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

12:30pm CDT

Elevate Student Agency Through Video

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

How can students see themselves and each other as powerful thinkers and learners? By utilizing video in the classroom, students can be empowered to share their thinking, build on prior experiences, and showcase that understanding to others. In this session, we’ll explore using video in our role as an educator, and how to model and create opportunities for students to integrate video into their learning. We’ll look at best practices and the best
compliant tools for creating video and opportunities for sharing video to authentic, global audiences.

Speakers

Beth Rihtar

Instructional Technology Coordinator, CCSD 15 Palatine

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

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Equitable Digital Access, Students as Creators

12:30pm CDT

One District‘s Journey Leveraging Library Media Specialist Expertise in Strengthening Diverse Representation in Classroom ELA Instructional Materials

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

Sheraton Wisconsin 2

Many schools are adopting ELA instructional materials recommended for their alignment to standards and/or the science of reading in hopes of improving standardized literacy outcomes. Although these materials include a comprehensive set of text passages touted as complex and diverse, scholars conducting culturally responsive audits for many of these products have found some alarming results about omissions in diverse representation and harmful depictions in numerous text passages. Learn how one Wisconsin district committed to modifying problematic passages in their current ELA materials is leveraging K-12 library media specialists' expertise to assist in selecting affirming, authentic, and accurate replacement and supplementary text passages. Hear from library media specialists and a literacy consultant participating in this district’s ongoing work and consider how you might advocate for school library media specialist involvement in a similar process in your own district.

Speakers

Tanya Arnold

Teacher/Librarian, Sun Prairie ASD - Royal Oaks Elementary

Mindy Grant

Library Media Specialist

I am the Library Media Specialist of Central Heights Middle School in Sun Prairie, WI. I started my career as an English Language Arts teacher for 10 years and now have been living it up in the library for 8. I started my library career at a middle school in Madison Metropolitan School... Read More →

Kim Stieber-White

Curriculum, Coaching & Digital Learning Consultant, CESA 2

Kim facilitates learning relating to literacy, curriculum and instruction, and digital learning, often with a focus on social justice. She also has the privilege of supporting school library media specialists through the CESA 2 LMS Network and in-district coaching for those acquiring... Read More →

Sunday March 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 2

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Instructional Partnerships, Literacy

12:30pm CDT

Open Books, Open Minds, Open Hearts: School Librarians' Perceptions of Inclusive Children's Literature

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

Hilton Garden Room A

In December 2023/January 2024, I researched Wisconsin school librarians' perceptions of inclusive children's literature by adapting existing validated surveys from School Library Journal. My goal was to learn school librarians’ perceptions of inclusive literature and investigate alignment among school district collection development policies, school librarians’ professional book selection philosophies, and the Multidimensional Framework for Inclusive Literature (MFIL) (Pfundheller & Liesch, 2023). Join this session to learn results and recommendations for our field.

Speakers

Jacqueline Liesch

Dr. Jacqueline D. Liesch has taught students from ages 3 to 18-years old in Wisconsin, Ecuador, South Carolina, and Japan. Teaching students from around the world has enabled me to learn from their perspectives and experiences. Furthermore, by living, studying, volunteering, teaching... Read More →

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

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

Company Advocacy, Culturally Responsive Instruction

1:45pm CDT

Teaching Culturally With the Four I's (Inform, Include, Integrate, and Infuse) - Indigenous Studies

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

Sheraton Wisconsin 1

This session will help participants understand how to incorporate Indigenous Studies into their teaching and learning. Many educators have been taught to teach about cultures; however, students will be better engaged and retain more information when educators teach culturally. In this session, not only will resources and materials about the American Indian nations' histories, treaty rights, sovereignty and cultures be shared, but participants will also be given ideas, examples, and direction regarding teaching culturally. The four I’s mark the stages of an educator’s journey to incorporate Indigenous Studies into their work: inform, include, integrate, and infuse. When considering each of the I’s, all stages are important in the process. It takes time, growth, and understanding to develop a curriculum that supports multiple narratives and perspectives of First Nations Studies into lesson plans, pedagogical practices, material selections and district curriculum. The expected outcome of the session will be that as educators incorporate teaching culturally into their teaching, their students' achievement will increase and improve.

