GETCA 2025

Teaching is the most demanding and vital profession there is. Sadly, it is also all too easy to be sucked dry and left exhausted. With demands such as data and test score analysis, professional development, discipline, and internal or external conflict (just to name a few), it is easy to lose focus on why we chose this profession in the first place! In this session, we will walk through various strategies, stories, and brainstorming opportunities that will encourage, inspire, and breathe life and purpose into our daily lives and worthy professions. We will discover what it means to Prove You Are Alive! and how we may inspire our students to do the same.

Trying to find ways to have your staff work together for a common purpose or looking for ways to analyze common assessments that staff can use in their professional learning teams? This session will explore the Evidence Analysis Protocol (Donohoo, 2017), a six-step process that leaders can use to engage their staff that not only helps them analyze common assessment data (think RCAT, MIPI achievement or diploma data) but also build collective staff efficacy and have a process to use with their professional learning teams. Participants will be able to engage in a data analysis protocol (doesn't sound very exciting, I know...but it is actually!). Experiencing the protocol will allow leaders to model and implement this approach with their staff during collaborative team meetings. This effective approach keeps everyone engaged, focused on the task and generates great ideas and insights.

It’s the number one question posed by educators – especially those in leadership roles.  Although discipline issues have always been a concern in schools, they seem to be more pronounced in these post-pandemic years - especially in the earlier grades.  Accordingly, this session provides attendees with specific recommendations for dealing with this issue at the classroom and campus level.

Self-awareness is the cornerstone of effective teaching. When educators understand their own emotions, motivations, and behaviors, they can better connect with their students, foster a positive learning environment, and navigate challenges with confidence. This one-hour session is an opportunity to invest in yourself, your teaching, and your students' futures. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just starting your career, this presentation will provide valuable insights and practical tools to help you thrive in your teaching profession. Join us to discover how self-awareness can make you an effective great teacher Agenda 1. Definitions 2. Importance of self-awareness 3. How to improve self-awareness 4. Self-awareness skills 5. Johari window and its uses 6. Applications to our daily living What will you learn? By understanding yourself, you can inspire your students and colleagues, fostering a culture of growth, empathy, and mutual respect. By the end of this presentation, you will be able to: 1. Define self awareness. 2. List several skills of self awareness. 3. Suggest ideas to improve self-awareness. 4. Apply self-awareness’ to enhance our everyday living.

Teacher and student absenteeism is a critical issue facing school districts, exacerbating burnout and attrition among educators. Therese and Melissa aim to provide insights into teacher absenteeism and burnout to help districts address these challenges.

Principals and administration often have to resolve disputes amongst the various stakeholders in the education system. Often there are two versions of events. How do you decide which version to accept? Hint: it’s not your gut instinct. This session will focus on how to conduct an analysis of credibility to make defensible findings of fact.