Join us for an Edcon25 Pre-Conference
Tuesday, April 8 | 9am-3pm | International School of Panama
Jump into the conference experience with a learning opportunity during our Pre-Conference experience at The International School of Panama. Choose to register for one of the following offerings for a day of learning with a content facilitator:
Jessica Werner
Founder,
Northshore Learning
Classroom Management for the 21st Century: Creating a Calm and Positive Classroom Culture
In this pre-conference workshop, we will explore the most effective strategies and techniques that teachers can implement so that they are able to spend more time facilitating instruction and cultivating student relationships in their classrooms, and less time handling low-level student behavior issues, such as disrespect, interruptions, inattention, and reluctance to follow directions. We will also discuss proactive classroom management practices that create a positive, engaging learning environment where all students can thrive. Participants will leave this session with new strategies they can implement immediately in their classrooms.
Jessica Werner, Ph.D., is the Founder and CEO of Northshore Learning. Dr. Werner works with schools worldwide as an instructor, a professor of education and classroom management, and as a consultant. She is passionate about helping schools support and retain effective teachers, as the job of educators becomes more challenging due to increases in student academic, behavioral, and mental health needs. Dr. Werner specializes in behavior support, social and emotional learning, student regulation and self-management, and holistic approaches to student behavior and educator wellness.
Esther Bettney
School Network Researcher
Multilingual Learning Research Center
Bridging Research and Practice: What We Know and What We are Learning about Multilingual Learners in International Schools
Research is essential for designing, evaluating, and improving the effectiveness of students’ learning environments and school leaders are increasingly expected to ensure school environments are informed by the latest research. The most recent Cognia Performance Standards state: “Leaders promote action research by professional staff members to improve their practice and advance learning” (Standard 25). Many leaders are looking for opportunities to develop their and their teachers’ capacity to engage with and in educational research, but research can often feel disconnected from daily experiences in classrooms and schools. How can we close this “gap” between research and practice?
The Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC) is a new university-based research center, focused on conducting socially just research about teaching multilingual students. As a global-research practice partnership, we are committed to providing opportunities for international school educators to engage with and participate in relevant research across three key areas: teacher collaboration, translanguaging and inclusive learning for multilingual students. Participants will expand their research literacy skills through exploring current, relevant research across these three research topics.
Additionally, participants will learn about key components of action research through insights from AMISA educators who have engaged in action research projects, focused on questions about teaching multilingual learners. Participants will identify key areas for future research to inform the ongoing development of the MLRC Research Agenda, giving voice to the language-related expertise and questions relevant to the AMISA region.
Esther Bettney Heidt has been based in the AMISA region since 2006, as a classroom teacher, school administrator, teacher educator and educational researcher. Currently based in Medellín, Colombia, Esther’s work reflects her commitment to support, advocate for and engage in research that centers the experiences of multilingual students, their families, and their schools. Currently, she is the School Network Researcher at the Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC), a research center located within the University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education. The MLRC School Network is a global research–practice partnership designed to explore common problems of practice in teaching multilingual learners within international schools. Esther holds a PhD from the Department of Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Her dissertation research focused on equitable approaches to language education within international schools in Latin America.
Baylee Lindell & Audry Pallas
UnconstrainED
AI Demystified: Empowering Teachers with Responsible Integration
In this deep dive you’ll explore the ins and outs of Artificial Intelligence and discover how AI tools can lighten your workload, supercharge your teaching, and wow your students (without taking over the world). You'll have hands-on playtime with curated AI tools, sharpen your AI literacy and learn to separate the game-changers from the gimmicks. Plus, we’ll tackle ethical dilemmas and responsible use so that you can have a practical plan for integrating AI into your classroom or school. Cap it all off by collaborating with fellow educators. AI isn’t the future—it’s now. Let’s make it work for you.
Baylee Lindell Schneier is an education professional with a passion for leveraging technology to enhance learning. She is a trainer at UnconstrainED, a company dedicated to empowering teachers and administrators to use AI effectively in education. Baylee brings six years of international teaching experience in El Salvador and India, specializing in secondary social studies. She is looking forward to AMISA EdCon to demonstrate innovative ways to integrate AI into teaching and learning practices. Audry Pallas is a STEM education professional and advocate for integrating AI into transformative teaching practices. A 2024 finalist for the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST), she brings 13 years of experience in education, including 7 years in the U.S. and 5 years internationally in India and Vietnam. With a master’s degree in STEM Education, Audry specializes in professional development for STEM educators, focusing on equipping teachers with the tools and knowledge to integrate AI into STEM education. She is excited to join AMISA EdCon to share innovative strategies for integrating AI into STEM teaching and learning.
