Nebraska Afterschool Conference

A block of rooms at the Fairfield Inn has been set up for both Wednesday (9/23) and Thursday (9/24) nights. The group rate is $144.00/night, plus tax (when applicable). The Fairfield Inn offers a suite of amenities, including:

• Indoor pool and whirlpool
• Fitness Center
• On-site restaurant
• On-site laundry
• Free Wi-Fi
• Free buffet & hot breakfast

Reservations can be made by contacting the Fairfield Inn at +1 (308) 236-4200. Make sure to let them know you are with the GetConnected Conference to secure the group rate.

*Note: The group rate is only available for the reserved block of rooms. Once all the rooms in the block are reserved, standard rates and fees will apply.

The following is a simple conference schedule. See the “Workshops” tab for a list of workshops offered during each session!

Registration/Check-In/Breakfast: 7:00-8:30 am (on-site registration will be available but does not guarantee a meal)

Workshop I: 8:30-9:20 am

Break/Networking with Walk and Talk Tables: 9:20-9:40 am

Workshop II: 9:40-10:30 am

Break/Networking with Walk and Talk Tables: 10:30-10:50 am

Workshop III: 10:50-11:40 am

Lunch and Keynote: 11:45 am-1:00 pm

Break/Networking with Walk and Talk Tables: 1:00-1:20 pm

Workshop IV: 1:20-2:10 pm

Awards: 2:15-3:15 pm

Conference ends at 3:15 pm.

Monica Dixon, Senior Director of Solutions- Search Institute

Behavior is a Signal: Reframing Student Behavior Through Developmental Relationships

As Senior Director of Solutions, Monica Dixon leads the design and continuous improvement teams who are dedicated to cultivating and inspiring the youth support ecosystem that provides young people with more equitable access to the relationships and resources they need to thrive. In her role she is focused on creating and improving Search Institute’s solutions portfolio including resources, tools, professional learning experiences, measurement tools and continuous improvement that empowers organizations to make meaningful change in their programs and practices.

Prior to joining Search Institute, Monica led statewide, district and school planning, professional learning, and implementation and evaluation of an Equity-based Multi-Tiered System of Support (EBMTSS) with the SWIFT Education Center. Her passion for youth development began over two decades ago, while working with an out of school time program, supporting youth in under-resourced communities, which led her to become a high school social studies teacher for 17 years, furthering her dedication to improving outcomes for young people.

She spent more than 20 years in a large urban school district as a youth driven and justice focused classroom teacher, school, and district leader, working to close the gap with historically marginalized students in AP and Honors Courses.

Monica has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education and an MS in Secondary Education from University of Nebraska at Omaha, and an Ed.S. in K-12 Superintendency from Northwest Missouri State University. As a practitioner with decades of experience serving youth in and out of school, Monica believes that true expertise rests with listening, learning and using systems thinking and implementation science to organize adults and communities to prioritize a true sense of belonging for youth.