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

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.