Tuesday Talks for Teachers
Tuesdays | 4:30-6PM | Virtual
This dynamic, virtual professional development series is designed to empower educators like never before! On select Tuesdays throughout the year, you can join us for engaging discussions, insightful workshops, and invaluable strategies tailored to enhance your teaching prowess. From innovative classroom techniques to navigating the latest educational trends, we’re here to equip you with the tools you need to excel. Elevate your teaching game, connect with fellow educators, and transform your classroom experience through Tuesday Talks for Teachers. Don’t miss out on this transformative journey toward becoming the educator you aspire to be!
Tue, Sep 22
Creating Deeper Relationships by Understanding Learning Differences
Mark Talaga | Center for Identity Potential
Early Registration Discount
- Register by September 1 and save!
- Early Registration Rate – $25
- Regular Registration Rate – $35
Most educators believe they are skilled at building relationships—and many are. Yet every teacher encounters students they cannot seem to reach, no matter how much effort they give. These are often the students teachers think about long after the school day ends.
This presentation explores why those disconnects happen—not as a failure of effort, but as a mismatch in understanding. Drawing on insights into language processing, attention, and executive functioning, this talk helps educators recognize the hidden barriers that shape how students experience the classroom.
Rather than offering more strategies to “try,” this session reframes how teachers interpret student behavior, allowing them to close the subtle gaps that often go unnoticed. When these gaps are addressed, relationships shift—and with them, student engagement.
For teachers who feel they’ve tried everything, this work offers something different: the ability to become one of the few people in a student’s life who truly understands how they think, learn, and struggle.
Mark Talaga is a clinician and speaker specializing in the social, emotional, and neurodevelopmental needs of gifted and asynchronous individuals. As the founder of the Center for Identity Potential, he works closely with students, families, and educators to better understand the complex factors that impact learning, behavior, and engagement. His work integrates developmental, environmental, and neuropsychological perspectives to help others see what is often missed in traditional approaches.
Mark is known for translating complex concepts into practical, immediately usable insights for educators. His presentations focus on the students teachers struggle to reach most—offering a deeper framework for understanding language processing, attention, executive functioning, and the relational dynamics that drive engagement. His goal is simple: to help educators become the person who finally makes sense to a student who has felt misunderstood for years.
Tue, Oct 13
Designed for Multilingual Learners, Effective for All
Meghan Mota | Racine Unified School District
Early Registration Discount
- Register by September 22 and save!
- Early Registration Rate – $25
- Regular Registration Rate – $35
How can we increase engagement with multilingual learners? If this is a question you’ve been exploring, you’re in good company.How can we increase engagement with multilingual learners? If this is a question you’ve been exploring, you’re in good company.How can we increase engagement with multilingual learners? If this is a question you’ve been exploring, you’re in good company.How can we increase engagement with multilingual learners? If this is a question you’ve been exploring, you’re in good
How can we increase engagement with multilingual learners? If you’ve been exploring this question, you are in good company!
Join this interactive session to experience and learn practical, research-based strategies that directly support multilingual learners. Beyond that, these approaches are designed to benefit all students by creating more inclusive and engaging learning environments. Participants will engage in a variety of visual, auditory, oral, and kinesthetic activities that can be immediately applied in the classroom. By intentionally planning for multilingual learners, we strengthen outcomes and opportunities for every student.
Meghan Mota brings two decades of experience in education. She began her career as a middle school Spanish teacher, spending 11 years in the classroom where she developed a strong foundation in student-centered instruction and language acquisition. Building on her classroom success and a passion for supporting colleagues, Meghan transitioned into an instructional coaching role with a focus on literacy. In this capacity, she partnered with middle and intermediate school teachers to enhance student engagement and strengthen reading proficiency. She later served for three years as an early literacy coach and specialist, deepening her expertise in foundational literacy development.
In addition to her K–12 work, Meghan has taught courses at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, focusing on literacy and multilingual learners. She currently serves as the Dual Language Instructional Coach for Racine Unified School District, where she continues to support educators in creating equitable and effective learning environments for all students.
Tue, Nov 10
Little Learners are Capable of BIG Things
Kelsey Deinhammer | Oak Creek Franklin School District
Early Registration Discount
- Register by October 20 and save!
- Early Registration Rate – $25
- Regular Registration Rate – $35
This rofessional development session is focused on empowering educators to see young learners as capable, independent thinkers and problem-solvers. This session will highlight best practices in general education, with an emphasis on proactive classroom management, the integration of social-emotional learning (SEL), and structures that promote self-directed learning. Participants will explore how clear expectations, consistent routines, and strong relationships create a foundation where students feel safe, confident, and ready to take ownership of their learning.
In addition, the session will dive into practical strategies that help transform classrooms into communities of autonomy and collaboration. Educators will learn how to model and teach communication skills, implement SEL tools that build self-awareness and conflict resolution, and gradually release responsibility so students can solve problems independently. The session will also touch on the importance of student voice, choice, and reflection, as well as ways to embed peer collaboration and leadership opportunities into daily routines. By the end, teachers will walk away with actionable ideas to support even the youngest learners in becoming confident, capable individuals who can navigate both academic and social challenges with increasing independence.
