Equity—Morning Sessions

Strengths to Superpowers: How Harnessing the Abilities of Diverse Learners Helps Them Thrive

Many students with a learning disability have a unique working memory profile. This unique profile can be a strength. For example, did you know that children with dyslexia have strengths in visual-spatial working memory? This skill means that they are great at remembering things they see, like landmarks and images. Explore how to turn the abilities of diverse learners into superpowers, leveraging these strengths to help each unique student succeed.

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Session Outcomes:

• Identify their strengths: Find out the memory strength of students with dyslexia, ADHD, and autism

• Maximize their strengths: Learn research-based strategies for using each student’s memory strengths in the classroom

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Speaker:

Tracy Alloway, Ph.D., Author and Psychology Professor, University of North Florida

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Location:

603, Student Center East Tower

Every Voice Matters: Leading for Equity and Personalization Through Authentic Community Engagement    

Competency-based learning is about restructuring power in the education system. Schools have made progress empowering students in classrooms, but often exclude families and community members. How can sharing power with families and community members result in personalized, equitable learning for students? How do traditional engagement practices reinforce systemic inequities? Participants will develop skills and approaches to reimagine their engagement work to support all students.

Session Outcomes: 

• Understand the connection between equity and community engagement

• Develop a deeper understanding and rationale for why community engagement needs to be centered in the life of a school community

• Unpack and take action on key elements of community engagement

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Speakers:

Christina Horner, Senior Associate, Great Schools Partnership

Mark Kostin, Associate Director, Great Schools Partnership

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Location:

713, Student Center East Tower