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

Clarity That Counts: Unlocking the Power of Learning Intentions and Success Criteria (Grade 3-5) LIMITED

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

High-impact teaching starts with clarity. In this interactive session, participants will explore the critical role of teacher clarity in driving student understanding and achievement. We'll dive into the "why" and "how" of clearly communicating learning intentions and success criteria—essential components for empowering students to take ownership of their learning.

Participants will examine real classroom examples, unpack research-based strategies, and engage in collaborative discussions to strengthen their understanding of how clarity enhances instruction, feedback, and student outcomes.

The second half of the session is hands-on: educators will have dedicated time to begin developing or refining learning intentions and success criteria for their own lessons and units—so they leave with practical tools ready to implement in their classrooms.

Please bring your device or teacher’s manual to access your instructional materials to create learning intentions and success criteria that you can use in your classroom.

Whether you're new to the concept or looking to sharpen your practice, this session offers clarity that truly counts!

Speakers

Janet Milford

Instructional Coach, Instructional Resource Center

I taught for many years and have also been an Instructional Coach for many years! It is amazing to walk alongside awesome teachers as they work so hard to teach and support our Olathe students!

Casie Olberding

Instructional Coach, Instructional Resource Center

This is my 20th year in the Olathe School District. I taught 5th grade for the majority of my career. I love working with students and staff in OPS and am looking forward to enjoying the summer sunshine soon!

Wednesday May 28, 2025 10:00am - 11:30am CDT
Room 1320

Grades 3-5

Audience Grades 3-5

12:30pm CDT

Clarity That Counts: Unlocking the Power of Learning Intentions and Success Criteria (Grade 3-5) LIMITED

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

Room 1320

Speakers

Janet Milford

Instructional Coach, Instructional Resource Center

I taught for many years and have also been an Instructional Coach for many years! It is amazing to walk alongside awesome teachers as they work so hard to teach and support our Olathe students!

Casie Olberding

Instructional Coach, Instructional Resource Center

Wednesday May 28, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 1320

Grades 3-5

Audience Grades 3-5

2:30pm CDT

Collaborative Planning with Wit & Wisdom: Deepening ELA Instruction Together (Grades 3-5) LIMITED

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

Room 1320

Join fellow educators for a hands-on, collaborative planning session designed to strengthen your ELA instruction using the Wit & Wisdom resources. In this session, teachers will come together to unpack module content, align instructional priorities, and delve into the assessments in Wit & Wisdom. Through focused discussion and shared strategies, participants will deepen their understanding of the resources’ key components (knowledge-building texts, essential questions, and integrated writing tasks), while adapting lessons to meet the diverse needs of their students. This is a working session, so bring your materials, your ideas, and your collaborative spirit!

Speakers

April Schoenberg

Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

Wednesday May 28, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT
Room 1320

Grades 3-5

Audience Grades 3-5

8:00am CDT

Collaborative Planning with Wit & Wisdom: Deepening ELA Instruction Together (Grades 3-5) LIMITED

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

Room 1320

Speakers

April Schoenberg

Instructional Coach, Olathe Public Schools

Thursday May 29, 2025 8:00am - 9:30am CDT
Room 1320

Grades 3-5

Audience Grades 3-5

2:30pm CDT

Cognitive Climb: Assessing Rigor Without Losing Engagement LIMITED

Thursday May 29, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Room 1320

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