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.

9:00am CDT

RTI in the Classroom: Making It Work for Every Learner LIMITED

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

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

9:00am CDT

Smooth Moves: Mastering Effective Classroom Transitions LIMITED

Wednesday July 23, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT

UWF FWB Rm 835

Classroom transitions can make or break the flow of your day. This session explores practical strategies for creating smooth, efficient transitions that reduce downtime, increase student engagement, and promote positive behavior. Learn how to set clear expectations, use visual and auditory supports, and incorporate routines that work for all learners—including those with special needs. Participants will walk away with ready-to-use tools and techniques to make every transition purposeful and peaceful.

Speakers

Brittellen Luciano

Region 1 Project Manager, SEDNET

Wednesday July 23, 2025 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
UWF FWB Rm 835

Structure & Processes

12:00pm CDT

Connecting Behavior, Emotions, & Relationships: Understanding the “Why” Behind What We See LIMITED

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

UWF FWB Rm 835

This session dives into the powerful link between student behavior, emotional regulation, and the relationships that support growth. Participants will explore how behavior is often a form of communication and how strong, supportive relationships can help students feel safe enough to learn and thrive. Through real-world examples and practical strategies, educators will learn how to respond to challenging behaviors with empathy, build emotional awareness, and foster classroom environments rooted in connection and trust.

Speakers

Brittellen Luciano

Region 1 Project Manager, SEDNET

Wednesday July 23, 2025 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
UWF FWB Rm 835

Behavior

9:00am CDT

Universal Design for Learning (UDL): Ensuring Success for All Students LIMITED

Thursday July 24, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm CDT

UWF FWB Rm 835

This session will introduce educators to the powerful framework of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and how it supports meaningful access, participation, and progress for every student. Participants will explore the three UDL principles—engagement, representation, and action/expression—and discover how to proactively design lessons that reduce barriers and honor learner variability. Through real classroom examples and practical strategies, educators will walk away with tools to create more inclusive, flexible learning environments that empower all students to succeed.

Speakers

Caty Andrews

Technology Specialist, FDLRS

Catherine Andrews has worked with Emerald Coast Florida Diagnostic Learning and Resources System (FDLRS) since 2020, working with Assistive and Instruction Technology and as a Human Resource Developer. She has an undergraduate degree in Elementary Education and a Master's Degree in... Read More →

Thursday July 24, 2025 9:00am - 3:00pm CDT
UWF FWB Rm 835

Instruction