Capital Region BOCES is your partner in professional learning. We help educators meet daily challenges by providing trainings and workshops that expand knowledge and support students. Our courses are offered year-round, both in-person and online, and cover a variety of topics from state-mandated trainings to safety refreshers.
Capital Region BOCES is a state-approved Continuing Teacher and Leader Education (CTLE) provider.
New trainings are regularly added; please check back frequently.
Current Professional Development Offerings
Curriculum & Instruction | DASA Trainings | Evaluation | Equity | Leadership | Math |Safety | Special Education | Social Emotional Learning
Professional Development MATTERS: Curriculum & Instruction
Analyzing Propaganda and Teaching Media Literacy: The Holocaust as a Case Study
Media literacy skills have become essential for young people to successfully navigate and critically assess the ever-increasing amount of information they receive throughout their day— on social media, advertisements, television, and film. Therefore, it is crucial for students to comprehend and identify how media, both historically and in contemporary society, can be used as a tool to incite hate and violence against certain groups.
This learning opportunity examines the events of the Holocaust through the lens of the media by examining propaganda deployed by the Nazis to discriminate against Jews and other minorities. Educators will gain the tools to facilitate classroom discussions on the role and impact of Nazi propaganda during the Holocaust and support their students to critically analyze media in today’s world.
Presenter: Colleen Tambuscio
Date/Time: Oct. 20, 2026 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Price: $0 (In accordance with Capital Region BOCES Board of Education Policy 6254 a 6.5% administrative assessment will be charged for all services furnished to other BOCES and school districts belonging to other BOCES, and other organizations and municipalities. In addition, an administrative assessment of 8.1% will be charged to all independent school districts and non-public schools.)
Register for Analyzing Propaganda and Teaching Media Literacy: The Holocaust as a Case Study
Professional Development MATTERS: DASA
DASA
This workshop will fulfill the training requirements for the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) as required by the New York State Education Department Board of Regents. The workshop is designed for those who are seeking a New York State Certification. New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) seeks to provide the state’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment, free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. There will be a one-hour lunch break; lunch will be on your own. Participants paying by check can mail payment in advance or bring a check made out to Capital Region BOCES to the session. This staff development offering is provided at no additional cost to Capital Region BOCES districts participating in BOCES’ Value Add service.
Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: Oct. 16, 2026 | 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Price: $80/$0 for subscribers
DASA
This workshop will fulfill the training requirements for the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) as required by the New York State Education Department Board of Regents. The workshop is designed for those who are seeking a New York State Certification. New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) seeks to provide the state’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment, free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. There will be a one-hour lunch break; lunch will be on your own. Participants paying by check can mail payment in advance or bring a check made out to Capital Region BOCES to the session. This staff development offering is provided at no additional cost to Capital Region BOCES districts participating in BOCES’ Value Add service.
Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: Jan. 15, 2027 | 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Price: $80/$0 for subscribers
DASA
This workshop will fulfill the training requirements for the Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) as required by the New York State Education Department Board of Regents. The workshop is designed for those who are seeking a New York State Certification. New York State’s Dignity for All Students Act (DASA) seeks to provide the state’s public elementary and secondary school students with a safe and supportive environment, free from discrimination, intimidation, taunting, harassment and bullying on school property, a school bus and/or at a school function. There will be a one-hour lunch break; lunch will be on your own. Participants paying by check can mail payment in advance or bring a check made out to Capital Region BOCES to the session. This staff development offering is provided at no additional cost to Capital Region BOCES districts participating in BOCES’ Value Add service.
Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: April 16, 2027 | 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Price: $80/$0 for subscribers
DASA Coordinator Training
Join us for a targeted professional development workshop for District DASA Coordinators and Building Teams. This workshop will fulfill the training requirements for Dignity Act Coordinators (DAC) as required by the Dignity for All Students Act and the New York State Education Department Board of Regents. The workshop is designed for those who will be serving in the role of Dignity Act Coordinator in their school, as well as other school-based professionals interested in learning more about the Dignity Act. Please note this training does not meet the six hour training certification requirement for teachers, teacher assistants or coaches.
Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: Oct. 23, 2026 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Price: $50
DASA Coordinator Training
Join us for a targeted professional development workshop for District DASA Coordinators and Building Teams. This workshop will fulfill the training requirements for Dignity Act Coordinators (DAC) as required by the Dignity for All Students Act and the New York State Education Department Board of Regents. The workshop is designed for those who will be serving in the role of Dignity Act Coordinator in their school, as well as other school-based professionals interested in learning more about the Dignity Act. Please note this training does not meet the six hour training certification requirement for teachers, teacher assistants or coaches.
Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: Feb. 26, 2027 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Price: $50
Professional Development MATTERS: Evaluation
New Lead Evaluator Training
This session is designed for new Lead Evaluators of Teachers and is aligned with the requirements of Education Law 3012-D. The training focuses on the New York State Teaching Standards; the Professional Standards for Educational Leaders (PSEL); the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE) Framework; and state-approved professional practice rubrics used to anchor effective evidence collection and meaningful feedback. For more information, please email sharon.swain@neric.org.
Presenter: Sharon Swain
Date/Time: Oct. 15, 2026 | 8:30-2:30 p.m.
Price: $200/$175 for subscribers
Register for New Lead Evaluator Training
Lead Evaluator Refresher Training
The session is designed as a refresher for veteran Lead Evaluators of Teachers in compliance with Education law 3012-D. The training focuses on the New York State Teaching Standards; the Professional Standards for Educational Evaluators (PSEL); the Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Education (CRSE) Framework; and state-approved professional practice rubrics used to anchor effective evidence collection and meaningful feedback. For more information, please email Sharon Swain at sharon.swain@neric.org.
Presenter: Sharon Swain
Date/Time: Oct. 22, 2026 | 8:30-11:30 a.m.
Price: $110/$90 for subscribers
Register for Lead Evaluator Refresher Training
Professional Development MATTERS: Equity
Bridging the Gaps: Using Social Care Networks to Support Students and Families
Discover how New York’s Social Care Network (SCN) and Health-Related Social Needs (HRSN) initiatives-specifically through the Healthy Alliance Social Care Network-can transform student support systems. This session outlines how to connect eligible Medicaid-enrolled students and families to vital resources addressing housing instability, food insecurity, and transportation challenges. Participants will examine real-world examples of cross-sector collaboration among schools, community-based organizations, and contracted SCN providers designed to enhance existing school-based supports. By the end of the session, attendees will gain a clear understanding of the SCN framework and leave with practical strategies to advance equitable service access, eliminate barriers to engagement, and drive student well-being and academic success.
Presenter: Healthy Alliance Presenter [TBD]
Date/Time: In person on Oct. 1, 2026 | 9:00-10:30 a.m. OR virtual on Oct. 8, 2026 | 1:00-2:30 p.m.
Price: $0
Register for Bridging the Gaps: Using Social Care Networks to Support Students and Families. In-Person or Virtual
Grading for Opportunity: Measuring What Matters
As part of the New York Inspires framework, educators are being asked to rethink how student learning is assessed, documented and communicated. Competency-based graduation pathways require educators to move beyond traditional grading systems that often reward compliance, completion and behavior rather than actual learning.
This professional development series explores equitable grading practices that create the foundation for competency-based education by ensuring grades accurately reflect student mastery of essential learning standards.
Presenter: Dr. Eva Jones
Date/Time: Oct. 8, 2026 | 8:30-11:00 a.m.; Jan. 14, 2027 | 8:30-11:00 a.m.; Mar. 25, 2027 | 8:30-11:00 a.m.; May 6, 2027 | 8:30-11:00 a.m.
Price: $350
Register for Grading for Opportunity – New Cohort
Grading for Opportunity – Continuing Cohort
Capital Region BOCES is pleased to offer a continued opportunity for educators to engage in a second-year program focused on exploring these inequities in grading policies and practices in greater depth. This program provides an important chance for educators to build on the knowledge and skills developed during the 2024-25 Grading for Opportunity sessions. In this second-year cohort, participants will further develop their understanding of standards-based instruction and assessment. The program will focus on classroom and school practices and policies that ensure accurate communication of student progress, allowing for more equitable outcomes. Through guided action planning, participants will identify specific steps to implement in their classrooms and schools, taking into account the unique needs of their students. Together, they will work to foster a more inclusive and fair educational environment that supports all students in reaching their full potential.
Presenter: Dr. Eva Jones
Date/Time: Oct. 8, 2026 | 12:00 -2:30 p.m.; Jan 14, 2027 | 12:00 -2:30 p.m.; Mar. 25, 2027 | 12:00 -2:30 p.m.
