2025 Summer Symposium: Full Schedule

10:15am CDT

Building Resilience Through Play

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Description: Our workshop Building Healing and Resilience Through Play demonstrates how play can help
youth regulate, cope with stress, and build resilience. We teach school staff how to utilize coaching behaviors
to teach resilience including Encouragement, Fostering a Growth Mindset, Emotion Coaching, and Participant
Choice.

Workshop Length: The workshop described below is one hour but can be extended to 90 minutes or 2 hours.
Additional Topics include: “Understanding Stress, the Brain and Resilience” and “How to Coach Games to
Build Resilience.”

Guiding Questions:
How do we build resilience through play?
How do we reduce stress?
How can school staff create safe and supportive environments that encourage emotional expression and choice through play?

Agenda
Coaching Behavior Focus
15min
Welcome/Game/Overview
Encouragement
5min
Introduction to Resilience

10min
Let’s Play!- Keepy Uppy
Choice, Growth Mindset
10min
Calming Activities and Games
Emotion Coaching
10min
Planning to use Coaching Behaviors: Encouragement, Fostering Growth Mindset, Emotion Coaching
Review and create a plan on
when to use them.
5min
Closing and Feedback

Overview:
Welcome/Game/Overview- We will welcome participants and do an overview of Urban Initiatives and our&n

Speakers

Elyse Tussey

Curriculum Director, Urban Intiatives

Originally from Peoria, Arizona, Elyse attended the University of Arizona and received a BFA in Theatre Education. Before joining UI, Elyse worked as a teaching artist and actor and spent 10 years serving as a Department Head and Theater Teacher for Noble Charter Schools. An actor... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Talcott Room C

Breakout #1

global Y

12:15pm CDT

Building a Connected Campus: A Whole-School Approach to Social-Emotional Learning

Thursday June 12, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm CDT

Talcott Room C

In this engaging session, you will learn how to design, implement, and adapt a comprehensive school-wide Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) program tailored to meet the unique needs of your school community. We will explore practical programs, proven strategies, and innovative ideas that drive meaningful SEL integration. Attendees will leave with clear, actionable steps and personalized action plans to support SEL success within their schools. Throughout the session, there will be opportunities for interactive Q&A to ensure that your specific questions and challenges are addressed. Join David Lerch, Principal of ROE 45 Safe School, for an informative experience on building and sustaining an impactful SEL initiative.

Speakers

David Lerch

Safe School Director & Educational Programs Coordinator, ROE 45 - Red Brick Safe School

David Lerch has been teaching for 17 years. He graduated with his bachelor’s degree from Illinois College in 2007, his master’s degree from SIUE in 2010 and his EDS in Principalship from SIUE in 2023. He’s taught a variety of grades from 5th grade to 8th grade. He has also... Read More →

Thursday June 12, 2025 12:15pm - 1:15pm CDT
Talcott Room C

Breakout #2

1:30pm CDT

Start Strong to Stay Strong!

Thursday June 12, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT

Talcott Room C

"Start Strong to Stay Strong!" is a session designed to equip educators with the tools and strategies necessary to establish a conducive learning environment right from the beginning of each school day. The program emphasizes the implementation of rituals and routines aimed at fostering a sense of safety, belonging, community, and self-efficacy among students. By incorporating elements such as personalized greetings, purposeful partnering, community building activities, dedicated family time, and goal setting exercises, educators will learn how to create a nurturing atmosphere that sets the stage for successful learning experiences.

Participants will explore the significance of each component of the "Strong Start" framework and discover practical techniques for seamlessly integrating them into their daily routines. By prioritizing relationship-building and social-emotional development, educators will not only enhance student engagement but also cultivate a classroom culture where every individual feels valued and supported.

Moreover, "Strong Start" recognizes the crucial role of a positive classroom climate in optimizing tier one instruction. By laying the groundwork for a cohesive learning community, educators can facilitate more effective teaching and learning experiences, ultimately leading to improved academic outcomes for all students.

Join us in "Start Strong to Stay Strong!" and embark on a journey towards creating a classroom environment where students thrive, relationships flourish, and learning happens from the very first bell.

Speakers

Elizabeth Hand

Instructional Coach, Rockford Public School District #205

Hand is currently the instructional coach at McIntosh Elementary School in Rockford Public Schools. This is her 3rd year at McIntosh and her 8th year as a coach. Prior to coaching, she taught middle school English/Language Arts for 23 years.

Erin Salberg

Principal, Rockford Public School District #205

Salberg is currently the principal at McIntosh Elementary School in Rockford Public Schools. This is her 4th year at McIntosh. Prior to that she was principal of Nashold Early Childhood Center for 5 years. She was an elementary school teacher before becoming a principal.

Thursday June 12, 2025 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Talcott Room C

Breakout #3

global Y