Concurrent Education Sessions
Thursday, March 21
9:30 a.m.
Data and Money
This session will discuss data elements that affect funding. We will discuss the importance of cleaning up monthly reports, as well as information about topics impacting SEEK funding. The session will look at free/reduced data that impacts At Risk students. Additionally, we will discuss the key components of the school calendar. We will also cover the proper use of attendance codes and attendance groups. Furthermore, we will discuss the Superintendent Annual Attendance Report (SAAR), including its components such as home hospital and transportation, and the monthly reports that should be marked complete before submitting the SAAR Report at the end of the year.
Presented by Josh Witlow, Laura Loman, Jessi Carlton, KY Dept of Education
Room: Ballroom
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, KY District Court and Ronnie Nolan, KECSAC
Room: One
How to Support Your Educators in Elevating their Practice, While Increasing Retention
Schools and districts across Kentucky are investing in new, low-cost continuing education options to help increase teacher recruitment and retention, while improving teachers’ classroom practice. Join us to learn more about how our program works, why teachers love the program, and why districts are investing in their teachers through this program.
Presented by Tammy Parrish, Clark Co, Katie Cottner, Bullitt Co, Emily Knight, Campbell Co, Carter Myers, BloomBoard, and Pam Lucas and Anne Costa, Lincoln Co
Room: Two
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, AASA
Room: Three
10:40 a.m.
Somewhere Between Angels & Shooters
If we conduct interviews on the street, every individual in every school on every day is at risk of being gunned down in the halls of our schools. We also have an amazing number of kids who come to school every day on time and prepared and leave at the end of the day without any notoriety. Somewhere in between are the students who seem amped up about something. So anxious they could snap, but they usually don’t. How do we know, as educators, how to walk through the threat assessment process (as Kentucky law requires us to do), finding the students who threaten the safety and security of everyone and those who are just having a bad day? During this interactive session, two seasoned school leaders will examine some key pieces of any solid assessment process, share some of the research, and suggest pragmatic ways in which you can be more effective and confident as you walk through the process of assessing threats to safety and security – with a team – in your district.
Presented by Dan Orman and Garrett Frank, KSBA
Room: Ballroom
Current Cannabis, Nicotine & Other Vape Trends
Building upon the insights and strategies outlined in his keynote address, during this follow-up education session Tall Cop will guide attendees through practical approaches for implementing effective drug prevention and intervention measures within educational settings.
Presented by Jermaine Galloway, Tall Cop
Room: One
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, Marshall Co
Room: Two
Automating Your HR & Finance Departments
This session will provide a high-level overview of a multitude of ways you can automate processes within your HR and finance departments. Some options may require additional purchases to access reporting services for your EERP system (formerly MUNIS) but attending this session will help you see the advantages and see how it could be well worth the cost. Other options will be free of charge that take advantage of functionality within your EERP system related to scheduled jobs and imports. Please join us to explore how these automations can improve your daily EERP processes.
Presented by Amy Smith, Fayette Co
Room: Three
12:15 p.m.
Title I Do's & Don'ts
Title I is the largest on-going federal grant in all Kentucky districts. What is your role as a Finance Director in supporting Title I? This session will focus on the Dos and Don’ts of Title I funding so that your district ensures the greatest impact on our underprivileged students.
Presented by Martha Jones and Mendy Mills, Fayette Co
Room: Ballroom
High Intensity Tutoring!
Varsity Tutors for Schools and Fayette County Schools Chief Middle Schools Officer, Nikita Reed, will co-lead a discussion on the considerations of securing and implementing a high intensity tutoring program. This will include business and implementation models, tangential benefits, potential pricing, and challenges within a school or school district, and best practices.
Presented by Nikita Reed, Fayette Co., and Charles Watson, Varsity Tutors
Room: Two
Efficiency & Safety in Pupil Transportation
One of the most expensive departments in your entire district is transportation. Efficiency and safety within that department should be at the forefront of every transportation director and central office administrator. Come hear how Jessamine County Schools utilized routing technology and practice changes to save over $100,000 each year within their transportation department.
Presented by Matthew Simpson, Jessamine Co
Room: Three
1:30 p.m.
Empowering Educators: Strategies to Boost Teacher Success on the Praxis Examination and Reduce Recruitment and Retention Issues
One of the most stressful milestones for new teachers is passing their certification exams. Putting your teachers in the best position to pass on the first attempt is a simple way to help them and ensure they stay in the classroom. It also assists with recruitment and retention issues, furthermore, drastically saving a district anywhere between $5,000 to $17,000 per teacher. With an average of only 45 percent of teachers passing their exams on the first attempt nationwide (NCTQ, 2021), this not only adds stress to new teachers but also increases the risks of further teacher vacancies.