Price: $225
Register for Grading for Opportunity – Continuing Cohort
Professional Development MATTERS: Leadership
Thought Leadership Meetings for Principals & Assistant Principals Series
This series of meetings will provide an opportunity for principals and assistant principals to collaborate and share ideas with peers. Participants will receive updates on key issues affecting their roles while engaging in timely discussions on topics such as NY Inspires, the Portrait of a Graduate, curriculum and instruction, and strategies for fostering a supportive school culture. Additional topics will be shaped by the interests of the group.
These sessions offer a valuable opportunity to share perspectives, gain insights, and receive feedback in a collaborative, professional environment. Meetings will be facilitated by Capital Region BOCES in partnership with participating colleagues and will be held in person with a virtual participation option available. This staff development offering is provided at no additional cost for Capital Region BOCES districts participating in the BOCES Value Add service. The cost for all other participants is $180.
Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: Oct. 22, 2026 | 8:15-9:30 a.m.; Jan. 21 , 2027 | 8:15-9:30 a.m.; March 11, 2027 | 8:15-9:30 a.m.; May 20 | 8:15-9:30 a.m.
Price: $180/$0 for subscribers
Register for Thought Leadership Meetings for Principals & Assistant Principals Series
Professional Development MATTERS: Math
NY Inspires & Numeracy Briefs: Debunking the “Science of Math”
This webinar will be the first professional learning in a series that intends to re-ground us in the Numeracy Briefs while building a connection to what the Portrait of a Graduate Attributes look like in mathematics lessons and classrooms. In this session, we will debunk claims describing a “science of math” similar to the “science of reading” and explore several key questions: How is math different from reading? What do struggling learners, students with disabilities, English language learners and high-achievers need to succeed? Why? How do we ensure students are developing not only academic proficiency but also other Portrait of a Graduate attributes, such as critical thinking and creative innovation? This staff development offering is being provided at no additional cost to Capital Region BOCES districts participating in BOCES’ Value Add Service.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: Oct. 8, 2026 | 7:45-8:45 a.m.
Price: $0
Register for NY Inspires & Numeracy Briefs: Debunking the “Science of Math”
NY Inspires & Numeracy Briefs: Debunking the “Science of Math”
This webinar will be the first professional learning in a series that intends to re-ground us in the Numeracy Briefs while building a connection to what the Portrait of a Graduate Attributes look like in mathematics lessons and classrooms. In this session, we will debunk claims describing a “science of math” similar to the “science of reading” and explore several key questions: How is math different from reading? What do struggling learners, students with disabilities, English language learners and high-achievers need to succeed? Why? How do we ensure students are developing not only academic proficiency but also other Portrait of a Graduate attributes, such as critical thinking and creative innovation? This staff development offering is being provided at no additional cost to Capital Region BOCES districts participating in BOCES’ Value Add Service.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: Oct. 8, 2026 | 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Price: $0
Register for NY Inspires & Numeracy Briefs: Debunking the “Science of Math”
Building Thinking Classrooms Cohort
Are you looking for practical ways to get students actively engaged, thinking deeply, and collaborating in your math classroom? Join us for an informational session forming a professional learning cohort centered around Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics. Rather than a one-size-fits-all study group, this cohort will be shaped directly by its participants. In the kickoff meeting consider everyone’s current familiarity with the framework to map out goals and decide together on future focus areas and/or grade-band groups that best fit our needs. Whether you are brand new to the book or already experimenting with vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPS) and random grouping, we invite you to attend and lend your voice to help design a high-value, collaborative space.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: Sept. 30, 2026 | 7:30-8 a.m.; Nov. 17, 2026 | 8-11:30 a.m.; Dec. 15, 2026 | 7:30-8 a.m.; Feb. 3, 2027 | 7:30-8 a.m.; March 16, 2027 | 8-11 a.m.; May 18, 2027 | 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Price: $0
Register for Building Thinking Classrooms Cohort
BTC: Leading Thinking Buildings Cohort
Are you a school or district leader looking for practical ways to foster a culture of deep thinking, active engagement, and collaboration across your math classrooms? Join us for an informational session forming a professional learning cohort focused on leading and supporting Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics.Rather than a generic leadership seminar, this cohort will be shaped directly by its participants. In our kickoff meeting, we will assess our schools’ current implementation stages to map out collective goals and decide together on future focus areas-such as supporting teacher buy-in, aligning observation and feedback practices, or pacing schoolwide rollout. Whether you are brand new to the framework or already coaching teachers through vertical non-permanent surfaces (VNPS) and random grouping, we invite you to attend and lend your voice to help design a high-value, collaborative space for instructional leaders.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: Nov. 10, 2026 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.; Jan. 13, 2027 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.; May 12, 2027 | 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Price: $0
Register for BTC: Leading Thinking Buildings Cohort
BTC: Building a Thinking Curriculum
Adopting Peter Liljedahl’s Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) framework doesn’t mean tossing out your current math curriculum, it means leveraging it strategically to build the core competencies our students need. Furthermore, as district leaders align instructional goals with the NYS Portrait of a Graduate, shifting math instruction toward active thinking directly develops graduates who are Critical Thinkers, Creative Innovators, Effective Communicators, and Reflective Learners. This interactive, half-day session equips school and district leaders with actionable frameworks to evaluate, adapt, and select curriculum materials through a “Thinking Classrooms” lens while directly supporting NYS Portrait of a Graduate priorities. Leaders will leave ready to help teachers transform daily textbook tasks into high-leverage thinking experiences and guide future curriculum adoptions that align with both BTC principles and state learning visions.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: March 16, 2027 | 12-3 p.m.
