2024 Spring Conference
Growing Together: Learning, Listening & Leading 
May 1-3, 2024
Hilton Paper Valley, Appleton 

Pre-Conference Workshop:
Writing Compliant and Implementable IEPs
Mary Gerbig and Aleah Loll, Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet
(Only available as add-on with conference registration for members and their teams.)
$90 per person

Conference Fees:

  • Members $375
  • Team discount available for members bringing a team of 3 or more from the same organization. Please use the code TEAM when registering each team member.
  • Non-members $450  
  • Register Today!

Thursday Keynote: Empowering Student Voice: The Role of Qualitative Data in School Improvement Cycles

Percy Brown Jr.

Percy Brown, Jr. has over 20 years of combined experience in K-12 education as a counselor for students of color, instructional resource teacher for culturally responsive classroom practices, dean of students, central office administrator, and adjunct instructor in higher education. He provides school districts with district and building-level coaching and strategic planning, professional development for district staff, and ongoing support for students and families.

Madison365 recognized Percy Brown, Jr. as one of Wisconsin’s most influential African Americans. Percy has received the Urban League of Greater Madison President’s Rising Star Award and was acknowledged as the Educator of the Year by the 100 Black Men of Madison, Wisconsin. He is serving his second term on Governor Evers Council on Equity and Inclusion for Wisconsin.

Percy Brown Jr. comes from a family of civil rights activists who fought for equal rights in the Jim Crow South during the 1950s and 60s in Bolivar County, Mississippi. Percy’s family activism is part of the lineage he carries into his work as an educational leader.

 

 Friday Keynote: Changing the Narrative-Lead from Where You Are 

Joe Sanfelippo

Dr. Joe Sanfelippo recently retired after spending the last 26 years in the building and the final 12 as the Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Fall Creek, WI. The Fall Creek School District was named an Innovative District twice during that time by the International Center for Leadership in Education.

Joe is the author of multiple books, including the best-selling Hacking Leadership and Lead From Where You Are. His 1-Minute Walk to Work video series has over 1 Million views. He was selected as 1 of 117 Future Ready Superintendents and 1 of 50 Superintendents as a Personalized Learning Leader by the US Department of Education. Education Dive named Joe their National Superintendent of the Year in 2019.

 Additional Conference content includes:  Act 20 update for special education leaders, instructional leadership, centering student voice, adaptive leadership and more including WCASS Conversations. These highly interactive, facilitated conversations about what matters for your work are a great way to learn and build deeper connections with your colleagues! 


WCASS Connection Webinar: 

Act 20 Personal Reading Plans and IEPs-The Role of the School Psychologist

Join us Wednesday, April 3 from 12:00-1:00 for a special presentation with DPI Consultants Tim Peerenboom and Rose Kilmurray. Tim and Rose will share the presentation they offered at the WSPA Conference. Click here to register! Participants will:

  • Understand the required components of Personal Reading Plans
  • Compare and contrast the parental notification and progress monitoring requirements of Act 20 and the IDEA and WI PI 11 laws.
  • Review if, when and how to incorporate Personal Reading Plans within an IEP when appropriate.
  • Understand the potential roles and leadership opportunities for school psychologists in the implementation of Act 20.

WCASS is offering this learning to ensure there is consistent messaging across positions to support effective implementation of Act 20 in districts and schools. 

There will also be a special session on Act 20 Considerations for Special Education with Laura Adams and Patti Williams at the WCASS Spring Conference.


Welcome

Our organization exists to serve student services leaders in Wisconsin. We recognize that while the context for the work varies, the commitment to ensure each and every student has what they need to learn is common. We focus on professional learning and shaping educational policies and practices and are always looking for new ways to serve our members. If we can ever be of service to you, please do not hesitate to contact us. We are here to serve you!

Mission: WCASS is an organization devoted to students and student services leaders through professional learning, policy and legislative advocacy, and professional networking. 

Vision: Be the most valuable organization for student services professionals in Wisconsin.

WCASS is committed to:

  • being an organization that is safe and welcoming.
  • valuing and honoring diverse experiences and ideas.
  • creating a professional network of leaders to ensure connections and resource sharing.
  • advocating so all students receive equitable academic, functional, and social/emotional opportunities.
  • developing and sustaining collaborative relationships among organizations who serve Wisconsin’s students and their families.
  • ensuring members have access to timely, relevant and useful professional learning.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 608/245-2511 

The Benefits of Membership

WCASS is a statewide organization devoted to improving services to children with special needs by promoting professional leadership, providing opportunity for study of issues pertaining to special services, and facilitating communication and collaboration on behalf of special needs students. 

Read: Top 10 Reasons to Join WCASS
Click below to learn more about member benefits and our different member types.

Join Today

Who We Are

The Wisconsin Council of Administrators of Special Services, Ltd. (WCASS) is a professional organization comprised of over 350 members who administer and support special education programs throughout the state of Wisconsin. The organization was founded in 1994 by a group of special education administrators and pupil services administrators, coming together to share resources and information to better serve students in Wisconsin. The new organization chose the title that merged our two names.

Find Out More