2024 Summer Institute Schedule

Registration is Open! 

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22nd Annual Summer Institute

Empower, Engage and Connect
July 15-17th 2024

Conference Schedule 

Monday July 15, 2024

7:45 Registration

8:20 Welcome

8:30 Keynote I:  From Collective Care to Collective Efficacy
Ricky Robertson

10:30 Vendor Showcase

11:00 Breakout I: 

Session A: Trauma Informed Behavioral Supports
Ricky Robertson

Session B:  Bridging the Gap: Facilitating Collaborative Solutions in Special Education 
Dr. Bernadette Tracy, Laura Arrington

Session C:   MTSS in the Schools: What Works?
Jennifer Whipple, Kristen Moses, Rory Malone, Dr. James McDougal

12:00 Vendor Showcase

12:25 Lunch/Business Meeting/Karen Norlander Award for Outstanding Legal Advocacy in Special Education 
The 2024 Award Recipient is James P Drohan Esq.  

1:15 Keynote II: If Not You, Then Who?
Shawn Harper

2:30 Vendor Showcase

3:00 Breakout Session II:

Session D:  Three Tiers of SEL within the MTSS Framework 
Joseph Simoni

Session E: What's the Value of One Saved Life? Schools Using MTSS to Save Students from Anxiety, Depression and Suicidality 
Dr. James McDougal, Kristin Moses, Cheryl West, Jennifer Whipple 

Session F: Improving Teacher Retention Through Administrative Support 
Dr. Rae Lynn Helman

Session M: Non-Academic Factors that Influence Graduation Rate
Dr. Robert Zywicki

4:00 Vendor Showcase

4:30 President's Reception
* Please be sure to join us for free Hors D'oeuvres and wine!

Tuesday July 16, 2024

8:10  Introductions/Announcements

8:30  Keynote III:  A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes: Building Belonging from Birth On 
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims

10:00 Vendor Showcase

10:30 Breakout III:

Session G:  Transformative Systems Through equity: Where are We?
Dr. Nikole Hollins-Sims

Session H:   I am the I in IEP: An Introduction to Having Students Lead their IEP Meetings 
Rocco Nalli

Session I:  Engaging in the Evolution of Special Education 
Kristen Dudek, Jerry Parisi, Alyssa Simon

11:30 Vendor Showcase

12:00 Lunch/ Friend Of Special Education Award - TBA

1:00 Vendor Showcase

1:15 Keynote IV: Navigating the Challenging Roads Ahead
Tara Moffett Esq.,  & Dr. Anne McGinnis Esq. 

2:45 Vendor Showcase

3:15 Breakout IV:

Session J: All Means All: Evaluating Special Education Services with Students in Mind 
Dr. Brian Schmitt, Robert Breidenstein, Kristin Dudek

Session K: Considerations for Low and High Tech AAC: A Primer for Special Education Administrators and CSE Chairs 
Michael Clark, Dr. Michael Nieman

Session L: Inspire your School District to Provide Equity and Access to Students with Disabilities 
David Luhman

4:15 Vendor Showcase

Wednesday July 17, 2024

8:45 Introductions

9:00 Special Education Administrator of the Year Award  - Congratulations to Jill Bovee-Cheney of the Corinth CSD

9:30 Keynote V: Office of Special Education: Changes to the School District Special Education Accountability System in New York State and Policy Updates.
Christopher Suriano Assistant Commissioner NYSED, Suzanne Bolling Assistant Counsel Office of Special Education, Kathleen Milliman Chief of Special Education Services, Eileen Borden Chief of Special Education Services

11:00 Raffle items!      

 Adjourn

Hotel Information: 

Crowne Plaza/ Desmond is now full booked.

We provide the following list of hotels near the Desmond.