategies are developed and implemented
• Classroom-ready plans and materials

Presenter:  

Simone Wertenberger serves as the Director of ESL, Migrant Education, and World/Dual Language for Henderson County Public Schools. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish, Psychology, and Education from Kalamazoo College in 2000, followed by a Master’s degree in Social and Cultural Foundations of Education and Human Development from DePaul University in 2004. Wertenberger has been a National Board Certified Teacher in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages since 2009 and is an OCDE Project GLAD® (Guided Language Acquisition Design) Certified Agency Trainer. Her professional background includes extensive K–12 classroom teaching experience, as well as both school-based and district-level administrative leadership.

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

Date:  December 3, 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. 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: 2-5 Teachers, Administrators, and Coaches
What to bring?: your own device

Description: 

Leap into the upper strands of the Reading Rope in this engaging session focused on language comprehension. Participants will explore the essential components of morphology, language comprehension, and fluency instruction. Gain practical insights through concrete classroom examples and evidence-aligned instructional routines designed to impact DIBELS outcomes while supporting the current ELA core curriculum. The session will also highlight data collected from a pilot study conducted in Buncombe County Schools during the previous school year.  

Presenters:  

Cynthia Hutchins is a District Title I Literacy Coach with over 15 years of experience in education, specializing in structured literacy and the science of reading. She has served as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and reading specialist in Buncombe County Schools, where she now leads district wide literacy initiatives across 27 Title I schools. Cynthia is passionate about ensuring all students have access to effective, evidence-based reading instruction and works closely with educators to implement high-impact practices, analyze data, and improve student outcomes. She also designs and facilitates professional development, including Fundations and LETRS-aligned training, and has partnered with nationally recognized literacy experts to support teacher growth and student achievement.  

Lisa Lemus is a dedicated educator with over three decades of experience in education. After 32 years in the classroom and five years as an instructional coach, she now serves as a Title I literacy coach, where she is passionate about supporting both students and teachers in developing strong literacy skills. When she’s not working, Lisa enjoys being outdoors and making memories with her family.

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

Date:     March 10, 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: 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 24, 2026 –  An Overview of the Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers
2. Oct   28, 2026 –  Vocabulary for Secondary Teachers
3. Feb   11, 2027  –  Comprehension for Secondary Teachers
4. Mar  10, 2027 –  The Reading and Writing Connection for Secondary Teachers 

***NOTE – You must sign up and pay the fee for each session individually.

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

Date:     February 11, 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: 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 24, 2026 –  An Overview of the Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers
2. Oct   28, 2026 –  Vocabulary for Secondary Teachers
3. Feb   11, 2027  –  Comprehension for Secondary Teachers
4. Mar  10, 2027 –  The Reading and Writing Connection for Secondary Teachers 

***NOTE – You must sign up and pay the fee for each session individually.

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