Get insights and actions from Education Week journalists and expert guests on how to start the new school year on strong footing.
The 2022-23 school year presents a fresh start, even as the hardships of the pandemic and other traumatic events of the past three years linger and will need educators’ full attention.
The year ahead brings a new opportunity to re-engage students, help teachers find or rediscover their purpose, and cultivate learning environments where kids and teachers feel safe, connected, and excited to learn and grow.
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Agenda
2:00pm ET
Welcome and Introduction
Education Week writers offer key takeaways from their recent reporting on getting a strong start to the new school year.
2:20pm ET
Industry Perspective: Scavenger hunting for Digital Literacy
Content provided by Promethean
Digital literacy skills are essential to prepare students for their future education and careers. Learn how educators can foster digital and tech literacy skills at the beginning of the school year with a scavenger hunt, and engage students in new innovative ways.
Digital literacy skills are essential to prepare students for their future education and careers. Learn how educators can foster digital and tech literacy skills at the beginning of the school year with a scavenger hunt, and engage students in new innovative ways.
Amanda Carlson
Education Consultant,
Promethean
Amanda Carlson is an education consultant supporting South Florida and the Caribbean for Promethean. Additionally, Amanda coordinates the Promethean Educator Program working with teachers across the United States, and hosts Promethean’s annual Virtual Teacher Appreciation Summit. She was thrilled to be named Promethean’s Field Education Consultant of the Year for 2021.
2:30pm ET
Panel Discussion: How To Help Students and Teachers Feel Safe and Connected
Creating a school environment that makes students and teachers feel safe and a sense of belonging is likely more complicated and difficult than ever before.
Worries about potential school shootings are rising, staffing shortages are making it harder for overworked teachers to connect with students in meaningful ways, and divisive battles over curriculum changes are spilling over into classrooms.
How can schools help teachers and students feel safer and more empowered to make things better? What steps can district leaders, principals, and teachers take to turn these difficulties around and build greater resilience among teachers and students? Guests will address these questions and more.
Worries about potential school shootings are rising, staffing shortages are making it harder for overworked teachers to connect with students in meaningful ways, and divisive battles over curriculum changes are spilling over into classrooms.
How can schools help teachers and students feel safer and more empowered to make things better? What steps can district leaders, principals, and teachers take to turn these difficulties around and build greater resilience among teachers and students? Guests will address these questions and more.
Larry Ferlazzo is a former award-winning high school English and social studies teacher of more than two decades. He is currently a volunteer tutor to English-learner newcomers at a local school and to youth in juvenile hall.
Nancy J. Antoine
Principal,
Bridgewater Elementary School, Northfield, Minn.
Nancy Antoine has been the principal at Bridgewater Elementary in Northfield, Min., for fifteen years. She previously served as the principal Prairie Elementary in Worthington, Minn., for five years. Antoine is also an adjunct college professor at Concordia St. Paul University, and she was the 2021 National Distinguished Principal for the state of Minnesota.
Sarah Gams
2021 South Carolina Teacher of the Year,
South Carolina Department of Education
Sarah Schumacher Gams is the Student Learning and Development Program Manager for the South Carolina Department of Education. In her current role, Sarah promotes inclusive classroom environments, personalized learning, and educator wellness. An award-winning educator, she taught middle and high school English for 17 years. Sarah served as the 2021 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, traveling the state as an ambassador and advocate for public education. She is currently in her 20th year in education.
3:15pm ET
Industry Perspective: Educator Well-Being: Embracing Emotional Data To Sustain and Support Your Workforce
Content provided by Panorama
Explore how to acknowledge and embrace challenging emotions as “data points” that help sustain and support our educators. The past few years have taken their toll, with an unprecedented number of teachers reporting burnout or leaving the profession altogether.
We know the social-emotional health of our educators is important--perhaps more than ever--but many school and district leaders still struggle with how to proactively address the stress, fatigue, and other challenging emotions that their workforce brings.
Led by 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Takeru "TK" Nagayoshi, this presentation will provide you with specific ways to connect with educators and develop sustainable solutions to your staffing issues.
Explore how to acknowledge and embrace challenging emotions as “data points” that help sustain and support our educators. The past few years have taken their toll, with an unprecedented number of teachers reporting burnout or leaving the profession altogether.
We know the social-emotional health of our educators is important--perhaps more than ever--but many school and district leaders still struggle with how to proactively address the stress, fatigue, and other challenging emotions that their workforce brings.
Led by 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year Takeru "TK" Nagayoshi, this presentation will provide you with specific ways to connect with educators and develop sustainable solutions to your staffing issues.
Takeru “TK” Nagayoshi is the 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year, Professional Learning Director for Community Events at Panorama Education, and a former high school AP English and research teacher in New Bedford, Mass.
3:25pm ET
Panel Discussion: Re-Energize Your Teachers in Meaningful Ways
The consequences of the pandemic continue to pile additional demands on the work of teachers, even as the days of remote learning and hybrid teaching are now far behind them.
