WEMTA 2025 - Ignite and Inspire: Impacting Learning Together: Full Schedule

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12:30pm CDT

Evidence-Based Strategies for Teaching Online Information Evaluation

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

Students need to be able to determine if information they find online is credible and trustworthy. Research reveals that traditional approaches to teaching evaluation often rely on outdated methods that can mislead students. This presentation will explore current trends and research in digital information evaluation, including popular techniques like lateral reading and SIFT. Attendees will learn about free, evidence-backed lessons and classroom resources designed to develop critical thinking and digital literacy.

Speakers

Jodi Pierre

Research & Instruction Librarian, University of Wisconsin-Green Bay

I am a Research & Instruction Librarian at UW-Green Bay Libraries. As a member of the technology and digital transformation team, I help manage the library website, LibGuides, and Primo VE discovery service (branded Search@UW).

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 6

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Higher Education

Company Facilitating Professional Learning, Literacy

12:30pm CDT

PD from A to Z-Using Choice Boards for Professional Development

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

Hilton Garden Room B

Just like choice boards allow students to work at their own pace and drive their own learning, teachers can also reap the benefits through doing their own professional development in a similar manner. Choice Boards in Professional development boost teacher engagement and incentivize trying new things and broadening the classroom experience. By giving professional staff choice they can choose PD in areas that they see fit to aid in their professional life and the classroom. In the three years since implementation we have seen an average of 46% of professional staff choose to participate, earning an average of 13 squares a year.

Speakers

Amber Houslet

Pardeeville Area School District

Amber Houslet has been the Library Technology Specialist for the Pardeeville Area School District since 2010. She spent the first 6 years of her teaching life in the classroom before transitioning to her current role.She is a Google Certified teacher and has participated in many Technology... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Hilton Garden Room B

Beginner, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Collaborative Leadership, Facilitating Professional Learning

12:30pm CDT

School Technology and You! (Roundtable)

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 1

Bring your ideas and come ready to discuss as we solve the problems of technology in the schools! One of the best things about conferences is the ability to discuss ideas and problems with other professionals. Our session will be full of questions and we are looking for the answers from you! This will be an interactive session with attendee discussion.

Topics to be discussed are:

School Technology issues
School Technology success
District Technology training
Technology in the library

Let’s lay the groundwork about what is next and how we can make technology education for your district students and staff the best it can be!

Speakers

Dan Levendoski

Solutions Architect, School District of La Crosse

My office is in Technology Services, but I work with people; not things.

Carrie Wuensch-Harden

Library and HPL Teacher, School District of La Crosse

While working at Walt Disney World in Florida I decided to continue my education, and in August 2003 earned my Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. After completing my degree, I joined the staff at the Lake Wales Public Library as... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 1

Intermediate, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Collaborative Spaces, Facilitating Professional Learning, Technology

1:45pm CDT

Generative AI Share Out for Busy Administrators

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 3

Administrator's calendars fill up quickly with parent meetings, observations, team meetings, and unexpected responsibilities. Do you need some dedicated time to collaborate with other admins on the topic of generative artificial intelligence? This collaborative session will help us crowdsource the best ideas in Wisconsin from one another. The session will begin by narrowing in on 2-4 topics to focus on so that the interests of the group are addressed. Then participants will engage in a protocol to share their Generative AI successes and struggles. Topics may include policy; administrative procedures; how to support staff learning; appropriate use of AI student product continuums; efficiency strategies for administrative tasks; favorite Gen AI tools; or other topics that interest the group.

Speakers

Elizabeth Freeman

Superintendent, Rocket Academy - Cedar Grove Belgium School District

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 3

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Collaborative Leadership, Collaborative Spaces, Facilitating Professional Learning

1:45pm CDT

IGNITE Your Career with AASL!

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

Hilton Garden Room A

IGNITE your school library career with the American Association of School Librarians! Take your career to the next level by networking with professionals in your field nationally and accessing resources to inform and expand your practice. Apply national teaching and program standards to your instruction and lean on the professionalism of the only national professional membership organization focused on school librarians and the school library community. Participants will understand what the AASL is and offers. Explore member benefits. Learn how to become a member.