Price: $0
Register for BTC: Building a Thinking Curriculum
Numeracy Book Study: Rethinking Disability in Mathematics
How can we design math environments where students with disabilities are recognized as brilliant, capable math thinkers rather than defined by deficits? Join us as we launch a collaborative book study around Rethinking Disability in Mathematics by Rachel Lambert. In our kickoff meeting, we’ll gather to map out a manageable reading schedule and tailor our focus areas to fit the specific grade bands, roles, and contexts of our group. Whether you work directly in special education, teach general education math, or support as a coach or interventionist, bring your perspective and help shape a shared space dedicated to building more inclusive, humanizing math classrooms.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: Nov. 24, 2026 | 11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; Jan. 19, 2027 | TBD; March 9, 2027 | TBD; May 11, 2027 | TBD; June 9, 2027 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0
Register for Numeracy Book Study: Rethinking Disability in Mathematics
Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: High-Leverage Content and Practices (K-5)
This one-day intensive session equips K-5 educators, leaders and coaches with actionable strategies to strengthen foundational mathematics instruction in the early and upper elementary grades. Grounded in the insights of Numeracy Briefs three and four, participants will explore the grade-level progressions of fluency, place value, the number line and fractions across grades K-5. Throughout the day, attendees will examine how to integrate the Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP) into daily elementary routines, moving beyond rote memorization to foster deep conceptual understanding and adaptive procedural fluency. This collaborative workshop provides practical tools for grade-level alignment and classroom practice that directly advance the NYS Portrait of a Graduate framework-building K-5 students who are Academically Prepared, Critical Thinkers and Confident Problem Solvers.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: Feb. 3, 2027 | 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Price: $0
Register for Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: High-Leverage Content and Practices (K-5)
Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: High-Leverage Content and Practices (6-12)
This one-day intensive session equips secondary math educators, leaders and coaches with actionable strategies to strengthen foundational and algebraic mathematics instruction across middle and high school. Grounded in learning progressions, participants will explore how the visual power of the number line and fractional reasoning directly lay the groundwork for solving linear and complex equations. Throughout the day, attendees will examine how to integrate the Standards for Mathematical Practice (SMP) into daily secondary routines-moving beyond symbolic manipulation and procedural steps toward deep conceptual reasoning and algebraic flexibility. This collaborative workshop provides practical tools for vertical alignment and classroom practice that directly advance the NYS Portrait of a Graduate framework-building secondary students who are Academically Prepared, Critical Thinkers, and Reflective Problem Solvers ready for post-secondary pathways.
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: Feb. 4, 2027 | 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
Price: $0
Register for Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: High-Leverage Content and Practices (6-12)
Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: Assessing Student Learning (K-5)
Moving beyond getting the “right answer,” this half-day session guides educators in designing and utilizing classroom assessments that measure true mathematical proficiency versus procedural correctness. Grounded in the K-5 content progressions participants will examine how to evaluate student reasoning focusing on fluency, representation, and conceptual understanding. Attendees will learn to build formative diagnostic tools, performance tasks, and observational rubrics that directly reflect the NYS Portrait of a Graduate attributes. By evaluating how students think rather than just what they calculate, educators will align daily K-5 assessment practices with the NYS competencies: developing students who are critical thinkers (evaluating strategies), effective communicators (justifying mathematical reasoning), and reflective learners (using feedback and self-assessment to grow from mistakes).
