Category: Main Middle

Exploring Plant Genetics at the Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Ext. Center – 2026

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     June 16, 2026
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

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

Fee:      Free, and receive lunch and classroom materials/supplies to use
          in the future  

**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:    24 Participants
Audience: K-12 Teachers

Description: The Mountain Horticultural Crops  Research and Extension Center is a 397-acre campus located just outside of Asheville and hosts a wide range of plant breeding programs. The Center has played a significant part in field research and numerous scientific achievements, including the release of new varieties. Research is conducted on tomatoes, apples, ornamental landscaping crops, vegetables, peaches, biofuel crops, corn, soybeans, and even hops. The agricultural research projects continue to change to reflect the needs of our society and to address new challenges within the agricultural community of Western North Carolina.

This one-day workshop will provide teachers with visits to and interactions in the Research Station fields with faculty and graduate students involved in research on different plant varieties. The morning will be filled with discussions, site visits, and activities exploring the research happening at the Center. The afternoon will be spent in the classroom doing investigations related to the research, and includes resources to take with you so you can implement them in your classroom.  Following the workshop will be a tour of Sierra Nevada and a discussion of the research’s impact on the local economy.

If you have additional questions, contact Michelle Taylor at mtbenign@ncsu.edu 

REGISTER

Reading and Writing Connection for Secondary Teachers (Part 4)

Posted on by Richard 
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

Comprehension for Secondary Teachers (Part 3)

Posted on by Richard 
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

Vocabulary for Secondary Teachers (Part 2)

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     October 28, 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: 6-12 ELA and Content Teachers, and Instructional Coaches
What to Bring: Your own device

Description:

Focus on how to accelerate vocabulary acquisition and knowledge gains in the secondary classroom using current research and best practices.  Participants will learn effective instructional strategies for both analog and digital learning environments. This program is intended for teachers in grades 6-12, and is a part of a 4-day badge series for secondary literacy. It can be taken as a part of the badge series or independently.    

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

Powering Curiosity: Teaching Energy Efficiency Through Real-World STEM

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     June 17, 2026
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

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

Fee:      Free

**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:    40 Participants
Audience: 6-12 classroom teachers, STEM educators and instructional coaches,
          Curriculum specialists, and Administrators interested in 
          sustainability and STEM integration

What to Bring: Your own device

Summary:

Discover how buildings, homes, and everyday systems can bring energy efficiency concepts to life for grades 6–12 students. Educators will engage in hands-on investigations, tour a LEED-certified building, and leave with practical, standards-aligned Switch Classroom lessons ready for the classroom.

Description:

Is your school or district looking for engaging, hands-on ways to teach energy concepts while meeting 6-12 science standards? Join us for a full-day professional learning workshop focused on energy efficiency, building science, and real-world STEM applications using Switch Classroom lessons and investigations.

Participants will explore the science of energy efficiency through interactive instruction, a tour of a LEED-certified building, and classroom-ready investigations that can be adapted for middle and high school learners. This turnkey experience connects science standards to authentic, place-based learning and provides practical ideas educators can take back to their classrooms.

Workshop Agenda (Tentative):

  • 9:00 – 11:00am

Introduction to Energy Efficiency & the Science Behind It

  • 11:00am – 1:30pm

Tour of a LEED-certified building, followed by lunch

(Participants will drive themselves; the tour will occur immediately before lunch.)

  • 1:30 – 3:00pm

Hands-on Energy Efficiency Projects & Investigations:

    • Innovative Building Design Research Project
    • Family Energy Awareness Challenge / Home Electricity Audit
    • Investigating Passive Solar Heating Lab

If you have additional questions, contact Michelle Taylor at mtbenign@ncsu.edu or Ruthann McComb at mccombr@gmail.com

REGISTER

 

An Overview of the Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers (Part I)

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     Sept 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. 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:

An overview of The Science of Reading and its relevancy and application in the secondary classroom.  Participants will learn effective instructional strategies for both analog and digital learning environments.  This program is intended for teachers in grades 6-12 and is part of a 4-day badge series for secondary literacy.  It can be taken as a part of the badge series or independently.   

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

Writers at Work: Roadblocks and Workarounds

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     October 29, 2026 (Note - Date moved from Oct 22nd to Oct 29th)      
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

Description: 
Many young people love to write. Give them supplies and time and they create
interesting and engaging texts. But there are many more who find writing a dreaded
chore that they can’t seem to finish. For some it has to do with ownership and choice
over topic, genre, and format. For others it may be a feeling that they have nothing of
interest or worth to write about. Many writers get bogged down with the process of
finding focus and narrowing a topic, creating a vision for the scope of their project,
staying on topic, sticking with the project across time, controlling details, working within
the confines of the conventions of language, or bringing the project to a satisfying
closure. Yet, resisting revision is arguably the most common concern I hear from
teachers regarding the roadblocks their students encounter. In my work with teachers, I
frequently hear concerns about student writers reaching a point where they just don’t
know what to do to keep moving forward. Across the day we will write a bit ourselves,
we will examine the work of student writers and explore the roadblocks they have
encountered, and we will work together to create workarounds for those roadblocks and try
a few ourselves.

