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

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Join Us for the 2026 WRESA Summer Conference!
June 17-19, 2026 | Embassy Suites, Downtown Asheville, NC

Leading with Purpose, Learning with Passion

Summer Leadership Conference for North Carolina Educators

Embassy Suites Downtown Asheville, NC | Summer 2026

Join education leaders from across North Carolina in the beautiful mountain city of Asheville for an inspiring summer conference designed to empower, connect, and transform.

Leading with Purpose, Learning with Passion brings together principals, district administrators, instructional coaches, and teacher-leaders to explore innovative strategies for shaping the future of education in our state.

What to Expect

• Visionary Keynotes: Hear from nationally recognized thought leaders and local trailblazers who are redefining educational leadership.
• Networking Opportunities: Build lasting connections with peers from across North Carolina who share your commitment to purposeful leadership.
• Regional Spotlights: Celebrate success stories from districts across the state and learn how to adapt them to your own context.
• Wellness & Renewal: Experience Asheville’s vibrant culture and natural beauty  while recharging for the year ahead.

Why Attend?

This conference is more than professional development—it’s a movement to inspire leaders who guide with clarity, compassion, and courage. Together, we’ll explore how passion for learning fuels purposeful leadership, ensuring that every student in North Carolina thrives.

2026 Summer Leadership Conference Participant Registration

Would you like to participate in Franklin Covey’s  4 Disciplines of Execution for Educators session on June 18? This session will be offered on June 18, 2026 which is the second day of the WRESA Summer Leadership Conference. If you register for the Conference, this session will be the second day for you from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm without any extra charge. You will need to register for both the Summer Leadership Conference and the 4 Disciplines of Execution.  There are limited seats for this session.

2026 WRESA/NCSSA Superintendent Registration 

Sponsorships Full

Participant Registration

Superintendent Registration 

Sponsorships Full

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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

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Date:     June 18, 2026 
Time:     9:00am – 3:00pm 
Type:     In-Person

Location: Embassy Suites Downtown 
          192 Haywood Street 
          Asheville, NC 28801
Presenter: Lesley Eason EdD
Fee:      No Fee
Audience: K-12 Educators, School Administrators and District Superintendents
CEUS:     5 Contact Hours

This session will be offered on June 18, 2026 which is the second day of the WRESA Summer Leadership Conference. If you register for the Conference, this session will be the second day for you from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm. 

Description:

Released in the summer of 2021, The 4 Disciplines of

Execution for Educators takes the goal achievement method

laid out in the best-selling The 4 Disciplines of Execution and

optimizes it for the educator and administrator. It’s a sure and

simple formula for executing your most important goals – for

making a real difference in the lives of your students. Tested,

refined, and proven by literally thousands of schools and

districts around the world, the 4 Disciplines enable classroom

teachers, school principals, district superintendents, and even

entire universities to achieve their highest priorities.

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

REGISTRATION

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Description:

This one-day session focuses on teachers/administrators who have taught 0 – 30 years and want assistance with critical retirement information and decision making before they retire.  This session will review the implications and repercussions of early-mid career decisions, laws, policies and processes, benefit options and investment plans.  Whether you are just starting your career or close to the end- you will learn how to maximize your benefits and be ready to make better decisions for the future. The workshop will be conducted by Sherry Dixon, April Spencer and Deborah Rapetski.  You will leave the day tired, but much better informed.

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

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

REGISTER

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Description:

Morning Session:  Come spend the morning learning about the National Board process for new candidates. Lynn Carter, our own NBCT expert will go over all the details and provide you with a timeline and resources to be successful. This workshop will be 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Afternoon Session: The afternoon session will be from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm and will be for those NBCTs who are getting ready to renew. They will have an opportunity to discuss this process and begin thinking about the entries and accomplishments that would work best.

Presenter:  Lynn Carter will facilitate both sessions with her wealth of knowledge about the process.

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

REGISTER

The post National Board Support for New Candidates and Renewals: – July 2026 appeared first on WRESA.

Description: 

Completion of the edTPA is a requirement for all initially licensed teachers in North Carolina. This professional development session provides a comprehensive overview of the assessment, along with practical strategies and resources to help break the process into manageable, achievable steps. Participants will engage in an in-depth exploration of Task 1, which focuses on instructional planning, and will have dedicated time during the session to begin working on their Task 1 submission. To fully participate in session activities, participants should bring a laptop.

Presenter: Dr. Myra Watson is an educator whose work focuses on teacher preparation, early childhood education, and induction support for early-career teachers in North Carolina. Currently, Dr. Watson serves as the Director of Teacher and Professional Education at Western Carolina University.

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

The post EdTPA Overview and Task 1 appeared first on WRESA.

Description:

Morning Session:  Come spend the morning learning about the National Board process for new candidates. Lynn Carter, our own NBCT expert will go over all the details and provide you with a timeline and resources to be successful. This workshop will be 9:00 am – 12:00 pm.

Afternoon Session: The afternoon session will be from 1:00 pm – 3:00 pm and will be for those NBCTs who are getting ready to renew. They will have an opportunity to discuss this process and begin thinking about the entries and accomplishments that would work best.

Presenter:  Lynn Carter will facilitate both sessions with her wealth of knowledge about the process.

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

REGISTER

The post National Board Support for New Candidates and Renewals: Sept 2026 appeared first on WRESA.

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

The post An Overview of the Science of Reading for Secondary Teachers (Part 1) appeared first on WRESA.

Description: 

The work of instructional coaching is a dynamic part of school communities. Supporting coaching cultures where students are at the center is an essential part of this work. Join us at WRESA to embrace the components of student-centered coaching. We will learn coaching moves that create opportunities for professional growth, and suggestions for putting student learning at the forefront. The day will include models for co-teaching moves and providing strength-based feedback. This session is intended for K-12 instructional coaches. 

Presenter:  

Gin Hodge is the North Carolina Center for the Advancement of Teaching (NCCAT) Chief Academic Officer. With over 30 years of experience, she is instrumental in selecting and managing NCCAT programs and ensuring their alignment with NCCAT’s missions and goals. Gin Hodge is known for her collaborative leadership style and unwavering commitment to academic excellence. Since receiving her master’s degree from Western Carolina University, she has contributed to the field as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and NCCAT Senior Early Grades Literacy Specialist. 

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

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