STLinSTL 2024: Full Schedule

7:15am CDT

Breakfast

Thursday May 30, 2024 7:15am - 8:00am CDT
Brauer Hall

7:30am CDT

Behavioral Risk Assessment Team Training

A 7-hour training module for a school’s selected behavioral risk assessment team to respond to threats and concerning behaviors. Training includes why there is a need for risk assessment, how the team works together to assess risk for violence, what data/information is used to make an assessment, information sharing, and how to develop a management plan using the assessment results. Teams will use real case scenarios to practice skills learned during training.

Breakfast and lunch included in training.

Thursday May 30, 2024 7:30am - 4:00pm CDT

Student Support Professionals Sessions

Audience Student Support Professionals, School Leaders

8:00am CDT

Keynote Session: The Art of Thinking Differently

Education needs to reflect on its purpose. Why do we educate? We can all agree, delivering content is a zero-sum game - with schools rewarded by improving test scores but with students inevitably becoming disillusioned and disinterested in a life of learning. Our real purpose must be to catalyze thinkers, thinkers who are curious, who imagine, thinkers who creatively engage. Art can be a surprising catalyst for developing new thinking, from ah-ha moments triggered by seeing something new to experimental material play that leads to new connections and intrinsic collaboration. Creativity is ultimately about accessing our imagination, building tolerance for ambiguity, and humanity’s innate need to connect - to ideas and one another. Learn how experiments in informal learning environments have shifted the educational purpose dramatically.

Keynote Speakers

Cindy Meyers Foley

Executive Director, Grand Rapids Art Museum

Cindy Meyers Foley is the Executive Director of the Grand Rapids Art Museum. An accomplished educator, writer, and speaker, Foley is a seasoned thought leader in the arts sector, with 30 years of experience in helping museums cultivatecuriosity and drive social engagement. Foley... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Brauer Auditorium

Keynote

9:15am CDT

A Palette of Perspectives: Delving into Diverse Voices

This session presents an opportunity for educators to broaden their literary horizons and embrace a more inclusive approach when selecting literary works to bring into the classroom.
As educators, you can anticipate embarking on a captivating journey through a multitude of vibrant voices. This thoughtfully curated session will unveil a rich spectrum of narratives that not only reflect the depth and breadth of human experiences but also shine a light on underrepresented stories and unique cultural expressions.
By partaking in this session, you will have the opportunity to discover, appreciate, and celebrate the kaleidoscope of voices that contribute to the rich tapestry of literature. It's an invitation to move beyond the familiar and encounter narratives that challenge and inspire, encouraging personal and professional growth.

Speakers

Alicia Sorensen

English Teacher, The Principia

I graduated from Northeastern State University with a degree in English Education in December of 2007. Since that time, I have worked in three different school settings and obtained a Masters Degree in Education and Innovation from Webster University. My career began at a Title One... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

1-Hr Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

9:15am CDT

Caring For and Feeding the Student Brain

Our students may come to school without one item or another on any given day, but the one thing they will always bring with them is their brain. No matter the subject area, education is about helping our students change their brains. The more we know about how the brain learns, the more we can implement effective practices that can have a positive impact on learning. Additionally, the more we know, the more we can impart to our students. This is empowering knowledge for our learners.

Speakers

Denise Ford

Gifted Specialist/Teacher, North Kirkwood Middle School

Passionate about Gifted Education, innovation, creativity, and learning.

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

1-Hr Session, Mind Brain and Education Science

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Learning Specialists, Librarians, School Leaders

9:15am CDT

Empowering Student Led Learning and Assessment

True learning is accomplished when students have agency and choice about what they are learning. However, as Roland Barth states, “Teacher learning and student learning go hand in hand or they don’t go at all.” This session will review the leading dispositions that need to be addressed to successfully implement student-led learning. The art and science of teaching will be enhanced by providing much needed clarity on student dispositions and academic content. This session will explore teacher resources that will ultimately provide clarity on the rigor of the dispositions and scaffolded steps to support students in their learning journey.

Speakers

Sue Herrera

Educational Consultant, STEP Up Consulting

Sue Herrera’s career in education spans 37 years, during which she has held various roles, including Administrator, Instructional Coach, classroom teacher, mentor and Champion of Students. Her extensive experience in suburban, rural, and urban settings in grades K-6 has equipped... Read More →

Shauna Stephanchick

President, STEP Up

At STEP Up, we recognize systemic flaws in Missouri education, particularly in curriculum design. Amidst record-high teacher turnover, we advocate for replacing curriculum frustrations with curriculum innovation, and we're here to guide you through each step of this transformatio... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

1-Hr Session

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Learning Specialists, School Leaders

9:15am CDT

Incorporating Authentic Projects Into the College Prep Classroom

Do you work at a college prep or traditional model school but want to push the envelope a little? ARTful (Authentic, Relevant and Transferable) teaching by integrating authentic projects into student experiences has the capacity to move students from compliance to genuine interest. You can start small without sacrificing weeks of your class time and see the results of students’ critical thinking skills applied to your content. Authentic projects give students genuine opportunities to practice future ready skills such as cooperation and communication, and they allow students to push their creativity to the limits by creating a virtual museum exhibit for Cahokia Mounds, learning chemistry by creating a food truck business, or discovering energy and circuitry by wiring a basement or presenting to the St. Louis city planners about green energy. Participants of this workshop will learn the basic foundations of ARTful project learning and how to find an authentic audience, choose a meaningful project, and create an assessment that holds students to your high standards.

Speakers

Mark Russo

Integrated Studies Teacher, Principia School

Mark Russo began as a naturalist at state parks and outdoor education centers before finding his calling as a middle and high school classroom teacher. He has worked in traditional, non-traditional inner city classroom settings in Saint Paul, Minnesota since 2000, combining his love... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

1-Hr Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience High School Teachers, Middle School teachers

9:15am CDT

Harnessing the Power of Reading (K-4)

We will delve into Interactive Read Alouds, Shared Reading, Guided Reading, and Book Clubs to learn how we can obtain the optimal instructional value from each component of Reading Workshop. Bring your favorite read aloud book!

Featured Speakers

Jan Richardson, Ph.D.

Author, Education Consultant, & Reading Specialist

Jan Richardson, Ph.D., is an author, education consultant, former reading specialist, and classroom teacher (K-college). Her best-selling collection includes The Next Step Forward in Guided Reading (2016), The Next Step Forward in Word Study and Phonics (2019), and the RISE Intervention... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 11:30am CDT

Workshop, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Curriculum Specialists

9:15am CDT

Aligning Assessment to the Curriculum and Instruction

This hands-on workshop highlights the importance of connecting assessment to the curriculum and instruction. It teaches about content alignment and cognitive level alignment and how Webb’s Depth of Knowledge can be used to ensure students are assessed at the same level at which they are taught. Using interactive learning tools and classroom video snippets, the participants will analyze the alignment of various activities and assessments.

