Learn best practices for engaging families in meaningful conversations about attendance, conducting effective conferences, and fostering a culture of consistent student participation. This session will also share practical strategies for encouraging attendance schoolwide and provide tips for maximizing the features of the ATTEND platform to support data-driven decision-making and family engagement.
This interactive session explores teaching and learning through a holistic social, emotional, and culturally responsive (SEC) lens, providing teachers with practical strategies to increase student engagement in the classroom. Participants will explore how to integrate culturally responsive teaching and social-emotional learning into their practice, and leave with actionable approaches to support student growth and well-being.
Dr. Ann Veu is an educator, consultant, and sound therapy practitioner with over 20 years of experience in teaching, leadership, and professional learning across K–12 and higher education. She has led equity-centered initiatives at the school, district, and county levels, supporting... Read More →
Step into a hands-on workshop where you’ll rotate through 3 stations and test out teacher-friendly AI tools for Writing Feedback, Building Rubrics, and Lesson Planning, with a focus on exploring the power of MagicSchool AI. No expertise required—just curiosity! In under an hour, you’ll walk away with practical ideas, ready-to-use drafts, and one AI strategy you can take back to your classroom tomorrow.
Join us for a hands-on workshop where you’ll explore how digital algebra tiles can transform the way students understand abstract expressions and equations. Discover how this interactive tool makes combining like terms, solving equations, and factoring more engaging and accessible for all learners. You’ll walk away with ready-to-use strategies and resources to strengthen your classroom instruction.
Stay up to date on the latest information from our medical and voluntary plan providers, including Kaiser, SHP, CC, Dental, and VSP. Representatives will share important updates, highlight recent changes, and answer questions to help you make informed decisions about your benefits. This session is designed to give you clear, practical information to support your health and wellness planning.
Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:45am - 9:45am PDT CCCS Main 118
As AI tools become more common in education, many students are experimenting with them, sometimes appropriately, sometimes not. This session will help teachers shift from a policing mindset to a coaching one. We’ll explore why students turn to AI, how to spot potential misuse, and most importantly, how to have productive, empathetic conversations when you suspect AI-generated work. Through role-play, discussion, and practical strategies, participants will leave with concrete language, tools, and approaches to guide students toward responsible AI use and academic integrity.
Discover practical, hands-on strategies to help young learners strengthen essential executive functioning skills such as organization, focus, self-regulation, and planning. This workshop will equip teachers with tools and classroom-ready approaches to support students’ academic success and overall growth.
This interactive workshop, led by the GCC Community Engagement Department, will provide an overview of the structures, strategies, and resources that strengthen student and family support across GCC schools. Participants will explore how community schools, tiered systems of support, family involvement structures, and wraparound services work together to ensure that every student and family has access to the resources they need. The session will also highlight the role of school site councils, ELACs, and advisory councils in shaping school culture and policy, while showcasing partnerships with community organizations and central office support. A practical introduction to the GCC Family Resource Guide and the services provided by CED specialists will equip attendees with tools they can use immediately in their work.
Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) is an approach to math instruction that engages every student in meaningful problem-solving and peer-to-peer discussion. In this session, participants will actively experience BTC strategies firsthand by working through tasks, collaborating in groups, and reflecting on how these practices create deeper learning. You’ll leave with practical tools and insights to foster more engaged, student-centered math classrooms.
Explore the benefits of CalPERS 457 and 403(b) plans in this informative session. Since 1995, CalPERS has provided public school employees with low-cost, convenient retirement savings options through payroll deductions. Learn how these plans can supplement your CalSTRS or CalPERS pension and provide a solid financial foundation for your future.
Designed specifically for District and Site Safety Teams, this advanced training goes beyond the basics of staff access. Participants will engage in a silent mock drill at their site, allowing them to log in, interact with the software, and practice real-time response procedures. This hands-on session provides an opportunity to strengthen preparedness and ensure Safety Teams are confident in using the system during an emergency.
Boost student vocabulary and reading comprehension with a flexible close reading routine that works across grade levels and subject areas. In this session, you’ll learn a step-by-step process for guiding students through meaningful text analysis—whether in whole-class settings or small groups. You’ll also see how AI tools can streamline lesson preparation, saving you time while keeping the focus on powerful literacy instruction.
Think back to when you were in middle school. What career did you imagine for yourself? Now think—who influenced that dream? Was it a teacher, a family member, or maybe one hands-on experience? Imagine if every student had those opportunities, intentionally built into their learning.”
Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Explain how CTE functions as a continuum beginning in kindergarten.
2. Identify ways to align CTE standards with Common Core, SEL, and IB standards.
3. Design developmentally appropriate career exploration opportunities for K–8 students.
4. Apply strategies to integrate CTE within existing curriculum and school structures.
Career Technical Education (CTE) is often associated with high school, but the foundation for career exploration and skill-building begins much earlier. This session will demonstrate how CTE can be integrated across grades K–8 by aligning CTE Model Curriculum Standards with Common Core Standards, Social Emotional Learning (SEL) competencies, and International Baccalaureate (IB) standards. Participants will learn how CTE can function as a developmental continuum—where career awareness in elementary builds into exploration in middle school, leading to more intentional choices in high school.
This session will highlight practical strategies for aligning CTE learning outcomes to important life skills like self-management and collaboration. The session will feature practical examples of integrated lessons, project-based learning, and cross-curricular connections, alongside collaborative approaches that support teachers' instructional priorities.
Curious about Teach Like a Champion but don't know where to start? This session will introduce 3 strategies that you can implement in your classroom tomorrow! Engineer Efficiency, Everybody Writes, and Turn & Talks are 3 effective strategies to help build routines and increase student engagement.
If you’re new to ClassDojo or curious to explore more of its features, this hands-on session is for you! We’ll dive into how ClassDojo can support classroom management, enhance communication with families, and build a strong, positive classroom community.
Discover how Guided Language Acquisition Design (GLAD) strategies can support English Learners while benefiting all students in diverse classrooms. This session will highlight practical approaches that foster academic language development, promote collaboration, and ensure equitable access to rigorous content. Participants will leave with ready-to-use strategies to strengthen instruction and empower students to thrive.
This workshop is designed to equip educators with practical, fun, and creative theatre-based techniques to boost student engagement, communication, and critical thinking in the classroom. Participants will learn about the importance of theatre in education, practice using voices and bodies as tools for expression and utilize practical theatre techniques that educators can apply in the classroom.
New to ParentSquare? You’re not alone! In this session, you’ll learn how to communicate with students, parents, and staff through direct or group messages, attach documents like progress reports, and create groups to streamline communication. Come ready to explore the platform and discover how ParentSquare can make staying connected easier and more efficient.
Join this interactive workshop to discover practical strategies for helping dual enrollment students thrive academically and personally! We’ll explore the unique challenges these students face as they juggle high school and college-level expectations, and share effective ways to support them through advising, mentoring, and classroom practices.
Whether your students are in-person, remote, or in Independent Study, this session is a hands-on opportunity to learn, share, and walk away with tools to help your dual enrollment learners succeed in their college journey.
Ever wish you knew more about spreadsheets, but the thought of trying to learn all those formulas feels intimidating? Want to speed up managing all of your student data? Already know spreadsheet basics but want to see how AI can make things even better? This session will cover basic spreadsheet terminology, and then give you some ideas of how you can use spreadsheets to make your life easier, as well as how to use AI to help you write formulas. You will leave with a "cheat sheet" of basic spreadsheet terminology, plus example prompts and an example spreadsheet you can play around with.
Presentation link is here: https://tinyurl.com/gcccon2025-spreadsheets
I started out teaching high school English at a traditional comprehensive school 24 years ago. I came to CCCS in 2008 and have been here ever since! I love data, I'm allergic to having to duplicate work that's already been done, and I'm also lazy, so I'm always looking for new wa... Read More →
PYP and MYP unite! Join us for a fishbowl-style discussion where teachers, paraeducators, and admin can ask questions and share their best practices for the culminating projects - MYP Community Project and PYP Exhibition.
Are you looking to spice up some of your old unit and lesson ideas? Do your students find physical education to be meaningful? Are we doing everything we can as physical educators to support our students in their physical literacy journey? In this presentation, we will define the idea of meaningful physical education, look more specifically at some unit and lesson plans and discuss ways to make everything we do more meaningful for the diverse groups of students in our classes. Presented by the 2019 SHAPE America National High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year.
Dan DeJager is the 2019 SHAPE America National High School Physical Education Teacher of the Year and recently served on the SHAPE America National Physical Education Standards Task Force. He has 25 years of teaching experience, including middle school, high school and independent... Read More →
Stay informed and confident as you navigate open enrollment. This session will provide important updates on new benefits and guide you through the enrollment process so you can make well-informed elections with ease. Walk away with the knowledge and resources you need to complete your enrollment successfully and with confidence.
