Professional Learning Opportunities

Professional Development Opportunities
for Candidates and Coaches

CTI offers online synchronous professional development for coaches and candidates to increase student achievement

Series Flyers

Sessions

October 2025

November 2025

Teachers and students engaged in classroom discussion
CM – Foundations 1.1: Waiting Too Long for Students to Listen? Get Attention and Keep It
Monday, November 3, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00
Deirdre Edwards
Increase your repertoire of attention getters and also consider strategies for keeping students’ attention once you have it. You should leave this session with practical approaches that promote a community of collaboration for learning. This is session 1 of 3. Feel free to attend one, two, or all three sessions.
Register Here
Students collaborating and sharing ideas
SE – Engagement 1.1:
How Can I Keep My Students Engaged Throughout a Lesson?
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Do your students sometimes lose the enthusiasm and engagement they have at the start of a lesson? In order to maximize learning, they need to maintain engagement from start to finish. This session will offer strategies for engaging each student at the start of a lesson, throughout the middle portion, and as the lesson winds down with reflection on learning and anticipation of future learning. You should leave with several strategies to use in your own classroom! This is part one of a three-part series. Feel free to attend one, two, or all three sessions.
Register Here
Designing Spaces Where Every Student Feels They Belong
Designing Spaces
Where Every Student
Feels They Belong
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lisa Moe
Angel Van Horn
What does it look like when restorative practices, flexible learning environments, and inclusive behavior systems truly come alive in the classroom? In this interactive webinar, you’ll step inside examples of restorative circles, intentional classroom design, and collaborative community-building in action. Then, you’ll roll up your sleeves and outline your own class layout, expectations system, or student-centered protocol.