Featured Speakers

James H. Stronge, Ph.D.

President & CEO; Heritage Professor of Education, Stronge and Associates Educational Consulting, LLC; William & Mary School of Education

James H. Stronge, Ph.D., is President and CEO of Stronge and Associates Educational Consulting, LLC, an educational consulting company that focuses on teacher and leader effectiveness with projects internationally and in many U.S. states. He founded Stronge and Associates in 2011... Read More →

Leslie W. Grant

Associate Professor of Education, Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership Dept, William & Mary School of Education

Leslie W. Grant is an Associate Professor of Education in the Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership Department at William & Mary School of Education. Her research interests focus on classroom-based assessments and international comparisons of teaching and learning. She is... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

9:15am CDT

Introduction to Restorative Practices

This session will introduce the philosophy behind the use of circles as a tool to build community and a sense of safe space in classrooms and schools. In addition, participants will leave with the skills necessary to lead and facilitate various types of circles. Our time together will also highlight the power of leveraging student leadership through their training as circle leaders.

Featured Speakers

Michael Barolak

RestoreEDU; CharacterPlus, Founder & Educational Consultant; Program Facilitator

Michael Barolak is a transformational leader committed to creating, improving, and executing organizational systems that intentionally benefit all students, staff, and stakeholders. With twenty-four years in public education as a social worker and district administrator, Michael is... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, SEL and Global Competency

Audience Middle School Teachers, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, School Leaders, Librarians

9:15am CDT

Making Creativity Visible

What does creativity look like, feel like, and sound like in PreK-12 learning?

What are the habits of creativity, and what are the conditions in which creativity thrives?

How can we model, foster, and assess creativity in learning?

Engage in peer conversations around these questions while also participating in creative challenges and thinking routines that help us to unwrap the complexities of championing creativity in learning. Watch videos and discuss other documentation from art educators who are intentionally using the Think Like an Artist rubric to promote creative behaviors and mindsets. Walk away with simple projects to try and resources for promoting creativity in your school and community.

Keynote Speakers

Cindy Meyers Foley

Executive Director, Grand Rapids Art Museum

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers

9:15am CDT

Making Sense of AI for Educators and for Students

The true potential of AI in education lies not in who or what it will replace, but how it can assist humans to think and work in new ways. This session offers key considerations and practical applications for schools who are exploring how to support effective and responsible use of AI among educators and students. We’ll review the current landscape of AI in education, then practice using AI in two key areas:

Educations: How might teachers and administrators use AI to be more efficient, more effective, and more innovative?
Students: How might we work with students to deepen their AI literacy, to internalize the importance of academic integrity, and to monitor AI’s impact on their learning?

This is a hands-on session where we’ll work with a few different AI tools. Participants will be provided with guided activities and prompts. Through considering and applying AI, we’ll build our own AI literacy and reflect on AI’s impact on the work of our school communities.

Featured Speakers

Eric Hudson

Facilitator & Strategic Advisor, Eric Hudson Consulting

Eric Hudson is a facilitator and strategic advisor who supports schools in making sense of what’s changing in education. He specializes in learner-centered assessment, human-centered leadership, and strategic program design. Most recently, Eric spent ten years at Global Online Academy... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Embracing Technologies and Their Educational Impact

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

10:30am CDT

Becoming Whole: Integrating Wellbeing As Core Curriculum

The mission of many independent schools across the globe is to reach and teach the whole student and to cultivate learning and growth in mind, body, and spirit. The emergence of wellbeing as a vital element in education allows our schools to become even truer forms of what we say we are. Pomfret School offers one model of how to realize this through the creation of a Wellbeing department in our academic program. We've also developed an integrated curriculum, including a student-led social-emotional learning program called QUEST. Just as our schools have made thinking more visible in the classroom during the last decade, we have begun the journey to make wellbeing even more visible throughout all facets of school life. Come and learn how we have made wellbeing a central and sustainable component at Pomfret and how our students have taken the wheel to drive their own learning and skill development as they work to cultivate their own wellbeing both in and outside of the classroom.

Speakers

Bobby Fisher (bfisher25)

Director of Spiritual Life, Pomfret School

Bobby Fisher is an experienced Independent School educator of more than twenty-five years, working closely with students and teachers in a variety of roles. Bobby earned his B.A. in History from The University of Alabama and his M.Div. from Columbia Seminary in Decatur, Georgia. He... Read More →

Erin Fisher

Director of Wellbeing, Pomfret School

Erin Fisher is an experienced educator and coach; she is currently serving as Director of Wellbeing at Pomfret School where she teaches Wellbeing courses, oversees the QUEST program, and is the Head Coach of the Girls’ Varsity Soccer team. Erin has also been Director of Student... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session, SEL and Global Competency

Audience High School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, School Leaders

10:30am CDT

Igniting Motivation Through Culturally Responsive Teaching : Empowering Students for Success

Attendees will leave equipped with actionable tools to revolutionize their teaching approach and ignite motivation in their students. Attendees will have the opportunity to explore the different ways to be culturally responsive within their schools. This session is perfect for educators dedicated to transforming education and maximizing student success. Discover proven strategies to cultivate motivation, build positive teacher-student relationships, and overcome common obstacles in the classroom. Through interactive activities and real-world examples, attendees will gain practical insights to create an inspiring learning environment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to elevate your teaching game!

Speakers

Ivana Farrar

CEO, Motivating Minds for Achievement Solutions

For five fulfilling years, Ivana Farrar served as an English teacher at Trotwood Madison High School, where her primary focus extended beyond the mere delivery of academic standards. Her passion lay in crafting engaging content that not only imparted knowledge but also ignited the... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session

Audience High School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, School Leaders

10:30am CDT

Improving Relationships Through Student Conferencing

Engaging in meaningful conversations with your students is pivotal for fostering stronger connections within your classroom, community, and with parents. While it may sometimes feel daunting, cultivating genuine relationships is key to nurturing a cohesive learning environment.
Allocating dedicated conferencing time within your school day provides invaluable opportunities for one-on-one interactions. These sessions allow for discussions about students' emotions, strengths, weaknesses, areas for growth, goals, and memorable class activities. I'll share proven techniques honed over years of practice, emphasizing both rapport-building and accountability.
Throughout our hour-long session, we'll explore various conferencing strategies and platforms to cater to diverse preferences. Role-playing exercises will offer practical insights into effective communication. Ultimately, our aim is to enhance relationships with students and parents alike, ensuring mutual fulfillment of educational objectives.

