PROFESSIONAL
LEARNING DAY
October 10, 2025 — Douglas County
Friday, October 10, 2025 from 8:00am - 3:00pm
South Umpqua High School 501 Chadwick Ln,
Myrtle Creek, OR 97457
Join us for a day of transformative professional learning designed specifically for Douglas County educators. Participate in interactive sessions, gain fresh strategies to enhance classroom instruction, and collaborate with fellow educators to elevate student success across our schools. This event is your opportunity to connect, learn, and grow as we shape the future of education together.
How will participants select sessions?
Conference registrants will receive a Google Form link prior to the conference to select their breakout sessions. Some sessions will be offered multiple times in order to accommodate as many participants as possible. Sessions are planned with a variety of perspectives in mind, including teachers, instructional assistants, and administrators.
About Unconference Rooms
This year our professional learning day will include “unconference room” sessions facilitated by an expert in the topic. An unconference room is a flexible, participant-driven space where educators set the agenda in real time, bringing forward the topics and challenges most relevant to them. Instead of formal presentations, it fosters open dialogue, collaboration, and peer-to-peer learning that adapts to the needs of the group.
Topics
Professional Learning Communities with Solution Tree’s Keri Greener
Teaching with a Culture of Dignity with Dignity Consulting’s Summer Snyder
Elementary Social Science with Civics Learning Project’s Amanda Coven
Teaching Students Respectful Discourse in Disagreement with Civics Learning Project’s Amanda Coven
Building Thinking Classrooms in Math
Behavior Management in the Classroom
Using your IA Effectively in the Elementary Classroom
First Hour Needs with Rick Burton
Creating Usable Functional Behavior Assessments (FBA’s) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIP’s) with Rick Burton
What Principals and Administrative Support Staff Need to Know About Special Education with Rick Burton
Deepening Your Behavior Intervention Toolkit for Instructional Assistants
Emerging as a Teacher Leader
Educating Students about the Ban on Personal Electronic Devices
What’s New in High School Success with the Office of Education Innovation & Improvement (OEII)
Keeping up with Artificial Intelligence in Education
Math-related sessions with Teacher Development Group
Unconference Room Sessions
Data & IRRE
Building Principals
Secondary Science
Instructional Assistants
SPED Modifications & Accommodations
Artificial Intelligence
Accountability Framework
Office of Innovation and Improvement
PLC Implementation
Who should come?
Douglas County Educators:
Teachers
Instructional Assistants
Administrators
Youth Workers
Counselors
8:00 - 8:30 AM: Arrival, registration, breakfast
8:30 - 8:45 AM: Welcome
8:45 - 10:00 AM: Session 1
10:00 - 10:15 AM: Break, transition
10:15 - 11:30 AM: Session 2
11:30 AM - 12:15 PM: Lunch, connection, transition
12:15 - 1:30: Session 3
1:30 - 1:45 PM: Break, transition
1:45 PM - 3:00 PM: Session 4
Schedule
We’re here to help.
This professional learning day is is facilitated by the Education Services Department at Douglas ESD, which operates as a consultancy to all 13 school districts of Douglas County by providing expertise, assistance, and a comprehensive array of support to educators and school districts, including: data collection facilitation, instructional coaching and mentoring, professional learning opportunities, engagement with the Regional Educator Network, state assessments coordination, and administrative mentorship and support.
Contact us with questions:
lacey.ferguson@douglasesd.k12.or.us
Lacey Ferguson, Douglas REN Coordinator