By the end of the session, participants will have a clearer understanding of the following:
- The struggles and tribulations of teachers facing certification tests.
- How to alleviate recruitment and retention issues while saving money through engaging and supportive test prep.
Presented by Jason Ampel, Ed.D., The Learning Liaisons
Room: Ballroom
Event Security: Planning to Execution
This program will outline the basic process of pre-event planning as well as how to implement a more effective event safety/security program.
Presented by James Stephens, Safe-T Sources
Room: One
Post Issuance Compliance & MUNIS Tips
What comes after the bond issue closing? This session will examine the major items of post-bond issuance compliance, including continuing disclosure, construction fund management, arbitrage rebate analysis and BG-5s, as well as a look at accounting for debt in MUNIS.
Presented by Mark Rawlings, Baird, and Eydie Tate, Hopkins Co
Room: Two
High Impact Communication
Wouldn’t it be nice if we never had to have difficult or high stress conversations? Wouldn’t it be amazing if our coworkers and our students/parents clearly understood what we were communicating to them? If communication is breaking down, the problem is NOT with our coworkers or our students/parents. If there is a breakdown in communication, that is on us. The good news is this is something we can fix! High Impact Communication will not only show you Best Practices for communication, but it will reveal how fixing a few simple things in our communication can have a HUGE impact on our organization. As an FBI-Trained Hostage Negotiator, and Public Information Officer with 20 years of experience, Scott Harvey has communicated when lives were on the line. He learned best practices in VERY high stress situations. Today, he helps companies across the country implement better communication strategies to save their company time, money, and increase employee engagement!
Presented by Scott Harvey, Speaking of Harvey, Inc
Room: Three
Friday, March 22
9:15 a.m.
Navigating Uncertainty: Artificial Intelligence in Education
Artificial intelligence (AI) learns like humans; it can create, generate content from scratch, and it can execute complicated tasks. AI presents a powerful tool for educators and students to improve academic outcomes, but AI carries with it great risks and potential legal violations. This session will address developing state and federal legal frameworks regarding AI in education. This session will also analyze various concerns when drafting school district policies regarding AI.
Presented by Jack Lackey, Deatherage Myers & Lackey PLLC
Room: Ballroom
State & 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., University of Kentucky, and Wayne Young, J.D., KASA
Room: One
Managing Budgets for School Administrators
This session will help you as a school administrator know what type of funds you must spend and how you can efficiently manage those funds for the benefit of your students.
Presented by Houston Barber, Ph.D., Fayette Co
Room: Two
Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA) Updates
Hear the latest from the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.
Presented by Chad Collins, KHSAA
Room: Three
10:25 a.m.
When School is Home: The Growing Invisible Challege of Homelessness in Kentucky
School administrators and leaders play a pivotal role in ensuring the effective implementation of the McKinney-Vento Act in Kentucky schools. This legislation addresses the educational rights and support for homeless students, aiming to minimize educational disruptions. Administrators must comprehend the Act's key tenets, such as identifying homeless students, guaranteeing enrollment stability despite housing instability, and facilitating access to educational services, resources, and targeting chronic absenteeism. Familiarity with liaison responsibilities, dispute resolution processes, and collaboration with community agencies is crucial. By comprehending the McKinney-Vento Act, administrators can lead efforts to provide equitable and inclusive education, nurturing the academic success and well-being of vulnerable students.
Presented by Zachary Stumbo, KY Dept of Education
Room: Ballroom
Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) & Tax
This session will provide a big picture view of federal, local and state funding sources for Kentucky public school districts; a deeper dive into the Support Education Excellence in Kentucky (SEEK) funding and local tax revenues; the importance of accurate reporting on the data sets provided by school districts; tax rate calculation and what a school district can tax.
Presented by Krystal Smith, KY Dept of Education
Room: One
School Law: Collective Q & A
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., KASA and Josh Salsburey, J.D., Sturgill Turner
Room: Two
Routes to Teacher Certification
As districts struggle to find teachers, make sure that you know all the different ways to help applicants obtain certification. Attendees will learn about the various routes to certification including emergency certification, highly qualified and the alternative routes to certification. Attendees will also hear updates on recent actions of the Education Professional Standards Board.
Presented by Cassie Trueblood, KY Ed Professionals Standards Board
Room: Three