Speakers

Robin Begley

Spanish teacher, Mary Institute and St. Louis Country Day

Thursday May 30, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

10:30am CDT

Simplifying STEM: Four Equitable Practices to Inspire Meaningful Learning

This presentation is designed to help educators consider best practices in integrated STEM learning experiences that are inclusive of all students and allows them to experience STEM as scientists, innovators, mathematicians, creators, engineers, and technology experts. In doing so, the focus of this presentation will be to simplify STEM into four equitable practices to inspire meaningful learning. Through active discussion and dissection of multiple classroom examples, attendees will come away with a strong sense of research-based best practices in STEM education, knowledge of the equity-based conceptual framework to engage all students with STEM, and practical teaching ideas to empower their students with meaningful STEM learning experiences.

Speakers

Christa Jackson

Professor of Mathematics, Science, and STEM Education, Saint Louis University

Christa Jackson is a Professor of Mathematics, Science, and STEM Education at Saint Louis University. She is the Founder and Director of the Institute for STEM Collaboration, Outreach, and Education (iSCORE), where she focuses on transforming the STEM community through fostering students... Read More →

Christine Pickett

Upper School Science Teacher, Mary Institute and Country Day School

Christine Pickett is an Upper School Science teacher at Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School as well as a doctoral candidate in Curriculum and Instruction in the School of Education at Saint Louis University. Her dissertation research is titled Authentic Research Experiences... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, School Leaders

10:30am CDT

Structuring Group Work for Both Teacher and Student Success

If group projects can be a powerful educational tool, why do so many teachers (and students) groan when the topic is brought up? After years of trying different tactics, I realized that I need to teach the collaboration skills needed right along with my content. This session will cover six ways to change how you structure your group projects to increase accountability, engage everyone in a meaningful way, and assess each individual student's contribution and skills.

Speakers

Mark Russo

Integrated Studies Teacher, Principia School

Thursday May 30, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session, SEL and Global Competency

Audience High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers

12:30pm CDT

Spotlight Session: The Power and Potential of AI in Schools

How might we focus on what generative AI enables in our schools rather than what it prevents? The rapid rise of artificial intelligence has introduced a powerful new tool in education and beyond, but it has also reinvigorated a longstanding conversation about what the role of technology should be in learning. This session will introduce four core competencies for effective use of AI in school and how to develop them. We’ll review the current state of generative AI in education, consider examples and use cases from a variety of schools, and reflect on our hopes and fears about the impact of AI on learning and wellness.

Featured Speakers

Eric Hudson

Facilitator & Strategic Advisor, Eric Hudson Consulting

Thursday May 30, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm CDT

Spotlight Session, Embracing Technologies and Their Educational Impact

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

12:30pm CDT

Streamlining the Curriculum to Teach Skills Students Need

Session description coming soon!

Featured Speakers

Connie White

Director of Learning Design & Innovation, Woodward Academy

Connie White is a visionary leader who has served as the Director of Learning Design & Innovation at Woodward Academy, in College Park, Georgia since 2015. She is a former upper school physics, chemistry, and math teacher who became one of the first Technology & Learning Directors... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm CDT

Spotlight Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

12:30pm CDT

World Class Schools: What Are They & How Do We Get There?

The noted psychologist Jean Piaget once stated, “The principal goal of education in the schools should be creating men and women who are capable of doing new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done.” The best school systems in the world do this, and do it remarkably well. That makes these schools world-class? This session will explore the key qualities of world-class schools, lessons learned from top-performing national school systems around the globe, and how to apply these qualities and lessons to improve our own schools or districts.

Featured Speakers

James H. Stronge, Ph.D.

President & CEO; Heritage Professor of Education, Stronge and Associates Educational Consulting, LLC; William & Mary School of Education

Leslie W. Grant

Associate Professor of Education, Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership Dept, William & Mary School of Education

Thursday May 30, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm CDT

Spotlight Session, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Librarians, School Leaders

12:30pm CDT

Teaching Writing: Decisions that Make a Difference (K-2)

Learn to manage whole and small group writing instruction that will allow you to differentiate according to student needs. This session will focus on using interactive and modeled writing with the whole class and guided writing for small group instruction. Bring three independent writing samples from your end-of-year assessment - include a sample from a struggling writer, an average writer, and an advanced writer.

Featured Speakers

Jan Richardson, Ph.D.

Author, Education Consultant, & Reading Specialist

Thursday May 30, 2024 12:30pm - 2:00pm CDT

Workshop

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Librarians, Learning Specialists

1:30pm CDT

Competency-Based Education: From Theory to Practice

The promise of competency-based education (CBE) is a learning environment where every student is empowered to do cognitively complex work that matters to them. In this session, we’ll simulate from start to finish the design of a competency-based assessment. We’ll articulate competencies, draft rubrics, and imagine new learning experiences that integrate some of the essential components of CBE (portfolios, student voice and change, reassessment) and that deprioritize practices that hinder student-led learning (grades, rigid pacing, standardized assessment). Participants will be provided with structured prompts and activities that allow them to craft assessments relevant to their specific practices and context. In addition, we’ll explore “AI Pathways” that consider how artificial intelligence can play a supporting role in designing and facilitating these assessments.

Featured Speakers

Eric Hudson

Facilitator & Strategic Advisor, Eric Hudson Consulting

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Workshop, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Learning Specialists, School Leaders

1:30pm CDT

Introduction to Restorative Practices

Featured Speakers

Michael Barolak

RestoreEDU; CharacterPlus, Founder & Educational Consultant; Program Facilitator

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Workshop, SEL and Global Competency

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

1:30pm CDT

Practicing Play

Play is the creative process in action. But play is on the decline, so therefore, creativity is on the decline. Play must be built into our everyday practice. In this session, we will unpack the connections between idea generation and play, as well as explore the two primary ways we play. Videos will give us insight into how artists play and how we can borrow from them to make play more commonplace in our classrooms. Finally, we will play.

Keynote Speakers

Cindy Meyers Foley

Executive Director, Grand Rapids Art Museum

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Workshop

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders, Librarians

1:30pm CDT

Qualities of Effective Teachers: Improving Schools One Classroom at a Time

Do teachers make a difference in how much and how well students learn? For anyone who has ever had an outstanding teacher, you know, emphatically, that the answer is yes. What we’ve known intuitively all along, we now know empirically: there is a direct, measurable link between teacher effectiveness and student success. In recent years, an empirical base has been developed which clearly indicates that the quality of teaching is a major determinant of gains in student learning. Teacher quality matters if we hope to improve our schools and increase student learning. The question we should ask is: What do effective teachers do and how do we identify those qualities most desired in the best teachers? This presentation will feature the latest research-to-practice finding detailed in Stronge’s book, Qualities of Effective Teachers (ASCD, 2018).

