Workshop DLM: Plot the Path to Propel Progress
2026-04-10 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-05-08 08:00 - 17:00, 2026-06-12 08:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Drop in the second Friday of each month to workshop your IEP goals, lesson plans, and instructional strategies for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This workshop is your go-to space for hands-on support, where special education consultants guide you in aligning your instruction with grade-level standards, while leveraging the Essential Elements and Linkage Levels from the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM).
Together, we can:
– Review assessment resources
– Summarize data
– Align Essential Elements to IEP goals
– Connect data to instruction
– Plan for inclusion
– Explore Instructional Strategies
Whether you’re new to DLM or refining your approach, this is the place to connect with fellow educators, get personalized advice, and develop strategies for navigating the complexities of teaching students with significant cognitive disabilities.
Please note this is an open forum to receive instructional and IEP development support, this is NOT about the PA Alternate State Assessment (PASA).

Emotional Support Teacher Training
2026-04-14 08:30 - 09:30
Join us for a series of professional learning that centers on the development of teachers of students receiving emotional support. Teachers will begin with two days of training where they will establish beginning of the year rules and routines with a trauma-informed lens. Teachers will also learn how to use the Pennsylvania Career Ready Skills Continuum to center social emotional skill development in their daily teaching. Additionally, teachers will have the opportunity to participate in ongoing networking sessions throughout the year, which will focus on topics targeted at the core components of being an emotional support teacher.

A LEGO Learning Lab - Serious Play with Brick Clubs and Spike Robotics
2026-04-14 08:30 - 14:30 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Discover how LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, Play Included’s Brick Clubs, and SPIKE™ Robotics spark STEM skills, collaboration, and curiosity.

Step into this LEGO Learning Lab—a hands-on, minds-on session exploring how LEGO® SERIOUS PLAY®, Play Included’s Brick Clubs, and SPIKE™ Robotics can transform your classroom. Discover how structured play builds social-emotional skills, fosters collaboration, and ignites curiosity through STEM. Participants will engage in interactive activities, learn implementation strategies, and be provided information for how to get started with launching these programs in schools.
Background | The mission of the Matt’s Maker Space PD Division is to provide FREE professional development to all of Matt’s Maker Space educators and others in our communities who are interested in STEAM, design thinking and maker learning. The goal is to help establish foundational skills to new makers as well as offer refresh training opportunities to all adults who utilize maker spaces.
What to Bring | A laptop or tablet, if possible
Who Should Attend | Teachers, Administrators, Curriculum Directors, STEM teachers, etc.

Executive Function 101
2026-04-15 08:00 - 09:00
Student success extends beyond academic skills as all children and youth require essential cognitive and behavioral skills to be prosperous at home, school and the community. Join this virtual, nine-part professional learning series focused on developing and integrating the two domains and 11 core skills of executive functioning in K–12 classrooms. Each session will spotlight one skill, offering a concise overview, classroom integration strategies, resource sharing, and collaborative discussion.

Secondary MTSS Networking and PLC Meetings
2026-04-15 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-05-20 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-06-17 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-07-15 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-08-19 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-09-16 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-10-21 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-11-18 08:30 - 09:30
Join us for a year-long virtual professional development series focused on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at the secondary level. Designed for teachers, principals, counselors, interventionists, and all school personnel who work with students in grades 6–12, this monthly series explores how to effectively implement MTSS practices in middle and high school settings.
Each session will dive into a specific topic under the MTSS umbrella—from foundational understanding and data-driven decision-making to intervention scheduling and evidence-based academic supports. The series features a blend of instructional guidance, practical tools, and guest speakers from leading intervention programs such as VMath, TransMath, REWARDS, Third Quest, and PVAAS.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine existing practices, these sessions will provide actionable strategies to support every student across all tiers.

Elementary MTSS Networking and PLC Meetings
2026-04-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-20 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-06-17 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-07-15 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-08-19 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-09-16 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-10-21 10:00 - 11:00, 2026-11-18 10:00 - 11:00
Join us for a year-long virtual professional development series focused on Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) at the elementary level. Designed for teachers, principals, counselors, interventionists, and all school personnel who work with students in grades K-6, this monthly series explores how to effectively implement MTSS practices in elementary school settings.
Each session will dive into a specific topic under the MTSS umbrella—from foundational understanding and data-driven decision-making to intervention scheduling and evidence-based academic supports. The series features a blend of instructional guidance, practical tools, and guest speakers from leading intervention programs such as Spring Math, UFLI, and REWARDS.
Whether you’re just getting started or looking to refine existing practices, these sessions will provide actionable strategies to support every student across all tiers.