Kelsey Deinhammer has been teaching for 10 years and is certified in birth through 8th grade, with a minor in math. Over the years, she has had the joy of teaching both kindergarten and first grade, and currently teaches in the Oak Creek-Franklin School District. She is passionate about creating a classroom where students feel empowered to take ownership of their learning, build strong relationships, and grow into confident, independent thinkers.
Kelsey is currently working toward her master’s degree in Administrative Leadership through the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee, which has helped her continue to grow as both a teacher and a leader. Outside of school, you can usually find her running, biking, reading a good book, cooking, or spending time with the people she loves.
TUE, DEC 1 and 8
Classroom Management: Reflect and Reset – DOUBLE Session!
Lisa Lequia| Director of Student Services, Racine Unified School District
Early Registration Discount
- Register by November 10 and save!
- Early Registration Rate – $50
- Regular Registration Rate – $70
This session equips educators with a clear, practical framework for classroom management grounded in the five core elements of: Tone, Temperature, Trust, Time, and Trajectory. Participants will explore how TONE is established through inclusive welcomes, greeting students at the door, and creating a classroom environment that feels calm, organized, and culturally responsive. TEMPERATURE is strengthened through intentional daily practices such as circles, mindfulness activities , and structured transitions that support emotional regulation and readiness to learn. Teachers will also engage with strategies to consistently implement SEL competencies with fidelity, ensuring students develop self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making in distraction-free, engaging environments.
The session also highlights how TRUST is built through consistent expectations, social contracts, affirmations, and opportunities for every student to be seen and heard, while TIME focuses on maximizing instructional flow through clear procedures, visual schedules, and proactive classroom systems. Finally, TRAJECTORY emphasizes intentional closure practices that reflect on “glows and grows,” reinforce growth mindset language, and set meaningful goals for the next day. Throughout the session, participants will analyze classroom environment elements such as lighting, voice, organization, and engagement strategies, while aligning school-wide and classroom matrices to daily practice. Educators will leave with actionable tools and a cohesive system to move from inconsistent classroom management practices to intentional, relationship-centered, and highly effective learning environments.
Lisa is a Racine, Wisconsin native and is in her 25th year serving students in Racine Unified School District. She began her career in the classroom, teaching for 11 years across middle and elementary levels, before transitioning into school counseling and later district leadership. At the district level, Lisa served as an External PBIS Coach, supporting school-wide systems and practices and currently serves as Director of Student Services, where she leads efforts focused on student support, behavior systems, and inclusive practices. She is passionate about creating school environments where all students can thrive and believes strong systems, relationships, and intentional practices are key to building supportive and engaging school communities.
Lisa holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology with Teacher Certification from the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, along with advanced degrees in Education and School Counseling, and a Director of Special Education and Pupil Services license.
Tue, Jan 12
Keep High Learners Growing
Elizabeth Moehling | Whitewater Unified School District
Early Registration Discount
- Register by December 22 and save!
- Early Registration Rate – $25
- Regular Registration Rate – $35
Attention classroom teachers!
Do you have students who always know material before it’s taught? Students who finish quickly and then become a distraction for others? Students who underachieve because they’re bored?
Many times, advanced learners spend their time in the general classroom not being pushed to grow. Teachers have so many other learners who need help, so the advanced kids are left to sit and do extra work. In this session, learn easy strategies to help take learning content deeper for these students – providing them with rigor and challenge to keep their minds growing. Teachers wil finish the session with strategies and activities that can be deployed right away!
Elizabeth Moehling is a seasoned educator with over 17 years in the classroom. She also is a licensed Gifted and Talented Coordinator, and has a Master’s of Education in Gifted and Talented. She currently serves as her districts AL Coordinator, working with students of all ages to provide learning opportunites fit to their needs.
Tue, Feb 9
Games are for Big Kids, Too
Meghan Mota| Racine Unified School District
Early Registration Discount
- Register by January 19 and save!
- Early Registration Rate – $25
- Regular Registration Rate – $35
Everyone enjoys playing games—but how can we intentionally leverage them to deepen learning in middle and high school classrooms?
Join this engaging session to explore a variety of games and interactive activities designed to motivate students and enhance the learning experience. Participants will discover strategies that not only spark engagement, but also foster a lasting love of learning across all content areas. Walk away with practical, ready-to-use ideas that bring energy, purpose, and joy into your classroom.
Meghan Mota brings two decades of experience in education. She began her career as a middle school Spanish teacher, spending 11 years in the classroom where she developed a strong foundation in student-centered instruction and language acquisition. Building on her classroom success and a passion for supporting colleagues, Meghan transitioned into an instructional coaching role with a focus on literacy. In this capacity, she partnered with middle and intermediate school teachers to enhance student engagement and strengthen reading proficiency. She later served for three years as an early literacy coach and specialist, deepening her expertise in foundational literacy development.
In addition to her K–12 work, Meghan has taught courses at the University of Wisconsin–Parkside, focusing on literacy and multilingual learners. She currently serves as the Dual Language Instructional Coach for Racine Unified School District, where she continues to support educators in creating equitable and effective learning environments for all students.