Featured Speakers

James H. Stronge, Ph.D.

President & CEO; Heritage Professor of Education, Stronge and Associates Educational Consulting, LLC; William & Mary School of Education

Leslie W. Grant

Associate Professor of Education, Educational Policy, Planning, and Leadership Dept, William & Mary School of Education

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Workshop

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

1:30pm CDT

Transforming Education: Strategies for Today's Educators

As academic landscapes evolve, staying at the forefront of educational trends, technologies, and skills is crucial. This session is designed for educators and leaders eager to meet the dynamic needs of today's students through innovative strategies and insights.

What You Will Learn:

Navigating Change: Understand how to adapt to educational shifts and the strategic importance of AI, enhancing student agency, and strengthening student-teacher relationships.
Future-Ready Skills: Gain an overview of essential skills for a graduate in today's world and how to implement them effectively in educational settings.
Practical Strategies: Explore actionable approaches for integrating these priorities into your curriculum and school culture.

Featured Speakers

Connie White

Director of Learning Design & Innovation, Woodward Academy

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Workshop, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders, Librarians

1:30pm CDT

What’s Your AI Position, Not Your Policy? A Futures Thinking Approach

This session is for education professionals and leaders seeking a plan of action for emerging and accelerating AI technologies. We explore key definitions, identify themes, uncover implications, and provide next steps when navigating the complexities of artificial intelligence in your organization by offering a framework for understanding AI’s impact on the learning organization’s people, its plans for protection, its proposals for putting AI into practice, and lastly, its programmatic offerings. Identifying the implications for people, protection, practice, and programs helps us shape the organization’s position, not policy. Using the 5 P’s Framework, we want to extend the work of strengthening one’s strategic position using “futures literacy” tools that get us to evaluate and adjust one’s position such that an organization is ready for any and all probable, plausible, and possible scenarios. Come dream, imagine, and plan for education’s future in an AI world using scenarios-based planning practices and design fiction methodologies that not only equip us to be ready, but empower us to shape the future of AI in schools towards values-based, preferable outcomes. This session will equip you with the tools to do this kind of (futures and systems) thinking, such that rigid policies can be replaced with a more agile positioning so that your school can live its mission both in the future and in the present, no matter what AI might disrupt next.

Featured Speakers

Jared Colley

Upper School Campus Head of Learning & Innovation, The Mount Vernon School

Jared Colley is the Upper Campus Head of Learning & Innovation at The Mount Vernon School in Atlanta, GA, where he also works as the resident Competency Based Education specialist, coaching and supporting teachers on CBE assessment and instructional practices. He also serves as a... Read More →

Matt Scully

Director of Digital Integration and Innovation, Providence Day School

Matt Scully, Director of Digital Integration and Innovation at Providence Day School in Charlotte, North Carolina, has served as an accreditation chair for the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS), a faculty member in the early years for the ATLIS Leadership Institute... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Workshop, Embracing Technologies and Their Educational Impact

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Elementary Level Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

1:45pm CDT

Inquiring Minds Want to Learn!

What is a good question – or rather, how does a good question prompt and promote inquiry? What does it mean to have an inquiring mind? How could educators and students address and approach teaching and learning with an inquiring mind? In this seminar, participants will learn how to address, approach, and assess teaching and learning experiences with an inquiring mind. They will learn how to rephrase the performance objectives of academic standards and learning targets into good questions that will build background knowledge, set the instructional focus, serve as assessments, and personalize learning. They will also learn how to plan and provide inquiry-based teaching and learning experiences driven by good questions that will prompt students to acquire foundational knowledge, demonstrate understanding, deepen awareness, and develop expertise.

Featured Speakers

Erik Francis

Author / Educator / Presenter, Maverik Education

Erik M. Francis, M.Ed., M.S., is an international author, educator, and presenter, and professional development provider with over 25 years of experience in education. He is the author of Inquiring Minds Want to Learn: Posing Good Questions to Promote Student Inquiry and Deconstructing... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

1:45pm CDT

Leveraging the Scholarship of How Learning Works: Three Key Learning Design Principles

In this session I will provide an overview of learning engineering. We will then explore three key learning science principles that can help you design and deliver effective learning experiences. With an understanding of the scholarship relating to how learning works (including factors that can impede it), we can design learning experiences that help keep learners engaged, paying attention, motivated, inspired, and on-task. The session will include opportunities for participants to learn through experiences, activities, and discussion.

Speakers

Julia Phelan

Co-Founder & Chief Learning Officer, To Eleven

Julia Phelan is the co-founder of To Eleven, an innovative education consultancy firm specialized in using evidence-based principles and approaches to develop, evaluate, and improve learning experiences. We create and deliver training to support the development of core competencies... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Mind Brain and Education Science

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists

1:45pm CDT

Righting the Ship: Bringing Meaning and Purpose to Assessment Practices

What do student grades mean? Is it possible to assess students fairly and equitably? While we are all aware of the importance of equity and justice within our institutions, those core values are often overlooked when it comes to assessment. In this session, participants will learn about the ways that faculty at Miss Porter's School have worked to enhance the learning experiences of their students by disrupting the inequities that have pervaded the educational landscape for too long.

Speakers

Nelle Andrews

Dean of Curriculum & Instruction, Miss Porter’s School

Nelle Andrews worked as an English teacher and field hockey coach for 19 years at a public high school in CT before moving to Miss Porter’s School in 2018. At Porter’s, Nelle has served as English Department Chair and Director of Faculty Growth, in addition to coaching the field... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, School Leaders

1:45pm CDT

The Ethics of AI in Education: Let’s Game It Out

The idea of incorporating AI-based tools like LLMs, image generators, and assistive agents immediately invokes big questions of ethics. As with any tool, there is potential for both good and harm, depending on the usage. Come play an AI Ethics ranking game with us as we consider all the angles, including teachers using AI to generate course material, students learning to use AI for research and creative projects, and schools creating policies to protect, limit, or encourage responsible AI experimentation. We'll share our own insights from the last year of using these tools, both personally and in our classrooms, and we'll be actively working with attendees on ideas, policies, tools, and predictions. Come ready to think critically!