Design, Create, Innovate: Laser Cutting for an Enhanced STEAM Experience
2026-04-16 08:30 - 15:30 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Enhance student-centered projects with laser cutting and engraving as you design—no experience needed!

Join us for a hands-on experience to learn how you can level up your projects with laser cutting and engraving! In this workshop, we will review the basics of laser cutting/engraving, provide an overview of design thinking and the importance of rough prototyping, and share examples of projects you can do with your students. You will get the full experience of designing, engraving, and cutting with various materials, start to finish, and will leave with your own custom-made project.
Topics covered in this workshop apply to most models of laser cutters. Don’t have a laser engraver at your school (yet)? This is the perfect opportunity to learn how it can enhance your STEAM, makerspace, or other content programming.
*No prior experience needed.
Background | The mission of Fluxspace is to help educators, schools, and organizations experience the future of learning environments and understand the innovative programs, products, experiences, and mindsets that should take place in them.
What to Bring | Please bring a laptop, if possible.
Who Should Attend | STEAM teachers, tech ed teachers (upper elementary, middle school, high school)

LETRS Volume 2
2026-04-16 09:00 - 15:30
REGISTER NOW TO JOIN THE 2025-2026 LETRS VOLUME 2 COHORT*
*Completion of Volume 1 and 2 course meets PA Structured Literacy Chapter 49 requirements
*Volume 1 is a prerequisite for Volume 2 participation
Developed by renowned literacy experts Dr. Louisa Moats and Dr. Carol Tolman, LETRS® is a flexible literacy professional development solution for preK–12 educators. LETRS earned the International Dyslexia Association’s Accreditation and provides teachers with the skills they need to master the fundamentals of reading instruction—phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension, writing, and language.
LETRS empowers teachers to understand the what, why, and how of scientifically based reading instruction
When:
Each session will run from 9am-3:30pm at the AIU Central Office
October 2, 2025 – Unit 5 The Mighty Word: Oral Language and Vocabulary (Sullivan)
December 17, 2025 – Unit 6 Digging for Meaning: Understanding Reading Comprehension (Rogers)
February 18, 2026- Unit 7 Text-Driven Comprehension Instruction (Sullivan)
April 16, 2026 – Unit 8 The Reading-Writing Connection (McGuffey)
Time Commitment:
Independent Reading: 28 hours
Online LETRS Platform: 12 hours
Synchronous and In-Person PD: 22 hours
Total of 62 Act 48 Hours Available
Registration:
1. Register on Frontline
2. Complete Google Form to select payment option: https://forms.gle/B3SRX4HLPHQ6UZnp9
Deadline September 25, 2025
Materials:
Cost: $400 per participant
Includes Volume 2 manual and one year of online access
Invoicing will be processed at first session

PREPaRE Workshop 1 - Comprehensive School Safety Planning: Prevention Through Recovery
2026-04-27 08:00 - 16:00 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Free to attend
Earn Act 48 Credit Hours with this event!
8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Presenters:

Dr. Aaron Skrbin, Director of Safety and Security
Nick Fratto M.S.ED, Special Education Supervisor/Special Projects Coordinator
Shannon Fagan, MS, Program Coordinator

Capacity: Up to 40 max
Overview: In this 1-day workshop, participants will learn how to establish and sustain comprehensive school safety efforts that attend to both physical and psychological safety. The workshop addresses critical components needed to develop, exercise, and evaluate safety and crisis teams and emergency operations plans (EOPs), including building vulnerability assessments. The model also integrates school personnel and community provider roles in providing school-based crisis preparedness and response activities. Additional topics addressed also include media/ social media, communication, reunification, students with special needs, culture, and memorials. After this workshop, participants will be better prepared to improve their school’s climate, student resilience, and crisis response capabilities of school personnel. This workshop makes a clear connection between ongoing crisis prevention, mitigation, protection, response, and recovery.
Target Audience: : Any school professional or community provider/agency who serves on the crisis team or is involved in establishing and promoting school safety, including the development of emergency operations plans (e.g., school/district administrators, school mental health professionals, school resource officers/security officers, teachers, pupil services support personnel, nurses, front office staff, transportation directors, before and after school activities coordinators, community providers); optimal for members of school/district/community crisis teams to attend together.
WS1 Learner Objectives: This workshop will help participants:

Reduce anxiety and fear associated with school safety planning.
Increase knowledge and confidence associated with emergency operations planning and multitiered crisis response.
Identify the importance of balanced, comprehensive approach to crisis preparedness to include the five mission areas.
Understand how the Incident Command System is used to respond to multiple emergencies.
Identify the key components of effective school EOPs.
Discuss guidelines for exercising and evaluating EOPs.

