Presented by Veronica Crespin-Palmer, Co-Founder and CEO, RISE Colorado; Dr. Gudiel Crosthwaite, Superintendent, Lynwood Unified School District (CA); and Anpao Duta Flying Earth, Senior Advisor, Native American Community Academy (NM)
Moderated by Kimberly Smith, Executive Director of the League of Innovative Schools and Center for Inclusive Innovation, Digital Promise
Presented by Leticia Citizen, i4Coach, Hawthorne Elementary School (CA); and Sue Thotz, Sr. Program Manager, Common Sense Education
Presented by Scott Bailey, Superintendent, Desert Sands Unified School District (CA); Kelly May-Vollmar, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services, Desert Sands Unified School District (CA); Dr. Veronica Garcia, Superintendent, Santa Fe Public Schools (NM); and Dr. Tom Ryan, Retired Chief Information and Strategy Officer, Santa Fe Public Schools (NM)
Moderated by Ann McMullan, Project Director, EmpowerED Superintendent Initiative, CoSN (Consortium for School Networking)
Looking through the lens of three district leaders, a recent edWebinar, sponsored by ClassLink and co-hosted by CoSN and AASA, highlighted how school districts are working with their staff and students to assure accessibility for all. The presenters discussed and reflected on five compelling steps that school districts must take to ensure accessibility.
When only 28% of a school district’s third graders are reading at grade level, changes are clearly needed. In the Aldine Independent School District just outside of Houston, Texas, the need for change resulted in a dual focus on improving the district’s leadership bench and revamping literacy instruction, in order to provide an equitable education for all students.
Presented by Nicole Adell, Principal, Newburg Middle School (KY); Dr. Darin Brawley, Superintendent, Compton Unified School District (CA); Patricia Alvarado, Director of Digital Learning and Learning Resources, Irving Independent School District (TX); and James Allrich, Principal, Argyle Middle School (MD)
Moderated by Lydia Logan, Executive Director, Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, Digital Promise
Presented by Katie Novak, Ed.D., Founder and Executive Director, Novak Educational Consulting; Mirko Chardin, Education Consultant, Novak Educational Consulting; Rachel Kruzel, Territory Director, Texthelp; and Joni Degner, Territory Director, Texthelp
“Techquity,” as defined by educator and consultant Ken Shelton in a recent edLeader Panel, sponsored by NetRef, is the intersection of the use of technology and ensuring equitable learning environments. He defines equity simply as access and opportunities for all learners to realize their full potential. Whether it is a classroom, the school, or the whole school experience, if a student’s learning environment is not culturally affirming, culturally responsive, and culturally relevant, they cannot connect learning to their real-world environment.
When addressing education inequity, it isn’t enough for superintendents and administrators to look at grades and attendance. They need to examine the social, legal, and economic factors that have supported systemic racism. But more important, said Dr. Mark T. Bedell, Superintendent of Kansas City Public Schools (MO), in an edWebinar hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association and AASA’s Leadership Network, school leaders need to make noise and keep fighting for policies that will support change in their communities and schools.
Ways to move the process forward, communicate effectively, and achieve meaningful improvements were discussed during a recent edWebinar, hosted by AASA, The School Superintendents Association and AASA’s Leadership Network. The presentation featured Dr. Jeannie Stone, Superintendent of the Richardson Independent School District (TX), Carrie Breedlove, Principal of J.J. Pearce High School (TX), Katrina Collins, Principal of Skyview Elementary School (TX), and Toni Jackson, a teacher at Dartmouth Elementary School (TX).