Happy New Year
from Rise and Align!

New Year, New Insights:
Core Values & Adult Learning in Action

Hello, Subscriber First Name!

Welcome to 2025! Reflecting on the past year, I'm grateful for the inspiring educators and leaders I've had the privilege of learning alongside. From Florida's sunshine to Denver's snowy peaks, these recent activities reaffirmed my passion for values-driven professional learning.

These moments—filled with collaboration, new perspectives, and impactful learning—make me excited to carry this momentum into 2025. As I plan for the year ahead, I’m leaning on my core values of growth and collaboration to guide my work.

Resource Spotlight:
Dive into Curiosity with Deliberate Coaching

Florida Association of School Psychologists Conference (FASP)

In November, I delivered a one-hour keynote and three-hour skills session at the Florida Association of School Psychologists (FASP) Annual Conference. In the keynote Converging Support to Improve Outcomes: The Capacity-Creating Power of School Psychologists, we explored best practices for adult learning and how school psychologists are uniquely positioned to lead and facilitate these efforts. During the skills session, I shared evidence-based strategies to design, implement, and evaluate impactful professional development activities, focusing on audience engagement, active participation, and sustained application of skills learned.

 Interested in a VIP run-through of these strategies? Let’s connect!

Learning Forward’s Annual Conference

In December, I teamed up with Dr. Jessica Daily from Michigan’s MiMTSS TA Center to present at Learning Forward’s Annual Conference in Denver. Our session, Curating a Customized and Comprehensive Professional Learning Series, received fantastic feedback as we discussed my year-long virtual training series with their TA Staff Members on high-quality professional learning design, delivery, and evaluation skills and practices.

Together, we shared tools to develop professional learning that actively engages participants, from live and virtual strategies for interaction to an evaluation plan that tracks both learning retention and real-world application. These strategies ensure that learning sticks and creates long-term impact.

Want to apply these frameworks in your work? Reach out for a free consultation!

Upcoming: NASP Annual Convention in Seattle

I’m thrilled to share that I’ll be presenting two mini-skills sessions at the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Annual Convention in Seattle this February – both on Thursday, February 20th, 2025!

1. Measuring the Impact of a Tier 1 Student Wellness Program (with Dr. Drew Schwartz)

2. Navigating Challenges, Supporting All: Enhancing Well-Being with S.H.I.N.E. (with LaVonna Roth)

Both sessions will focus on actionable strategies for supporting educator and student well-being while engaging adult learners with evidence-based practices. If you’re attending, let’s connect—I’d love to hear your insights on professional learning and well-being!

Practical Application:
Start the New Year with Values-Driven Purpose & Professional Learning Strategies that Stick!

Quote of the Week

“The secret of change is to focus all your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” - Socrates

Let’s Work Together in 2025!

Keep the Conversation Going!

By staying true to our core values, we can make more meaningful and impactful decisions. Let's embark on this journey together!

Founder & Chief Learning Officer
Rise & Align Consulting, LLC

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