Speakers

Gwyneth Connell

Director of the Grauer Family Institute for Excellence and Innovation in Education, Pomfret School

A veteran of independent school education, Gwyneth Connell brings a breadth and depth of experience to her role leading academic innovation at Pomfret School. Over the course of her career, she has taught history at Millbrook School in New York and Packer Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn... Read More →

Josh Lake

Science Department Head, Pomfret School

Josh Lake has been teaching science at Pomfret School in northeast CT for 22 years, including astronomy, physics, engineering, and computer programming. He has delved deeply into the recent advancements in AI, LLMs, and computer based image generation, and he's been actively experimenting... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Embracing Technologies and Their Educational Impact

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists

2:15pm CDT

Tips and Tools for Teaching Vocabulary and Word Study (Gr 3-4)

Vocabulary plays a critical role in a child’s ability to comprehend and write increasingly complex text. In this session, we will examine the research on vocabulary acquisition and explore engaging and effective techniques for expanding work knowledge. Bring your favorite read aloud book and three independent writing samples from your end-of-year assessment. Include a sample from a struggling writer, an average writer, and an advanced writer.

Featured Speakers

Jan Richardson, Ph.D.

Author, Education Consultant, & Reading Specialist

Thursday May 30, 2024 2:15pm - 3:45pm CDT

Workshop

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Curriculum Specialists

3:00pm CDT

Authentic Audiences: Designing "REAL" Learning Opportunities

What are the benefits of sharing work with authentic audiences? How can we give our students opportunities to “own” their learning by thinking differently about our courses and assessments? Students want to be immersed in purposeful work and they want to explore their passions. They are also eager for feedback that helps them grow. When we design our courses and assessments with students at the center, students experience “real” and deeper learning. Engaging with authentic audiences is one important way to enhance learning experiences for our students. In this session, participants will hear about specific projects and examples of this work, with insights from both students and educators.

Speakers

Nelle Andrews

Dean of Curriculum & Instruction, Miss Porter’s School

Thursday May 30, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

1-Hr Session

Audience High School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, School Leaders

3:00pm CDT

Rethinking Depth of Knowledge (DOK)

Depth of Knowledge continues to be a focus and priority in education - especially now as schools and staff reconsider how to engage students in rigorous teaching and learning. However, how does DOK as a concept and framework shift perspectives and practices pertaining to rigor? In this seminar. participants will learn what exactly Depth of Knowledge is and how it measures the cognitive rigor of academic standards, curricular activities, and assessment items. They will also learn how the DOK levels can be used as a multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) for delivering instruction, responding to intervention (RTI), addressing and assessing learning loss, and extending or enriching student learning. Most importantly, participants will learn how Depth of Knowledge redefines rigor by clarifying what exactly students must learn and how deeply students must understand and use their learning.

Featured Speakers

Erik Francis

Author / Educator / Presenter, Maverik Education

Thursday May 30, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

3:00pm CDT

Revolutionizing Education Together: Embracing Student-Centric Pedagogy Across Diverse Disciplines

In this transformative session, educators from various disciplines will embark on a journey to reimagine the very foundations of education. We will delve deep into the principles of student-centric pedagogy, exploring how it can be tailored to meet the unique needs of diverse subjects, from psychology and sociology to mathematics, literature, and the sciences.

Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of the theoretical frameworks that underpin student-centric learning, exploring the intersection of psychology and sociology in shaping inclusive educational practices. We will dissect case studies and real-world examples, analyzing the impact of student-centered approaches on academic performance, engagement, and overall well-being.

Practical strategies will take center stage as we collectively brainstorm and develop innovative teaching methodologies. Work collaboratively with fellow educators to create adaptable lesson plans, leverage technology, and integrate experiential learning opportunities that empower students to take an active role in their educational journey.

Moreover, our discussion will extend beyond the classroom, exploring ways to foster a culture of inclusivity within educational institutions. Address the challenges and celebrate the successes of implementing student-centric pedagogy, all while cultivating a supportive network of like-minded educators.

By the end of this session, participants will leave equipped with actionable insights, a toolkit of diverse pedagogical approaches, and a renewed sense of purpose in cultivating an inclusive and student-centered educational environment. Join us in revolutionizing education together, transcending disciplinary boundaries for a brighter and more equitable future in teaching and learning.

Thursday May 30, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

1-Hr Session

Audience High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers

3:00pm CDT

Strong with the Truth, Gentle with Students

This session will help teachers provide feedback to students that protects their counselors psychological safety and helps them reach their highest level of scholastic achievement. The session will also show teachers how to have crucial conversations with students to help them see their future selves using candor with positive intent.

Speakers

Tim Jones

Author & Speaker, Leave No Potential On The Table

Tim Jones is a thought leader, communicator, and author. Mr. Jones has found success in providing a context different from the expectation. He provides influence and perspective on leadership, motivation, and inspiration. He currently keynotes, hosts, and facilitates discussions throughout... Read More →

Thursday May 30, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

7:15am CDT

Breakfast

Friday May 31, 2024 7:15am - 8:00am CDT
Brauer Hall

8:00am CDT

Keynote Session: Understanding by Design and the Student Brain

In this Keynote Address, Jay McTighe and Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa pair up to examine how the Understanding by Design ® (UbD) framework connects to the fundamental elements of Mind, Brain, and Education science. Using the three stages of “backward design” in UbD, they will explore different types of educational goals (Stage 1), varied purposes and methods of assessment (Stage 2), and instructional practices (Stage 3) through the lens of neuro-constructivist design and different types of thinking by students. They will offer practical and proven ways that teachers can engage learners in active thinking and “meaning making” for deep learning that transfers.

Keynote Speakers

Jay McTighe

Author & Education Consultant, Jay McTighe & Associates

Jay McTighe brings a wealth of experience developed during a rich and varied career in education. He served as director of the Maryland Assessment Consortium, a state collaboration of school districts working together to develop and share formative performance assessments. Prior... Read More →

Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, Ph.D.