Get ready to boost student success on the CAASPP with this interactive session designed to help educators make the most of Standards Mastery. Through hands-on role-playing, you’ll practice strategies for teaching key skills and concepts in engaging, student-centered ways. We’ll also explore how to maximize the use of the CCSS Performance Report to identify strengths, target areas for growth, and guide instruction. Walk away with practical tools and approaches you can use right away to prepare your students with confidence.
Brenda Zeisse is an educator with 18 years of experience, having served as a classroom teacher, math interventionist, academic coach, and school administrator. Her journey with i-Ready began as a classroom user, where she valued the rich data it provided and the power of differentiated... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:45am - 9:45am PDT Rafferty A 203
Learn the ins and outs of submitting Personal Action Forms (PAFs) along with the different types of submissions you may encounter. This session will also cover the process and policies for GCC Volunteer and Driver applications. Walk away with clarity and confidence to ensure accurate and efficient submissions every time.
Ready to stop wondering where your money went and start telling it where to go? Join us for a fun and interactive session where we’ll break down budgeting basics and help you set goals that make sense for you. Whether you want to save for a dream vacation, pay off debt, or just feel more in control of your finances, this workshop gives you practical tools and tips to make your money work for you.
What does CKH look like in a realistic classroom setting, with realistic students and behaviors that we encounter every day? Elevate your teaching practice and understanding by pursuing the art of positive classroom management, and how to develop your "it" factor. This workshop is designed for educators who may be struggling with certain students/behaviors and would like to learn how to realistically implement CKH practices. Participants will explore strategies for building strong student-teacher relationships and creating a classroom culture where every student feels seen, heard, valued - and who knows, they might even enjoy themselves a little.
Exit tickets are small but mighty tools that can greatly inform instruction. In this collaborative session, participants will explore practical strategies for designing exit tickets that go beyond recall and provide meaningful insights into student learning. Participants will practice creating exit tickets tailored to their content areas and grade levels, analyze examples, and learn how to use data to adjust instruction. Walk away with some good ideas and strategies to make student thinking visible every day.
This presentation will highlight K12 Summit, a platform focused on student-centered learning and support tools, and SmarterTools for Teachers, an online resource provided by Smarter Balanced that offers free, standards-aligned tools and practice materials to help teachers and students prepare for ELPAC.
This session is designed for general education teachers to gain a deeper understanding of the key components of the IEP document, practical strategies for implementing accommodations, and methods to ensure student success.
Dive into your students’ first Diagnostic results to make data-driven instructional decisions. In this session, teachers will practice analyzing data, asking the right questions, and setting meaningful goals for themselves and their students. Using a clear planning process, teachers will uncover strengths, plan scaffolds, and maximize access to grade-level content. You’ll also explore strategies for monitoring Personalized Instruction, engaging students in data chats, and tracking their own progress. In addition, gain deeper insights using the CCSS Performance Report to guide your instruction and support student growth.
Michiko Tibayan has been an educator for over 12 years, first using i-Ready as a classroom teacher before becoming a Professional Learning Specialist with Curriculum Associates. She is passionate about helping educators interpret i-Ready Diagnostic results to make data-informed instructional... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:45am - 9:45am PDT Rafferty A 202
Work-Based Learning (WBL) isn’t just for high school interns; it belongs in elementary classrooms too. This session explores how teachers can embed career-connected experiences into lessons for students as young as TK–6. Attendees will walk away with ready-to-use strategies, lesson ideas, and tools for bringing community partners into the classroom in age-appropriate and standards-aligned ways.
Join us for an inspiring 90 minute documentary! This professional development experience begins with the film Hopeville: How to Win the Reading Wars. Through the lens of this story, we’ll explore the challenges and triumphs of literacy instruction and the urgent need for evidence-based practices. Following the film, we'll dive into an overview of the Science of Reading and why it demands changes to how we teach literacy!
My name is Gurpreet Kaur, and I currently serve as Vice Principal at HLA. I began my journey at HLA in 2010 and have served in multiple roles, including paraeducator, teacher, and coach, before stepping into administration. With over 20 years of experience in education, I am deeply... Read More →
Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:45am - 11:00am PDT GCC Theater
Gain the knowledge and confidence to act in an emergency through hands-on CPR training. This session will teach you essential life-saving techniques, from recognizing when CPR is needed to performing effective compressions and breaths. Participants will leave prepared to respond calmly and effectively in critical situations.
