CCEA Plus 2025 Surf's Up! Riding the Waves of Opportunity

There are few things that staff members lose sleep over as much as when a student makes a threatening statement. Even when we “go by the book,” and follow the guidelines for a threat, we can feel very uneasy with the result. This workshop will take a very serious topic - threat assessment - and make it less scary. We will not go through a list of school shootings! We will focus on the behaviors that lead a person down the pathway to violence and the tools to use to determine someone’s level of threat. Finally, we will discuss how a school’s response to a threat can lower the worry of both staff and students.

Lead Like Lasso is a dynamic and engaging professional development session designed to equip educators with leadership strategies that foster connection, motivation, and resilience—essential qualities for supporting students in an alternative high school setting. Drawing inspiration from the beloved TV character Ted Lasso, this session explores science-based insights that can help educators cultivate a positive, people-first learning environment. In alternative high schools, students often face unique challenges that require a leadership approach grounded in empathy, optimism, and authenticity. Through interactive activities, neuroscience research, and discussions, participants will learn practical techniques to inspire and support students, helping them develop confidence, perseverance, and a sense of belonging. By the end of this session, attendees will be equipped with the tools to build strong relationships, foster a growth mindset, and create an inclusive, student-centered culture where all learners can thrive.

Student engagement can be particularly challenging in an alternative high school setting, where students may have experienced academic struggles, personal obstacles, or disengagement in traditional classrooms. This session equips educators with research-backed strategies to combat apathy and foster intrinsic motivation, helping students take ownership of their learning. By exploring the psychology behind disengagement, educators will gain practical tools to create a classroom environment that promotes curiosity, relevance, and student agency. Through interactive discussions, collaborative activities, and real-world video examples, participants will discover strategies tailored to the unique needs of alternative high school students. The session will focus on building teacher credibility and trust, helping students connect their learning to personal goals and real-world relevance, and promoting student voice, choice, and autonomy in the classroom. Educators will also learn how to increase student effort, resilience, and self-efficacy while strengthening teacher-student relationships and peer connections to create a supportive learning community. More than just a set of quick fixes, this session emphasizes authentic communication and connection, equipping educators with sustainable engagement strategies that empower students to stay invested in their education. Attendees will leave with actionable techniques they can immediately implement to cultivate a more engaging and student-centered learning environment.

The Escondido Union High School District has developed a transfer process aligned to the education code to place student in an educational setting to meet student needs.  The system clearly outlines criteria for voluntary and involuntary placements and the appeal process.  We will discuss how this process has been refined over the last 20 years.