Together, we’ll explore how intentional design supports student safety, equity, and authentic collaboration. You’ll leave with a clear plan—and a visual you can use immediately—that communicates your expectations and values to your students.
Register Here
Unleash Your Creativity
with AI & Canva
Tuesday, November 4, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jaymie Baiza
Steven Hickman
Whether you’re a seasoned artist, an art teacher, or someone who’s never picked up a paintbrush, this session will show you how AI can spark new ideas, transform your artistic process, and open creative possibilities you may have never imagined. Discover how tools like Canva, ChatGPT, and other AI art tools can help you design, remix, and reimagine art in ways that blend human imagination with cutting-edge technology. We think you’ll leave inspired, empowered, and ready to create—no art degree required.
Register Here
Students working together at a table
CM – Foundations 1.2:
Tired of Disciplining? Aim for More Collaborative Approaches
Monday, November 10, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Deirdre Edwards
What kind of approach are you using to promote students’ ability to engage during lessons? In this session, you will explore a strategy in which you and your students work together to develop a discipline plan and solve problems collaboratively. This approach helps students learn to manage their own behaviors, with the goal of increased learning as a potential outcome.
Register Here
Google Sites digital reflection workshop
Building Your Digital Reflection Website: A Google Sites Workshop
Wednesday, November 12, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jaymie Baiza
Candidates synthesize their induction journey by creating a Digital Reflection Website to share at Colloquium. Participants in this workshop will gain a clear understanding of the digital reflection criteria, have hands-on experience with Google Sites, and walk away with a personalized template that can be used for their digital reflection portfolio. Join us for a creative and insightful session on creating a Digital Reflection Website.
Register Here
SE – Engagement 1.2:
Increase Student Participation in Whole-Class Discussions
Part 1 – Talk Moves
Thursday, November 13, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Whole class discussion tends to take a large portion of lesson time, and yet sometimes, only a few students actively engage. This session will focus on defining “talk moves” for discussions, and you should leave with a vision of how to plan and implement these moves in your classroom. Talk moves are for all grade levels!
Register Here
Thriving Thursday:
Integrating SEAL
to Boost the ABCs
Thursday, November 13, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Christine Matthew
Students thrive when the adults around them model emotional awareness and regulation. This session focuses on strengthening your social-emotional competencies so you can show up calm, centered, and connected in the classroom. You’ll practice quick, doable strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and modeling the skills you want your students to develop.
Register Here
Students collaborating during choice-based learning
CM – Foundations 1.3: Are You Ready for Students to be More Responsible? Offer More Student Choices!
Monday, November 17, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Can consequences for appropriate and inappropriate behavior better help students value learning opportunities while also keeping them more engaged? Making simple changes to the way we communicate consequences, while being selective about the types of consequences we use, may make a bigger difference than we expect! Join this session for a thought-provoking discussion of varied approaches to consequences!
Register Here
Clarity is Kind: Structuring Lessons with Purpose and Voice
Clarity is Kind: Structuring Lessons with Purpose and Voice
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lisa Moe
Angel Van Horn
What happens when students can clearly see and believe, “Yes, I Can!”? In this webinar, you’ll watch a modeled lesson and unpack a standard in a way that builds clarity and confidence. Then, you’ll try it out yourself by applying the same approach to one of your own standards or lessons. Together, we’ll explore how lesson clarity impacts student engagement, confidence, and access to rigorous content. You’ll leave with a completed, standards-aligned, student-facing tool that makes learning visible and purposeful.
Register Here
Whole-class discussion with wait time strategies
SE – Engagement 1.3: How Can I Increase Student Participation during Whole-Class Discussions – Part 2: Wait Time
Tuesday, November 18, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Most teachers know about Wait Time I, but did you know there is a second type of wait time? According to research, your use of the combination of these two types of wait time can result in class discussions in which more students offer more answers, ask more questions, verbally engage with the teacher and peers, stay on topic, and have fewer discipline issues. If you are looking for more engagement from students during class discussions, this session should be of help!
Register Here
Student sitting alone in a classroom
What We Bring to the Room: Session 2-
Reputations, Labels, and the Power of Assumptions
Wednesday, November 18, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Randi Parreco
This session focuses on reputational bias and the long-term impact of labeling students. Teachers will examine how quickly reputations form, how assumptions are reinforced over time, and how their expectations influence student behavior and self-perception. A mix of research, reflective journaling, and case study discussion will support deeper awareness of how teacher beliefs and past experiences with students can shape classroom interactions. The session will offer strategies for “reframing” student stories and proactively resetting relationships.
Register Here
PK-3 Series Part 3 – Cultivating Family Engagement in Early Education
PK–3 Series: Part 3 – Cultivating Family Engagement in Early Education
Wednesday, November 19, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ocean Walker
Angel Van Horn
Teaching in early childhood settings brings unique joys and unique challenges. This five-session professional learning series is designed specifically for PK–3rd grade educators who want to deepen their understanding of early childhood development and responsive instructional practices. Each session will explore an essential topic tailored to the needs of early learners and the teachers who support them. You’ll engage in a blend of research, reflection, and practical strategies you can implement right away. Join one session or all five; whatever suits your needs. You'll be part of a supportive community of early learning professionals dedicated to nurturing whole-child development and laying the foundation for lifelong learning.
Register Here
2024 CSTP 3: Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning
2024 CSTP 3: Understanding and Organizing Subject Matter for Student Learning
Thursday, November 20, 2025
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Ocean Walker
Randi Parreco
The 2024 California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTPs) are here and they bring a powerful opportunity to deepen our understanding of effective teaching. This six-session professional learning series is designed for both coaches and candidates who want to engage meaningfully with the revised standards and explore how they show up in classrooms. We’ll begin with a Foundations session to unpack the structure, shifts, and vision of the 2024 CSTPs. Then, each following session will dive into one of the six standards, offering practical tools, reflection prompts, and classroom-based examples to bring each domain to life. Whether you're mentoring a candidate or growing in your own practice, this series will strengthen your ability to recognize, support, and reflect on high-quality teaching grounded in the updated CSTPs.
Register Here
Thriving Thursday: Making Mandalas
Thriving Thursday: Making Mandalas
Thursday, October 2, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Louisa Higgins
Christine Matthew
Please join artist Louisa Higgins to create a fun and easy mandala art project. We will be creating a circular design that symbolizes harmony and wholeness. This project will allow personal expression and meditation during the creative process.