Teachers say that they’re burnt out and exhausted from the stresses of the past couple of years, and that students are too, making it harder to get them engaged and motivated about school. That reality means school and district leaders will be hard pressed to figure out better ways to energize their teachers.
Get recommendations from a principal and teacher about what will work best for the upcoming school year.
Teachers say that they’re burnt out and exhausted from the stresses of the past couple of years, and that students are too, making it harder to get them engaged and motivated about school. That reality means school and district leaders will be hard pressed to figure out better ways to energize their teachers.
Get recommendations from a principal and teacher about what will work best for the upcoming school year.
Stephen Sawchuk is an assistant managing editor for Education Week, leading coverage of teaching, learning, and curriculum.
Michael C. Brown
Principal,
Winters Mill High School
A highly regarded Maryland educator for 19 years, Principal Michael C. Brown has distinguished himself as a transformational school leader and equity pioneer within Carroll County Public Schools (CCPS). At the time of his hire, Principal Brown was only the second African American Secondary Principal CCPS has ever had in the school district’s history. He is also the very first African American Principal in the history of Winters Mill High School (WMHS). Throughout his time at Winters Mill High School, Principal Brown created the very first multicultural student lead organization, Cultural Differences Unite (CDU), to address social and academic inequality within CCPS. Also, Principal Brown created the very first Diversity Committee in school history focused on targeting and improving diversity issues within WMHS and CCPS. Another commitment to his equity work was his focus on increasing equity for 9th grade students identified as FARMS, ESOL, or having an IEP by increasing enrollment in academic level classes. This work combined has enabled Principal Brown to propel the school to a 4 out of 5-star rating on the MSDE Report Card during his 3-year tenure at WMHS in Westminster, MD.
Meredith Lesser-Gonzalez
Teacher,
Framingham Public Schools
Meredith Lesser-Gonzalez, M.Ed. is entering her twenty-seventh year of teaching. She received her undergraduate degree from Wheelock College in Human Growth and Development with a specialty in Urban Studies. She also holds a Masters in Special Education from Framingham State University. For the majority of her career, she has taught 5th grade in an inclusion school in Framingham, MA. Meredith has served on her school’s instructional leadership team, and as a teacher leader she worked with her district to develop an updated, comprehensive Code of Character, Conduct, and Support for students and staff. Her professional passion is working with students and their parents to improve conceptual understanding of mathematics and increase engagement in literacy.
LéAnn Murphy Cassidy, Ed.S. is the 2018 Gilder Lehrman Connecticut History Teacher of the Year and a 2018 Connecticut State Teacher of the Year Finalist. She is entering her thirty-fifth year of teaching, serving simultaneously as a lead teacher and master mentor for the last fifteen years. She is a member of the Connecticut Council for the Social Studies Board, serves on the Teacher Advisory Council for the National Constitution Center, and sits on the National Council for the Social Studies House of Delegates Steering Committee. Most recently, she co-authored the book “7th Grade Ready: Expert Advice to Help Parents Navigate the Year Ahead” as a member of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year.
3:55pm ET
Industry Perspective: Revitalizing Education Through Inclusive Learning
Content provided by Texthelp
Students today are more diverse than ever. The pandemic exposed issues in access and equity. It also revealed the importance of recognizing that each student learns differently.
While there are still many challenges to overcome, it’s imperative that all students have the tools they need to understand and to be understood.
You will learn:
Students today are more diverse than ever. The pandemic exposed issues in access and equity. It also revealed the importance of recognizing that each student learns differently.
While there are still many challenges to overcome, it’s imperative that all students have the tools they need to understand and to be understood.
You will learn:
- How to prepare for new, inclusive education realities
- Why Universal Design for Learning is critical for the future of education
- How education leaders can reassess practices with an eye toward the future
Martin McKay
Founder and CEO,
Texthelp
Martin founded Texthelp in 1996 to help people with communication difficulties. What started as a company focused on people with profound Speech and Dexterity Disabilities has become a world leading Assistive Technology company creating smart, inclusive software that helps people read, write, express their thoughts and share information more accurately & fluently – across all stages of life. His goal is to make sure that by 2030 Texthelp will have advanced the literacy and understanding of one billion people.
4:05pm ET
Interactive Session: Rebuilding Students’ Confidence in Tackling Rigorous Work: What Will It Take?
Explore the reasons why kids have lost the desire and confidence to take on difficult academic work. Learn what more schools can do to get them back on track.
Audience polling, along with Education Week reporting and data will drive this discussion, led by Education Week staff writer Ileana Najarro.
Audience polling, along with Education Week reporting and data will drive this discussion, led by Education Week staff writer Ileana Najarro.
Ileana Najarro is a reporter for Education Week covering race and opportunity in schools across the country.
4:20pm ET
Closing Thoughts
