A year-long professional learning community designed to equip new special education teachers with the knowledge, tools, and confidence needed to serve students with disabilities while meeting compliance requirements and fostering inclusive, engaging learning environments.

Format:
4 – 2-hour sessions held virtually
4 – full-day sessions held in-person
Register for all cadre dates at once
In person: 9/2/26, 12/3/26, 2/4/27, 4/1/27
Virtual: 10/1/26, 11/4/26, 1/7/27, 3/4/27
Contact susan.hall@ckec.org with questions.

What if the very first thing students did in a science lesson was notice something — and ask why? In this session, K-12 science teachers will step into the role of learner and experience firsthand how a well-chosen phenomenon or problem can spark genuine curiosity, surface prior knowledge, and launch meaningful three-dimensional learning. Because you can't really talk about phenomena without talking about the three dimensions — science and engineering practices (SEPs), crosscutting concepts (CCCs), and disciplinary core ideas (DCIs) — we'll explore both together, the way they actually show up in the classroom.
Rather than talking about phenomena-driven, three-dimensional instruction, we'll engage with it together, then unpack what made it work. You'll leave with a clear understanding of what makes a phenomenon or problem effective, criteria for evaluating phenomena in your own curriculum, practical tools for identifying where tasks and assessments are missing a dimension, and dedicated time to strengthen upcoming lessons with grade-band colleagues from across the region.
Note: This is the first session of a three-session series running throughout the year. Sessions may be attended individually or as a full series — choose what works best for you!
6 Hours of PD/EILA credit

Collaborative transition planning is essential for creating meaningful, student-centered pathways to life after high school. This training will explore practical strategies for bringing students, families, educators, agencies, and community partners together to support successful postsecondary outcomes. Participants will learn strategies for building collaborative transition teams, engaging families, partnering with outside agencies, and connecting transition goals to meaningful opportunities in education, employment, independent living, and community participation. Educators will leave with tools to strengthen transition teams and develop plans that reflect each student’s strengths, preferences, interests, and goals for adulthood.

The RAD Related Services Cadre brings together related service professionals to connect, collaborate, and share practical strategies that support student success across school settings. Participants will explore effective push-in, pull-out, and collaborative service approaches, along with strategies for addressing sensory, behavioral, communication, and access needs in the classroom. Through discussion, shared resources, and research-based practices, the cadre will highlight what is working and how related service personnel can partner with educators to increase student participation, independence, and success throughout the school day.

You've designed your plan, built your culture, and sharpened your instruction — now how do you keep it going? In this session, you'll explore Danielson's Domain 4 and focus on the professional habits that separate good years from great ones. You'll dig into reflective practice that goes beyond "that went well" or "that was a disaster" and learn how to use student data to drive real decisions about your teaching. You'll build sustainable family communication systems — not ones that burn you out by October — and explore what it means to contribute to your professional community through collaboration, mentoring, and advocacy. You'll also tackle the conversation no one has enough — preventing burnout through boundaries, realistic self-care, and sustainable practice.

Whether you're a veteran ready to mentor and model for the next generation, a new teacher building professional habits that will serve you for decades, or an alternatively certified teacher learning how to navigate the professional side of education, this session helps you finish the series with a plan that lasts. Walk away with a reflective practice template, a family communication toolkit, a professional growth plan aligned to Danielson, and a one-page classroom system summary that connects all four sessions into a system that works together.

The goal of the Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar is to develop the collective identity and capacity of organization members as collaborators and inquirers. School-wide improvements in student learning accrue in schools whose work cultures are collaborative. In such cultures, professionals learn to talk about the hard-to-talk-about details of learning, teaching, assessment and the cumulative effects of their work with students. The Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar presents a productive, practical set of ideas and tools for developing collaborative groups in becoming effective and better equipped to resolve complex issues around student learning. The work of the Adaptive Schools Foundation Seminar is to develop the resources and capacities of the organization and of individuals to cohesively respond to the changing needs of students and society.
NOTE: a PO Number is required to register.

EILA will be applied for each day.

Fractions are a journey, not a single standard! Join us for a hands-on deep dive into the Kentucky Academic Standards for fractions in Grades 3–5, with a focus on how fraction understanding develops and connects across grade levels.
Participants will explore vertical alignment, key representations, and engaging tasks that build conceptual understanding. Come ready to model, make connections, and leave with classroom-ready activities you can use right away!

Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre
Teaching on the Edge of Trauma and Autism

Educators will explore how trauma-informed practices and specially designed instruction intersect to support autistic students. You'll gain practical, brain-based strategies to foster self-regulation, reduce behavioral challenges, and build inclusive environments where all students can thrive. In this session, you will understand the impact of trauma on autistic students, explore trauma-informed, strength-based practices, learn brain-based strategies to support self-regulation, and reduce behavioral challenges through proactive support.

