Professional Learning Opportunities

These half-day job-alike gatherings will be facilitated by IU13 and open to any staff invested in supporting the academic growth of gifted/advanced learners and complying with Chapter 16 regulations. A key component of each meeting will be time set aside for collaboration with grade-level, job-alike colleagues. District/school staff will also have the option to plan as a team during a portion of the meeting. Communication for the Gifted Network will primarily take place through Schoology, and anyone interested may join this Group for updates, resources, and discussions. The access code is FBGZM-ZHCMD. Registration will be required for each meeting for planning and Act 48 purposes. There is NO COST for IU13 district and nonpublic school staff to participate in network meetings.

Turn Student Motivation for Video Games into Curricular Engagement & Career Skills Development Aligned to Industry Certifications Transform student enthusiasm for video games into high-impact classroom projects and future-ready career skills in digital media and interactive 3D. This intensive 2-day workshop series features four 3-hour hands-on sessions designed to equip educators with industry-aligned tools and ready-to-implement curriculum kits. You will receive free enrollment in a year-long Unreal Professional Learning Community (PLC) for continuous, year-round support. Day 1 • LEARN UNREAL ENGINE BASICS WITH THE RUBE GOLDBERG LEARNING KIT o Harness Rube Goldberg's witty engineering designs to teach essential interactive 3D skills in Unreal Engine. Educators will explore hands-on physics and environment mechanics while connecting classroom activities directly to student opportunities in the official Rube Goldberg Competition. • USE GAME DESIGN TO DEVELOP INTERACTIVE 3D CAREER SKILLS o Guide students through the process of creating fully functional, publishable video games using the Unreal Learning Kit. Learn how to deliver bite-sized activities that build the creativity, critical thinking, and technical skills needed to master industry-standard software. Day 2 • LEVERAGE FORTNITE FOR VIRTUAL EXHIBITS AND SCHOOL ART SHOWS o Leverage student engagement in Fortnite with Unreal Editor for Fortnite (UEFN) for authentic, real-world academic projects. Discover how students learn the skills needed to construct immersive virtual museums of historical and cultural relevance or host virtual art shows for your feeder schools • IMPLEMENTATION PLANNING AND SUPPORT o Collaborate with peer educators to craft concrete action plans for bringing these interactive programs to your students. The Cleverlike Studios team will provide personalized guidance and additional preparation resources.

Transform your feedback from a compliance ritual into a catalyst for growth. Designed specifically for building and district leaders, this immersive, full-day session explores how to establish the ideal conditions for growth-minded feedback within the Danielson Framework. Through interactive, turn-around experiences, you will walk away with practical strategies to immediately engage your team in actionable, reflective conversations. Additional Information: Act 48 hours provided Lunch is provided

This comprehensive workshop offers a hands-on exploration of the Sphero Blueprint Engineering continuum and Bolt+. In the morning, you will experience the vertical progression of mechanical and electrical engineering, starting with foundational concepts in Snap and scaling up to middle school and then high school level complexity using Blueprint Engineering kits. The afternoon shifts focus to advanced Engineering Design with BOLT+ and concludes with "open-sandbox" time. If you are an Engineering byDesign (EbD) user, there will be time to explore the Sphero integration into the curricular resources. *Note: The focus of this workshop is Sphero, and not EbD. All Sphero tools presented are integrated into EbD, and area available to borrow through the IU13 Lending Library.

In a student-centered learning classroom, collaboration is essential for promoting critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills. However, fostering effective teamwork can be challenging, especially when learners have different learning styles, strengths, and communication styles. In this workshop, educators will explore practical strategies for promoting cooperation and collaboration in the student-centered learning classroom.

Lead, Connect, and Thrive with the Principals' Collaborative! School leadership comes with big challenges, but you don't have to face them alone. Join fellow Principals from Lancaster and Lebanon Counties to build meaningful connections, exchange innovative ideas, and strengthen your leadership community. What to Expect: ✔ Stay ahead of local and state initiatives ✔ Share and explore best practices in education ✔ Collaborate on common challenges and leave with actionable strategies ✔ Engage in monthly topics directly relevant to your role as a principal ✔ Participate in Professional Development Be part of a supportive network that fosters growth, learning, and success. Meetings are led by former Principals who have been in your shoes, offering guidance, insight, and practical strategies from real-world experience. Please note: In virtual meeting time begins at 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Act 48 and Act 45 Credits are available Click here to review the 2026-2027 Principals Flyer

IU13 Career Ready Leaders' Collaborative meetings offer district and school leaders a valuable space to stay informed about current education initiatives at local, state, and national levels. The focus is on addressing specific career readiness challenges at the district and school levels, encouraging the exchange of practical solutions. These gatherings promote networking and collaboration, enabling leaders to connect with colleagues and local partners. The meeting structure includes insights from guest speakers or business/industry spotlights, highlighting district/program achievements, sharing updates on state/local career readiness opportunities, and providing open spaces for collaborative discussions. This multifaceted approach ensures that leaders leave the meetings with a knowledge of the latest developments and a strengthened network to enhance career readiness initiatives across the IU13 region.