Teacher Training

The Spark Conference: LCA Reignites Creativity and Innovation in Elementary Education

Lakewood Catholic Academy is a leader in elementary education and provides professional development opportunities for other elementary school educators and administrators.  Created in 2018, The Spark Conference has become one of Cleveland’s largest conferences for elementary educators.  The annual August event is a first class professional development experience that inspires and energizes teachers for the school year ahead.  The event features both nationally recognized leaders in education as well as breakout sessions led by Lakewood Catholic Academy teachers and administrators. Additionally, each year outstanding teachers are nominated by their principals to win one of the prestigious Spark Teacher Awards.

The 2026 Spark Conference will be held on August 4th and will feature William Martinez!  

William Martinez will be sharing his presentation SIGNing the Song: You Have Changed My Life and The Power of BELONGing inspiring teachers to remember how incredible their impact is on their students. SIGNing the Song and The Power of BELONGing combine American Sign Language (ASL) with song and shares his inspirational story of growing up in a deaf household, discovering music, and celebrating the massive impact that one teacher had on his life. He also introduces how ASL in the classroom can create a new and effective way for teachers to communicate with their students. He is extremely honored to have SIGNing the Song: You Have Changed My Life be the DVD companion to one of the most successful educational books on the market: The First Days of School: How to Become an Effective Teacher (Fifth Edition) by Harry and Rosemary Wong. In fact, the DVD has won many awards including two Telly Awards for ‘Motivational Non-Broadcast Video’ and multiple AVA Digital Awards including the platinum award for ‘On-Camera Talent’ award for William as a Motivational Speaker! The highest award given!

What Teachers are Saying . . .

“Please accept my heartfelt gratitude for the Spark experience.  It was the perfect way to “fire up” for the school year.  I stand in awe of the LCA staff and the excellence that is poured into the event – it was masterful and magical!  Kudos to every single individual – they treated us royally!”

“Thank you very much for planning such an awesome professional development day for teachers in the diocese.  The speakers were excellent!  The energy was palpable.  The excitement was just what we needed to start the year!  Every detail was noticed.  Thank you for sharing your vision and expertise with so many teachers who otherwise would not have had the experience of first rate presentations!”