Speakers

David J. O'Connor

American Indian Studies Consultant, Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction

David J. O'Connor is originally from and is a citizen of the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa ( Anishinaabe or Ojibwe) in northern Wisconsin. In January 2012, he became the American Indian Studies Consultant at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI). In Da... Read More →

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

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

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction

3:00pm CDT

Nearpod Unleashed: Engage, Assess, and Save Time

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

BCC Boardroom

Nearpod continues to evolve, introducing fresh features that redefine classroom dynamics. Whether you're a Nearpod newbie or a seasoned user, there's always something to discover. This session delves into the latest tools and functionalities Nearpod offers, enabling teachers to elevate engagement, streamline assessment, and optimize lessons like never before. Some of the newest topics

Speakers

Aggie Salter

ITS

Agnieszka Salter (@AggieSalterITS) is an Instructional Technology, PD Specialist, Instructional Coach Leader, and Innovation teacher at QP School in Madison, WI. Aggie is the Digital Promise Global's Coach Community Manager. She is one of the initial curriculum designers and teachers... Read More →

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

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

Company Budget & Resources, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Literacy

8:45am CDT

Collaborative Classrooms: Strategies for Student Success

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 6

Discover how Discovery Education resources can empower educators to create collaborative classrooms where students thrive in student-centered learning environments. Learn how to harness the power of a wide variety of resources including digital content such as images, videos, and podcasts, along with collaborative boards, interactive videos, and professional learning channels with a collection of research-based instructional strategies that foster collaboration and communication among peers. Maximize the impact of DE’s “ready-to-use” lessons and content to drive various instructional outcomes for all disciplines. Learn how districts utilize DE as their primary digital instructional content provider enabling student-centered learning classrooms. Leave with practical tips and resources to transform your classroom into a collaborative learning environment where students develop essential skills for success in academics and beyond. Join us to unlock the full potential of your students!

Speakers

Melissa Hampton

Regional Marketing Manager, Discovery Education

Megan Foster has been supporting Intermediate Units with Discovery Education since 2018. She previously taught 3rd and 4th grade in Denver Public Schools. She has a passion for elementary education and project-based learning.

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 6

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

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Instructional Partnerships, Students as Creators

8:45am CDT

Digital Producers: Empower your students to create and engage with technology

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 4

Engage students with technology and transform their assignments into high-quality, impactful work. In this session, you'll explore tools like podcasts, videos, and storyboards to enhance learning experiences. Plus, you'll receive an interactive Choice Board that you can use as a valuable resource for future lessons.

Speakers

Sonja Pupovac

Verizon Innovative Learning Schools Coach, Milwaukee Public Schools

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 4

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Equitable Digital Access, Students as Creators

8:45am CDT

Navigating BIPOC Librarianship

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 1

We would like to facilitate a conversation on the experiences of people of color in the predominantly white world of library school and libraries. We will share common pitfalls that deter poc from continuing in librarianship. Based on our shared experiences, we will create a list together of ways that non-poc and other poc can support and encourage the growth and diversification of the profession, and those already within it.

Speakers

Joy Zander

Dolores Brown

Preschool & Lower School Library, University School of Milwaukee

Ivana Renteria

Middle School Librarian, University School of Milwaukee

My name is Ivana Renteria. I am the middle school librarian as well as the Department Chair of Libraries at the University School of Milwaukee. I am the 2023 winner of the Charles F. Wright Technology and Innovation Award, which is granted to faculty members who enhance their teaching... Read More →

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 1

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

Company Collaborative Leadership, Collaborative Spaces, Culturally Responsive Instruction

8:45am CDT

Building collections: diving deep into culturally relevant collections and curricular alignment

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT

Hilton Garden Room B

Using tools available for you

Speakers

Linda Peterson

Libraria (fomerely Children's Plus, Inc)

Monday March 10, 2025 8:45am - 9:45am CDT
Hilton Garden Room B

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

Company Collaborative Leadership, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Literacy

1:00pm CDT

Brave Libraries

Monday March 10, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

BCC Collaborate C

Many of us believe our libraries are “safe” or perhaps “brave” spaces. But how do we make these spaces safe? Who feels safest? Are ground rules at odds with free speech? What happens when someone causes harm with their words or actions? Do safe spaces even exist?

Sarah Beth shares her research on brave spaces along with lessons learned from open mic shows and storytelling workshops. We will plan strategies for creating and holding brave library spaces such as: including participants in creating rules of engagement, setting participant expectations around being brave, articulating consequences of transgression, and following through on consequences. There isn’t one “right” way to create a brave space so workshop participants will use this time to consider which brave space practices will work best with their libraries.

