Professional Learning Opportunities
Welcome to the IU13’s professional learning offerings from the Educational Technology and Teaching and Learning Collaborative teams!
Discover tailored professional learning opportunities, easily filtered by category below or explore our calendar on Frontline for a wide variety of sessions designed to elevate your skills.
For more information or to initiate collaboration, please contact our Educational Technology team or our Teaching and Learning Collaborative team.
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Gifted Education Network Meeting – December
Gifted and Enrichment Services/ IS
December 3, 2026
12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
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...
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.
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Virtual Teacher Collaborative
Instructional Technology/ IS
December 3, 2026
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Virtual
Quarterly meetings will provide school district virtual educators with a forum to collaborate and share best practices for teaching in a solely online environment. These collaborative meetings will focus on participant needs and professional development supporting K-12 online learning.
From Pressure to Progress: Guiding Gifted Students
Gifted and Enrichment Services/ IS
December 3, 2026
8:30 am to 11:30 am
Explore the roots of perfectionism in gifted learners and discover strategies to shift from pressure and fear to progress and healthy striving. Our time together will cover how to recognize the difference between healthy striving and unhealthy perfectionism in gifted students. We will then identify underlying causes of perfectionistic behaviors,...
Explore the roots of perfectionism in gifted learners and discover strategies to shift from pressure and fear to progress and healthy striving. Our time together will cover how to recognize the difference between healthy striving and unhealthy perfectionism in gifted students. We will then identify underlying causes of perfectionistic behaviors, including asynchronous development and fixed mindset patterns and then apply evidence-based cognitive, behavioral, and emotional strategies to help students reframe failure and manage perfectionistic anxiety.
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IU13 School Climate Network – Session #3: Teaching & Learning
Curriculum and Instruction/ IS
December 8, 2026
12:30 pm to 3:30 pm
This session explores how instructional practices and social-emotional skills intersect to foster an environment where success is expected for everyone. We will discuss the varied ways students demonstrate knowledge and how independent thinking is encouraged within the classroom. Time will be provided for school teams to determine how these climate...
This session explores how instructional practices and social-emotional skills intersect to foster an environment where success is expected for everyone. We will discuss the varied ways students demonstrate knowledge and how independent thinking is encouraged within the classroom. Time will be provided for school teams to determine how these climate dimensions can be better integrated into their curriculum and instruction.
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Career Ready Leaders’ Collaborative – December
Curriculum and Instruction/ IS
December 9, 2026
1:00 pm to 3:00 pm
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...
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.
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AI for All Session #3: Using AI to Support Gifted Learners
Curriculum and Instruction/ IS
December 9, 2026
8:30 am to 3:30 pm
Expand Tier 1 core instruction to provide meaningful depth, complexity, and enrichment for high-ability learners within an MTSS framework. General education teachers will explore how AI can help customize instruction for students who have already mastered core standards. Participants will learn to prompt AI to generate high-level inquiry questions, design...
Expand Tier 1 core instruction to provide meaningful depth, complexity, and enrichment for high-ability learners within an MTSS framework. General education teachers will explore how AI can help customize instruction for students who have already mastered core standards. Participants will learn to prompt AI to generate high-level inquiry questions, design complex tiered assignments, and build multi-disciplinary enrichment units that keep advanced learners challenged without disrupting class management. . Cost *Full Series Package(includes all 4 sessions): $500.00 *Individual Sessions(A la Carte): $150.00 for each session; per person Note:Pricing is per individual participant, not a district group rate. Workshops Session #1: Support Multilingual Learners (10/29/2026) Session #2: Support Special Education Students (12/2/2026) Session #3: Support Gifted Learners (12/9/2026) Session #4: Support Students on the Edge (1/7/2027) Registration & Invoicing: * How to Register: You must register for each individual session you plan to attend. * Package Discount: If you register for all 4 sessions, the $500 package rate will automatically be applied to your district's invoice. * Invoice Timeline: Districts will be invoiced at the conclusion of the final scheduled session on January 7, 2027.
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Performance Tasks That Matter: Designing Inspiring and Engaging Performance Tasks for a Student-Centered Classroom
Instructional Technology/ IS
December 10, 2026
8:30 am to 3:00 pm
Research highlights the critical role of performance tasks in fostering deeper learning and assessing complex understanding. Yet, many tasks fall short of engaging and inspiring students. In this workshop, we will learn how to design performance tasks and assessments rooted in the GRASPS framework while ensuring they are relevant, meaningful,...
Research highlights the critical role of performance tasks in fostering deeper learning and assessing complex understanding. Yet, many tasks fall short of engaging and inspiring students. In this workshop, we will learn how to design performance tasks and assessments rooted in the GRASPS framework while ensuring they are relevant, meaningful, and aligned with research-based best practices. Explore strategies to create tasks that captivate students, encourage critical thinking, and connect to real-world applications. Leave with an understanding of what makes a task effective and a ready-to-implement task tailored to your classroom.
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Leading Lasting Change: Implementation Science and Change Management for Curricular Shifts in Literacy
Literacy/ IS
December 17, 2026
8:30 am to 12:00 pm
Transforming district vision into lasting classroom impact requires more than launching curriculum; it demands disciplined Change Leadership and actionable Implementation Science. In this free session, K-8 literacy leaders will explore how to ground strategic planning in the Leadership Brain framework and the principles of People, Process, and Practice to navigate...
Transforming district vision into lasting classroom impact requires more than launching curriculum; it demands disciplined Change Leadership and actionable Implementation Science. In this free session, K-8 literacy leaders will explore how to ground strategic planning in the Leadership Brain framework and the principles of People, Process, and Practice to navigate organizational shifts and drive sustainable outcomes. The session concludes with a candid panel discussion featuring district colleagues from Lower Dauphin who are immersed in this work, sharing real-world triumphs, challenges, and key takeaways from their transition into Year 2 of implementation. Agenda: 8:00 AM-8:30 AM Registration 8:30 AM-9:00 AM Networking Breakfast, compliments of Amplify 9:00 AM-11:00 AM Change Management & Implementation Science Session (presented by Janise Lane, Amplify & Lower Dauphin SD) 11:00 AM-11:15 AM Break 11:15 AM-12:00 PM Guided Planning and Collaboration Session (facilitated by Liz O'Brien, IU13) 12:00 PM Grab n' Go lunch, compliments of Amplify *Sponsored by Amplify (includes complimentary breakfast and grab & go lunch)
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Internal AI Training (INTERNAL IU13 ONLY)
Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring the fundamentals of AI and its current landscape. What We'll Cover: • AI Fundamentals: Learn the basics of AI, how it operates behind the scenes, and current industry trends. • Data Privacy & Policy Alignment: Discover key strategies to safeguard sensitive information and...
Join us for a hands-on workshop exploring the fundamentals of AI and its current landscape. What We'll Cover: • AI Fundamentals: Learn the basics of AI, how it operates behind the scenes, and current industry trends. • Data Privacy & Policy Alignment: Discover key strategies to safeguard sensitive information and utilize AI tools safely in full compliance with IU13 policies. • Hands-On Exploration: Gain practical, real-world experience in a supportive learning environment. • Google Workspace Plus Upgrade: Explore the benefits of our 2026-2027 upgrade, including embedded Gemini AI features across all Google apps.
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IU13 Enriched Virtual Forum
Instructional Technology/ IS
January 7, 2027
9:00 am to 11:30 am
Monthly meetings of the Enriched Virtual Forum (EVF) will discuss topics to support district virtual academies and develop high quality course content to enrich current district virtual programs. These collaborative meetings will focus on participant needs and professional development supporting K-12 virtual learning and online course development.