Participants will receive a 6 hour PD/EILA credit certificate.
This session is the third in the Beyond the Basics: ASD Cadre. Participation in all cadre sessions is encouraged but not required.

For any questions, contact erica.price@ckec.org.

Join fellow K–12 social studies educators for a monthly virtual professional networking hour designed to connect, collaborate, and share best practices. The Social Studies Cadre provides a dedicated space to discuss emerging curriculum strategies, exchange high-impact classroom resources, and build a supportive community of practice across schools and districts. Come ready to share insights, gain fresh perspectives, and strengthen your instructional leadership.

Transform your classroom into a thriving culture of mathematical learning for every student. In this three-hour, in-person professional development, we’ll explore how teachers’ and students’ math autobiographies—their past experiences, beliefs, and emotions around math—shape engagement, confidence, and learning in today’s classroom. Participants will learn how to intentionally weave the Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMPs) and Mathematics Teaching Practices (MTPs) into daily instruction while addressing math fears, honoring student voice, and building a community where curiosity, reasoning, and collaboration flourish. You’ll walk away with practical, ready-to-use strategies to foster deep thinking and create a classroom culture where math learning is meaningful, inclusive, and empowering.

Postsecondary Transition Cadre

This professional learning cadre brings together those who work with and support students with disabilities as they prepare for life after high school. Through collaborative learning, resources, and best-practice strategies, participants will deepen their understanding of effective postsecondary transition planning. Topics will include college and career readiness, independent living skills, community-based opportunities, and connecting students with agencies and supports. The cadre will highlight practical tools, state and federal requirements, and real-world examples to help teachers design meaningful, student-centered transition plans. Educators will leave equipped to guide their students toward successful and fulfilling futures in education, employment, and independent living.

Contact sydney.green@ckec.org with questions.

Practical behavior and classroom management strategies for MSD classrooms. Join us to explore:
Antecedent-based interventions that prevent challenging behavior
Reinforcement strategies that motivate and build positive behavior
Visual supports that increase understanding, independence, and success Contact Erica Price at erica.price@ckec.org or Jennifer Dove at jennifer.dove@ckec.or

The CKEC Multilingual Learner Teacher Network will be time to work with other EL/ML teachers, specialists, admin, and other educators in the region. Through participant input, training and workshop opportunities will be developed based on the needs, trends, and ongoing issues that face schools and districts across our region and the state. The network will provide open chair time for members to share success stories. There will also be time to vet specific issues in a supportive and constructive manner.

Network Dates/Times:
Sept 21, 2026 (In-person Lexington) 8:30am-3:30pm ET;
Oct 12, 2026 (virtual, Google Meet) 4:00-5:00pm ET;
Nov 16, 2026 (virtual, Google Meet) 4:00-5:00pm ET;
Mar 8, 2027 (In-person Harrodsburg) 8:30am-3:30pm ET;
Apr 19, 2027 (virtual, Google Meet) 4:00-5:00pm ET.
EILA credit will be awarded.

The science of reading is not just a primary-grade concern—and many upper-grade students are still struggling with the demands of complex texts. In this session, we'll explore what the science of reading means for grades 4-12. We'll build a clearer understanding of how skilled reading develops over time and what factors most often interfere with comprehension in later grades. We'll connect this research to practical, classroom-ready strategies that support students in navigating complex academic texts—through vocabulary development, sentence-level understanding, knowledge building, comprehension, and disciplinary writing across content areas. Whether you teach upper elementary or secondary, you'll leave with research-informed strategies you can use immediately, along with a clearer picture of how your instruction supports students in becoming proficient readers of increasingly complex texts.

When students explain their thinking, they understand math more deeply and writing makes that thinking visible. In this one-hour session, explore simple, high-impact writing strategies that strengthen mathematical reasoning, build precise language, and surface misconceptions in real time. Designed for K-12 math teachers, this session focuses on writing-to-learn and writing-to-demonstrate-learning routines that fit seamlessly into everyday instruction without adding extra workload. Leave with ready-to-use strategies you can use in tomorrow's math lesson.

Format: Virtual (Zoom) - 1 hour of PD credit provided - Zoom link sent prior to the session.

As AI shows up in classrooms, planning periods, and district conversations, the question isn't whether to engage with it, but how to do it well. The AI Empowered Teacher Cadre is a standing community for educators who want to build real skill with AI tools and collaboratively figure out what responsible and effective use looks like in K-12 schools.

This cadre will meet monthly on the third Thursday to build AI literacy and skills, think together, integrate AI into instruction, and streamline workflows. An hour of PD credit will be provided for each session attended.