Feb. 26: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

March 5: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

April 17: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

May 14: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Change is constant and is the one thing we all experience in our personal and professional lives. For some of us change can be challenging, yet for others it can be a welcomed opportunity. During this workshop learners will discuss those things that drive change, as well as the role that transitions play in change. Learners will develop and improve their skills to help lead change at DPS.

• Assess your readiness and resiliency for change
• Understand the stages of change and transition and how you show up in each
• Build skills and develop strategies to effectively communicate personal needs during change
• Identify strategies for being a change agent

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March 19: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

This course is designed to enhance team development by increasing awareness of the impact of relationship and trust and by providing opportunities to practice team-building activities.

• Learn the role relationship and trust play into team development and productivity.
• Learn or refresh your experience with common team-building activities.
• Leave with access to team building resource base via Schoology.
• Set intentions for next steps.

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1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Conflict is inevitable and the only control we have is how we move through it. In this workshop, learners will identify their conflict style and assess the impacts that style has had in their lives. Through a series of interactive processes, learners will choose a conflict that was not resolved and role play how it happened versus how they would change it to achieve resolution. Learners will leave with an understanding of the preferred conflict style and tools to manage conflict more effectively. 

• Create a foundation for authentic, honest dialogue
• Awareness and genesis of personal conflict style
• Acquire tactical approaches to managing conflict
• Tools and skills to shift from current state to desired state of resolving conflict in two-party and multi-party disputes

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12 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

The focus of this work is on culturally responsive pedagogy that challenges traditional practices and policies to create inclusive school environments for students and families from ethnically and culturally diverse backgrounds. Learners will leave with immediate skills to impact the culture and climate of their teams. 

• Implement intentional strategies for narrowing the opportunity and awareness gaps
• Investigate your values, assumptions, and behaviors to ensure the needs of all students are being met
• Identify effective strategies and tools to help develop introspective skills to identify strengths and barriers to becoming culturally proficient
• Integrate the guiding principles, standards, language and behaviors necessary to value diversity
• Infuse culturally responsive leadership skills in your role as a team leader
• Incorporate and model inclusion for your school community.
• Instill a sense of urgency in educators to work towards cultural proficiency

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9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Emotional intelligence (EQ) is the ability to recognize and manage emotions to enhance our ability to build relationships and strengthen our capacity to make good decisions. Learners will explore theories and models of EQ, as well as the physiology of emotions. We will learn how to identify ‘triggers’ and apply tools to successfully manage interactions with others. 

• Identify strengths and areas of opportunity for EQ within yourself
• Use the EQ model to influence others in a positive way
• Identify and practice skills and techniques to increase your EQ
• Partner with your key stakeholders to accomplish your goals

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9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Micro-aggressions are subtle yet offensive comments or actions directed at a non-dominant group that are often unintentional and can unconsciously reinforce stereotypes. This workshop provides learners an opportunity to explore micro-aggressions at a deeper level through engaging discussions and activities and provides tools to help you spot and counteract them in your everyday life.

• Define micro-aggressions
• Spot micro-aggressions and counteract them
• Know the impact micro-aggressions can have on retention and culture at DPS
• Implement strategies to minimize/eliminate the impact of micro-aggressions

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March 12: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

April 23: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

May 21: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Radical self-care is the awareness that in the absence of consistent strategies of self-care, eventual neglect may lead to a crisis in health, work, or family relations. In the case of a crisis or to prevent a crisis, an intervention of radical self-care is needed. This course helps participants work toward their "better me, better we" wellness goals by becoming aware of how to create strategies and systems of self-care that fit the needs of each participant and prevent a radical self-care intervention.

• Identify the significance of improving your self-care and the resulting positive impact on the quality of your life.
• Learn content related to the impact of self-neglect on your personal well-being and how and when to implement radical interventions and radical self-care.
• Examine an area of your life for growth and establish a plan and strategies to advance self-care.

