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.