31 Must-Attend Education Conferences for New Jersey Teachers and Leaders | WINTER 2022 Edition

The school year is well underway and educators across the country are looking forward to a quieter time of year. As winter break looms, many teachers are using the time off to do things for themselves, whether that’s prioritizing self-care, catching up on professional-development opportunities or both.

For educators that want to sharpen their already-impressive skills, there are plenty of virtual and in-person conferences happening during the winter. We’ve helped make the search easier by curating a list of 31 events specifically for our educators. The best part? More than half of these events are free, making it easy to incorporate professional development into winter schedules.

December

The Art and Science of Implementing School Improvement
Virtual
Dec. 8, 2022
11 a.m. 
Free

This free, 90-minute webinar goes over what it takes to implement school-improvement initiatives that stick. During the virtual event, attendees will learn about Implementation Science, or the study of how to bring about lasting positive change in real-world contexts.

The Center for Literacy Development Speaker Series   
Rutgers Busch Student Center 
Dec. 8, 2022
9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
$175

Reading Reimagined is one of two Rutgers Center for Literacy Development events happening this winter. This particular event helps educators dig deeper into the science of reading. During the half-day, featured speaker Doug Fisher will focus on two key areas of reading development: word recognition and language comprehension.

What is Neurodiversity and Why Should I Care?
Virtual 
Dec. 8, 2022
Noon
Free

Neurodiversity has become a household term over the past few years. (We even wrote a blog about ADHD, which is considered a neurodivergence.) People with neurodiverse brains work in ways different to the perceived ‘neurotypical’ norm. To best cater to neurodiverse students, educators need to understand what neurodiversity is. This free event helps educators understand neurodiversity and how they can better serve neurodiverse students.
 

Engaging Muslim Students in Public Schools 
Virtual
Dec. 10-11, 2022
10:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.
$125

It’s important that educators honor all cultural identities in the classroom. In this online training, attendees learn how to best engage Muslim students in a public-school setting. During the eight-hour session, educators are presented with perspectives that will increase their background knowledge and cultural competency of Muslim students.
 

Community of Practice: Trauma and Stress in Education
Virtual
Dec. 13, 2022
8:30 a.m. 
Free

The pandemic directly affected us all, which is why it is necessary that we hold space for students going through stress or trauma. For many children, navigating COVID was their first experience with extreme stress, prompting educators to consider more mental-health practices in the classroom. At this free, virtual event, attendees will learn effective strategies and practices to support mental health and wellbeing in students, staff, and parents/caregivers through a trauma sensitive lens.
 

Creating a Culturally Inclusive Classroom for Students
Virtual 
Dec. 15, 2022
4:30 p.m. 
Free

Bilingual teacher Melissa Garcia has 15 years of experience working with multi-language learners. In this one-hour webinar, Garcia will discuss what creating a culturally inclusive classroom looks like.

Teach Outside! Monthly Outdoor Learning Educator Workshop Series 
Virtual
Dec. 15; Jan. 16; Feb. 16; March 16
4:30 p.m. 
Free

This monthly event is for anyone who loves the outdoors. Each workshop has its own unique theme, however, all have the same goal: how to better connect their students to nature.
 

The Power of Play
Virtual
Dec. 19, 2022
1 p.m. 
Free

Play is a powerful tool that impacts mental health, learning and social-emotional connections from childhood through adolescence. This free webinar shows how to best engage and communicate with children in play and is led by Licensed Independent Social Worker Susan Dannen.
 

Anti-Racist Educators Collaborative Group
Virtual
Dec. 21, 2022; Jan. 25, 2023; Feb. 15; March 22
7:30 p.m. 
Free

The Anti-Racist Educators Collaborative Group is a network of support for educators trying to create anti-racist change in their school. The group meets every month to discuss challenges, share resources, network and more.

January

Teacher Support Group 
Virtual 
Jan. 2, Feb. 6; March 6 
8 p.m. 
Free

This open, ongoing support group meets monthly to share resources, ideas and ask questions. Teacher Support Group is great for educators looking for a safe space to discuss challenges and brainstorm with peers.

School Shouldn’t Be a Scary Place
Virtual
Jan. 7, 2022
10 a.m. - noon
Free

Gun violence in schools is a serious and necessary topic that School Shouldn’t Be a Scary Place addresses. The event examines the traumatic impact of school violence on children, parents and educators and provides resources to help prevent further gun violence. 


Moving from Self-Care to We-Care: Thriving in Education Today
Virtual
Jan. 10, 2023
4 p.m. 
$30

Educators have had to step up and quickly adapt over the past two years, which led to burnout-induced teacher shortages across the nation. For education leaders looking to help their faculty and staff, this upcoming webinar discusses how to create school communities that combat stress and burnout.
 

Outdoor Learning: Tools and Tips for Winter Adventures
Virtual 
Jan. 11, 2023
Noon - 1 p.m.
Free

Learn how to enhance outdoor time and fall in love with winter at this one-hour webinar. Environmental educator Jade Harvey-Berrill shares tools and resources available to aid in successful outdoor learning, as well as examples of winter adventures.
 

Therapeutic Teaching: Mental Health & Well-being in the Classroom
Virtual 
Jan. 11, 2023
8 p.m. 
$27.54

This event focuses on therapeutic practices educators can implement into the classroom. The virtual webinar is led by Dr. Judy, who shares her CALM Classroom series and will discuss what it looks like to understand the needs of both students and teachers.
 