Educational Researcher, Educator, and Author, Conexiones: The Learning Science Platform, Harvard University Extension School

Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, Ph.D., is a teacher at Harvard College and the Harvard University Extension School where her course, “The Neuroscience of Learning: An Introduction to Mind, Brain, Health, and Education” offers a transformative self-learning adventure. She is the co-founder... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Brauer Auditorium

Keynote

8:00am CDT

Best Recordkeeping Practices for Student Support Professionals

Come together with other student support professionals to learn about:

Effective recordkeeping practices
Protecting sensitive student information
Responding to a subpoena for your counseling records

Exhibitors

Jennifer Webbe VanLuven, MSW, LCSW, CM

Friday May 31, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

9:15am CDT

Creating an Understanding-based Curriculum and Assessment System for Modern Learning

Based on his 20+ years of experience with the Understanding by Design® framework and newer ideas described in Leading Modern Learning, 2nd ed. (Solution Tree and ASCD, 2019), Jay will describe a framework for constructing a coherent curriculum and assessment system that integrates 21st Century Competencies (identified by a Portrait of a Graduate) with disciplinary content (identified in Standards). The following questions will be explored:

How can we create a coherent K-12 curriculum and assessment system that integrates 21st Century Skills/Portrait of a Graduate Outcomes with Academic content?
How can we develop a curriculum that “spirals” around the big ideas and essential questions?
Are we assessing everything we claim to value (or only those things that are easiest to test and grade)? What evidence should we be collecting?

Jay will present a blueprint for:

ensuring greater curriculum alignment across the grades;
crafting an assessment system for gathering evidence on all valued outcomes (not just those that are easiest to test and grade), and;
enabling greater student personalization while still obtaining worthy evidence for the transcript.

Keynote Speakers

Jay McTighe

Author & Education Consultant, Jay McTighe & Associates

Friday May 31, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders, Learning Specialists

9:15am CDT

From Purpose to Practice: Cultivating Communities Rooted in Dignity and Cultural Understanding

In a world increasingly interconnected yet plagued by divisiveness, it’s imperative to explore how we can bridge cultural gaps and foster environments where every individual feels valued and understood. This session offers a deep dive into the principles and actionable strategies for building inclusive communities.
This workshop goes beyond surface-level discussions and delves into the heart of what it means to cultivate environments grounded in dignity and cultural sensitivity. Participants will explore the fundamental principles of dignity and respect across cultures and backgrounds. Through interactive discussions and real-world examples, attendees will learn practical approaches for translating these principles into tangible practices within their communities.

Featured Speakers

Paya Sample

Founder & Owner, Pedagogy in Action

Step into the world of educational excellence with Paya Sample, the visionary Founder and Owner of Pedagogy in Action. With an impressive seventeen years of experience as a Principal, Elementary Educator, and Instructional Coordinator, she has honed her expertise to transform education... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, SEL and Global Competency

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers, Librarians, School Leaders

9:15am CDT

Introduction to Restorative Practices

Featured Speakers

Michael Barolak

RestoreEDU; CharacterPlus, Founder & Educational Consultant; Program Facilitator

Friday May 31, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, SEL and Global Competency

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

9:15am CDT

Making the Most of Authentic Resources with the Interactive Model

The goal of this workshop is to utilize the Interactive Model for Interpretive Communication to make the most of authentic resources in the classroom. During this workshop, the participants will be able to work together to produce a lesson that they can use in their classrooms. This will allow participants to be more efficient at lesson planning and happier in the process.

Featured Speakers

Christina Toro

Spanish Teacher, Arlington Public Schools

Christina Toro is a Spanish teacher in the Arlington Public Schools and has been teaching for over 15 years. She has taught AP Spanish Language and Culture for over ten years and has been an AP Reader for six years. She is also the Exhibits and Sponsorship Coordinator for her state... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience High School Teachers, Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Learning Specialists

9:15am CDT

Rigor by Design, Not Chance: Supporting Deeper Thinking Through Actionable Instruction and Assessment

Today, we expect every student to be ready for the challenges of the 21st century - to learn more, to master new technologies, to understand more deeply, and to transfer what they’ve learned to real-world contexts. Integrating 5 evidence-based “teacher moves” in an Actionable Assessment Cycle can build a supportive classroom culture for deeper thinking and self-directed learning. Karin will define what “actionable assessment” is and provide content-specific examples for lesson and unit planning within an actionable assessment cycle.

Featured Speakers

Karin Hess

Educational Research in Action, Founder and President, Author, Educator

Karin Hess, author of the Hess Cognitive Rigor Matrix, is a recognized international leader in developing practical approaches for using Depth of Knowledge (DOK) and learning progressions as the foundation for curriculum and formative and performance-based assessments at all levels... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

9:15am CDT

There is No Cognition Without Emotion: What Teachers Need to Know About Feelings to Improve Thinking

As teachers, we spend a lot of time helping students get information into their brains to improve thinking skills, but we spend far less time guiding emotional regulation. The learning sciences make it clear, however, that there is no cognition without emotion, suggesting that teachers should also understand how they can improve learning environments through positive emotions. There is also evidence that self-regulation is almost twice as important as innate intelligence when it comes to learning outcomes. In this workshop we will first explore Antonio Damasio’s explanation of the relationship between emotions and feelings (2009; 2021), and then Moffit (2011) and Diamond’s work (2013; 2019) on executive functions and self-regulation. We will then debunk myths about emotions and the brain, and then show how teachers can learn to read embodied cognition cues in the classroom. We will close by showing how teachers can leverage this information for better learning.

Keynote Speakers

Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, Ph.D.

Educational Researcher, Educator, and Author, Conexiones: The Learning Science Platform, Harvard University Extension School

Friday May 31, 2024 9:15am - 11:45am CDT

Workshop, Mind Brain and Education Science

Audience Middle School Teachers, School Leaders, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists

10:30am CDT

AI: Your New Co-Teacher

Need a language assistant? This session equips participants with skills to identify and apply Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools in language education. Learn how to craft interactive, AI-enhanced activities tailored to diverse learning styles and design impactful real-world activities that elevate student engagement and learning outcomes.

Speakers

Luis Morales

Spanish Teacher and Middle School Dean of Students, Chadwick School

Luis Morales is a first-generation Mexican-American educator with 19 years of teaching experience and holds a Master’s Degree in Instructional Technology. He is a key figure in the AI task force at Chadwick School, which is renowned for pioneering the integration of artificial intelligence... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session, Embracing Technologies and Their Educational Impact

Audience Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers

10:30am CDT

Empowering Student Leaders

This is a session for educators, club sponsors, student government sponsors, or anyone with an interest in empowering student leaders and supporting authentic student leadership. This session is an opportunity for educators to share strategies, challenges, and successes so we can all strengthen student leadership at our home schools.

Speakers

Nicole Trueman-Shaw

Director of Student Leadership & Dean of Students, MICDS

Let’s talk about student leadership! What is your school currently doing to empower student leadership? What's working? What's not? Whether you are a seasoned student leadership pro or someone just getting into it, let's work through best practices in authentic student leadership... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session

Audience High School Teachers, School Leaders

10:30am CDT

Exploring Math through Literature: Engaging Activities for Elementary Classrooms

Join us for an interactive session that bridges the worlds of math and literature, offering elementary teachers creative strategies to integrate these disciplines seamlessly. Discover how to use captivating children’s literature to introduce, reinforce, and extend mathematical concepts in fun and meaningful ways. Participants will engage in hands-on activities that demonstrate how to weave math into storytelling, creating a dynamic learning experience that resonates with young learners. Leave with a toolkit of ideas and resources to spark curiosity, deepen understanding, and make math more enjoyable for your students.

