Target Audience: General Education Teachers working with students with IEP’s, Co-Teachers, Interventionists, Instructional Coaches, Resource Teachers
Students with moderate to severe disabilities (MSD) may exhibit challenging behaviors that are often communicative in nature. This professional learning session is designed to help educators understand the behavioral escalation cycle and apply effective de-escalation strategies tailored to the needs of students with autism and low incidence disabilities.
Participants will explore the stages of the escalation cycle—from calm to recovery—and learn how to identify triggers, implement preventive strategies, and respond appropriately at each stage. The training emphasizes the importance of proactive supports, visual communication tools, and fostering student self-regulation. Attendees will also receive guidance on developing individualized de-escalation plans and supporting paraprofessionals in crisis situations.
Participants will receive 2 hours of professional development credit for attending this virtual session. For questions, contact erica.price@ckec.org
Target Audience: K-12 Social Studies Teachers, Social Studies Co-Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators, Curriculum Coordinators
Effective social studies instruction begins with a deep understanding of the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Social Studies. In this full-day session, K-12 educators will engage in an interactive exploration of the vision, design, and instructional implications of the standards. Participants will unpack the architecture and organization of the KAS, focusing on the integration of disciplinary concepts, inquiry practices, and interdisciplinary literacy skills to enhance student learning. By the end of this session, participants will leave with practical strategies, instructional tools, and resources to support standards-based planning and assessment. Whether you’re new to the KAS for Social Studies or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide clarity, confidence, and actionable takeaways for effective classroom implementation.
6 hours of PD/EILA credit will be provided.
Free for Member Districts, $125.00 for Non-Member Districts
Contact lindsey.ellis@ckec.org for more information.
Target Audience: Measurable Results: Practical Steps To Improve Student Achievement
In schools, the pressure to perform on measurable assessments (KSA, ACT, and others) sometimes seems unbearable. Schools often resort to gimmicks and motivational techniques that, even when effective, are short-term solutions. These efforts are exhausting – for the students and the staff. In this series, you will discover substantive systems and structures that can be put into place, leading to lasting, sustainable improvement in academic performance.
9 Hours Total EILA Credit
Contact david.young@ckec.org with questions.
Target Audience: All Teachers of Mathematics, Instructional Coaches, Administrators, Curriculum Coordinators, Deeper Learning Teachers
Effective instruction and learning experiences for students are deeply rooted in knowledge of content standards. It is especially important for teachers to deeply know their standards in order to address gaps in learning. This in-person session is ideal for mathematics teachers at all levels (and those who support them) as it will provide clarity around the Kentucky Academic Standards for Mathematics. Participants will learn how to break down mathematics standards and determine what mastery of a standard looks like. We will utilize a protocol to review assignments and determine congruence to the standards. In addition to tools and strategies, participants will leave with a folder of resources to help implement this work.
Free for Member Districts and $125 for Non-Member Districts
6 hours of EILA credit will be provided.
Contact mark.helton@ckec.org with questions.
Target Audience: K-12 Science Teachers, Science Co-Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators, Curriculum Coordinators
Effective science instruction begins with a deep understanding of the Kentucky Academic Standards (KAS) for Science. In this full-day session, K-12 educators will engage in an interactive exploration of the vision, design, and instructional implications of the standards. Participants will unpack the architecture and organization of the KAS, focusing on the three dimensions that, when used together, support students’ deep understanding of the sciences, how science knowledge is acquired and understood, and how the sciences are all connected through concepts that have a common application across the disciplines. These three dimensions include: science and engineering practices, crosscutting concepts, and disciplinary core ideas. By the end of this session, participants will leave with practical strategies, instructional tools, and resources to support standards-based planning and assessment. Whether you’re new to the KAS for Science or looking to refine your approach, this session will provide clarity, confidence, and actionable takeaways for effective classroom implementation.
Free for Member Districts and $125 for Non-Member Districts
6 hours of PD/EILA credit will be provided.
Contact holly.lawrence@ckec.org with questions.
Target Audience: K-12 Reading and Writing ELA Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators, Curriculum Coordinators
Effective instruction and learning experiences for students are deeply rooted in knowledge of content standards. It is especially important for teachers to deeply know their standards in order to address gaps in learning. This in-person session is ideal for English Language Arts teachers and special education teachers at all levels as it will provide clarity around the Kentucky Academic Standards for Reading and Writing. Participants will learn how to break down Reading and Writing standards and determine what mastery of a standard looks like. We will utilize a protocol to review assignments and determine congruence to the standards, as well as examine how to construct authentic assessments connected to a standard. Participants will also learn how to apply knowledge of standards to improve lesson planning and instructional practices. In addition to these tools and strategies, participants will leave with a folder of resources to help implement this work.
