Concurrent Education Sessions
Thursday March 16
9:30 a.m.
Resources and Ideas for Dealing with Troubled Youth
This interactive panel discussion includes a practicing judge, CDW, KECSAC and a mental health director. The session will focus on resources, tools, cases, and solutions to the challenges of serving students who need ongoing and intensive interventions, both at home and in the community.
Presented by: Chief Judge Earl-Ray Neal, and Ronnie Nolan, KECSAC, Deb Bennett, Regional CDW Director, and Randa Bush, Regional Director of Children Services, New Vista
Room 1
Implementing Innovative Recruitment and Retention Strategies, Including Bloomboard
Dr. Tammy Parrish will collaborate with Bloomboard’s Kelly Middleton to share Clark County’s strategic plans. In an effort to lower turnover and retain high-quality staff, please join us in sharing what we have done, what we are doing, and our future plans for all public-school staff.
Presented by: Tammy Parrish, Ph.D., Director of HR, and Lindsay Hale, Ed.D., Teacher, Clark Co. Schools
Room 2
The Role of Law in Educational Equity and Civil Rights
This session will explore case-law, including recent opinions, and its impact on the fight for educational equity and civil rights. Administrators will be asked to consider the benefits to thinking creatively in crafting solutions when concerns arise with respect to legal requirements and students’ needs.
Presented by: Sarah LaCour, J.D., Ph.D., and Spencer Crawford, University of Kentucky
Room 3
10:40 A.M.
Q and A on Understanding the New Non-Resident Law and its Implementation
Bring your tough questions for the panel to submit for prize drawings. Learn the ins and outs of the new non-resident law and how it is being implemented.
Presented by: Wayne Young, J.D., Attorney, KASA, Mike Ford, Director Pupil Personnel, Boone Co. Schools, and Kelly Stinson, Director Pupil Personnel, Mayfield Ind. Schools
Ballroom (6,7,8)
Blazing a Trail! Establishing Your Own District Police Department (SBLEA)
New Kentucky law in 2022 requires officers on every school campus. Paducah Independent chose to establish its own police department to meet that requirement, and it has been ‘game changing.’ Blazing a trail is never quick or simple, but we will share the process, experiences, lessons learned and where we are still exploring.
Presented by: Troy Brock, Director Pupil Personnel, Paducah Ind. Schools
Room 1
Human Resources 101
HR 101 will benefit those new to the Personnel & HR world as well as those who would like a refresher and some handy resources. Topics include the HR Timeline for a school year, posting and hiring processes and requirements, important Personnel policies and statutes, certification, helpful tips, and much more.
Presented by: Amanda Henderson, Director of Personnel and HR, Marshall Co. Schools
Room 2
Solving Riddles in MUNIS Reports
This session will delve into reading and understanding MUNIS reports to make school finance less of a puzzle for school administrators.
Presented by: Angela Copeland, Chief Financial Officer, Paducah Ind. Schools, and Amber Minor, Chief Financial Officer, Mercer Co. Schools
Room 3
12:15 p.m.
Avoiding Financial Corruption in Kentucky Schools
Join Special Agent Chelsea Holliday with the Federal Bureau of Investigation as she provides insight on how to avoid this all-too-common tragedy that always results in profound impacts for all involved.
Presented by: Special Agent Chelsea Holliday, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Mark Kopp, Superintendent, Franklin Co. Schools, and Sharla Six, Deputy Superintendent, Oldham Co. Schools
Ballroom (6,7,8)
Alternative Routes to Teacher Certification
As districts struggle to find teachers, make sure that you know all the different ways to help applicants obtain certification. In the first half of this presentation, attendees will learn about the various routes to certification including emergency certification, Highly Qualified and the alternative routes to certification. The second half of the presentation will focus on the newest alternative route to certification, Option 9. Staff from the University of the Cumberlands will provide attendees with insight on how this new route works in practice, and the partnership that occurs between the district and the university.
Presented by: Crystal Hord, KY Department of Education Office of Educator Licensure and Effectiveness, Shannon Deaton, and Sheena Lawson, University of the Cumberlands
Room 1
Collective Q and A Session on School Law
Bring your tough legal questions to be answered by these experts in school law. Submitted questions at this session will be eligible for prize drawings at conclusion of session.
Presented by: Wayne Young, J.D., Attorney, KASA, and Tim Crawford, J.D., Attorney
Room 2
How Our Schools Make Us Feel: A Social-Emotional Approach to Safe School Design
School safety is top of mind for all of us, especially as designers tasked with creating safe and supportive learning environments. In our efforts to keep students physically safe, we must not ignore student mental health. The pandemic has highlighted the critical role that Social-Emotional Learning plays in supporting students overall learning and development. We are changing the way we think about school design to create healthier school climates. What does it look like to take a Social-Emotional Approach to designing our learning environments?
