Olathe Summer Conference 2025: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

10:00am CDT

Cognitive Climb: Assessing Rigor Without Losing Engagement LIMITED

Wednesday May 28, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am CDT

Rigor isn't about giving more work—it’s about creating meaningful challenges that push students to think deeply and grow. In this session, we’ll break down what academic rigor really means and explore how to evaluate it in everyday classroom practices. You’ll learn how to design and assess tasks that go beyond surface-level learning, align with standards, and keep students engaged. Walk away with tools you can use right away, including ways to adjust assignments for deeper thinking and tips for recognizing rigor in student work. Let’s make challenging learning both doable and rewarding—for you and your students.

Speakers

Kristen Potter

Instructional Coach, Olathe School District

Secondary Instructional Coach

Mindy Roberts

Instructional Coach, Olathe School District

Secondary Instructional Coach

Wednesday May 28, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Room 1319

Secondary

Audience Secondary

12:30pm CDT

Are We Text Rich? LIMITED

Wednesday May 28, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 1319

Today’s students often have difficulty reading complex text independently for any sustained period of time. Participants in this session will learn the importance of students’ need for repeated access to rigorous text throughout the day. Come learn about some of the key research behind complex text for all learners, in all subject areas. Time will be provided for educators to consider their own curriculum and plan for adding complex text to their year.
This session is followed by another session, Exploring Complex Text 1.0+, offered on Thursday at 8:00am.

Speakers

Andrea Eby

Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

Justin Williams

Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

Wednesday May 28, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 1319

Secondary

Audience Secondary

2:30pm CDT

Empowering Newcomers: Revitalizing Your Teaching for New Students LIMITED

Wednesday May 28, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Room 1319

Welcoming new students from diverse backgrounds into your classroom is a rewarding but often complex endeavor. This interactive session will equip educators with practical strategies and resources to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where all newcomers can thrive.
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

Identify key challenges faced by newcomer students in their transition.
Implement effective communication strategies with newcomer students and their families.
Apply practical techniques to support language acquisition in the classroom.
Develop strategies to foster a welcoming and supportive classroom environment for all students.

Join us to revitalize your teaching and empower your newcomer students to achieve their full potential!

Speakers

Christi Clayton

ELL Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

I love working alongside educators to create positive learning environments for all students, and am passionate about making instruction accessible for English Language Learners.

Wednesday May 28, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 1319

Elementary

Audience Elementary

8:00am CDT

Exploring Text Complexity 1.0+ LIMITED

Thursday May 29, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am CDT

Room 1319

So now you know our students need more complex texts, but you don’t know where to start? This session will take the session Are We Text Rich? To the next steps. We will discuss the different aspects of what makes a text complex. Participants will learn the three components to text complexity, how to use text complexity rubrics, and how to plan from that analysis.

Speakers

Andrea Eby

Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

Justin Williams

Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

Thursday May 29, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am CDT
Room 1319

Secondary

Audience Secondary

10:00am CDT

Empowering Newcomers: Revitalizing Your Teaching for New Students LIMITED

Thursday May 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am CDT

Room 1319

Identify key challenges faced by newcomer students in their transition.
Implement effective communication strategies with newcomer students and their families.
Apply practical techniques to support language acquisition in the classroom.
Develop strategies to foster a welcoming and supportive classroom environment for all students.

Join us to revitalize your teaching and empower your newcomer students to achieve their full potential!

Speakers

Christi Clayton

ELL Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

I love working alongside educators to create positive learning environments for all students, and am passionate about making instruction accessible for English Language Learners.

Thursday May 29, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Room 1319

Elementary

Audience Elementary

12:30pm CDT

Maximizing MTSS Math Minutes for ALL Learners: Workshop (Part 2) Grades 4-5 LIMITED

Thursday May 29, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 1319

For teachers in grades 4-5.
In this hands-on follow-up to Part 1, you’ll explore and prepare meaningful activities and math games designed specifically for students performing on or above grade level. You'll walk away with ready-to-use resources that challenge and stretch student thinking, promote collaboration, and keep MTSS Math time intentional, engaging, and low-tech.

Speakers