Speakers

Diane Broberg

JK-12 Math Department Chair and Teacher, Regional Instructor, MICDS, Texas Instruments

Diane Broberg is a 30+ year math educator. From elementary education to college courses, Diane is committed to helping students and teachers develop a passion and love for mathematics. She enjoys helping teachers build skills and resources that engage students in the classroom. As... Read More →

Robin Campbell

First-Grade Lead Teacher, Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School

Robin Campbell is an experienced educator with over 25 years of teaching experience. She is currently a first-grade lead teacher at the Mary Institute and Saint Louis Country Day School. Robin has worked with students from kindergarten to fourth grade in school districts located in... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 10:30am - 11:30am CDT

1-Hr Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Curriculum Specialists

12:30pm CDT

Assessment to Support Deeper Learning

Session description coming soon!

Keynote Speakers

Jay McTighe

Author & Education Consultant, Jay McTighe & Associates

Friday May 31, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm CDT

Spotlight Session, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Elementary Level Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Learning Specialists, School Leaders

12:30pm CDT

How Instructional Leaders Can Support Assessment Design in the Age of AI

The question of assessment practices in the context of AI is on a lot of teachers’ minds. What teachers are wondering is how do we distinguish human cognition from the work of machines? How do we make human thinking visible so we can assess it with confidence? Simultaneously, tech directors, instructional coaches, and divisional leaders are probably wondering how to get invited to the department meeting to discuss assessment practices, even if it might feel like it’s a little “outside one’s lane” - namely, convincing teachers that they have ideas on crafting good assessment designs in the age of AI. In this session, we will frame that discussion around what I call “the human advantage” - an advantage that has less to do with evaluating the difficulty of assessments and more to do with determining their complexity. We will examine and put to work a tool we’ve recently developed that helps educators design assessments that only authentic, human intelligence could proficiently perform, a tool that asks us to look at the complexity of the task, as opposed to its difficulty. Participants will walk away with a tool and practical knowledge that all academic departments will want to learn about, a tool that will prompt our colleagues to invite us to the meeting.

Featured Speakers

Jared Colley

Upper School Campus Head of Learning & Innovation, The Mount Vernon School

Matt Scully

Director of Digital Integration and Innovation, Providence Day School

Friday May 31, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm CDT

Spotlight Session, Embracing Technologies and Their Educational Impact

Audience Curriculum Specialists, School Leaders, High School Teachers, Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers

12:30pm CDT

Rigor By Design

Session Description coming soon!

Featured Speakers

Karin Hess

Educational Research in Action, Founder and President, Author, Educator

Friday May 31, 2024 12:30pm - 1:15pm CDT

Spotlight Session, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders, Learning Specialists

Chris Rappleye

Upper School English Teacher, MICDS

Keynote Speakers

Tracey Tokuhama-Espinosa, Ph.D.

Educational Researcher, Educator, and Author, Conexiones: The Learning Science Platform, Harvard University Extension School

Friday May 31, 2024 1:30pm - 4:00pm CDT

Workshop, Mind Brain and Education Science

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Elementary Level Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers

1:45pm CDT

Circle of Inclusion: Uniting Neurodiversity and Education Through Empathy and Innovation

In the enlightening session, "Circle of Inclusion: Uniting Neurodiversity and Education Through Empathy and Innovation," Alyssa Lego takes us on an inspiring journey through her life as a young author, advocate, and innovator in the realm of neurodiverse education. With a focus on her personal discovery and late diagnosis of ADHD, Alyssa brings to light the often-overlooked issue of underdiagnosis among women, offering a unique and critical perspective that highlights the necessity for a neuroinclusive approach in educational settings.

Alyssa's narrative extends beyond her own story to the transformative work she's achieved with the "You Me We: In Our Circle" initiative. Through educational kits and neurodiversity-affirming interactive activity books, she demonstrates how tailored educational resources can not only support but also celebrate the diverse minds within our classrooms and communities. These tools are designed not just for learning, but for fostering an environment where every student's neurodiversity is acknowledged, understood, and valued.

This session is more than a personal account; it's a call to action for educators, administrators, and all stakeholders in the educational ecosystem to embrace neurodiversity. Attendees will be equipped with practical strategies for cultivating neuroinclusive classrooms and learning communities, leveraging the unique abilities and perspectives that neurodiverse students bring to the table. Alyssa's message is clear: by embracing and supporting neurodiversity, we can create educational environments where every individual is empowered to thrive.

Participants will leave this session not only inspired by Alyssa's journey and dedication, but also armed with the knowledge and tools to advocate for and implement neuroinclusive practices in their educational spheres. This session is an invitation to join the circle of inclusion, where empathy meets innovation, and where every mind is celebrated for its unique contributions to our collective learning journey.

Speakers

Alyssa Lego

Founder, You Me Neurodiversity

Alyssa Lego, a trailblazing young author and speaker, began her advocacy for neurodiversity and autism appreciation at the tender age of 14. Her commitment to creating inclusive and understanding environments has been the hallmark of her career, transitioning seamlessly from her early... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, SEL and Global Competency

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, School Leaders

1:45pm CDT

Embedding Maker and Coding Competencies in the Curriculum

Embedding making and coding into the curriculum provides an opportunity to engage students in deeper learning while also introducing them to emerging skills that will undoubtedly be part of their future. Come explore ways to easily augment your current curriculum with 3D printing and maker and coding activities. We will share our successes and challenges while letting participants explore and brainstorm opportunities to make and code.