Get ready to join in this fun and relaxing session. To be prepared, you will need to have a few materials on hand:
  • White Paper (8 1/2 X 11)
  • Black Pen, Sharpie, or Marker
  • Small Paper Plate
  • Optional: Colored Pencils or Markers
Register Here
Teacher gaining attention
Classroom Management- Foundations 1.1 - Waiting Too Long for Students to Listen? Get Attention and Keep It
Monday, October 6, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Increase your repertoire of attention getters and also consider strategies for keeping students’ attention once you have it. This is session 1 of 3.
Register Here
Engaged students
Student Engagement- Engagement 1.1 - How Can I Keep My Students Engaged Throughout a Lesson?
Tuesday, October 7, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Do your students sometimes lose the enthusiasm they have at the start of a lesson? This session will offer strategies for engaging students at the start, middle, and end of a lesson. This is part one of a three part series.
Register Here
AI Basics
AI Basics
Wednesday, October 8, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jaymie Baiza
Tonya Almeida
Angel Van Horn
New to AI? Start here! This session breaks down how to generate an effective prompt, including how it works, responsible use, and practical applications for teaching and learning.
Register Here
Inquiry session
Inquiry with Intention: Tools, Steps, and Support for Candidate Success
Thursday, October 9, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ocean Walker
Unlock the power of purposeful inquiry! This interactive session is designed for both candidates and coaches to deepen their understanding of the inquiry process from start to finish.
Register Here
Collaborative approaches
CM - Foundations 1.2 - Tired of Disciplining? Aim for More Collaborative Approaches
Monday, October 13, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Explore strategies where you and your students cooperatively develop a discipline plan and solve problems together. This helps students learn to manage their own behaviors with increased learning as the goal.
Register Here
Talk moves
SE - Engagement 1.2 - How Can I Increase Student Participation during Whole Class Discussions- Part 1 - Talk Moves
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Whole class discussions often involve only a few voices. This session focuses on “talk moves” to ensure active participation across all students. Applicable to all grade levels.
Register Here
Differentiation
Differentiation For All: Using Strengths to Tap into Student Potential
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Gayle Bently
Learn strategies to support gifted and twice-exceptional students by leveraging their strengths. Led by an experienced teacher with a doctorate in cognitive diversity in education.
Register Here
CSTP 2 session
2024 CSTP 2: Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning
Thursday, October 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Ocean Walker
Randi Parreco
Explore the 2024 CSTPs and strategies for creating and maintaining effective learning environments. Practical tools and reflection prompts provided.
Register Here
Thriving Thursday
Thriving Thursday: Integrating SEAL to Boost the ABCs
Thursday, October 16, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Christine Matthew
Discover why belonging is foundational for academic and social-emotional growth, and learn strategies to intentionally build connection from day one.
Register Here
Student choices
CM - Foundations 1.3 - Are You Ready for Students to be More Responsible? Offer More Student Choices!
Monday, October 20, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Learn how adjusting consequences and providing student choice can promote responsibility and deeper engagement in learning.
Register Here
Wait time strategies
SE - Engagement 1.3 - How Can I Increase Student Participation during Whole Class Discussions - Part 2 - Wait Time
Tuesday, October 21, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Learn about the two types of wait time and how their combined use can lead to deeper, more equitable class discussions.
Register Here
PK-3 digital skills
PK-3 Series: Part 2 - Nurturing Digital Skills in Early Education
Wednesday, October 22, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ocean Walker
Learn practical strategies for supporting young learners in developing foundational digital skills. Blend research, reflection, and real-world application.
Register Here
Special education and AI integration
Elevating Special Education:
AI & IEPs
Monday, October 27, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Morgan Singleton
Understand the potential and constraints of AI (e.g. generative models) in writing Present Levels, goals, accommodations, and service plans.

Learn prompting strategies and data-driven workflows for generating draft components and refining them with human judgment.

Address ethical, privacy, and bias concerns in AI-assisted IEP development.

Explore practical cases or prototypes (e.g. multi-agent systems) that combine AI with educator input to reduce workload while preserving quality.
Register Here
EL Road Map
EL Series: Introduction to the EL Road Map
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Victor Portillo
Dr. Jorge Alvarez
This session introduces teachers to the California English Learner Roadmap and its practical application in today’s classrooms.
Register Here
Google Sites digital reflection workshop
Building Your Digital Reflection Website:
A Google Sites Workshop
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jaymie Baiza
Candidates synthesize their induction journey by creating a Digital Reflection Website to share at Colloquium. Participants in this workshop will gain a clear understanding of the digital reflection criteria, have hands-on experience with Google Sites, and walk away with a personalized template that can be used for their digital reflection portfolio. Join us for a creative and insightful session on creating a Digital Reflection Website.
Register Here
Family learning with technology
Artificial Intelligence for Parents and Families-
AI in Your Child's World:
What Parents Need to Know
Wednesday, October 29, 2025
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Randi Parreco
Tonya Almeida
Discover how Artificial Intelligence can transform your family's approach to education! This hands-on session will demystify AI and show you practical ways to support your child's learning at home.
Register Here

December 2025

Deep Dive: Diffit
Thursday, December 4, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jaymie Baiza
Tonya Almeida
Angel Van Horn
Take academic vocabulary and reading comprehension to the next level! Learn how to use Diffit to instantly differentiate reading passages, articles, and activities by Lexile level, language, and format. A game-changer for meeting diverse student needs—especially for multilingual learners.
Register Here
Elevating Special Education: Differentiated Instruction
for ALL
Thursday, December 11, 2025
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Morgan Singleton
Session 2: Differentiated Instruction for ALL

Focus: Applying differentiation strategies in special education settings to accommodate varied learner profiles.

