Presented by Dr. Lakeisha Johnson, Assistant Professor, Communication Science and Disorders Program, Florida State University, and Director of The Village, Florida Center for Reading Research
Moderated by Cassondra Mantovani, Vice President of Revenue & Operations, Voyager Sopris Learning®
If we want our students to aspire to become teachers, then they need role models who share similar experiences and backgrounds. In 2022, more than half of all public school students were students of color, with many attending schools where BIPOC students made up 75% of total student enrollment. Yet only approximately 22% of teachers shared similar backgrounds. How do we inspire future teachers and retain those who mirror today’s diverse student populations?
Presented by Dr. Adam Clark, Superintendent, Mt. Diablo Unified School District (CA); Dr. Antoine Hawkins, Superintendent, Evergreen Elementary School District (CA); and Dr. Kai Mathews, Founder and Lead Designer, The Liberatory Classroom
It’s no secret that there is a shortage of K-12 teachers overall. However, the lack of Black educators in the pipeline has lasted even longer and is especially concerning. When children have role models who look like them, who come from their culture and share their experiences, they tend to make a stronger connection with the teacher and the value of their education.
Presented by Ansharaye Hines, M.Ed., Assistant Director of CTE and Curriculum, Center for Black Educator Development; AB Spence, Ph.D., Program Manager, Training and Implementation, Center for Black Educator Development; and Jahmere Jackson, College Freshman, Elementary Education Major, Howard University, and Research Fellow, Center for Black Educator Development
Moderated by Joyce Whitby, CEO and Co-Founder, Innovations4Education
Presented by Sam Deffes, Senior Literacy Advisor, Professional Learning and Academic Partnerships, Learning Without Tears; and Nina Isaac, Senior Professional Learning Partnerships Manager, Learning Without Tears
Presented by Dr. Keisha Harris, Principal, Central School (NJ), and Affirmative Action and DEI Officer; Dr. Lori Rhodes, Associate Superintendent for High Schools, Stamford Public Schools (CT); and Dr. Erica Silva, School Improvement Specialist, Quality Schools and Districts Team, WestEd, and Adjunct Assistant Professor, USC Rossier School of Education
Moderated by Keline Adams, Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Penguin Random House
Presented by Dr. José Viana, Senior Education Advisor, Lexia; Rachel Hawthorne, English Learner Senior Specialist, Really Great Reading; Andrea Bitner, ELL Educator, Author, Speaker; Dr. Jennifer Pendergrass-Bennefield, ESOL/Title III Coordinator, Floyd County Schools (GA); and Dr. Lynmara Colón, Director, Student Opportunity and Multilingual Services, Prince William County Schools (VA)
Hosted by Cassandra Wheeler, Director, LETRS State Success, Lexia
Presented by Tanji Reed Marshall, Ph.D., CEO and Principal Consultant, Liaison Educational Partners; and Amanda Alexander, Ph.D., Chief Academic Officer, Scholastic
Presented by Karen Bryan-Chambers, Executive Director of Alumni Engagement and Impact, New Leaders