Presented by Dr. Avis Williams, Superintendent, Selma City Public Schools, Selma, Alabama; Dr. Bren Elliott, Chief School Improvement and Supports Officer, District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS); and Ms. Courtney Washington, Community Engagement Specialist, Selma City Schools, Selma, Alabama
Hosted by Dr. Kristi Wilson, Superintendent, Buckeye Elementary School District, Buckeye, Arizona, and Current President, American Association of School Administrators

Hosted by AASA, The Superintendents Association 
AASA’s Leadership Network, providing premier professional learning for educational leaders

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The conversation continues with Drs. Bren Elliott and Avis Williams. The previous session introduced six impactful equity practices proven to positively impact the most vulnerable scholars. Watch as these leaders share the progress being made in Selma City Schools and explore how the district can position itself to be on the forefront of districts that lead through an equity lens.

Essential Questions for discussion include:

• How do school districts communicate a vision for equity?
• What strategies can school districts implement to establish a culture of high expectation leading to more equitable outcomes?
• How can school districts ensure the raising of expectations and meeting the needs of all students?
• How can district leaders build teachers and leaders’ skills, knowledge and capacity to lean into equity work?
• How can relationships with key stakeholders, such as students, parents, the community and elected officials be leveraged in order to support equity work?

Viewers will learn about strategies to address systemic disparities and inequities in order to benefit all students.

Part 1 – Leading for Equity: From Research to Practice – Accelerating Outcomes for Scholars of Color, Part I

About the Presenters

Dr. Avis Williams is Superintendent of Selma City Schools where there are stated goals for Equity and Joy in preparing the Whole Child. Dr. Williams served in leadership positions in the U.S. Army, as an entrepreneur and school administrator. As Executive Director of Instruction in North Carolina, she led instruction for over 60 schools. Before moving to Selma, she served as the assistant superintendent for curriculum in Tuscaloosa City Schools. Dr. Williams was awarded the Marbury Technology Innovation Award by the Alabama State Department of Education in 2011 as a principal and in 2019 as the superintendent. A finalist for Alabama State Superintendent of the Year in 2019, Dr. Avis Williams is humbled and honored to be a part of the Historic Selma community and to serve as Superintendent of Selma City Schools.

Dr. Bren Elliott has a 25-year proven track record of significantly impacting academic achievement and stakeholder engagement in public education. She has worked as a teacher, principal, assistant superintendent, and now as Chief Improvement and Supports Officer for District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) in Washington, DC. Dr. Elliott is a reflective practitioner who previously served as Chief Equity Officer for DCPS, overseeing leader professional development, student support systems, and the staff evaluation system. Dr. Elliott is a passionate scholar and practitioner regarding school culture, social-emotional learning, and equity initiatives.

Courtney Washington joined Selma City Schools in 2018 as the Community Engagement Specialist. Ms. Washington leads the effort to tell the story of Selma City Schools by engaging scholars, parents, and community partners through various mediums including district newsletters, social media, and community forums.

About the Host

Kristi Wilson has served as Superintendent of the Buckeye Elementary School District in Buckeye, Arizona for the past eight years. Prior to her Superintendency, Kristi served as an assistant superintendent, executive director, special education director, school administrator and teacher, and adjunct professor. Kristi is President of the American Association of School Administrators (AASA), President of the National Minority Student Achievement Network (MSAN), serves on the Executive Board of Arizona’s Business and Education Coalition (ABEC), and is the Immediate Past President of the Buckeye Lion’s Club. She is a past winner of the Arizona Superintendent of the Year, Arizona PTA Honorary Lifetime Achievement Award, and VHI Save the Music National Superintendent of the Year.

Join the Leading for Equity community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates.

The AASA Leadership Network drives superintendent success, innovation and growth, shaping the future of public education while preparing students for what’s next. We are the largest, most diverse network of superintendents in America. Passionate and committed, we connect educational leaders to the professional learning, leadership development, relationships and partnerships they need to ensure a long career of impact.