Thursday and Friday, June 13 and 14, 2024

8:30 AM - 3:15 PM

Online via Zoom

Registration link

We are excited to invite you to our 2024 Rural Residency Summer Symposium! This virtual event is brought to you FREE by the Office of Teacher Education, the MAT Residency Grant, and the Association of Illinois Rural and Small Schools!  The symposium will be held via Zoom on June 13th and 14th from 8:30am-3:15pm both days and PD hours will be offered. While the focus is on new teachers, we believe every educator will find something of value at our conference.  

Presenters/Topics include:

Briana Morales will be our opening keynote speaker.  She is the Illinois Teacher of the Year who will be presenting about her own academic trajectory and how the love and compassion of her teachers helped to turn the page during very difficult times of her life.

The Illinois Elevating Special Educators (IESE) Network will be presenting on the following topics:

1. Engagement across the subject and grade levels
2. FBA/BIP
3. Instructional strategies
4. Differentiation/ Accommodations/Modifications
5. Working with paraprofessionals
6. Starting strong with organizational strategies
7. Artificial intelligence
8. Restorative practices
9. Illinois Education Association (IEA) will be presenting on their mentoring program.

Western Illinois University Field Supervisors & some of our currently practicing partners will be presenting on the following topics:

1. Conscious discipline
2. Parental communication
3. Effective questioning techniques
4. How to stay emotionally healthy in teaching
5. Student choice

Gerry Brooks will be our closing keynote speaker. He is a passionate public speaker whose focus is on encouraging and helping teachers improve their instructional abilities.  

Please see the flyer and click on the QR code or the link to register ASAP.  We will send the agenda and links for the sessions closer to the symposium.  

Please share with your colleagues. The more the merrier! Can't wait to see you there!