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
4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
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, Ph.D and Michael Faggella-Luby, Ph.D
11:30 AM – Lunch
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
General Session
Wilting Flowers and Flourishing Souls
Presented by: Mark Bradford
1:15 PM – 2:30 PM
Early Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 | Town Square Room
Click, Teach, Include: AI Tools for Every Learner
Presented by: Sean J. Smith, Ph.D
Breakout 2 | Troost Room
Accommodating Students with Disabilities with Specially Designed Instruction
Presented by: Michael Faggella-Luby, Ph.D
Breakout 3 | Brush Creek Room
Catholic School Education Plans
Presented by: Mary Desmarais, M.Ed
Breakout 4 | Paseo Room
Opening the Doors of Tomorrow Today….How Inclusion Worked for Me!
Presented by: Karen Gaffney
2:45 PM – 4:00 PM
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 | Town Square Room
Special Education and General Education: A Force to be Reckoned With
Presented by: Audrey Hihn and Amy Wantz
Breakout 2 | Troost Room
Supporting the Executive Functioning of Secondary Students with Disabilities in Inclusive Classrooms
Presented by: Amber B. Ray, Ph.D
Breakout 3 | Brush Creek Room
Catholic School Education Plans
Presented by: Mary Desmarais, M.Ed
4:30 PM – 6:30 pm
BonFIRE
$40 per person
Location: Grand Street Cafe
4740 Grand Avenue | Kansas City, MO 64112
8:15 AM
Welcome & Prayer
8:30 AM – 9:30 AM – General Session
Engaging the Disengagement Dilemma
Presented by: Christie Bonfiglio, Ph.D
9:45 AM – 10:45 AM – General Session
MTSS in Action: Demystifying Tier 2 Interventions and Implementation
Presented by: Matt Braun, Ph.D, L/CCC-SLP
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – General Session
Every Single Soul: The Case for Inclusionary Approaches in Catholic Schools
Presented by: Michael J. Boyle, Ph.D
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM Lunch
12:30 PM – 1:30 PM – General Session
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 | Town Square Room
The Journey of a Thousand Miles: Building Capacity to Educate Students with Disabilities
Presented by: Michael J. Boyle, Ph.D
Breakout 2 | Troost Room
The Nitty Gritty of Tier 2 Interventions
Presented by: Matt Braun, Ph.D, L/CCC-SLP
Breakout 3 | Brush Creek Room
Inclusion: Ready or Not, Here It Comes!
Presented by: Christie Bonfiglio, Ph.D
Breakout 4 | Paseo Room
We Are All in This Together: Building Positive Relationships with Your (Arch)Diocese and Catholic School Leadership
Presented by: Karen Kroh, Ed.D
3:15 PM – 4:30 PM
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Breakout 1 | Town Square Room
MTSS Made Simple: Building Inclusive Support Systems for Every Student
Presented by: Linda Crosthwait, M.Ed
Breakout 2 | Troost Room
The Nitty Gritty of Tier 2 Interventions
Presented by: Matt Braun, Ph.D, L/CCC-SLP
Breakout 3 | Brush Creek Room
Promoting Student Success in a High-Ratio Setting
Presented by: Tyler Goevert
Breakout 4 | Paseo Room
The Growth Mindset: The Backdoor to Inclusion
Presented by: Beth & Patrick Foraker
*Agenda is subject to change.
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