Speakers

Laura Pupillo

Lower School Science Teacher, MICDS - Lower School

Laura Pupillo is the MICDS Lower School Science Teacher. She holds a Master's Degree in K-8 Mathematics and Science and brings 16 years of experience as an elementary school teacher. During her career, she has served as a STEAM coordinator and Green Schools Quest Projects leader... Read More →

Robyn Williams

Lower School Instructional Technology Coordinator, MICDS

Robyn Williams is the MICDS Lower School Coordinator of Instructional Technology and Digital Literacy, bringing her passion for engaging pedagogy to this role. After 12 years of captivating middle school students with history, Robyn transitioned to educational technology, leveraging... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Embracing Technologies and Their Educational Impact

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Middle School Teachers

1:45pm CDT

Identifying Classroom Management Strategies using "Observational Notes" and " Zone of Tracking" Framework at the Elementary Level (K-5)

Effective classroom management planning helps to create a positive and safe learning environment that fosters motivation, addresses challenges, and develops critical thinking among students (Jobirovan, 2023). Social Emotional Learning plays a crucial role in building self-regulation among students. Research shows that students who are self-regulated and emotionally alert are able to achieve higher academic success (CASEL, 2017). A case study on an urban midwest K-5 charter school helped to identify the classroom management strategies used by grade 1 teachers to enhance the social emotional state of the students by implementing the “Zone of Regulations” strategy and analyzing the “observational notes.” A framework was developed to connect the “emotional alertness” of students, known as the “zone of regulations'' strategy, with the “predicted intervention,” which included various classroom management strategies used by grade 1 teachers. 33 students with two Grade 1 teachers were observed using the “Zone of Tracking'' framework. Current study includes data of four observations conducted per teacher for one hour each in all subjects. Descriptive data from eight observations shows that “Following Classroom Expectations'' was identified as one of the strategies in creating emotional alertness among students. Note making done during the classroom observations exhibit patterns which are grouped into two categories: instructional routines and classroom routines. Instructional Routines included four sub categories: Lesson Planning, Time Management of Teacher, Proximity of Teacher, and Automaticity of Students. Classroom Routines included four sub categories: Voice Level of Teacher, Classroom Norms, Rewards, and Transitions. Listing and recognizing the various classroom management elements considering the emotional alertness of the students could assist the teachers to build a strong classroom management plan that can cater to both academic and emotional needs of the students.

Speakers

Dr. Pallavi Aggarwal

Post Doctoral Fellow, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Dr. Pallavi Aggarwal is a post-doctoral fellow in University of Missouri-Saint Louis. As a post-doctoral fellow, I am working with a K-5 urban charter school on their problem of practice which involves developing a school-wide classroom management plan and Social-Emotional learning... Read More →

Natalie Bolton

Associate Professor, University of Missouri-St. Louis

Natalie Bolton is an associate professor at the University of Missouri-St. Louis within the College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Preparation. She earned her Ph.D. in educational leadership from the University of Louisville. She has an M.A. in secondary education... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Elementary Level Teachers

1:45pm CDT

Unveiling Students' Science Misconceptions to Guide Planning

Research has shown that it takes more than quality instruction to debunk students' science misconceptions. If you don't agree, just Google "Harvard Students Explain Seasons." Teachers must give students opportunities to actively explore their misconceptions and experience concrete examples that contradict their misconceptions. Before teachers can plan this level of instruction, they must uncover these misconceptions. This session will look at strategies to bring misconceptions to light and provide time to work with colleagues to brainstorm ways to address common science misconceptions.

Speakers

Tracy Bednarick-Humes

Gifted Coordinator/Executive President of GAM, Lindbergh Schools

Dr. Tracy Bednarick-Humes serves as Lindbergh Schools’ Gifted Coordinator where she oversees the south location of the Metro Saint Louis Program for Exceptional Gifted Students and the LEAP gifted enrichment program. She has been on the Gifted Association of Missouri Board for the... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Best Practices in Assessment and Feedback

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Curriculum Specialists, Learning Specialists

3:00pm CDT

How Do We Talk to Each Other? Strategies for Student Engagement & Collaboration

How can we get students learning together, talking again?

The pandemic allowed students to hide behind screens; they don’t know, yet, how to talk to each other again– a skill vital for deep and engaged learning. We believe that listening, engaging with each other as learners, moving past a check list and efficiency model, and learning how to problem solve through disagreement are essential skills for students in today’s changing world. Changing technologies, pandemics, and echo chambers have made this need all the more evident.

In this session, we share strategies and case studies that center a variety of learning modes that effectively ask students to learn with each other. Thinking across English and Math spaces, we share ways to engage a variety of learners in the process of discovery, together. Whether using true/false questions to spark conversation, modes of silent discussion and written inquiry, or finding ways to ask students to talk about ideas together, we will share effective strategies and possibilities to ask students to engage in the relational component of the academic work.

Speakers

Cindy Crenshaw

Teacher/Department Chair, University School of Nashville

Cindy Crenshaw is the math department chair and Shmerling Chair for Excellence in Teaching at the University School of Nashville. With experience teaching all courses from Algebra I through AP Calculus and Statistics, along with creating a course in Mathematics of Sustainability... Read More →

Freya Sachs

English Department Chair, University School of Nashville

Freya Sachs is chair of the English Department of University School of Nashville, where she teaches high school English and creative writing. She's developed and taught courses ranging from American Studies and American Literature to Advanced Creative Writing and English Seminars... Read More →

Friday May 31, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Deeper Learning and Literacy

Audience Curriculum Specialists, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

3:00pm CDT

Neurodiversity and Disability

This session will offer participants the opportunity to deepen their knowledge and understanding of neurodiversity while further developing their skills to design learning experiences and programming that facilitate meaningful access points for the variability of learners they work with.

Centered around the voices of people with neurodiversity and/or disabilities, this session will examine the idea of ability and disability as a social construct and how these concepts have evolved from a historical context.

The session will also offer ideas for utilizing the principles of Universal Design (UD) and other practices and tools to serve all students well, including those who identify as neurodiverse and/or disabled.

Speakers

Sam Cummins

Learning Specialist, MICDS

Sam Cummins is the Upper School Learning Specialist for MICDS. He has a passion for promoting learning, systems, and practices that help schools embrace and celebrate neurodiversity and disability. He not only has a social studies and special education teacher background, but is also... Read More →

Centron Felder

Lower School Learning Specialist, Mary Institute & St. Louis Country Day School

Friday May 31, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

1-Hr Session

Audience Curriculum Specialists, Elementary Level Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists, Librarians, Middle School Teachers, School Leaders

3:00pm CDT

Understanding and Supporting Your Gifted Student

Gifted students are not just smart! They can be unique, quirky, and sometimes challenging. This session will approach understanding and supporting gifted students through two lenses: the 6 types of gifted students and the theory of overexcitabilities. You will come away from the session with strategies for how to support high performing gifted students along with twice exceptional students and students with asynchronous development.

Speakers

Tracy Bednarick-Humes

Gifted Coordinator/Executive President of GAM, Lindbergh Schools

Friday May 31, 2024 3:00pm - 4:00pm CDT

1-Hr Session, Mind Brain and Education Science

Audience Elementary Level Teachers, Middle School Teachers, High School Teachers, Learning Specialists