Convention Workshop Descriptions and Presenter Bios
MSEA’s 2024 Convention workshops will be held on Friday, October 18 and are free and only open to members of MSEA. Members do not need to register to attend. Seating is available for this year’s in-person workshops on a first come, first served basis. The full workshop schedule is available here.
Workshop Descriptions
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
The Global Classroom: Teaching Beyond Borders
Two of the three teachers who represented Maryland in Costa Rica for the 2024 NEA Global Learning Fellowship will share their experiences in developing global citizenship and competence in their classrooms. This session will include how to get started, benefits for teachers, and the impacts on students.
David Eisenberg is an NBCT Candidate 23-24 Engineering Educator for Eleanor Roosevelt High School (Prince George’s County). He serves as the Green Schools Committee Chair, Japanese Exchange Committee, E4USA Teacher Coach, IREX World Smarts Advisory Board, Teachers for Global Classrooms 2018, Polar STEAM 2023-24, and represented Maryland in the NEA Global Learning Fellowship 2024.
Co-Presenter: Salimatou Cristal Ouedraogo is a multilingual ELA/English Language Development teacher and Minority Scholars Sponsor in Montgomery County. She studied and taught in 5 countries, is a returned Peace Corps Volunteer, a Fulbright TGC Alum, a Fund For Teachers Fellow and an NBCT Candidate. She is one of the three public school teachers named a 2024 Global Learning Fellow by the NEA Foundation.
Co-Presenter: Mirta Valdes-Bradner is an Advanced Placement Spanish language teacher who is passionate about inspiring students to learn a new language. She is a dedicated supporter of AP Programs and one of only 23 State Advocate Leads in the country. In that role, she worked to pass legislation supportive of the AP Program. She brings over 26 years of experience teaching World Language in private and public schools. She has been selected as Caroline County’s Teacher of the Year for 2022-23, the Maryland Language Educator of the Year for 2023-24, the Maryland State Education Association, Minority Achievement Award recipient in 2023, and a 2024 NEA Global Fellowship.
Relax, Relate, and Refocus: Classroom Management Strategies to the Rescue
Classroom management never made more sense! In this jam-packed interactive session, participants will be engaged and empowered with exciting techniques needed to build long-lasting professional relationships, maximize instructional time, and create effective classroom environments while minimizing behavioral disruptions. Educators will gain renewed confidence and restore creativity through productive, interactive instruction.
Shonda Pegram is “MVN4WRDbySTEAM,” a well-respected professional educator with Prince George’s County Public Schools. As a highly qualified veteran, she’s engaging, motivational, passionate, and powerful. Recognized for her many accomplishments, she specializes in building teacher capacity by fully understanding the amazing classroom experience.
Making the Curriculum Formula Work for Teachers and Students
This hands-on, engaging workshop will connect the stages of curriculum development from state standards to student achievement. The focus of the workshop will be to deepen our understanding by unpacking the critical connection among the written, taught, tested, and learned curriculum.
With 50 years of experience in public education, Dr. Jon Andes has been a teacher, building level leader, assistant superintendent, superintendent of schools, and board of education member. He is a Professor of Practice at Salisbury University.
Personal Financial Roadmap: From Student Loans to Retirement
Interested in learning more about financial freedom? Learn ways to be on the right path to financial security. Learn how to reduce or even eliminate federal student loans, learn personal budgeting, and see how you really can plan for retirement.
Michael Gavin has been an Affiliate Relations Specialist for NEA Member Benefits since 2007. He has been working in Maryland since 2010. While originally from Philadelphia, Michael resides in Washington, D.C. today.
Co-Presenter: George Kelly is the Regional Vice President for NEA Member Benefits’ longstanding partner Security Benefit. George has been assisting MSEA members for over a decade. He is from and lives in New Jersey.
Using Hope Neuroscience to Improve Resiliency, Motivation, and Achievement
Hope is more than an emotion—it’s a science! Measuring and boosting hope levels can combat trauma, enhance motivation, and drive achievement. This session explores scientific research and offers practical tools and techniques to immediately increase hope for yourself and others, fostering resilience and happiness so every person can thrive.
As a leading expert and best-selling author, Cathleen Beachboard’s Building H.O.P.E.© framework champions psychological hope in schools. Her innovative methods have improved student resilience and achievement nationwide, providing educators and leaders with essential strategies to cultivate thriving educational communities.
