Springboard to Spring Break: 3 Strategies to Ease Your Next 3 Months

It’s no secret that COVID-19 continues to disrupt education. The pandemic has resulted in early retirements and teacher burnout, making this year more challenging than the last. However, the three months leading up to spring break don’t need to be the longest three months of our lives.

Watch Allison Posey, Senior Content Editor and Producer at CAST, Lisa Beth Carey, Ed.D., Special Education at Kennedy Krieger Institute, and Texthelp’s Joni Degner as they discuss three strategies you can bring to your school this semester that will help you and your students progress to spring break with greater ease.

In this webinar hosted by EdWeb, the presenters uncover best practices to prevent teacher burnout and protect struggling students, as well as introduce you to tools you can depend on. They share their personal experiences and expertise and take a deep dive into technologies that are proven to reduce teacher workload. With these strategies in hand, life can be a beach—both inside the classroom and on vacation.

This edWebinar will be of interest to teachers and school and district leaders of all grade levels.

About the presenters

Alison Posey

Allison Posey is an international leader for implementation of Universal Design for Learning. She works at CAST, where she collaborates with researchers and educators to integrate and apply current understandings from brain research into instructional practices so that all students are able to access, integrate and become expert learners. Prior to coming to CAST, Allison was a life science teacher in high school and community college settings—and she still teaches courses at Lasell University. She received a degree in mind, brain, and education from Harvard Graduate School of Education and is author of Engage the Brain: How to Design for Learning That Taps into the Power of Emotion (ASCD, 2018), and Unlearning: Changing Your Beliefs and Your Classroom with UDL (CAST Publishing, 2020).

Lisa Beth Carey

Dr. Lisa Beth Carey is an education specialist and researcher using the lens of mind, brain, and education science to enhance learning opportunities and outcomes for students with neurodevelopmental disabilities. In her role as the assistant director of the Center for Innovation and Leadership in Special Education at Kennedy Krieger Institute, Dr. Carey collaborates with medical providers and neurocognitive researchers to bridge the divide between pediatric medicine and K-12 schooling. Dr. Carey has a special interest in inclusive educational practices, Universal Design for Learning, instructional and assistive technologies, and student neurodevelopmental skills. She is dedicated to enhancing both pre-service and in-service professional development opportunities for educators as well as pediatric medical providers serving children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Joni Degner

Joni Degner is a trusted voice and recognized leader in the implementation of UDL for schools, districts and institutions of opportunity. Joni is a territory director for Texthelp, supporting schools in Michigan and her home state, Indiana. She is a dedicated partner to CAST and the UDL-IRN, presenting and keynoting at major summits and symposiums. Joni is passionate about design thinking, Universal Design for Learning, culturally responsive teaching, developmental relationships and equity. She is known for her high-energy presentation style and practical teaching strategies.