LEUSD Professional Development 2025-2026

Character Strong is a comprehensive program specifically designed for middle school teachers to support the development of positive character traits and social-emotional skills in their students. This unique program provides educators with a wide range of resources and tools to help cultivate a positive and inclusive school culture where students feel connected and supported. At its core, Character Strong aims to instill values such as empathy, resilience, and kindness in young adolescents, equipping them with the essential skills needed to navigate the complexities of adolescence and build meaningful relationships with their peers. Through a variety of engaging activities, lesson plans, and discussions, teachers are able to create a safe and nurturing environment where students can develop their emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills. With its focus on character development and social-emotional learning, Character Strong empowers teachers to not only educate students academically but also cultivate their moral compass and ethical decision-making skills. By integrating these principles into their daily interactions and curriculum, teachers can help students become responsible and compassionate individuals who are prepared to contribute positively to their communities. In a rapidly changing world where young people are faced with numerous challenges and pressures, Character Strong provides middle school teachers with the tools and support they need to promote character development and resilience in their students. By fostering a culture of kindness and empathy, educators can create a school environment where all students feel valued and respected, setting them up for success both in and out of the classroom. In conclusion, Character Strong is a valuable resource for middle school teachers seeking to promote positive character traits and social-emotional skills in their students. By embracing this program, educators can make a profound impact on the lives of young adolescents, nurturing their personal growth and fostering a sense of belonging and connection within the school community.

Room TBD

For Middle School teachers who will be teaching the REWARDS curriculum this fall, we will meet to reacquaint you with the curriculum, online portal, Canvas resource course, and practice the routines.

This PD session will take place at Elsinore Middle School in the Library.
Please bring your teacher laptop.
Secondary teachers from any LEUSD site are welcome to join.

Get your gradebooks set up the right way from the start. This workshop will guide you step-by-step through setting up Infinite Campus and Canvas so they sync automatically. You will follow a live tutorial with time to complete each step as we go. We will also walk through the most common syncing issues and how to avoid them.
You will leave with:
• Access to the updated tutorial presentation
• Clear troubleshooting tips you can use throughout the year
• Parent Canvas App handouts customized for your school that you can duplicate or send digitally
As more curriculum and tools move online, this session gives you the support, time, and compensation needed to set up your gradebook efficiently and confidently.

You can attend any session that fits your schedule. All IC and Canvas Gradebook Setup sessions are open to secondary teachers.

​Presentation HERE​​​

This session introduces secomndary educators to essential Microsoft Office 365 tools with a focus on simplifying daily workflows and saving time.
Participants will explore practical uses of Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, and Teams to support lesson planning, communication, collaboration with colleagues, and file organization. The emphasis is on realistic, classroom-ready workflows teachers can use immediately, not on advanced features or student tech use.

This session is designed for secondary teachers who want a clear, approachable foundation in Office 365 that supports their work now and builds confidence with district tools.

A couple of important notes:

• This session is invite-only and specifically geared toward middle school campus supervisors. 
• Participating sites will need to use site funds to cover attendance for their campus supervisors.

🐾 ELSINORE MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTS 🐾
PBIS Professional Development
For Campus Supervisors
How to Get Cooperation Without Power Struggles

📅 Date: Saturday, May 2, 2026
⏰ Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Location: Elsinore Middle School - library

Facilitators:
👩‍🏫 Veronica Martinez
Academic & Engagement Specialist, EMS
👨‍💼 Steve Clark
Assistant Principal, EMS

About the Training:
Join us for a powerful, PBIS-focused session designed specifically for Campus Supervisors.
Learn practical strategies to:

• Build positive relationships with students 
• De-escalate conflict 
• Gain cooperation without power struggles
• Respond, not react, in challenging situations 

Important Information:
✅ EMS Campus Supervisors will be paid to attend (site-funded)
📣 Other sites are welcome to send staff
💡 Middle School Sites may choose to fund their own employees to participate
Let’s build stronger systems, together.

Support students. Strengthen connections. Lead with ROAR. 🐯