SENIA 2019
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Pre-conference Strands:

Please select one of the five pre-conference strands, which will run all day.
​You will be asked to register for your selected strand at registration,

Strand 1:
Working With Parents: Listening So Children Will Talk

Presenters: Ochan Powell and Stephen Dare ​

Participants will explore how to support parents in developing the listening skills needed to enhance the self-directedness of their children. While genuine listening is the foundation of all respectful behaviour and generates trust in a relationship, it also requires training and discipline so that the focus remains other-centred. More than simply “telling parents”, participants will review how identity and action are related: “Who do I need to be to listen genuinely to my child?”

Ochan Powell

Ochan is the Director of Education Across Frontiers, an organization dedicated to the professional learning of international school educators. She also serves on the Design Team for Next Frontier Inclusion – a non-profit organization devoted to supporting international schools in becoming more inclusive of students with special learning needs. Ochan has presented numerous workshops and courses in the areas of differentiation, assessment, teacher emotional intelligence, coaching and collaboration and is an Associate Trainer for Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools. Together with her husband Bill, Ochan co-authored Count Me In! Developing Inclusive International Schools (2000), Making the Difference: Differentiation in International Schools (2008), Becoming an Emotionally Intelligent Teacher (2010), How to Teach Now: Five Keys to Personalized Learning in the Global Classroom (2012), thee OIQ Factor: Raising the Organizational Intelligence of your school (2013) and Teacher Self-Supervision: Why teacher evaluation is a failed system and what we can do about it (2015).

Stephen Dare

Stephen is in his ninth year as the Head of School at Hong Kong Academy, a school that was founded on the principles of diversity and inclusion as essential for all learners PK1-Grade 12. Stephen started his career as a preschool teacher in Southeast England then worked as an administrator in international schools in North and South America as well as in Southeast Asia. He is the Treasurer of the Association of China and Mongolia International Schools (ACAMIS) Board and sits on the East Asia Regional Council of Overseas Schools (EARCOS) Board as well as the Next Frontier Inclusion and Common Ground Collaborative Advisory Boards. Stephen has embedded the work of Cognitive Coaching and Adaptive Schools into the daily practices and procedures of Hong Kong Academy and regularly presents on the role of coaching in building institutional trust at schools and conferences in Hong Kong and the Asia-Pacific region. He is an Agency Trainer for Cognitive Coaching and is in the process of becoming an Adaptive Schools trainer as well. 

Strand 2: SOLD OUT
​A Day in the Life of a Co-teaching Team
Presenters: Kristen Pelletier and Jennifer Swinehart

What aspects of collaborative teaching models do teaching partners need to consider? In this interactive pre-conference, we will look at a typical teaching cycle that includes: co-planning; co-instructing; co-assessing; and co-reflecting and explore them using many easily transferable teaching strategies. Suitable for all teachers K - 12, whether you’re already co-teaching, or just considering it!

Kristen Pelletier

Jennifer Swinehart

Kristen worked at the International School of Brussels for 19 years, first as a teacher and most recently for 11 years as the Director of Student Support Services. She is a founding Co-Director and Design Team Member of the Next Frontier Inclusion (NFI) collaborative, and is a trainer for the Teacher Training Center, and Education Across Frontiers. Her undergraduate degree is in Special Education and graduate degree in K-12 Educational Administration. As of August 2017, Kristen has transitioned into full-time educational consultancy work with the goal of of supporting international schools along their journey toward exemplary inclusive cultures and practices.

​
Jennifer is the Director of Research and Development at Hong Kong Academy and is currently the acting Secondary School Principal in Grades 11/12 and Acting IBDP Co-ordinator. A passionate advocate for inclusive schools, Jennifer has worked with diverse communities of learners throughout her career as a middle school English teacher and literacy coach, IBMYP Co-ordinator and IBDP English Literature teacher. Jennifer is a TTC trainer with the Principals’ Training Center, holds many roles in the IB Educator Network and is currently completing her doctoral dissertation about student perceptions of the ways cognitive, metacognitive and affective skills are taught in grades 6-10.

Strand 3:
​Leveraging the Value of Therapeutic Support Services for Schools

Presenters: Tracey Ellis and Kathryn Hollaran

In this pre-conference, participants will connect with professionals who provide direct and indirect therapeutic services. They will gain a deeper understanding of direct/indirect therapy, assessments that can be done by therapeutic support experts and how these therapies can support and enhance the work that teachers do with their students.