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: March 3, 2027 | 8-11 a.m.
Price: $0
Register for Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: Assessing Student Learning (K-5)
Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: Assessing Student Learning (6-12)
Moving beyond getting the “right answer,” this half-day session guides educators in designing and utilizing classroom assessments that measure true mathematical proficiency versus procedural correctness. Grounded in 6-12 content progressions, participants will examine how to evaluate student reasoning-focusing on fluency, visual representation, and conceptual understanding across key secondary concepts. Attendees will learn to build formative diagnostic tools, performance tasks, and observational rubrics that directly reflect the NYS Portrait of a Graduate attributes. By evaluating how students think rather than just what they calculate, educators will align daily 6-12 assessment practices with the NYS competencies: developing students who are Critical Thinkers (evaluating strategies and structural connections), Effective Communicators (justifying algebraic reasoning), and Reflective Learners (using feedback and self-assessment to grow from mistakes).
Presenter: Gina Bulson
Date/Time: March 3, 2027 | 12-3 p.m.
Price: $0
Register for Numeracy Briefs + NY Inspires: Assessing Student Learning (6-12)
Professional Development MATTERS: Safety
AHERA Local Education Agency (LEA) Asbestos Designated Person
This course satisfies the mandatory EPA training requirements under the Asbestos Hazard Emergency Response Act (AHERA, 40 CFR Part 763). Under federal law, every local education agency (public school district, charter school, and non-profit private school) must designate an individual responsible for overseeing the district’s asbestos management compliance. This course provides the mandatory foundational knowledge needed to direct inspection schedules, manage three-year re-inspections and six-month surveillances, oversee operations and maintenance (O&M) programs, maintain records, and ensure state (NYS DOL / Industrial Code Rule 56) and federal compliance.
Presenter: N/A
Date/Time: Sept. 30, 2026 | 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Register for AHERA Local Education Agency (LEA) Asbestos Designated Person
NYS Asbestos Inspector Annual Refresher
This course satisfies the annual training requirement mandated by the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) and EPA AHERA/ASHARA guidelines to maintain active certification as a New York State Asbestos Inspector.
Presenter: N/A
Date/Time: Oct. 6, 2026 | 8 a.m.-12 p.m.
Register for NYS Asbestos Inspector Annual Refresher
NYS Asbestos Management Planner Annual Refresher Course
This course fulfills the mandatory annual training requirement set by the New York State Department of Labor (NYS DOL) and the EPA under AHERA/ASHARA guidelines. Designed for certified Asbestos Management Planners, this course re-evaluates hazard assessment protocols and updates strategies for developing, managing and maintaining asbestos management plans in K-12 schools, commercial properties and public buildings.
Presenter: N/A
Date/Time: Oct. 6, 2026 | 12:30-4:30 p.m.
Register for NYS Asbestos Management Planner Annual Refresher
Professional Development MATTERS: Special Education
Teaching Assistant Cohort
This multi-day professional development series is designed to equip teaching assistants with the foundational knowledge and practical strategies needed to effectively support students and collaborate within school teams. Participants will explore the role of the TA, including expectations of the position and strategies for supporting students. Sessions include:
- Sept. 29: Exploring the role of the TA
- Oct. 20: Foundations of classroom management
- Nov. 9: Intro to IEPs and 504s
- Jan. 12: Use of timeouts and physical restraint
- March 2: Social-emotional learning practices
All sessions will be online through Google Meet. Participants are welcome to join the cohort at any time throughout the year, even if sessions have already begun.
Presenter: Jennifer Case and Caitlin Magil
Date/Time: Sept. 29, 2026, Oct. 20, 2026, Nov. 9, 2026, Jan. 12, 2027, Mar. 2, 2027 | 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Price: $0 for subscribers, $100 for non-subscribers
Register for Teaching Assistant Cohort
Professional Development MATTERS: Social Emotional Learning
Critical Conversations for School Counselors
Join us for a series of virtual meetings designed specifically for school counselors. Participants will have the opportunity to connect with colleagues, learn about state updates related to school counseling, and engage in ongoing professional development. Topics covered will include chronic absenteeism, supporting students in emotional regulation, critical care teams, and other areas of focus determined based on group feedback.
Presenter: Jennifer Case
Date/Time: Session 1 Oct. 20 | 8:30-9:45 a.m.; Session 2 Jan. 12, 2027 | 8:30-9:45 a.m.; Session 3 May 11, 2027 | 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Price: $0