Key themes:
  • Differentiate by content, process, and product—what students learn, how they learn, and how they show learning.
  • Use flexible grouping, tiered assignments, choice boards, scaffolding, and multimodal materials to match readiness, interests, and preferences.
  • Monitor growth and adjust instruction responsively, linking differentiation to IEP goals and supports.
  • Leverage AI tools to generate differentiated materials, offer alternate representations, and assess progress efficiently.
Register Here

January 2026

Deep Dive: Brisk
Wednesday, January 14, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jaymie Baiza
Simplify feedback and elevate student writing with Brisk AI—a powerful tool designed to streamline grading, provide instant feedback, and support personalized instruction. In this session, you’ll explore what Brisk can do, see real classroom examples, and discover how teachers are using it to save time and boost student engagement.
Register Here
Coming soon
Lisa Moe Series
Tuesday, January 20, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lisa Moe
Coming soon.
Coming Soon
2024 CSTP 4:
Planning Instruction and Designing Learning Experiences for All Students
Wednesday, January 21, 2026
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Ocean Walker
The 2024 California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTPs) are here and they bring a powerful opportunity to deepen our understanding of effective teaching. This six-session professional learning series is designed for both coaches and candidates who want to engage meaningfully with the revised standards and explore how they show up in classrooms. We’ll begin with a Foundations session to unpack the structure, shifts, and vision of the 2024 CSTPs. Then, each following session will dive into one of the six standards, offering practical tools, reflection prompts, and classroom-based examples to bring each domain to life. Whether you're mentoring a candidate or growing in your own practice, this series will strengthen your ability to recognize, support, and reflect on high-quality teaching grounded in the updated CSTPs.
Register Here
AI Music Integration for Learning & Engagement
Thursday, January 22, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lisa Moe
Uncover ways AI can enhance creativity in the music classroom, from composing and remixing to analyzing music theory and student-created pieces.
Register Here
Thriving Thursday:
Integrating SEAL
to Boost the ABCs
Thursday, January 22, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Christine Matthew
Thriving YOUniversity will be presenting four sessions throughout the year, and will focus on different aspects of SEAL. Each session will have its unique takeaways and resources. Register for one session or as many as you like. Learn more about the sessions and topics by accessing the PD calendar under the resources tab in CTI Navigate.

Research shows that social and emotional skills are foundational for success in school, the workplace, and life. If we want SEL to be successful and sustainable with students, it must start with the adults. In this session, participants will explore the research supporting SEAL (Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning) and participate in self-reflection, discussions, and activities that they can immediately replicate with their students and colleagues. This session is designed to help participants have a deeper understanding of SEAL to strengthen their own social-emotional competencies, boost their efficacy in modeling and teaching these skills to students, and build the capacity to infuse this mindset into site and classroom practices.
Register Here
PK-3 Series:Part 4-
Play-Based
Learning & Assessment
in Early Education
Wednesday, January 28, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Ocean Walker
Teaching in early childhood settings brings unique joys and unique challenges. This five-session professional learning series is designed specifically for PK–3rd grade educators who want to deepen their understanding of early childhood development and responsive instructional practices. Each session will explore an essential topic tailored to the needs of early learners and the teachers who support them. You’ll engage in a blend of research, reflection, and practical strategies you can implement right away. Join one session or all five; whatever suits your needs. You'll be part of a supportive community of early learning professionals dedicated to nurturing whole-child development and laying the foundation for lifelong learning.
Register Here
Listening. Learning. Leading. (L3): Student Voice Matters!
Thursday, January 29, 2026
Time TBD
Deirdre Edwards
Coming soon.
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February 2026

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March 2026

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April 2026

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May 2026

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June 2026

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To all the passionate educators ready to elevate your teaching craft,

As we embark on this professional learning journey, let us remember the incredible impact we have on shaping young minds and hearts. Like seeds planted in fertile soil, your dedication and knowledge will bloom into a garden of bright futures.

Learning and growth have a powerful impact on our lives and the lives we touch, and as such we have a great impact on student trajectories in life. So just as we want our students to learn and evolve, we must do so as well. In every challenge lies an opportunity, and in every student, there is a unique brilliance waiting to be illuminated. So let us show up with curiosity, compassion, connection, caring, collaboration, and commitment to action based on your key learnings.

Together, we have power beyond measure to shape generations to come because our influence reaches farther than we can ever imagine…far beyond the classroom walls.

Thank you for investing in yourselves by allowing these professional learning sessions be a catalyst for transformation within your classroom and school community. The world is brighter because of teachers like you, who want to do better, be better, so that we can all look forward to the best tomorrows!

Go now and get ready to create magic in the classroom.

Keep inspiring, keep dreaming, and keep changing lives!

Professional headshot of Deirdre Edwards, PD Administrator, smiling at the camera.
Deirdre Edwards,
Administrator of Professional Development