Speakers

Sarah Beth Nelson

Assistant Professor, University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Sarah Beth Nelson is an Assistant Professor at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Information Studies. Before becoming a professor, Sarah Beth worked in public and school libraries. In addition to researching oral information, she studies the American reality (true, personal... Read More →

Monday March 10, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
BCC Collaborate C

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

Company Collaborative Spaces, Culturally Responsive Instruction, Library Space

1:00pm CDT

Strategies for Effective K-12 Curriculum Resource Management

Monday March 10, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 6

Learn how to effectively manage and leverage standards-aligned digital curricular resources while creating engaging, interactive and accessible learning opportunities for your students. This session will explore how school districts are utilizing the SAFARI Montage Curriculum Learning Object Repository (C-LOR) to save teachers time searching, accessing and sharing vetted, high-quality digital resources to more efficiently support teaching and learning in various classroom environments. Attendees will explore how interoperability enables the SAFARI Montage platform to make this easier than ever by integrating with LMS’s, SIS’s, third-party content providers and even hardware manufacturers. Discover how the C-LOR’s best-in-class content management tools can help district administration teams manage, control and curate all digital resources from third-party book publishers, curriculum content creators and video streaming libraries at their district.

Speakers

Nicole O'Brien

Marketing Manager, Safari Montage

Betsy Masters is the Instructional Technology Implementation Specialist at SAFARI Montage. She is a lifetime educator with 25+ years of experience working with the School District of Pickens County, South Carolina. Throughout her career she has served as a classroom teacher, a technology... Read More →

Monday March 10, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 6

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Equitable Digital Access, Instructional Partnerships

3:00pm CDT

Reinvigorate the Library: Leverage Differentiated Texts to Boost Reading Motivation and Literacy Gains

Monday March 10, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

Hilton Garden Room A

In today’s libraries, providing students with engaging, vetted, and accessible content is more important than ever. Newsela Library empowers librarians with over 17,000 leveled texts across 20+ genres, including videos, multimedia, infographics, and more. These resources are designed to foster student motivation and understanding, support collaboration with classroom teachers, and promote digital citizenship.

This session will highlight:
How Newsela can increase student engagement and motivation
How to curate and customize content for teachers to support background knowledge in novel and book studies.
Ways students can actively engage with Newsela Content and Tools
How to locate and save relevant content on Newsela including resources for digital citizenship, curriculum complements, and more.

Speakers

Danielle Rivera

Patrick Gaffney

Monday March 10, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT
Hilton Garden Room A

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School, High School

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Instructional Partnerships, Literacy

8:15am CDT

10 Creative Ways to Engage Students

Tuesday March 11, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 7

Discover practical and impactful strategies to engage students in the school library. We will focus on creative ways to foster a love of reading, enhance learning experiences, and find time-effective and realistic ways to engage students at all levels. Hands-on learning, digital strategies, and more will be explored!

Speakers

Jackie Markowski

Digital Learning Specialist, Pulaski Community School District

Jackie is in her 18 year of teaching, and 8th year in her role as a Digital Learning Specialist in the Pulaski Community School District, She loves sharing her learning with others. Working in an elementary school setting, she is passionate about engaging students in critical thinking... Read More →

Tuesday March 11, 2025 8:15am - 9:15am CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 7

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Library Space, Literacy

9:30am CDT

¡A Leer y Competir! Organizando una Batalla de Libros!

Tuesday March 11, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT

Sheraton Wisconsin 7

Investing in students' home languages is a powerful tool for equity. Librarians can create rigorous opportunities for an often neglected reading population. Learn how MMSD hosts an annual Batalla de Libros in grades 4-8. Advanced Learning Coach Katie Hayden and LMTS Hollis Rudiger will guide you through the process: creating teams, selecting books, writing questions, and running the tournament. They'll share book lists and selection processes. Spanish knowledge isn't necessary, and can help monolingual librarians support biliteracy goals, even in smaller settings. This model can be adapted for other languages and grades. Join us for a lively, multilingual discussion!

Speakers

Hollis Rudiger

Hollis became an old school librarian in 1997, but recently drove back to the future, and is settling nicely into 2024. She is also, reluctantly, a Media and Technology Specialist. She has been an ed tech trainer, an ESL teacher, a librarian at the CCBC, a tutor and coach for neurodivergent... Read More →

Katie Hayden

Tuesday March 11, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
Sheraton Wisconsin 7

Beginner, Elementary, Middle School

Company Culturally Responsive Instruction, Instructional Partnerships, Literacy