Presenter: 

Lester Laminack, Professor Emeritus, Western Carolina University is a full-time writer
and consultant working with schools, districts, and organizations throughout the country
and abroad. He is an award winning author or co-author of twenty professional books
and eight children’s books. Dr. Laminack has served on several regional and national
boards, has served as the co-editor of the NCTE journal Primary Voices, and as the
editor of the Children’s Book Review column of the NCTE journal Language Arts. He
served several years as the Basic Reading Consultant to Literacy Volunteers of America
and as secretary for the NC Association for the Education of Young Children. He is the
recipient of two teaching awards from Western Carolina University: The Botner Superior
Teaching Award from the College of Education and Allied Profession, and the
Chancellor’s Distinguished Teaching Award from the university. He is an active member
of ILA and NCTE and is a sought after keynote and featured speaker at state and
national conferences.

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

Authentic Problem-Solving in Middle Grades (Badge 4)

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     March 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:    25 Participants
Audience: Teachers and Math Coaches, Grades 6 - Math 1
Bring:    Your Own Charged Device

Description:  This session four will focus on problem-solving routines that embrace the eight mathematical practices. Join us as we explore instructional approaches that engage students in problem-solving while empowering students to persevere.  This program is intended for math teachers in grades 6 – Math 1.  

Presenter:  Emily Myers – Senior Math Specialist, NCCAT

***IMPORTANT NOTE:  Join us as we explore strategies that allow all students to thrive and grow into successful mathematicians who ask questions, engage in math discourse, and think critically.  This program is intended for teachers in grades 6 through Math 1 and is part of a 4-day NCCAT badge series for secondary math. 

WRESA participants can take any number of the sessions; however, all four sessions must be completed to earn the NCCAT Math Badge.  Below are the dates and the topics of the four sessions of the Secondary Math Badge series:  

  • Sept. 30, 2026 – Core Math Instruction Models and Practices
  • Nov. 5, 2026 – Hands-On Math Learning for Middle Grades
  • Feb. 4, 2027 – Facilitating Number Sense Routines
  • Mar. 11, 2027 – Authentic Problem-Solving in Middle Grades

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

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

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

REGISTER

Facilitating Number Sense Routines (Badge 3)

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     February 4, 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:    25 Participants
Audience: Teachers and Math Coaches, Grades 6 - Math 1
Bring:    Your Own Charged Device

Description:  This session will focus on research-based number sense routines that support students’ reasoning skills.  Join us as we explore routines that build an understanding of number properties, contribute to fluency, and support math discussion.

Presenter:  Emily Myers – Senior Math Specialist, NCCAT

***IMPORTANT NOTE:  Join us as we explore strategies that allow all students to thrive and grow into successful mathematicians who ask questions, engage in math discourse, and think critically.  This program is intended for teachers in grades 6 through Math 1 and is part of a 4-day NCCAT badge series for secondary math.

  WRESA participants can take any number of the sessions; however, all four sessions must be completed to earn the NCCAT Math Badge.  Below are the dates and the topics of the four sessions of the Secondary Math Badge series:  

  • Sept. 30, 2026 – Core Math Instruction Models and Practices
  • Nov. 5, 2026 – Hands-On Math Learning for Middle Grades
  • Feb. 4, 2027 – Facilitating Number Sense Routines
  • Mar. 11, 2027 –Authentic Problem-Solving in Middle Grades

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

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

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

REGISTER

Hands-On Math Learning for Middle Grades (BADGE 2)

Posted on by Richard 
Date:     November 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. 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:    25 Participants
Audience: Teachers and Math Coaches, Grades 6 - Math 1
Bring:    Your Own Charged Device

Description:

This session will focus on conceptual teaching and learning in the middle-grade mathematics classroom. Join us as we examine the concrete-representational-abstract (CRA) model and delve into work with manipulatives such as Hands-on Equations and Algebra Tiles. This program is intended for math teachers in grades 6- Math 1.

Presenter: Emily Myers – Senior Math Specialist NCCAT

***IMPORTANT NOTE: Join us as we explore strategies that allow all students to thrive and grow into successful mathematicians who ask questions, engage in math discourse, and think critically. This program is intended for teachers in grades 6 through Math I and is part of a 4-day NCCAT badge series for secondary math. WRESA participants can take any number of the sessions; however, all four sessions must be completed to earn the NCCAT Math Badge. Below are the dates and the topics of the four sessions of the Secondary Math Badge series:

  1. Sept 30, 2026 – Core Math Instruction Models and Practices
  2. Nov   5,  2026 – Hands-On Math Learning for Middle Grades
  3. Feb  4,   2027  – Facilitating Number Sense Routines
  4. Mar 11,  2027 – Authentic Problem-Solving in Middle Grades

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