Free for Member Districts and $125 for Non-Member Districts
6 hours of PD/EILA credit will be provided.
Contact sherra.caudill@ckec.org with questions.
Target Audience: Teachers, Instructional Coaches, Administrators
Thinking Maps is a set of 8 visual patterns that correlate to specific cognitive processes. Based on the building blocks of brain-based learning, they are used across all grades and content areas to build critical thinking, problem-solving, comprehension, and communication skills necessary for academic success in every domain. Participants who register for this training will sign up for a three-day cohort during the 2025-2026 school year. Day 1 will introduce participants to the basics of the implementation of Thinking Maps. Days 2 and 3 are designed to help teachers move beyond the basics by building on their base of knowledge by utilizing Thinking Maps in their classrooms. Participants in this cohort will receive a FREE, physical copy of Thinking Maps: A Language for Learning, 2nd Ed. Teacher’s Guide.
Day 1 Overview (9/11/2025):
- Examination of building blocks of brain-based learning
- Introduction to the Defining Characteristics of Thinking Maps
- Learning the Thinking Maps: 8 Visual Patterns for Critical Thinking
- Strategies for developing independent learners: teaching the maps to students
Day 2 Overview (11/10/2025):
- Use color to rehearse, enhance, and add rigor to content knowledge
- The metacognitive importance of the Frame of Reference for rigorous and reflective thinking
- How to use multiple maps and help students build maps in cooperative teams
- Strategies to help students communicate ideas and take information off the map
Day 3 Overview (1/27/2026):
- Vocabulary development strategies
- Strategies to help students communicate ideas and take information off the map
- Writing short, constructed responses off the map
- Identifying text structures for note-taking
$375 fee for CKEC members
$500 for non-CKEC members
District Bundle Option: Every fifth registration from a district is free.
For more information, contact Erin McIver (erin.mciver@ckec.org)
Target Audience: Instructional Coaches, Instructional Leaders, Teacher Leaders who facilitate PLCs
Effective PLCs don’t happen by accident—they happen on purpose. Join us for a powerful professional learning series designed to transform your PLC process from theory to action. In this hybrid experience, participants will engage in three one-hour virtual book study sessions exploring Make It Happen: Coaching With the 4 Critical Questions of PLCs at Work by Kim Bailey and Chris Jakicic. Together, we’ll unpack key ideas, reflect on current practices, and prepare to take our PLCs to the next level.
The series will culminate in a full-day, in-person session where participants will collaborate with other PLC instructional leaders to plan, revise, and refine their PLC structures. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to deepen your impact, this series will give you the tools and time to truly make it happen.
| 9/18/25 |
10/16/25 |
11/20/25 |
12/4/25 |
| 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Virtual |
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Virtual |
4:00-5:00 p.m.
Virtual |
8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. In-Person |
1 Hour PD/EILA for each virtual session attended. 6 Hours PD/EILA for in-person Session attended.
$75 Fee for Member Districts and $125 Fee for Non-Member Districts
Contact holly.lawrence@ckec.org with questions.
Target Audience: Classroom Teachers, Special Education Teachers, Instructional Coaches, School Leaders, District Leaders
What does it take to design a lesson that’s clear, cohesive, and cognitively engaging? In this hands-on session, we’ll dive into the 7 Components of an Ideal Lesson and explore how they align with the brain-based 6-phase model for student learning.
Participants will explore high-impact strategies for each component—like using flashbacks to support retrieval practice and congruent learning targets that drive everything from hooks to exit slips. But this isn’t just theory—we’ll give you time to create, refine, and workshop your own lesson plans using the 7 components as a guide. You’ll walk away with practical tools, peer feedback, and a customized plan to bring your lesson design to the next level.
Free for Member Districts and $125.00 for Non-Member Districts
Contact holly.lawrence@ckec.org with questions.
Target Audience: Teachers, School Leaders, Deeper Learning Teacher Leaders, Instructional Coaches, Library Media Specialists, Educators with limited experience with AI
Don’t be spooked by artificial intelligence! This full-day, in-person workshop will help educators unmask the mysteries of AI and how it works. We will explore the powers, limitations, and ethics of using AI-powered tools in the classroom. Participants will discover a variety of AI-powered tools and gather practical strategies and resources to bring AI to life in their teaching!
Free for Member Districts and $125.00 for Non-Member Districts
6 Hours of PD/EILA Credit. Contact holly.lawrence@ckec.org with questions.
