MTR Fall Professional Development
Saturday, November 14, 2026
DATE
8:30am - 1:00pm
TIME
MTR Offices
Crosstown Concourse (1350 Concourse Ave. Suite 366)
LOCATION
WHAT TO EXPECT
Join MTR for a day of teachers leading and learning together! You’re welcome to bring and share with teacher friends who did not do MTR — this is open to any Memphis local teachers. Please feel free to come as casual as you’d like. Donuts and a grab-and-go lunch will be provided.
Sign up today & see sessions
and presenters below!
Lucero Amador
Elementary Teacher, Kingsbury Elementary
How to Emotionally Support Immigrant Students in the Class
Audience: K-12 teachers, all subjects
Last fall I gave a session on awareness about current events happening in the Graham Heights community. This session would be a recap of what’s going on, how to support families and we will do a deep dive on ways to emotionally support students in the classroom who are experiencing fear and anxiety. We will talk about different methods to approach students and visual cues that can help students understand their emotions.
Jada Bates,
Counselor, MTR Staff
The Importance of Mental Health for Educators
Audience: All attendees, LIFE TRACK
Attendees will learn mental health statistics of teachers in the U.S., discuss factors related to stress, the connection between educators' mental health and equitable education, and be given practical strategies to incorporate into their routines.
Karen Brickey Weissinger
Founder, ACE Consulting
Beyond Behavior: Responding to the Needs of Neurodivergent Learners
Audience: K-12 TEACHERS, ALL SUBJECTS
This is Part 1 of a two-part series: This session focuses on understanding and responding to challenging behavior, and Part 2 turns to strategies that support learning and academic success for neurodivergent students. Today's classrooms include more and more students with diverse learning and behavioral needs, many linked to "invisible" differences like ADHD, autism, dyslexia, and language disorders. This practical session starts from the belief that kids do well if they can, and shows you how to read behavior as communication and uncover what a student needs. You'll leave with low-prep strategies you can use tomorrow, including visual supports, movement, co-regulation, and individualized behavior plans, to improve focus, reduce challenging behavior, and build self-management skills. You'll also learn when and how to partner with families, special educators, therapists, and your school's RTI team to get students the support they need.
Alyssa Brown
Director of Science, Compass Community Schools
Elevating the Explain in Explore before Explain 3-D Science Classrooms
Audience: k-12 teachers, science
Navigating the workplace can be daunting with ever-changing processes and procedures, metrics that must be met, and the general unpredictability that is inherent in human interaction. All of this can be challenging, especially for new professionals. How does one develop the ability to contribute as a team players while simultaneously implementing practices that support individual personal well-being?
This is workshop will support those who are in the process of developing their work identity and who are seeking to create personal sense of wellness in the workplace.
Mikayla Cappetta
5-6 ELA Teacher,
Compass Orange Mound
Making Reading Accessible: During-Reading Strategies That Help Every Learner Thrive
Audience: 3-8 teachers, ELA & MLL
What if a few intentional strategies could transform the way your students experience reading? Join us to explore practical, easy-to-implement during-reading strategies that boost comprehension, increase engagement, and support learners at every level. Walk away with tools to break down barriers, build confidence, and help every reader thrive!
Jori Edgington
Elementary ESL Teacher,
Berclair Elementary
J-Factor in the Foundational Skills Classroom
Audience: k-2 teachers, ELA
Participants will learn about the Secret Stories supplement & how to use it if they choose to purchase it (and if not, how they can still incorporate its principles into their lessons). They will learn some fun, simple phonics chants and ways to explain phonics/spelling rules through personified explanations. They will leave with specific low-prep, engaging activities they can use to bring joy into the foundational skills classroom.
Dr. Matthew Love
Assistant Principal,
Willow Oaks Elementary
How to Navigate and Strengthen Teachers in their Professional Partnerships with Building Leaders
Audience: K-12 teachers, all subjects
Teaching extends beyond the classroom and requires educators to navigate relationships, expectations, and change within the school community. This session equips teachers with practical tools for building productive relationships with school leaders, navigating difficult conversations with people in positions of authority, and responding effectively to changes outside their immediate control. Participants will leave with strategies to communicate with confidence, maintain professionalism, and navigate complex school-based relationships while staying focused on their impact.
Simona Reid
Math Teacher,
Crosstown High
Conceptual Understanding of the 4 Basic Mathematical Operations
Audience: 3-8 teachers, MATH
Attendees will learn about the true definitions of addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, and how to support students in using/applying them appropriately in context.
Belveth Simon
Math Teacher,
Kingsbury High
Comprehensible Input Made Simple
Audience: K-12 teachers, math
Come learn how to simplify your comprehensible input and chunk information to benefit all students. We will talk about examples and non-examples, as well as be given time to practice implementing what you learned. Take away practical tips to support your students in each lesson!
Will Vaughn
ELA Instructional Coach,
Grizzlies Prep Academy
Middle Grades Readers: Who are they?
Audience: 6-8 teachers, ELA
Acknowledging the unique needs of a middle grades readers--who are they emotionally, cognitively and developmentally? How can you support and address their unique needs in the classroom?
Elizabeth Wright
High School Social Studies & US History Teacher,
Compass Midtown
Diversifying Learning Opportunities in the Classroom
Audience: 6-12 teachers, history
Attendees will learn how to diversify student activities and shift student learning more on the students. Activities have students doing the heavy lifting of learning the content, shifting away from guided notes or using minor guided notes to lead into the activity. Activities like gallery walks, station rotation, choose your own adventure, etc. increase classroom engagement and requires students to take ownership of their own learning.
Burst sessions to be announced…
