This one-day workshop provided by the Muskegon Area Intermediate School District aims to teach strategies for establishing positive home-school partnerships and effectively responding to challenges. The workshop covers obstacles to partnerships, responding to angry or troubled parents, building strong relationships, conducting effective meetings, communication strategies, and addressing accusations. Presenters include experts from the school district and Department of Human Services. The event is open to administrators, teachers, and support staff and will provide lunch and opportunities for continuing education credits.

1. Presenter: Steve Vitto, M.A., Behavioral Consultant and Crisis intervention Instructor, MAISD
Special Guests: Jane Johnson, Director of Muskegon County Department of Human Services &
Carolyn Smith-Gerdes, M.Ed., Assistant Director for Special Education, MAISD
Intended Audience: General and special education administrators, teachers, support staff, and
paraprofessionals.
Program: This one day in-service will provide research and experience based strategies for responding to
challenging home-school partnerships. In the workshop you will learn:
 obstacles to establishing positive home-school partnerships,
 how to effectively respond to angry or troubled parents,
 strategies for building strong partnerships with parents,
 strategies for effective and controlled home-school meetings,
 strategies for effective communication, and
 how to respond to accusations, insults, denial, defensiveness, unresponsiveness, outbursts, etc.
 Cultural perspectives on parenting.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Sign-in begins at 8:00 a.m.
Muskegon Area ISD, 630 Harvey St., Muskegon, MI
Deadline: Monday, October 12, 2009
Cost: $25.00
Lunch will be provided
SB-CEU credit pending. An additional $10.00 fee applies if you would like SB-CEU for this workshop.
Bringing Out the Best in Challenging Home-School Partnerships ~ MAISD
October 22,2009 8:30 a.m. –4:00 p.m. (Sign-in begins at 8:00 a.m.)
Registration Deadline is Monday, October 12,2009
Register on-line at: www.muskegonisd.org
Please send your $25.00 check payable to MAISD to:
Registration, MAISD, 630 Harvey Street, Muskegon, MI 49442 No phone registrations, please.
For more information, contact Latesha Johnson at (231) 767-7277 or ljohnson@muskegonisd.org
It is the policy of the MAISD that no staff member, candidate for employment, program participant, or recipient of services shall experience discrimination
on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, creed or ancestry, age, gender, height, weight, marital status, or disability. The MAISD is an equal
opportunity employer. Inquiries related to issues of discrimination on the basis of disability should be directed to the Assistant Director for Special
Education at (231) 767-7249. All other discrimination inquiries or requests for special accommodations to participate in a program, event, or activity should
be directed to the Human Resources Program Director at (231) 767-7213.