Driving Racial Equity for Education 2023
Virtual 
Jan. 12; Feb. 2; March 2; April 27; May 25, 2023
5 p.m. 
$150

This monthly event is for educators looking to apply anti-racist approaches to their subject areas. At January’s event, the topic will be the Historical Foundations of Race and attendees will explore the history of how race, white privilege and anti-blackness came to be.
 

Supporting Student Mental Health
Virtual
Jan. 13, 2023
9 a.m. 
Free

At this virtual event, educators learn practical ways of supporting students in a classroom setting so their mental health is prioritized.
 

Teaching Students How to Think Instead of What to Think
Virtual 
Jan. 19, 2023
8-10 p.m. 
$45-$220

Critical-thinking skills are a necessary part of life, and this webinar highlights how critical thinking is a necessary part of anti-bias work. Participants will work in both small and large groups to understand what these frameworks can look like in practice and consider the implications for their own schools.
 

Project IMPACT Winter Virtual Conference 
Virtual 
Jan. 21, 2023
9 a.m. - noon 
Free

Learn strategies that help promote diversity and inclusion at the Project IMPACT Winter Virtual Conference. Topics and breakout sessions include Cultivating Teacher Leadership and Perseverance, Making the Gentle Shift: How to Move from Balanced to Structured Literacy, Teaching & Supporting Emotional Regulation in the Classroom and more.
 

The Educator Summit
Virtual
Jan. 21-22, 2023
$45-$70

Recommended for K-2 educators, The Educator Summit features more than two-dozen speakers. Topics and sessions include Behavior as Communication, Phonics Beyond ABCs, Building Strong Number Sense, Diversity in Picture Books and more.
 

How to Discuss Consent with Youth
Virtual
Jan. 24, 2023
Noon
Free

Consent and setting boundaries around our bodies is just as important to children as it is to adults. At this event, attendees will explore the concept of body sovereignty as it relates to children and understand the importance of body sovereignty as a component of trauma-informed care.

Supporting Native Students: Covering the Basics
Virtual 
Jan. 24, 2023
6-8 p.m. 
$125-$175

Create a safer space for Native students through this upcoming conference. Understand the true history that frames the Native experience and learn the terms and concepts that help fight misconceptions and stereotypes.

February

AEMS 3rd Annual Arts Education Symposium on Anti-Racism
Virtual 
Feb. 4, 2023
10:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
$20

Understand anti-racism and abolition deeper and learn how to incorporate these principles into arts education at this all-day virtual conference. Hear from keynote speaker Dr. Ivory Toldson and attend breakout sessions that discuss anti-racist pedagogy across many arts disciplines.
 

New Jersey STEM Conference
Caldwell University
120 Bloomfield Avenue Caldwell, New Jersey 
Feb. 10, 2023
8 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. 
Free

At this in-person conference, New Jersey STEM educators discuss the theme “Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going.” Hear the event’s keynote speaker and panelists talk on how STEM education has evolved. The all-day, free event also includes lunch.
 

Trauma-Informed Education
Virtual 
Feb. 15, 2023
5 p.m. 
Free

As we better understand trauma and its nuances, we can better engage with individuals that have trauma. One strategy is through a trauma-informed lens. This free webinar helps educators understand trauma-informed education and presents strategies to put it into place in the classroom.
 

Innovative Schools Summit
New York Marriott Marquis, New York
Virtual options available 
Feb. 22-25, 2023
$295-$695

Spend a few days in the Big Apple networking and learning at the Innovative Schools Summit. Throughout the multi-day conference, educators from around the country discuss addressing learning loss, teaching SEL competencies and supporting positive behavior in the classroom.

The Gift of Story: Exploring the Affective Side of the Reading Life
Busch Student Center
February 23, 2023
9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. 
$175

Rutgers Center for Literacy Development’s second winter event addresses how storytelling affects us all. Guest speaker John Schu discusses the ways stories speak to our hearts and bring us together.

Equity Summit 2023
Virtual
Feb. 24, 2023
11:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. 
$50-$75

What does equity look like in schools? At this virtual conference, creating more equitable experiences for students is the goal. Hear keynote speaker Principal Baruti Kafele discuss how to develop an equity mindset toward all learners. The event will also have virtual sessions, workshops and group discussions.

The International Society for the Social Studies Annual Conference 2023
Virtual
Feb. 24-25, 2023
$59

Spend two days diving into all things social studies at this virtual conference. Attendees will view scholarly presentations and participate in practical teaching workshops on various social studies topics.
 

March

Motivating and Inspiring Learners
Virtual
March 1-2, 2023
Free

Motivation and inspiration are two keys to a successful learning experience. Mustering up motivation and inspiration, though, can be challenging - especially when many educators are pulled thin. This conference helps give educators a jump start, with a results-driven framework they can take back to the classroom.
 

Embracing the Whole Child: Promoting Social Emotional Learning 
Ramapo College of New Jersey
March 13, 2023
8 a.m. - 3 p.m. 
$60-$160

With more than 50 breakout sessions, this conference gets under the surface of social-emotional learning. Some topics include creating accessible content, using play therapy techniques, classroom management strategies and more.

Rutgers Online Learning Conference 
Virtual 
March 13, 2023
8:45 a.m. - 5 p.m. 
Free for Rutgers faculty, staff and students
$29

The Rutgers Online Learning Conference brings together the best minds in the online, hybrid and EdTech worlds to focus on improving teaching and learning with technology. Discuss learner engagement and success, instructional design and technology, and diversity, equity and inclusion at the event.

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