Building Bridges to Success: Strengthening Behavior and Academic Foundations: Full Schedule

Building Bridges to Success: Strengthening Behavior and Academic Foundations

July 22-24 2025 UWF Fort Walton Beach Campus

We’re thrilled to welcome you to three powerful days of learning, connection, and collaboration as we continue building bridges to support all students in Okaloosa County. This year’s institute is designed to equip educators, paraprofessionals, and service providers with strategies that not only address behavior but also strengthen academic outcomes and inclusive practices.

July 22: Blueprint for Success – Laying the Groundwork for Effective Instruction
🔹 Focus: Foundational teaching strategies, explicit instruction, and curriculum unpacking.
July 23: Bridging Behavior – Strategies for Connection & Classroom Success
🔹 Focus: Behavior supports, PBIS, social-emotional learning, and engagement strategies.
July 24: Pathways to Inclusion – Making Learning Accessible for Every Student
🔹 Focus: Universal Design for Learning (UDL), assistive technology, and inclusive practices.

Thank you for joining us on this journey towards building a brighter future for our students.
Warm regards,
Student Intervention Services

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

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8:30am CDT

Morning Message: Connection | Clarity | Consistency

Tuesday July 22, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am CDT

Auditorium

Start each day of the Summer Institute with inspiration, connection, and practical insight during our 30-minute Morning Message sessions. These powerful kick-offs are designed to model strong Tier 1 practices by building community, reinforcing expectations, and centering our purpose for the day. Through stories, strategies, and shared reflection, you’ll leave each morning grounded, motivated, and ready to make meaningful progress for yourself and your students.

Speakers

Erika Peterson

District Intervention Coordinator, OCSD

Tuesday July 22, 2025 8:30am - 9:00am CDT
Auditorium

Whole Group

9:00am CDT

RTI in the Classroom: Making It Work for Every Learner

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT

UWF FWB Rm 835

Discover how to bring Response to Intervention (RTI) to life in your classroom with practical tools and strategies that support all students. This session will break down the RTI framework into manageable steps, showing how to use data to identify student needs, implement targeted supports, and monitor progress effectively. Learn how to embed Tier 1, 2, and 3 interventions into your daily routines without feeling overwhelmed—and leave with resources you can use right away.

Speakers

Beke Heald

Student Services Specialist, OCSD

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
UWF FWB Rm 835

MTSS

9:00am CDT

Structured Teaching: Building Independence and Success for Students LIMITED

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT

UWF FWB Rm 836

Join experts from the Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD) to explore the power of Structured Teaching—an evidence-based approach designed to support students. This session will focus on creating visually organized, predictable classroom environments that foster independence, reduce anxiety, and increase student engagement. Participants will walk away with practical strategies, real-life examples, and tools to implement Structured Teaching effectively in various classroom settings.

Speakers

Debi Cassidy

Autism Consultant, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD)

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
UWF FWB Rm 836

Structure & Processes

9:00am CDT

Differentiating Instruction: Meeting Every Learner Where They Are LIMITED

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm CDT

UWF FWB Rm 460

Presented by FDLRS, this session will guide educators through practical, research-based strategies to differentiate instruction and meet the diverse needs of all learners. Learn how to adjust content, process, and product to ensure access and engagement for every student—whether they're struggling, advanced, or somewhere in between. Through interactive discussion and classroom-ready examples, participants will explore how differentiation can create inclusive, student-centered learning environments that promote growth and success.

Speakers

MaKeysa Rhymer

HRD Specialist, FDLRS

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm CDT
UWF FWB Rm 460

Instruction

9:00am CDT

Classroom Management: Creating Calm, Consistent, and Connected Classrooms LIMITED

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm CDT

UWF FWB Rm 355

Join FDLRS for a hands-on session focused on proactive, positive classroom management strategies that support all learners. Discover how to establish clear expectations, build strong teacher-student relationships, and create routines that reduce disruptions and increase engagement. This session will provide practical tools and real-world examples to help you foster a learning environment that is structured, supportive, and student-centered.

Speakers

Deirdre Jackson

Human Resource Development Specialist, FDLRS

Tuesday July 22, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm CDT
UWF FWB Rm 355

Structure & Processes

11:00am CDT

Lunch LIMITED

Tuesday July 22, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Whole Group

12:00pm CDT

Academic Interventions for General Education Classrooms: Bridging Gaps Before They Widen

Tuesday July 22, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT

UWF FWB Rm 836

This session offers practical, research-based strategies to support students who struggle academically—right within the general education setting. Learn how to identify early signs of learning difficulties, implement Tier 1 and Tier 2 interventions, and monitor progress effectively. Participants will walk away with easy-to-implement tools and techniques designed to meet diverse student needs while keeping instruction engaging and inclusive.

Speakers

Debi Cassidy

Autism Consultant, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD)

Tuesday July 22, 2025 12:00pm - 1:30pm CDT
UWF FWB Rm 836

MTSS

12:00pm CDT

Collaborative Teaching Partnerships Pt. 1 LIMITED

Tuesday July 22, 2025 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

UWF FWB Rm 835

Part 1 of 2 (Part 2 July 24)
In this session, the Florida Inclusion Network will guide participants through the foundations of effective collaborative teaching. The 6-hour professional learning course is designed for teachers who provide in-class supports to students with disabilities in general education settings. It fulfills the requirements of Section 1003.03, Florida Statutes (F.S.), specifically the subsection mandating training in team-teaching methods within one year of assignment. Throughout the session, participants will engage with content from six comprehensive modules, which include:
· Collaborative Teaching Approaches
· Instructional Strategies
· Planning Methods

The course is eligible for Special Education recertification points through the district’s professional learning department. Participants must complete the full 6-hour course and the subsequent follow-up activity to earn these points.

Speakers

Jessica Proctor

Facilitator, FIN

Katie Feliciano

Facilitator, FIN

Tuesday July 22, 2025 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
UWF FWB Rm 835

Structure & Processes

1:30pm CDT

Best Practice Strategies for Self-Contained Classes LIMITED

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT

UWF FWB Rm 836

This session will explore practical, evidence-based approaches tailored to the needs of self-contained classrooms. Participants will dive into classroom organization, instructional planning, behavior supports, and engagement techniques that foster independence, promote growth, and build a positive learning environment. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that make teaching more effective and learning more meaningful for all students.

Speakers

Debi Cassidy

Autism Consultant, Center for Autism and Related Disabilities (CARD)

Tuesday July 22, 2025 1:30pm - 3:00pm CDT
UWF FWB Rm 836

Instruction