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1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

What makes an effective presentation? Find the answer to this question and many more in this workshop which focuses on the principles of Presentation Zen, Made to Stick, the Duarte Glance Test, and Pinnacle Performance technique. Learners will engage in hands-on activities to build more effective presentations, use constructive critique, practice presenting and collaborate in group problem solving for systemic issues relating to presentations at DPS. 

• Understand the difference between documents and presentations
• Produce more powerful Powerpoint presentations without bullets
• Apply the “glance test” to slides in a presentation
• Provide constructive feedback to peers on their Powerpoint slides

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9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

This workshop is based around the teachings of Steven Covey and his book Speed of Trust. During this skills workshop, we will identify the components of trust, how to build trust and restore trust. You will have the opportunity to identify how trust impacts relationships and develop a plan to deepen trust with your team.

• Identify how trust affects the trajectory and outcomes of our personal and professional lives
• Discuss the waves of trust and identify an opportunity for development
• Become a better leader by building trust with team member

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During this four week blended/hybrid workshop learners will explore factors that make an effective story and, using a selected story prompt, create a personalized digital story. Learners should be open to sharing personal stories, recording their voice and learning a digital editing tool (such as WeVideo).

• Know the seven elements of digital storytelling
• Use constructive critique guidelines during a story circle
• Combine multimedia elements to produce a short, first-person narrative digital story 2 to 4 minutes in length.
• Combine multimedia elements to produce a short, first-person narrative digital story 2 to 4 minutes in length

Please note: Learners will need to commit to a minimum of 6 hours of work, with almost half of that time on their own. We'll meet twice in person and other interactions will take place online in the Schoology LMS.

April 9: Meet online

April 16: Meet in person, 1–4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

April 23: Meet online

April 30: Meet in person, 1–4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 1035

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9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Participants will begin to understand the experiences and identities of our LGBTQ+ students and colleagues. We will enhance our ability to create a more inclusive DPS through the language we use, the identities we create inclusion for, and the self-awareness of our privilege.

• Define and use language and vocabulary around sexuality, gender identity, and pronouns that make DPS more inclusive.
• Understand the difference between gender identity, gender expression, sex assigned at birth, and attraction.
• Develop self-awareness of your own history and privileges terms of LGBQ+ identities.
• Create action steps for you to apply on your team to make DPS more inclusive.

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1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 1035

How exciting to develop your own recipe for success. During this workshop you will learn some new tips and tricks on planning, buying, preparing, and eating delicious meals to meet your goals. We will debunk common nutrition myths and learn the facts about carbs, protein, fat and label reading.

• Learn to plan, purchase and prepare healthy and delicious meals
• Set personal SMART goals
• Develop an action plan related to nutrition needs

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1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Implicit and explicit biases are impacting our relationships with self and others every minute of every day. Learners will have the opportunity to examine bias within themselves and the environment they live in. We will then explore strategies to recognize and manage bias. Everyone will leave with action steps to support their work with students and colleagues.

Register now.

9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Emily Griffith Campus, Rm 935

Implicit and explicit biases are impacting our relationships with self and others every minute of every day. This training is designed for individuals who have already participated in the Foundational Bias Training, as we will continue to build on the self-awareness tools shared in that session. Learners will have the opportunity to examine bias within themselves and the environment they live in. We will then explore strategies to recognize and manage bias. Everyone will leave with action steps to support their work with students and colleagues.

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• To register for a Skills class, email: dpsskills@dpsk12.org
• Looking to hold a Skills class at your school? Fill out this form.

Participation in this program provides the tools and knowledge to help you achieve the following goals:

LIFT and LEAD Goals:

• Personal & Values 
• Vision & Strategy 
• Operational & Organizational
• People & Culture
• Community & Equity

LEAP Framework

• Learning Environment
• Professionalism

Participation in these workshops is a great way to demonstrate your on-going commitment to help us reach our vision: Every Child Succeeds!

Download and share the DPS Skills flier here.