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

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.

Student Feedback that Fuels Growth! Igniting Student Agency

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lisa Moe
Angel Van Horn

Ready to transform your feedback from just a grade to a genuine tool for student growth? Join us for an intensive session focused on CSTP 5: Assessing Students for Learning, where we dive deep into the power of student-centered feedback. We’ll explore how intentional language and strategic conferencing can drastically improve learning outcomes and foster a powerful growth mindset in every student.

In this workshop, you will actively:

Watch & Analyze: Observe a model student feedback conference and see firsthand how a student processes and responds to constructive feedback.
Try & Refine: Practice rewriting your recent feedback using the impactful warm/wise framing technique.
Discuss & Shift: Examine how equity of language in student-centered feedback can fundamentally shift mindsets and foster student agency.
Do & Create: Leave with a customized feedback statement bank or template that reinforces clarity, care, and high expectations.

Key Takeaways:
Teachers will leave this session with actionable feedback tools that center student voice, promote reflection, and close the feedback loops to tangibly improve student learning and achievement.

2024 CSTP 4:
Planning Instruction and Designing Learning Experiences for All Students

Wednesday, January 21, 2026
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.

From Parodies to Pedagogy:
Using AI with Music
to Tune up Learning

Thursday, January 22, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Christine Matthew
Tonya Almeida

Uncover ways AI can enhance creativity in the music classroom, from composing and remixing to analyzing music theory and student-created pieces.

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.

Professional Ethics for Educators (Part 1 of 2)

Tuesday, January 27, 2026
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Dr. Troy Hutchings
Participants must attend both
Part 1 and Part 2.

Over the years, we’ve all seen and heard news stories, some of which have been nationwide scandals of teacher misconduct. There have also been cases of teachers in troublesome situations where they thought they were being helpful, and yet, while their actions were not illegal, they weren’t ethical either. Right here in our own backyard, the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CTC) averages 300 educator misconduct cases a month! Can you imagine the impact on the school, community, and most importantly, our students?

If confronted with a new situation that presents significant conflicts and tension, what would you do? What should one do? What decision-making process does one use that demonstrates professional responsibility to act in the public’s best interest, while minimizing professional risk to oneself and the school community?

It’s time we open the conversation and be intentional about raising awareness on matters of professional ethics. It matters!

Please join us for two days of interactive and engaging discussions led and facilitated by Dr. Troy Hutchings, national subject matter expert and policy advisor on educator ethics. Our focus will be the Model Code of Ethics for Educators (MCEE). The MCEE serves as a guide for future & current educators faced with the complexities of P–12 education. The code establishes principles for ethical best practices, mindfulness, self-reflection, and decision making, setting the groundwork for self-regulation & accountability. The establishment of this professional code of ethics, by educators and for educators, honors the public trust and upholds the dignity of the profession.

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.

Listening. Learning. Leading. (L3): Student Voice Matters!

AI & Student Mental Health:
Friend, Fix, or Foe?

Thursday, January 29, 2026
4:00 – 5:30 PM
Deirdre Edwards
Angel Vanhorn

We invite you to join us in a virtual learning event where students share their thoughts, opinions, and experiences with the use of AI related to mental health. While technology can be a tool for learning and connection, it also brings distraction, isolation, and mental-health risks—especially when used to substitute real social interaction.

Technology connects us like never before—but when does it start to harm more than help? In a time of urgency, this conversation gives voice to the generation most affected by the digital age—those living it every day.

Professional Ethics for Educators (Part 2 of 2)

Thursday, January 29, 2026
5:00 – 7:00 PM
Dr. Troy Hutchings
Participants must attend both
Part 1 and Part 2.

February 2026

Teachers and students engaged in classroom discussion

What We Bring to the Room: Reflecting on Our Role in Student Behavior – Session 3: What We Can Control: Response Over Reaction

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Randi Parreco

This session centers on emotional self-awareness and the importance of teacher regulation in shaping student behavior. It introduces concepts such as co-regulation, emotional contagion, and the difference between reacting and responding. Teachers will reflect on their own stress responses, identify triggers, and practice techniques for grounding and neutral responses during challenging moments. The emphasis is on building capacity for calm, consistent reactions that de-escalate rather than intensify behaviors. This session is highly practical, offering tools that can be immediately implemented in the classroom.

What’s new in the world of Artificial Intelligence?

Wednesday, February 4, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Jaymie Baiza
Dr. Jeff Oldfield

Discover the latest trends in AI and what they mean for educators. This session highlights emerging tools that save time, personalize learning, and expand accessibility—while also tackling the big questions of ethics, equity, and responsible use.

