In March 2026, educators from across the region will gather in Sofia, Bulgaria for the 36th Annual CEESA Conference at Grand Hotel Millennium, hosted by the Anglo-American School of Sofia.

If you’re looking for practical, classroom-ready ways to strengthen inclusion, remove barriers to learning, and support student wellbeing, you’ll want to plan your CEESA 2026 schedule around April Remfrey.

April Remfrey is an international educational consultant with more than 20 years of teaching experience. Through Remfrey Educational Consulting, she partners with international schools to build inclusive learning environments that embrace neurodiversity and strengthen support for students with disabilities through audits, coaching, and tailored professional development.

Her sessions at CEESA 2026 offer a powerful blend of inclusive design (Universal Design for Learning) and real-world strategies that help educators respond effectively to learner variability and behavior escalation, while keeping classrooms safe, engaged, and student-centered.

About April Remfrey

April brings deep expertise from public, private, and international school contexts across three countries, and she pairs that experience with a clear, systems-minded approach to inclusion.

In addition to consulting work, she contributes to the wider inclusion community through professional service and collaboration, supporting the shared goal many international schools are working toward: ensuring every learner is seen, supported, and able to thrive.

What you’ll take away from April’s sessions at CEESA 2026

April’s learning experiences are designed to help educators move from good intentions to inclusive practices that actually hold up in the day-to-day reality of schools. Expect takeaways like:

• How to design learning environments that reduce barriers before they appear
• Small, high-impact UDL shifts for both primary and secondary classrooms
• Reflection tools that turn professional learning into actionable next steps
• Support strategies for students during moments of escalation, plus the recovery work that comes after
• A stronger, shared language for inclusion that helps teams align across classrooms and tiers

Sessions featuring April Remfrey

Creating Adaptive and Engaging Primary Learning Environments through UDL Principles

Date: March 12, 2026
Location: Anglo-American School of Sofia
Format: Full-day pre-conference workshop

This immersive, hands-on day invites educators to experience UDL in action through interactive learning stations, collaborative problem-solving, and design challenges rooted in real classroom realities. You’ll explore student-led approaches, reflect on inclusive teaching practices, and connect your goals directly to the UDL Guidelines so the work becomes strategic, not just inspirational.

Short takeaways:

• Practical strategies for flexible, engaging primary learning spaces
• Tools to remove barriers for learners who need different access points
• A clear way to map classroom and school goals to the UDL Framework
  
  

From Insight to Action: Reflecting and Planning for Inclusive Transformation

Date: March 13, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

Designed as a reflective follow-up, this session creates space to process learning, share insights with peers, and plan next steps for applying UDL in your own context. If you value professional learning that leads to concrete action, this hour helps you turn “great ideas” into realistic commitments.

Short takeaways:

• Structured reflection to clarify what matters most
• Priority-setting and goal-building for implementation
• Community and accountability to sustain inclusive change
  
  

Sparking Possibility: A UDL Taster for Primary Educators

Date: March 13, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

Curious about UDL but unsure where to begin? This practical session introduces the core principles of UDL using relatable examples and quick activities that translate directly into primary classrooms. Expect approachable shifts that help you increase engagement while supporting diverse learning needs.

Short takeaways:

• The three core UDL principles: Engagement, Representation, Action & Expression
• Simple classroom changes that make a meaningful difference
  A fresh UDL lens for reimagining day-to-day routines
  
  

Designing for All: A UDL Taster for Secondary Educators

Date: March 14, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

Secondary classrooms are complex, content-heavy, and full of learner variability. This fast-paced session introduces UDL strategies that support agency, access, and motivation, without asking teachers to rebuild everything from scratch.

Short takeaways:

• Practical tools for flexible learning in content-rich settings
• Strategies that support student agency and equitable access
• Reflection prompts to identify small changes with big impact
  
  

Safe, Seen, and Supported: De-escalation strategies and supports for student behavior

Date: March 14, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium
Co-speaker: Amanda Frank, Behavior Consultant, Remfrey Educational Consulting

Escalated behavior can disrupt learning and strain classroom safety. This workshop focuses on how educators can support students before, during, and after escalation, including recognizing early signs, responding effectively in the moment, and using reflective recovery practices that strengthen future regulation and learning.

Short takeaways:

• Proactive strategies for noticing early escalation signs
• In-the-moment tools to support safety and reduce escalation
• Recovery and reflection practices that rebuild regulation skills
  
  

Who should prioritize April’s sessions?

April’s sessions will be especially valuable for:

• Learning support and inclusion teams
• Primary and secondary classroom teachers
• Counselors, wellbeing staff, and student services teams
• Principals and school leaders building inclusive systems
  MTSS/RTI-aligned teams strengthening tiered support
  
  

Thanks to Our Sponsors

CEESA 2026 is made possible through the generous support of our partners and VIP members, including
the Office of Overseas Schools, Insurance Services International, International Schools Services, Clements Worldwide and ISAM360.

See you in Sofia

CEESA 2026 is built around the dynamic interplay between teaching as a craft and a calling, and this year’s program invites educators to deepen engagement, strengthen human connection, and reimagine classrooms as places of joyful purpose and trust.

If inclusion is part of your school’s strategic direction, April Remfrey’s sessions will help you leave Sofia with practical tools, a clearer plan, and renewed momentum to design learning that works for every student.

Conference venue details and hotel information are available through CEESA, with Grand Hotel Millennium as the conference venue.