Beyond the Pages: Sparking Social Justice Conversations with Children’s Literature
Explore social justice through children’s literature! In this session, teachers will learn about the Social Justice framework and how to use engaging books to spark student conversations about identity, diversity, justice, and action.
Dr. Jodi Welsch is a professor in the Department of Educational Professions at Frostburg State University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in reading literacy foundations, assessment, writing, disciplinary literacy, and leadership.
Co-Presenter: Kris McGee is an associate professor of literacy in the Department of Educational Professions at Frostburg State University. She has been sharing her love of teaching and children’s literature for 32 years with children and preservice and in-service teachers.
EarSketch Music and Coding: The Perfect Combination
Coding is for everyone, not just STEM or Computer Science Teachers. Learn to make music using Python Programming Language while also learning how to keep your students engaged, focused on their interests, and making a great impact on their educational careers going forward.
Derrick Blackwell Sr. is the current Computer Science Teacher at Matthew Henson Middle School (Charles County) and Adjunct Professor at Towson University. After the US Army, Derrick worked as the IT Project Coordinator on a site with GDIT and then Business Manager for VFS Global.
10:35 a.m. – 11:50 a.m.
Inspiring and Encouraging Exemplary Leadership in Middle and High School
The Student Leadership Challenge is a highly interactive learning experience designed to foster understanding of The Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership to help students begin their leadership journey in middle and high school.
Dr. Ron Siers, Jr. is a full professor and national championship associate head baseball coach at Salisbury University. He is a scholar, author, journal editor, presenter, keynote speaker, and leadership consultant. He is a former public school teacher/coach.
Generative AI Does UDL and Accommodations
Are you expected to provide alternative texts, language-leveled resources and activities, guided notes, word-for-word recordings and transcripts, presentation summaries, image and infographic alt-text descriptions, and dozens of other things? Learn how to make Generative AI do this work quickly and adeptly to serve all students.
Joseph Rafter is committed to supporting classroom instructors. His experience includes 18 years as a high school literature teacher and instructional coach. He currently serves as an Instructional and Technical Designer at Frederick Community College.
Mentoring Male Educators of Color
For many people of color, as in any profession for which one is within the minority class, it can be demoralizing to feel that you are without support. By recognizing this and establishing a formalized mentorship program, the recruitment and retention of male teachers of color is likely to increase.
Robert J. Barnes is a 32-year veteran of Washington, D.C. and Montgomery County Public Schools. He is a former history teacher, an award-winning special educator, and an instructor of the MSDE course “Mentoring for All.”
Trauma-Informed Wellness Practices in the Classroom
This session will explore the benefits of incorporating trauma-informed wellness strategies in the classroom to improve teacher and student well-being. Attendees will learn breath awareness, mindful movement, and meditation to help themselves and students when stressed by reducing tension in the short term and fostering long-term health and academic outcomes.
Eleanor Jones is a special educator, certified personal and executive coach, social-emotional learning expert, and yoga teacher. She has delivered workshops at Loyola University, UMBC, RISE, and MSDE conferences on leadership, growth mindset, and implementing trauma-informed wellness practices in the classroom.
No Excuses! Strategies for a Winning Classroom
Executive functioning skills (EFS) are crucial for effective planning, self-monitoring, attention control, memory, and problem-solving. When EFS are underdeveloped, they cause long-term challenges at school, home, and work. Teachers lacking EF knowledge and training can lead to academic, social, and emotional disparities in students.
Wendy Gray, an educator and consultant with 28 years of experience, specializes in executive functioning skills. With a background in ECE and Reading, she empowers schools and families through training, workshops, and her #1 e-book, Dear Parents: What’s Really Going On Behind the Classroom Doors?
Restorative Practices in the Elementary Classroom
How to strengthen our community? Learn restorative practice for the elementary classroom, exploring the ideology behind being a restorative practitioner and learning ways to implement restorative practices in the elementary classroom community.
Lauren Weaver has been in education for 17 years and served in various roles including classroom teacher, elementary literacy specialist, and early childhood teacher specialist, and is currently a behavior intervention coach. She is a certified restorative practices trainer.
More Bang for Your Buck: Active and Cooperative Learning Strategies
Ready for students to be more actively engaged in class? Learn concrete strategies to increase thinking, movement, and interaction, with the ultimate goal of helping students master the content while maintaining their enthusiasm for learning.
Amy Kines brings 30+ years of experience: teacher, staff developer, and instructional specialist to her company, Ready Aim Teach. Achieving National Boards and a Masters in School Administration, Amy’s unwavering passion for active learning and student engagement permeates every project.
