The School Mental Health supplement is excited to provide presenters, resources, and coordination support for the upcoming Alaska RTI/MTSS Effective Instruction Conference and Rural or Small Schools Pre-Conference. We are sponsoring a total of 5 sessions, with full-day strands offered on Saturday and a variety of half-day topical sessions offered at the pre-conference and on Sunday. We will also be staffing a comprehensive resource table with information specific to supportive native youth in school setting and the National School Mental Health Curriculum. Come stop by and say hi!  

About the Conference: 

The 2020 Alaska RTI/MTSS Effective Instruction Conference will take place on Saturday, January 25th and Sunday, January 26th, 2020 at the Dena’ina Center in Anchorage. Full-day strands will be offered on Saturday, and a wide variety of half-day topical sessions will be offered on Sunday. Featured session topics include:

• social emotional learning in action,
• mathematical mindsets,
• linking language and learning in mathematics,
• student engagement and self-efficacy,
• computational thinking and computer science K-5,
• collaborative leadership,
• teacher credibility and clarity,
• how to implement restorative practices,
• selecting and implementing effective Tier 2 and 3 academic and behavioral interventions,
• using formative assessment and feedback,
• evidence-based strategies for improving early literacy, and
• social emotional well-being for educators.

Presenters include: Dr. Harold Asturias, Martha Kaufeldt, Dr. Jennifer Bay-Williams, Dr. Doug Fisher, Dr. Nancy Frey, Dr. Kristie-Pretti-Frontczak, Dr. Dominique Smith, Susan Barrett, Ricky Robertson, Dave Nagel and more.

The keynote this year is ‘All Learning is Social and Emotional’ with Dr. Doug Fisher and Dominique Smith:

"While social and emotional learning (SEL) is most familiar as compartmentalized programs separate from academics, the truth is, all learning is social and emotional. Credible teachers--those who establish trust, demonstrate competence, and are passionate—influence students in powerful ways. What teachers say, the values we express, the materials and activities we choose, and the skills we prioritize all influence how students think, see themselves, and interact with content and with others. Children's social and emotional development is too important to be an add-on or an afterthought, too important to be left to chance. SEL can be integrated into everyday content instruction, no matter what subject or grade level you teach."

*Lunch will be provided on site both days to provide more opportunities to meet and network with your colleagues.  

The full-day RTI/MTSS Pre-Conference for Rural or Small Schools will take place on Friday, January 24th. This year we are pleased to have several sectional choices for educators at the intermediate and advanced level of RTI/MTSS implementation, including sessions on using data, effective teaming, evidenced-based early literacy instruction, school mental health resources, and research-based strategies to improve graduation rates.

> Learn more about the conference and register here.

Want more information and school mental health resources? Visit the Northwest MHTTC's School Mental Health page and sign up for our monthly newsletter for regular updates about events, trainings, and resources available to the Northwest region.