WiRSA State Conference 2024 OVERVIEW
Rural Schools & Communities - Resilient Rural!  

Sunday, October 27, 2024 (3:00 - 6:30 p.m.) - Registration

Sunday, October 27, 2024  (7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.) - Welcome Reception (Location - Wilderness 3-6)

Monday, October 28, 2024 (7:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.) -  Registration | Sandstone Corridor 

• Breakfast Buffet Sandstone Ballroom (7:15 a.m. - 8:45 a.m.) - Rm. #s 2-3-7-8-9 

• Welcome and announcements after (8:00 a.m.)

• Dr. Jill Underly (8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.)

• Keynote - Joe Sanfelippo (8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.)

  1. Joe will be around to answer questions/discussion (9:30 to 9:50 a.m.).

Exhibitor Time (9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.)

Special Session Session #1 - (9:50 a.m. - 10:35 a.m.) 

• Anne Chapman - Research Director, Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials (WASBO)

  • Ann will talk about key factors driving the current state of school finance in Wisconsin; what is behind the record number of referendums across the state; how the past state budget affects school districts; and what it all means for the next state budget in 2025-27.

Exhibitor Time (10:30 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.)

Breakout Session #1 - (10:50 a.m.-11:40 a.m.)

• Tundra A - Emerging Technologies and the Need for Structural Change in Public Education: The global reality of our future requires a significantly updated skill set, and we need that to start in our rural schools

• Tundra B - Translating ACT 20 into Practice…Together

• Tundra C - High-Quality Internships to Advance Rural School Staff Pipelines

• Tundra D - Cultivating Post-Secondary Mindset in Elementary Students: Partnering with Wisconsin College Savings Program

• Tundra E - Comprehensive Approach to School Safety for ALL schools in Wisconsin

• Tundra F - Build Resilience with Youth Apprenticeship

• Sandstone Rm #6 - Addressing Youth Vaping and Best Practice Solutions

Lunch | Sandstone - (11:50 a.m. - 1:00 p.m). - Sandstone - Rooms 1, 4, 5 & 6

1. CESA Employee of the Year

2. Support Staff Person of the Year

3. Teacher of the Year

4. Principal of the Year

5. Administrator of the Year

6. School Board of Education Member(s) of the Year

7. Advocacy Award

8. Community Partner of the Year

Special Session Session #2 - (1:10 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.) 

• Chris Saldana, Assistant Professor of K-12 Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis - Chris will further enlighten us as he elaborates on the topic of Funding Adequacy based on Wisconsin’s standards, aiming to increase your understanding of funding needs in our state.

Breakout Session #2 - (1:55 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.) Exhibitor Time (2:45 p.m. - 3:05 p.m.)

• Tundra A - Best Practices for Supporting Rural ELs (and their teachers!)

• Tundra B - Role of Universities in the Rural Educator Ecosystem

• Tundra C - Authentic Confidence - Personal & Professional Development for Staff - RISE Leadership/Colby School District

• Tundra D - Navigating DPI Licensing: Educator Licensing and Licensing Support for Wisconsin Schools. How Educator Preparation Programs are  Making a Difference!

• Tundra E - Ransomware Attacks Do Occur: What You Should Do Before, and if, It Happens

• Tundra F - An Introduction and Plan to Implement AI into Rural Schools and/or Districts

Breakout Session #3 - (3:05 p.m. - 3:55 p.m.) Exhibitor Time (3:10 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.)

• Tundra A - Creative Restructuring Student Services in a Rural Environment

• Tundra B - Solar for Schools Makes Cents

• Tundra C - Collaborations That Lead to Real Outcomes For Families

• Tundra D - Empowering Students For Their Future Success through Strategic Planning - Chequamegon School District

• Tundra E - Cybersecurity Preparedness: Is Your Rural District Ready?

• Tundra F - Harnessing AI in the Classroom

Exhibitor Time (3:55 p.m. - 4:15 p.m.)

Breakout Session #4 - (4:15 p.m. - 5:05 p.m.)

• Tundra A - Preparing for Tomorrow’s Workforce, Today

• Tundra B - Educators Rising…and Beyond!

• Tundra C - “Communication is the Key – Growing Your Own In-House Communication Professionals to Support and Spread Your District’s Message and Story”

• Tundra D - A School & Community Partnership Owning the Responsibility for School Safety Security, and Response.

• Tundra E - Unlocking Student Engagement through Universal Design for Learning Implementation Trials

• Tundra F - Migrant Education Program - ESSA Title I-C free supplemental summer program for migratory students in Wisconsin - Statewide

Reception / Silent and Live Auction 5:30 p.m - Sandstone - Rooms 1, 4, 5 & 6

Tuesday, October 29, 2024

Continental Breakfast Sandstone - Rm. #s 2-3-7-8-9 (7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.) Exhibitor Time (7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.)

Welcome and Introduction for Ben Winchester - (8:15 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.)

General Session - (8:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.) Keynote

• Ben Winchester - Extension Professor / Department of Community Development - University of Minnesota

  • Ben conducts applied research on economic, social, and demographic topics surrounding a theme of “rewriting the rural narrative.”

Exhibitor Time (9:30 p.m. - 9:50 p.m.)

Breakout Session #5 - (9:50 a.m. - 10:40 a.m.) Exhibitor Time (9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.)

• Tundra A - Leveraging Digital Learning Partnerships to Ease the Teacher Shortage & Enhance CTE Offerings

• Tundra B - “In Challenging Times, Revert to Your ‘Why”

• Tundra C - How to Build Community Trust and Support through Consistent Communication

• Tundra E - Energize Your School Buildings through Audits and Optimization Strategies

Breakout Session #6 - (10:50 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.)

• Tundra A - Empowering Rural Education: Building AI Literacy for Staff and Students

• Tundra B - Mapping the Geography of Teacher Shortages in Rural Wisconsin School Districts

• Tundra C - Data-Driven Compensation Strategies for High-Demand Positions in Education

• Tundra D - Living in the Middle of Everywhere

WiRSA Annual Meeting - (12:15 p.m. - 12:45 p.m.)

WiRSA Board of Directors Meeting - Following Annual Meeting - (12:45 p.m. - 1:45 p.m.)