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Creating Community for Diverse Learners: How Teacher-Student Connections Help Build Equity-Centered School Culture
Wednesday, May 8, 2024 @ 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EDT
Presented by Tanis Griffin, Principal, Thompson Intermediate School, Pasadena Independent School District (TX); Heather Nielson, Special Education Teacher, Thompson Intermediate School, Pasadena Independent School District (TX); Dr. Shivohn García, Director, Equity Research and Insights, Understood; and Jared B. Fries, Partnerships Lead, Along by Gradient Learning
Sponsored by The Educating All Learners Alliance, an InnovateEDU Project
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How can schools create a sense of community for diverse learners with unique needs? In this edWebinar, experts will share research around the importance of implementing a school vision and mission around positive school culture, and then delve into practical ways to do this at the classroom level using tools such as Along, a free tool that helps teachers quickly build and maintain the strong ties needed so that their students feel comfortable sharing their classroom experience.
This edWebinar is for K-12 school leaders, district leaders, special education teachers, and anyone who works with youth who learn and think differently. There will be time for questions at the end of the presentation.
About the Presenters
Tanis Griffin is the Principal of Thompson Intermediate School in Texas. With over 18 years of experience, she previously taught history at South Houston Intermediate School and Bondy Intermediate School, where she also served as assistant principal. She is an expert in educational technology, implementing innovative and effective programs and tools to enhance teaching and learning across the Pasadena Independent School District. She has also developed and delivered professional development programs for teachers and administrators, fostering a culture of collaboration and continuous improvement.
Heather Nielson is a special education teacher at Thompson Intermediate School in Pasadena, Texas. She’s worked as a classroom teacher for the Pasadena Independent School District for the past five years, where she’s focused on guiding her students to develop critical-thinking and social skills. She is also an experienced orchestra director within primary and secondary education.
Dr. Shivohn García leads Understood’s impact and efficacy work, including the implementation of culturally responsive practices. She previously was Director of Innovation and Program Design at the national office of Big Brothers Big Sisters. She managed an innovative pilot program to let BBBS agencies better serve kids with high academic risk, including students with learning differences. She has advised, mentored, and taught a generation of diverse students in public secondary school and college settings, and understands the challenges students and educators face.
Jared B. Fries, known as “JBF,” serves as the Partnerships Lead at Along by Gradient Learning. A third-generation educator, JBF has dedicated his career to advancing whole-child teaching and learning, spanning roles from teacher to district coach and non-profit founder. He honed his instructional skills in his middle school humanities classrooms, where he cultivated a passion for building inclusive learning environments where all students could thrive. JBF’s expertise in instructional leadership led him to coach teachers and school leaders in public, charter, and private school networks. He was selected as a featured speaker at ISTE, the Aurora Institute, CAST, and ASU+GSV.
Learn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording, earning your CE certificate, and using our new accessibility features.
Join the Creating a Positive School Climate community to network with educators, participate in online discussions, and receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars.
The Educating All Learners Alliance (EALA) is an uncommon coalition of organizations committed to resource sharing and community-building that supports the efforts of the education community to meet the needs of students with disabilities or learning differences. The Alliance represents voices from a diverse range of communities, including disability advocacy, parent, special education, civil rights, and K-12 nonprofit education organizations. EALA leads the development of a Resource Library, Tech Tool Library, events, podcasts, and working groups in order to bring awareness to the challenges and opportunities surrounding students with disabilities in K12 education, and how we can best support them.
