RefreshED 2025

In this session, we’ll explore the executive functioning skills essential for student success, such as organization, time management, and self-regulation. You’ll learn how these skills develop at different stages and practical strategies to support students in strengthening them. We’ll also discuss how teaching these skills can not only help students thrive but also make your classroom more manageable, saving both time and stress for educators.  

Many teachers think of a discipline plan when they think about classroom management. Perhaps a system of positive rewards and consequences to manage behavior come to mind. BUT classroom management is so much more than that. Having systems and procedures for everything your class does makes the class run so much better! Thinking about and developing those systems prior to the beginning of the year is key to having a smooth beginning. Teaching and practicing those with students will maintain a learning environment that is safe, accessible and efficient. During this session, we will develop systems for the management of your classroom, the development of classroom culture, and the management of student behavior. We will also analyze how the systems you develop are tied to dimension 3 of the T TESS rubric so that you can raise your own evaluation.

In this timely and transformative professional development session, educators will explore what it means to renew and evolve their teaching practices to meet the needs of today’s learners. With a spotlight on Gen Z and Gen Alpha students, participants will dive into Understanding the Modern Student—examining their digital fluency, mental health challenges, and expectations for relevance and connection in learning.
Educators will engage with current, high-impact practices such as:

• Differentiated and Personalized Learning to support academic growth and autonomy,
• Culturally Responsive Pedagogy that builds inclusive and affirming classrooms,
• AI and EdTech Integration to enhance instruction without overwhelming,
• Collaborative Learning Structures that strengthen communication and soft skills, and
• Authentic, Formative Assessment models that drive student ownership of learning.

This session equips educators with the tools and mindset to confidently navigate today’s educational landscape—balancing innovation with intentionality and student-centered design.