Closing the Gap Conference | Conference Services | SIU

Building a Bridge to Belonging

We know that in education, relationships matter. In this keynote we will discuss the importance of community in empowering students to be lifelong learners that are confident, productive, responsible community members

Kimberly Radostits is the 2022 Illinois Teacher of the Year and one of this year’s National Teacher of the Year finalists. She is a secondary Spanish teacher in Oregon, Illinois with the goal of providing all students with a sense of community in a space where they feel safe and confident that they can excel.

In addition to teaching Spanish, Radostits leads a freshman mentoring program known as Hawks Take Flight, designed to keep students on track for graduation in four years. The program utilizes an early warning system to identify students who are struggling in order to provide them with assistance upon their entrance to high school. This work extends beyond the classroom and is firmly rooted in building strong relationships with students and their families in order to give them access to the skills and support they need to be successful learners and community members.

Discipline @ Work
The Road Map for Guiding Your Students Towards Self Management

9:10 am - 3:10 pm

This workshop is designed to have teachers reflect on their influence leading students on the ascent of wellness. It covers topics from prevention to crisis intervention using a Positive Behavior Support philosophy to enhance harmony and belonging in
their environment.

Karen Wagnon, Certified Human Behavior Consultant, Trainer and Author will focus on educational team building, classroom behavior management, and differentiated teaching and learning styles to empower and equip educators with the tools to improve communication, increase productivity, and reduce stress and conflict in order to build positive relationships with students and parents.

Breakout sessions will target topics such as ACEs, building resilience, building community from within, stress levels on the body, self-regulation, stress responses, self-care, and many more! Participants will learn about the importance of relationships in education and the impact stress has on the developing brain and its capacity to learn, as well as gain insight, tools, and strategies that will benefit all educators and ESPs in efforts to support the students they serve.  Gain valuable knowledge and skills by attending this conference – Don’t miss out! (5.5 PDHs)

2023 Closing the Gap Sessions