12:10 p.m. – 1:25 p.m.
Inquiry-Based Mathematics for Teaching and Assessing Students
Effective mathematics instruction starts with understanding the way children think. In this session, presenters from Salisbury University’s Maryland Rebuilds Grant present mathematical strategies they incorporated in their classrooms. The strategies of open tasks, open questions, and analyzing visual representations will be discussed, shown, and tried by attendees.
Dr. Vincent Genareo is an Associate Dean of the Seidel School of Education at Salisbury University. His teaching and scholarship largely center around assessment and program evaluation to inform effective instruction and learning of teacher candidates and children.
Co-Presenter: Dr. Claudia Burgess is a Mathematics Content Specialist in the Department of Early and Elementary Education at Salisbury University. Her work focuses on helping preservice and inservice teachers develop pedagogical strategies necessary for effective and equitable mathematics instruction for all.
Implementing a Justice-Centered, Trauma-Informed Pedagogy to Help Multi-Lingual Learners Thrive
Multilingual learners bring tremendous talents and life experiences to the classroom. Despite this, schools often overwhelm them with linguistically demanding tasks in English, one-size-fits-all curriculum, and classrooms lacking belonging. Participants will learn how trauma-informed instruction can help teachers to implement the tenets of justice-centered pedagogy and be asset-based.
Valerie Valdez is an Assistant Professor in the School of Education at Stevenson University. She holds a doctorate in Teacher Education from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and her interests include justice-centered pedagogy, teaching multilingual learners, and reading instruction.
Equitable Pedagogy and Its Impact on Achievement
CT3 Education has a history of coaching educators to create culturally relevant, equitable learning environments that foster strong relationships and improve student outcomes. CT3 uses high-leverage instructional strategies to help teachers analyze data for inequities. This session will help leaders create a shared understanding of equitable pedagogy.
As a principal, and CAO, Dr. Joy Treadwell has experience in strategic academic planning. Her school, Ivy Preparatory Academy at Gwinnett, was a 2011 – 2012 Georgia Department of Education “Rewards School,” a distinction given to the state’s highest performing schools.
Word Power: Vocabulary Strategies for Engaged Citizenship
This dynamic workshop explores integrating vocabulary acquisition and civic learning to enhance student understanding of civic knowledge, skills, values, and dispositions. We’ll discuss using explicit vocabulary instruction, engaging texts, differentiated teaching, and technology to empower diverse students to transition from passive learners to active, informed citizens.
Genie Massey, a social studies educator engaged in doctoral studies, was the Archdiocese of Baltimore Teacher of the Year in 2017-2018. She works with the Maryland Civic Education Coalition supporting strategic initiatives and volunteers with the Free State PTA Leadership Team.
Embedding Social Justice Practices in Teacher Preparation Programs
By grounding coursework in The Critical Practices for Social Justice Education, educators can elevate diverse perspectives to support students in developing their understanding and acceptance of self and others. The key practices are centered on four pillars which include Curriculum and Instruction, Culture and Climate, Leadership, and Community Engagement.
Dr. Alejandro Perez Belda is an Assistant Clinical Professor and World Language/Dual Language Programs Coordinator at the University of Maryland-College Park. A former dual language schoolteacher, he earned his MA in Hispanic Linguistics and his PhD in Multilingual Education at the University of Iowa.
Co-Presenter: Alison Jovanovic is a Social Studies Program Coordinator and Professional Development Site Coordinator. She oversees the internship experience for the undergraduates, teaches the corresponding seminar and methods courses, maintains relationships and training for community partners, and serves as the Co-Coordinator for Secondary/Middle School/K-12 Education.
Legal Rights and Responsibilities of Education Professionals
Join this session for an open and general discussion about the legal rights of education professionals. This session will address how to deal with some of the common legal issues that have arisen around Maryland, including transfers, disciplinary actions, child abuse allegations, civil lawsuits, disruptive students, etc.
Damon Felton serves as associate counsel for MSEA where he has been employed since 2001. He specializes in labor law and assists MSEA members with numerous legal matters relating to their employment.
Family Engagement Made Feasible
Preview the family engagement workshop offered by Learn and Found which uses the coaching model to reduce educator workload and increase event efficacy. Topics covered include an overview of the administrative program planning process and an exposition into the educator event planning and implementation process.
MSEA ESP of the Year (2021) Brad Fisher has brought his instructional and administrative experience to Learn and Found, dedicated to sustaining educators, connecting families, and championing students.