Speakers

Kate Olson

AASL Affiliate for Wisconsin, WEMTA

Christine O'Regan is a library media teacher consultant for Kenosha Unified School District. She has worked as a school librarian for 20+ years in elementary, high school and district levels. She is also the AASL state affiliate for WEMTA. The best part of her career are the opportunities... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
Hilton Garden Room A

Beginner, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Higher Education

Company Advocacy, Collaborative Leadership, Facilitating Professional Learning

3:00pm CDT

Developing your PLC Roundtable

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Hilton Garden Room B

Professional Learning Communities are rarely one-size-fits-all, nor should they be! Join me for a dynamic, interactive roundtable discussion designed to help you build and sustain a vibrant, effective Professional Learning Community. Let’s talk about what has worked for you, what challenges you're still navigating, and how you're staying connected with others who are in the same boat. Together, we’ll explore strategies for staying current, maintaining engagement, and supporting one another in our shared work.

Speakers

Amber Houslet

Pardeeville Area School District

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Hilton Garden Room B

Beginner, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Higher Education

Company Collaborative Leadership, Facilitating Professional Learning, Instructional Partnerships

3:00pm CDT

AI in the Classroom: What it is, why it’s changing the world, and how we can prepare for it

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

BCC Collaborate A

AI is a transformative technology with the potential to revolutionize education, the workforce, and our society. Join us to better understand AI's implications and prepare for its impact on our lives and community. This conversation will be led by Jake Boll, curriculum and educational technology specialist at CESA 5. Jake will discuss the potential benefits and risks associated with AI as it continues to evolve as well as ethical and data privacy considerations. Bring a device to explore recommended AI tools and ask questions. All are welcome whether you are a beginner or experienced AI user as we look forward to sharing and learning from one another.

Speakers

Jake Boll

Curriculum Specialist, CESA 5

High School social studies teacher before joining the team at CESA 5 as a curriculum and ed tech specialist. Some favorite PD topics include digital citizenship and media literacy, inquiry based learning, standards based grading, artificial intelligence, and UDL. Also a HS cross country... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
BCC Collaborate A

Intermediate, Elementary, Middle School, High School, Higher Education

Company Data & Privacy, Facilitating Professional Learning

3:00pm CDT

Battle of the Books for All Levels

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Hilton Garden Room A

Battle of the Books is one of the foundational programs run by WEMTA, and a beloved part of students’ reading lives at schools statewide. Ignite a love for reading, challenge your students, and create a school-wide sense of community over the Battle of the Books reading lists every year! Learn about starting a Battle of the Books program at your school or work with other session participants to level-up your current program.This session is for participants with all levels of knowledge about the Battle of the Books program, and participants will leave with an action plan for the 2025-2026 school year.

Speakers

Kate Olson

AASL Affiliate for Wisconsin, WEMTA

Jeff Carpenter

School Library Media Specialist, Appleton Area School District

Jeff celebrates 35 years serving the AASD as a library media specialist and is a longtime WEMTA member. He earned a Master’s in Library Science (UW-Madison), and a Bachelor’s Degree in elementary education (UW-La Crosse). One of his proudest achievements was receiving the special... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Hilton Garden Room A

Intermediate, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Facilitating Professional Learning, Literacy

3:00pm CDT

Impacting Teacher Mindset Through Professional Development

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 6

Acccording to many measures, almost half of new teachers leave teaching within five years. This statistic is one that has been true for decades, but little research has been done to understand why teachers leave the profession at such a high rate. One could argue that teachers leave the profession because there are few opportunities for a person to feel connected, effective or successful.

This presentation will help educators understand a new way to support teacher learning while developing teachers’ mindsets. Short interventions that instill these mindsets will greatly encourage teachers and allow them to feel safe and successful despite the many stressors found in schools. This will, ultimately, help with retention and promote a sense of effectiveness and success for educators.

Speakers

Ann Szekely

Sunday March 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 6

Intermediate, Early childhood, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Facilitating Professional Learning