2024 CSTP 5: Assessing Students for Learning

Tuesday, February 10, 2026
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.

Building Your Digital Reflection Website: A Google Sites Workshop

Wednesday, February 11, 2026
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.

Deep Dive: Magic School AI

Thursday, February 12, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Angel Van Horn
Tonya Almeida

Discover MagicSchool.ai, a teacher-designed AI platform with comprehensive tools to support teachers with differentiation, assessments, IEPs, behavior plans, rubrics, and more. Perfect for new teachers seeking quick creative support.

From Compliance
to Connection:
Rethinking Behavior Systems

Tuesday, February 17, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Lisa Moe
Angel Van Horn

Watch a class routine that prioritizes behavior as communication rather than defiance. Try reimagining one consequence or rule through a restorative lens. Discuss the difference between compliance-focused and connection-focused systems. Design a behavior flowchart, reflection tool, or restorative alternative. Explore restorative practices, behavior as communication, relationship repair, student voice, and classroom agreements. Teachers walk away with an inclusive, restorative behavior-support model that builds community rather than control.

EL Series: Identifying and Supporting At Risk and Long Term English Learners

Wednesday, February 18, 2026
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Victor Portillo
Angel Van Horn
Dr. Jorge Alvarez

This professional learning series equips educators with practical, research-based strategies to support English learners (ELs) at every stage of language development. Participants will explore inclusive, asset-based practices that affirm students’ cultural and linguistic identities, while integrating language development into rigorous, standards-based instruction. Through hands-on activities, educators will learn to design differentiated lessons, leverage innovative tools like Diffit AI, and use data-driven approaches to meet diverse learner needs—including Long-Term English Learners (LTELs). The series also highlights strategies for building strong family partnerships and fostering language-rich, culturally responsive classrooms where every student feels valued and empowered to succeed.

Elevating Special Education: The Power of Diverse Classrooms

Thursday, February 19, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Morgan Singleton

Session 3: The Power of Diverse Classrooms

Focus: Understanding and responding to the diversity — cognitive, cultural, linguistic, social-emotional — within special education classrooms.

Key Themes / Goals:

• Recognize the multiple dimensions of diversity (e.g. disability, language background, culture, neurodiversity, socioeconomic status) and how these intersect in students’ identities and learning needs.

• Develop culturally responsive teaching practices, inclusive mindsets, and equitable support systems.

• Create classroom environments that honor students’ strengths, foster belonging, and reduce opportunity gaps.

• Leverage differentiated instruction and universal design for learning (UDL) principles to support equity in access and engagement.

Audience: CTI Coaches and Candidates
Cost: Free for all CTI Participants

Thriving Thursday: Integrating SEAL to Boost the ABCs: Strengthening Achievement, Behavior, and Culture with Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning

Thursday, February 19, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:30 PM
Christine Matthew

Thriving YOUniversity will be presenting four sessions throughout the year, each focusing on different aspects of SEAL. Every session will offer unique takeaways and resources. Participants may register for one or multiple sessions. Additional information about session topics can be found on 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. For SEL to be successful and sustainable with students, it must begin with the adults. In this session, participants will explore the research supporting SEAL (Social, Emotional, and Academic Learning) and engage in self-reflection, discussions, and activities they can immediately use with students and colleagues. This session builds participants’ understanding of SEAL to strengthen their own social-emotional competencies, enhance their ability to model and teach these skills to students, and increase capacity to integrate SEAL into school and classroom practices.

Session 4: More Than a Strategy – Using SEL to Transform Your Classroom

Lasting impact comes when SEL isn’t just a strategy but part of the fabric of the classroom and school. This session explores how routines, rituals, and structures can create psychological safety and strengthen schoolwide culture. Participants will leave with practical tools to make SEL sustainable, scalable, and an integral part of how their community learns and thrives together.

PK–3 Series: Part 5 –
Trauma Informed Care in Early Education

Wednesday, February 25, 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.

Teachers and students engaged in ELA instruction enhanced with AI tools

AI & ELA

Thursday, February 26, 2026
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Dr. Christalle Hart
Jaymie Baiza

Use AI to enhance English Language Arts instruction with tools that support writing prompts, grammar feedback, literature analysis, and vocabulary development—all while empowering student voice.

Listening. Learning. Leading. (L3) Student Voice Matters!

Date & Time: Coming Soon!
Deirdre Edwards

Coming Soon!

March 2026

April 2026

May 2026

June 2026

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 Development Opportunities for Candidates and Coaches