Upcoming Trainings

Description:

This workshop will focus on developing ways to better communicate with school staff and exploring different strategies that can be used by families to promote positive engagement with school staff. Workshop topics will include active listening skills, resolving conflict strategies and positive communication strategies.

Learning objectives:

1. Learn different strategies to use for communicating with school staff.
2. Learn about active listening skills.
3. Learn about different strategies to navigate conflict during school meetings.

Presenters:

Anna M Moffit

Anna Moffit currently serves as the Family Ombudsperson for the Madison Metropolitan School District. She also worked as a Parent Peer Specialist for Wisconsin Families Ties. She also has a son that has an IEP for educational Autism.

Nancy F Molfenter

Nancy Farnon Molfenter is the Associate Superintendent of Student Services with the Madison Metropolitan School District. In this role, she is responsible for higher-level coordination and communication related to the delivery of high-quality education services to students with an IEP (Individual Education Program) or 504 Plan and their families, the delivery of social and emotional support, and advanced learning services. Before working for MMSD, she was on the Special Education Team at the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction. She worked for the School of Education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Nancy holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from the University of Wisconsin Madison and continues to serve as an adjunct instructor for the University of Wisconsin system.

Descripción:

¿Está cansado de sentirse como un participante simbólico en lugar de un miembro activo en un grupo de toma de decisiones? Este taller le mostrará las habilidades necesarias para mejorar su participación y hacer un seguimiento después de las reuniones; proporcionándole además consejos para ser un facilitador en los grupos de toma de decisiones.

Objetivos de aprendizaje:

1. Aprender cómo estar preparado para las reuniones con anticipación.
2. Adquirir habilidades para participar más activamente durante una reunión.
3. Obtener las destrezas para facilitar y sugerencias para manejar conflictos mientras sirven en un grupo.

Presentadora: Alejandra Loeza es la Especialista en difusión bilingüe de WI FACETS, anteriormente trabajó como voluntaria durante varios años en diferentes organizaciones que atienden las necesidades de la comunidad. Tiene 13 años de experiencia personal navegando en el sistema de educación especial. A Loeza le apasiona brindar información a las familias porque comprende los desafíos que pueden enfrentar los padres de niños con necesidades especiales. Además, ha trabajado como visitante domiciliaria compartiendo actividades de alfabetización, lectura y lenguaje con familias. Alejandra ha participado en algunos comités. Es madre de tres hijos, uno de ellos con Síndrome de Down.

Description:

We will explore many ways family members can support literacy for their children at home during the summer. We will discuss why it’s important to support literacy in the summer, the 5 components of reading and how parents can support them in summer, picking the “right” book, and other tips, strategies, and everyday opportunities for families to engage with their children around literacy in summer.

Learning Objectives: 

1. To learn why summer literacy is important
2. To gain strategies for supporting the 5 components of literacy
3. To learn how to pick the “right” book

Presenter:

Jan Serak is the Director of Serak Consulting Services, LLC, where she contracts with nonprofit organizations to provide Board training, interim nonprofit management, curriculum development, and other services. Prior to her retirement, she was the founder and CEO of WI FACETS. She was also a founder and the Parent Partner of the WI Special Education Mediation System. Jan has served on many Boards, including National PLACE, Autism Society of America, Autism Society of SE WI, and Autism Society of WI; the Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution in Special Education (CADRE). She also served on the WI State Superintendent’s Council on Exceptional Education, WI Governor’s Read to Lead Task Force, OSEP State Advisory Panel, Quality Education Coalition, and the National Center for Deaf-Blindness Advisory Board. Jan received her M.A. in Educational Psychology and Dispute Resolution from Marquette University. She is the parent of two adult sons, one of whom has autism.