Presented by: Brian Buckner, AIA, ALEP, LEED AP, Associate/Senior Project Architect, RossTarrant Architects
Room 3
1:30 p.m.
The Rights of Transgender Students
A discussion of current caselaw surrounding bathrooms, locker rooms, and the like and the uncertain, ever changing legal landscape.
Presented by: Shelley Chatfield, Chief Legal Officer, Fayette Co. Schools
Ballroom (6,7,8)
A Conversation with the State Director of School Safety
An interactive conversation with the Executive Director for School Safety. Jon wants to know “What keeps you up at night when you think about school safety in your district?” He wants to zero-in on our specific concerns. This will be an open discussion. Jon will also tell you what Keeps Him Up at Night when he thinks about statewide school safety issues.
Presented by: Jon Akers, Executive Director, KY Center for School Safety
Room 1
Automating Your HR and Finance Departments
Finance Director Aleisha Ellis and Dr. Tammy Parrish, Director of HR, will share Clark County’s experience integrating an electronic HRMS system. CCPS purchased several of PowerSchool’s Cloud-based solutions in order to streamline talent processes. Join us as we share our experience implementing Applicant Tracking, Records, Professional Learning, Perform, Absence Management, and Recruitment. Say goodbye to all of the extra paperwork and lost time!
Presented by: Tammy Parrish, Ph.D., Director of HR, and Aleisha Ellis, Finance Director, Clark Co. Schools
Room 2
Federal Education Update
The new year and new Congress mean lots of opportunity for education policy and funding. AASA’s Noelle Ellerson Ng will walk through the latest goings-on of Congress and what it could mean for your district.
Presented by: Noelle Ellerson Ng, Associate Executive Director, Advocacy & Governance, AASA
Room 3
Friday, March 17
9:15 a.m.
Butter, Oil, Cookies, and Gummies - Not Your Favorite Cooking Show
Today’s administrators spend over 50% of their day dealing with vape pens, dab pens, gummies, cookies etc. What does it all mean, where are they buying them and what are the “look fors” for all school administrators. Youtube and other social media sites are providing a wealth of information for our students on how to make all these THC products. Also, the fentanyl danger that is being put in all these products.
Presented by: Ellen Hoffman, Principal, Clark Co. Schools
Ballroom (6,7,8)
State and Federal Law Update
Get the latest on changes to state and federal laws including recent court cases.
Presented by: Justin Bathon, J.D, Ph.D., Professor, University of Kentucky, and Wayne Young, J.D., Attorney, KASA
Room 1
Managing Budgets for School Administrators
This session will help you as a school administrator know what type of funds you have to spend and how you can efficiently manage those funds for the benefit of your students.
Presented by: Amber Minor, Director of Finance, Mercer Co. Schools, and Michael Moreland, Chief Financial Officer, Breckinridge Co. Schools
Room 2
Kentucky School Athletic Association
Hear the latest from the KHSAA.
Presented by: Chad Collins, General Counsel, KHSAA
Room 3
10:25 a.m.
What You Need to Know about Educator Free Speech
This session addresses current issues in educator free speech both in Kentucky and nationally by examining legal developments over the past few years such as content restriction laws, parental rights' legislation, and other relevant policies.
Presented by: Regina Umpstead, J.D., Ph.D.
Ballroom (6,7,8)
School Funding and Kentucky's Tax System
Kentucky’s public schools are a state responsibility under our constitution, yet state funding for local schools has been on a long slide since the Great Recession hit in 2008. Now dramatic changes to Kentucky’s tax system are being made, in particular cuts to Kentucky’s income tax, which funds 41% of the state budget. This session will look at the background of Kentucky’s budget, the impacts of recent and proposed tax changes, and the effects on Kentucky’s ability to pay teachers and provide a high-quality public education.
Presented by: Jason Bailey, Executive Director, KY Center for Economic Policy
Room 1
Teacher Support: The Power of Activating School Culture to Retain Teachers in Kentucky Schools
Despite innumerable changes in the world and in education, one constant is teachers have the greatest impact on the success of student’s learning journey. Paducah Public Schools has implemented a generative change model based on dialogic organizational development theory. This session will focus on engaging teachers authentically in formative improvement conversations while capturing teacher voice and enacting teacher agency to create the conditions that retain our most valuable resource in the profession.
Presented by: Donald Shively, Superintendent, Paducah Ind. Schools, Rob Neu, Associate Professor/Director of Educational Leadership, Western New Mexico University, and Ketsy Fields, Senior Director Mid-Atlantic Region, Cognia
Room 2