Tracey Ellis

Kathryn Hollaran, MA, BCBA

Tracey Ellis, founder and CEO of International Diagnostic Solutions (IDS), has worked with children and families in the field of special education for over 25 years.  With a strong commitment to making learning support, diagnostic services, and therapeutic interventions accessible globally, Tracey started IDS in 2009.  Utilizing technology and the evolution of telehealth service provision and online professional development, IDS has provided parents and educators with the tools and resources to support children in their schools and communities, leading to successful outcomes for young people worldwide.  Working to break down the physical and geographic barriers to accessing special education support, Tracey and her team bring leading experts in education and therapeutic intervention to all corners of the globe.  Tracey currently serves as the vice chair of the of the Washington, DC Board of Health Professional Licensing (Occupational Therapy Board), on the accreditation committee of CHQI for the accreditation of telehealth providers, on the University of New Hampshire College of Health and Human Services Development Board, and on the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF) Scholarship Committee.  
Katie Holloran has worked as a teacher, administrator, and consultant in the Washington, DC area since graduating from Georgetown University in 2000.  Her love for teaching students with special educational needs led her to earn her Master’s Degree in Special Education from the George Washington University.  She is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA).  Katie has served as an adjunct faculty member at Catholic University teaching courses to classroom teachers and assistants on Behavior Management, and also provides sleep coaching services to families with children with special needs across the globe.

Katie utilizes her expertise in her job as Clinical Director of IDS working with international families and schools directly through behavioral and sleep support services, as well as trainings for teachers, administrators and school staff in the areas of special educational needs, teambuilding, and behavior management.  Katie also provides support to the entire IDS therapeutic and educational team as they work with children, families and schools across the globe.

Strand 4:
​A Network Approach to Nurturing Social and Emotional Wellbeing

Presenters: Dr. Minna Chau and Dr. Rebecca Dogan

Participants will explore the opportunities and challenges that arise within an international school community and ways in which intentionally proactive and responsive approaches can support both students and families. Specific areas that will be addressed will include: Social Thinking, Peer Relationships, Life/Functional Skills, Self esteem, mental health and the impact on a family.

Dr. Minna Chau

Fluent in English, Cantonese and Mandarin, Dr. Chau assesses and treats children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), mood and anxiety disorders, learning disabilities and autism spectrum disorders through working closely with parents, school personnel, psychiatrists, speech therapists, pediatricians, occupational therapists and physical therapists and learning specialists in a multidisciplinary team to provide comprehensive support and professional advice. Dr. Chau holds a PhD in Clinical Psychology from Ohio University, USA, specializing in children and adolescents. She completed her pre-doctoral internship at The University of Tennessee Health Science Center in the USA, and is a registered psychologist at the Hong Kong Psychological Society. She is the only diplomate of School Neuropsychology in Asia.​

Dr. Rebecca Dogan

​Dr. Dogan has a Ph.D. in Behavioral Psychology and is a credentialed practitioner who conducts behavioral assessments and is qualified to design and supervise behavior analytic interventions. She is focused on providing clinical services to children and adolescents as well as their families. She stresses the importance of collaborating with a multidisciplinary team including doctors, specialists, teachers, caregivers, and extended family members. Dr. Dogan provides services that utilize evidence-based behavioral and cognitive-behavioral treatments for a wide variety of developmental and behavioral problems encountered by children and youth​.

Strand 5: SOLD OUT
​A ‘Deep Dive’ into High Incidence Populations within International Schools

Presenters: Danette Sack and Kristel Solomon-Saleem

What are the diagnoses that international school educators most frequently come across in their school settings? In this day-long session, participants will explore the high degree of neurodiversity that exists within a student population. They will engage in a deeper understanding of a range of diagnoses such as ADHD; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Cognitive Developmental Disabilities; Functional Multi-Lingualism; Exceptional/Twice Exceptionally Able and will explore some of the most effective ways to support them.

Danette Sack

Danette has been a teacher and administrator of students and adults with a range of special educational needs since 1990. She began her teaching and administrative career in public schools in the Seattle area and has since taught at Shanghai American School, the American International School of Vienna, Cairo American College, the American School of the Hague. She is currently Director of Learning Support at the International School of Basel, Switzerland. Danette holds undergraduate degrees in Special Education K-12 and Social Studies K-8. Her master’s degree is in Educational Administration K-12 with a minor in Special Education. Danette’s focus is in supporting international schools in their development of inclusive school communities, and she is a member of the design support team of the Next Frontier: Inclusion collaborative.​

Kristel Solomon-Saleem


​Kristel is in her ninth year as the Director of Learner Support at Hong Kong Academy. She is a graduate of Temple University with degrees in Elementary and Special Education and a Masters Degree in Educational Psychology. He personal commitment to learning has led her to pursuing further graduate work with Johns Hopkins University in “Mind, Brain and Teaching”. Kristel’s passion for teaching and learning has lead her to working closely with the Next Frontier Inclusion as their Asia-Pacific Regional Coordinator and as an NFI workshop leader. In addition to her work within special education, Kristel has been a contributor to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Guidelines for Inclusive Education.
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  • Home
  • Pre-conference
  • Main Conference
  • Register
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  • About SENIA