Madeleine Maceda Heide
Educational Consultant
Foundations of Excellence in Early Childhood: A Deep Exploration of Developmentally Appropriate Practice including Assessment Practices that Promote Equity In The Early Childhood Classroom
Can you explain with expertise and confidence what constitutes a high quality early childhood program? With the array of early childhood programs out there - Montessori, Reggio-inspired, Waldorf, Steiner, High Scope, Bank Street, etc., it can be confusing to make decisions. Parents from diverse cultures request certain practices, consultants espouse other practices, social media offers yet more options. What is an early childhood educator to do?
At this day-long pre-conference workshop specifically for teachers of young children ages 2-6, we will ground ourselves in a deep understanding of the foundations that underpin excellence in early childhood, based on research on child development and learning. We will unpack best assessment practices for young children, and discuss ways in which our classroom practices can more equitably serve all our children and families. Early childhood educators will gain tools to examine their own practice and will leave with more confidence and expertise about standards of excellence.
Madeleine Maceda Heide has a rich multicultural background, having grown up in a biracial, bilingual family in the Philippines, plus a breadth of experience having held various leadership positions in international schools and organizations worldwide. Beginning first as an early childhood educator in her native Philippines where she taught two-year-olds in a parent cooperative nursery school, Madeleine completed two advanced graduate degrees in the USA, a Masters degree in Early Childhood Education and an Ed.S. in Language and Literacy Education. At age 26, she was hired as the Educational Coordinator of a six-county Head Start program, overseeing both center-based and home-based programs for underprivileged children aged 2-5. She worked as an intern for UNICEF, doing research on family-centered learning programs. In addition to teaching Toddlers, Madeleine taught Preschool, Kindergarten, First and Second Grade and went on to teach university courses for Indiana University and Boston University, and became a teacher trainer at the Principals’ Training Center. While teaching at Taipei American School, she became a Grade Level Team Leader, and went on to become the Founding Principal of the Early Childhood Center at the International School of Brussels, then became the Lower Primary Principal at Hong Kong International School. With a desire for an expanded scope, she accepted the Assistant Superintendent role at the American School of Bombay, and then was appointed as School Director at Academia Cotopaxi in Quito, Ecuador, and finally went on to become the Superintendent at Asociación Escuelas Lincoln in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Madeleine served as Board President for the American International Schools in the Americas (AMISA), served on the Professional Development Advisory Committee of the Near East South Asia Council of Overseas Schools (NESA), and was a member of the Board of Trustees for the Association for the Advancement of International Education (AAIE). Today, Madeleine is navigating a new set of transitions, having replanted herself as a new immigrant to Canada. She is exploring new arenas and discovering new super-powers, such as her identity as a modern elder and long-life learner. Currently an independent consultant, Madeleine is a recruitment consultant for Carney Sandoe & Associates, the Lead Facilitator for AMISA’s Women in Leadership initiative. Madeleine remains active in various initiatives around the world and is most interested in creating learning opportunities that enable others to thrive in an ever-changing world.
Oather Strawderman
CollegeBoard Consultant
AP Course Skills and Practices Workshop
This workshop will provide an overview of the intersection of skills that cross the 38 AP courses and exams and will address the skills critical for college and career success. This workshop will help all high school teachers (those teaching AP and those not teaching AP) understand how to build skill development within and across the curriculum. It will not only address baseline skills. It will also show participants how the skills increase in complexity and offer strategies to address those more complex skills. Specific topics include: teaching for understanding and transfer, applying critical reasoning and thinking processes, importance of practice and formative assessments, using AP resources to enhance instruction. Learn more about the AP workshop overview.
Oather Strawderman has taught Physics in Lawrence, Kansas since 1997. He currently serves as the Science Department Chair at Lawrence Free State High School. He has worked as a Question Leader at the annual AP Physics Reading since 2012. As a College Board endorsed AP Physics International Consultant, he has presented daylong and week-long workshops in over 35 states. In addition, Oather is honored to have had the opportunity to present International Workshops in Kunming, China, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Ontario, Canada, and Shanghai, China. Oather served for seven years as the Co-Chair of the AP Physics Development Committee where he helped develop the exam and worked on the preparation of the New Curriculum Frameworks. He trains other AP Consultants and mentors new AP Physics Consultants for College Board as the Lead Consultant for AP Physics. Oather also is an Instructor for AP Daily in AP Classroom and AP Daily Live Review on YouTube. He serves as the Chair of the College Board Science Academic Advisory Committee for which he advises College Board on all things Science related. Oather can be reached at www.PhluidPhysics.com.