Welcome to the 2025 Pretzel Winter Institute! Please select sessions appropriate to your role! Most sessions will be held at Freeport Middle School and Freeport High School while a few will be at Empire Elementary School and Lincoln-Douglas Elementary School. Remember to check session descriptions the night before the Institute to confirm times and locations. If you have any questions, please contact Alex T. Valencic, our Professional Learning Coordinator, at alex.valencic@fsd145.org. Thank you!
In this keynote, Dr. Mahmood shares her journey from a struggling student searching for belonging to an educator who embraces her identity as a teaching superpower. Discover her five transformative strategies that not only keep her passionate about being a teacher, but also can help S.H.A.P.E. a school culture of belonging. Through personal stories, vulnerability, and humor, Dr. Mahmood will equip you to celebrate diversity, implement practical instructional strategies, and foster positive, inclusive learning environments.