Register using the link below:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/prepare-workshop-1-2026-tickets-1983540039654?aff=oddtdtcreator
Please reach out to Sunshine Zuk at sunshine.zuk@aiu3.net if you have any questions regarding the event. We hope to see you there!

Youth Mental Health First Aid - 2026
2026-04-29 08:00 - 16:00 | Allegheny Intermediate Unit, East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, USA, 475 East Waterfront Drive, Homestead, PA, 15120, United States
Overview

Learn to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental health and substance use challenges among children and adolescents ages 12-18.

In this training, learn to identify:

Common signs and symptoms of mental health challenges in this age group, including anxiety, depression, eating disorders, and attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD).
Common signs and symptoms of substance use challenges.
How to interact with a child or adolescent in crisis.
How to connect the youth with help.
Expanded content on trauma, substance use, selfcare, and the impact of social media and bullying.

Course takes place in-person at the AIU Central Office, IMS Room. Breakfast and lunch will be included!
Follow the link to register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/youth-mental-health-first-aid-2026-tickets-1983613462263?aff=oddtdtcreator
Contact sunshine.zuk@aiu3.net with any questions regarding this event.

Girls in Gaming Summit (Student Opportunity!)
2026-05-04 10:00 - 13:30 | Entertainment Technology Center, 700 Technology Drive, Pittsburgh, PA, 15219, United States
Bring your students to the Girls in Gaming Summit to meet women in gaming and discover diverse career paths.

Join us for the second Girls in Gaming Summit, an event designed to ignite and foster interest in video games, interactive entertainment, themed amusement, and other related professional pursuits.
During this unique summit, educators and their students will get the opportunity to hear from accomplished women as they share their journeys and insights. The summit’s speakers, mostly gamers themselves, play important roles in the gaming industry, and reflect the diversity of career options that exist in this field.
Don’t miss this chance to open new doors for your students and inspire the next generation of gaming innovators.

*Important Registration Notes:

Each school may bring up to about 10 students to attend this innovative summit. Only complete one registration per school. No specific student information will be required upon registration, just an estimated number of students attending; we will collect this closer to the event.
This event filled up quickly last year! Due to limited space, please only register if you fully expect to be able to attend (though we understand that things come up!).
If you attended last year, we kindly ask you to bring a different group of students so a greater number of individuals will ultimately be able to access this unique opportunity.

Background | Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center houses a graduate program designed to help students prepare for careers in interactive entertainment as it is applied across different fields. Through a curriculum that emphasizes leadership, communication, and innovation, the ETC seeks to turn talented students from myriad professional and academic backgrounds into creative professionals.
Who Should Attend | Middle and high school educators interested in encouraging girls to participate in gaming and to explore the diverse range of careers that exist in the industry. These educators should bring students who participate in gaming, are interested in participate in gaming, or may be well-suited for one of the many career opportunities in the gaming industry. This is a great event for girls to see women represented in the field.
Lunch will be provided.

Local Task Force 3 Meeting
2026-05-06 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.aiu3.net/event/local-task-force-3-meeting-9/
Local Task Force 3 Meetings are VIRTUAL only.
Link to Online Meeting will be sent to Task Force members.

Get Hyped About Hydroponics
2026-05-12 08:30 - 15:30 | 831 W North Ave, 831 West North Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15233, United States
Discover hydroponics for schools, including resources and related lessons (and enjoy a hydroponically grown salad bar for lunch).

Interested in learning about hydroponics and how it can fit in your school? This workshop will lead you through how hydroponics works, various types of systems, and STEELS-aligned lessons and projects that engage and excite students. Learn how to utilize the engineering design process with students to solve problems involving environmental literacy and sustainability and come ready to enjoy our own hydroponically grown salad bar for lunch!
**This workshop will take place at the Fluxspace Experience Center where participants will have an opportunity to interact with a Flex Farm hydroponics system.
Background | The mission of Fluxspace is to help educators, schools, and organizations experience the future of learning environments and understand the innovative programs, products, experiences, and mindsets that should take place in them.
Who Should Attend | K-12 educators interested in learning about hydroponics
Lunch will be provided (featuring a salad bar with hydroponically-grown lettuce that we will harvest together!)
Special Location | Fluxspace is moving! By the time of this workshop, they will be located at 831 W. North Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15233. Free parking is available across the street from their new building.

Local Task Force 3 Meeting
2026-06-03 18:30 - 20:30 | https://www.aiu3.net/event/local-task-force-3-meeting-10/
