February 13-14, 2025
Registration Is Now Open
Click here to register
The FIRE Foundation is pleased to present an education conference for principals, teachers, paraprofessionals and parents who are committed to building and strengthening K-12 inclusive learning opportunities in their Catholic schools. Please help us spread the news about this opportunity!
Thursday, February 12, 2025
5pm – 7pm
Additional Conference Information:
Title II-A may be used for registration and travel expenses.
There is not a designated conference hotel. Attendees are welcome to stay where they would like. There are several close by hotels in the Country Club Plaza area to consider.
8:00 AM
Registration
8:30 AM
Welcome & Prayer
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM – General Session
We Belong!
Presented by: Karen Gaffney
10:20 AM – 11:30 AM – General Session
From Struggling to Thriving: How AI is Revolutionizing Inclusion in PreK-12
Presented by: Sean J Smith, PhD and Michael Faggella-Luby
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM – Lunch & General Session
Wilting Flowers and Flourishing Souls
Presented by: Mark Bradford
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM – Early Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1:
Click, Teach, Include: AI Tools for Every Learner
Presented by: Sean J Smith, PhD
Breakout 2:
Accommodating Students with Disabilities with Specially Designed Instruction
Presented by: Michael Faggella-Luby, PhD
Breakout 3:
Opening the Doors of Tomorrow Today….How Inclusion Worked for Me!
Presented by: Karen Gaffney
Breakout 4:
Session details coming soon
2:45 PM – 4:00 PM – Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1:
Special Education and General Education: A Force to be Reckoned With
Presented by: Audrey Hihn and Amy Wantz
Breakout 2:
Supporting the Executive Functioning of Secondary Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms
Presented by: Amber B. Ray, Ph.D.
Breakout 3:
Catholic School Education Plans
Presented by: Mary Desmarais, M.Ed
Breakout 4:
Session details coming soon
4:30 PM – 6:30 pm
BonFIRE
$40 at Grand Street Cafe
8:15 AM
Welcome & Prayer
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM – General Session
Engaging the Disengagement Dilemma
Presented by: Dr. Christie Bonfiglio
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM – General Session
MTSS in Action: Demystifying Tier 2 Interventions and Implementation
Presented by: Matt Braun, PhD, L/CCC-SLP
11:00 AM – 12:15 PM – General Session
Every Single Soul: The Case for Inclusionary Approaches in Catholic Schools
Presented by: Michael J. Boyle, Ph.D
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – General Session & Lunch
College is Possible for Students with Intellectual Disabilities! The Urgent Call for Catholic Colleges to Say Yes!
Presented by: Beth & Patrick Foraker
1:45 PM – 3:00 PM – Early Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1:
The Journey of a Thousand Miles: Building Capacity to Educate Students with Disabilities
Presented by: Michael J. Boyle, Ph.D.
Breakout 2:
Inclusion: Ready or Not, Here It Comes!
Presented by: Dr. Christie Bonfiglio
Breakout 3:
We Are All in This Together: Building Positive Relationships with Your (Arch)Diocese and Catholic School Leadership
Presented by: Karen Kroh, Ed.D.
Breakout 4:
Session information coming soon
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1:
Promoting Student Success in a High-Ratio Setting
Presented by: Tyler Goevert
Breakout 2:
The Nitty Gritty of Tier 2 Interventions
Presented by: Matt Braun, PhD, L/CCC-SLP
Breakout 3:
Session information coming soon.
Breakout 4:
Session information coming soon.
*Agenda is subject to change.
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