BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//edWeb - ECPv6.17.4//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:edWeb X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://home.edweb.net X-WR-CALDESC:Events for edWeb REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20250309T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20251102T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20260308T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20261101T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251212T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251212T130000 DTSTAMP:20260115T173402Z CREATED:20251123T162417Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260115T173402Z UID:10952768-1765540800-1765544400@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Simplify and Organize Your Ed Leader Life DESCRIPTION:Presented by Sean Precious\, Chief Academic Officer\, Together4Schools\nModerated by Jeff McCoy\, Chief Education Officer\, ERDI \nPresented by ERDI \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nEvery educator’s number one wish is for more time in the day. Time management and prioritization are crucial skills for education leaders. The goal of this fourth edLeader Panel of Trailblazing Leadership Week is to introduce a simple\, customizable\, and scalable approach designed to help K–12 educators reclaim time\, reduce burnout\, and focus more deeply on priorities that drive student outcomes. \nTopics covered: \n\nThe panelists tell the story of why a simple system for organization\, time management\, and prioritization came to be a focus—and why it is now more important than ever\nViewers examine concrete examples of how educators collect\, sort\, and scrub their daily inputs; manage their email and calendars using tools they already have; and implement simple morning and evening routines that build long-term efficiency\nThe panelists highlight how the method adapts to the daily realities of different roles—from teachers juggling planning\, grading\, and communication to district leaders coordinating multi-campus initiatives\n\nViewers learn: \n\nA research-informed understanding of why time management is now a core leadership competency\nPractical routines they can implement the very next day to save one to two hours\, reduce stress\, and improve responsiveness\nA clearer sense of how to align daily work with organizational priorities and student-centered goals\nStrategies that build leader sustainability\, improve retention\, and increase time spent on instructional leadership\nA method that is simple\, repeatable\, and adaptable at scale for teams\, schools\, or entire districts\n\nThe session demonstrates a cognitive\, sustainable way to organize and manage your workload more effectively based on The Executive Edge Method (EEM). This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to any PreK-12 education leader and any educator who wants to improve their time management and organization. \nThis edLeader Panel is part of Trailblazing Leadership Week. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nSean Precious has spent the last 13 years as a systems-level leader\, after five years as a middle school principal in Washington\, D.C. As an Assistant Superintendent with the Brockton Public Schools\, he leads the technology and strategy functions with an emphasis on high-quality curriculum implementation. Before that\, he spent a year leading the innovation network in the Chicago Public Schools\, a set of 130 charter\, innovation\, and autonomous schools\, and eight years as a Regional Superintendent with the Denver Public Schools. In this role\, he supervised 20 K-12 campuses across the system and increased academic outcomes across his schools by an average of 7% per year\, while retaining over 90% of his principals. Sean is a proud graduate of the Leverage Leadership Institute\, UVA School Turnaround program\, and the AASA Urban Superintendent Academy\, and an active member of the ERDI Community and the National Council of Innovative Instructional Leaders. \n \nAbout the Moderator \nJeff McCoy currently serves as the Chief Education Officer for the Education Research & Development Institute (ERDI)\, where he leads national engagement with district leaders to shape innovative K-12 solutions and provide thought partnerships for school district leaders. Prior to joining ERDI\, Jeff spent over two decades with Greenville County Schools in South Carolina\, one of the largest districts in the Southeast\, serving as Associate Superintendent for Academics from 2015-2025. His leadership was instrumental in launching the district’s K-12 Literacy Framework\, Virtual School\, AI Implementation\, and transformation frameworks. \nJeff has been nationally recognized for his impact\, including being named one of District Administration’s Top 100 Most Influential Education Leaders and receiving the 1EdTech Leadership Award and RTM All Stars Award. He is a frequent national presenter on topics such as artificial intelligence in education\, instructional transformation\, instructional innovation\, and educational equity. Jeff also serves on multiple national and regional boards focused on advancing education policy and practice. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Leadership and Innovation community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nAt the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) we work to create a rich and meaningful forum for education leaders and solution providers to collaboratively discuss\, design\, and shape the products and services\, which support PK-12 education. We are committed to ensuring that all students have access to the highest quality learning experiences\, so that they will be productive\, ready stewards of the future. \n\n  URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/leadersplc20251212/ CATEGORIES:Leadership/Administration,Professional Development ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251212-leadersplc-event-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251211T130000 DTSTAMP:20260114T222704Z CREATED:20251123T161232Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260114T222704Z UID:10952344-1765454400-1765458000@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Building Systems for Results: Leadership Stories from Charlotte-Mecklenburg and Lockhart ISD DESCRIPTION:Presented by Mark Estrada\, Superintendent\, Lockhart ISD (TX); and Nancy Brightwell\, Chief of Recruitment\, Retention and Talent Development\, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC)\nModerated by Dr. Jennifer Ferrari\, CEO and President\, ERDI \nPresented by ERDI \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nAcross the country\, leaders are searching for practical ways to move beyond isolated initiatives and build systems that actually change teaching and learning. In the third edLeader Panel of Trailblazing Leadership Week\, Nancy Brightwell (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools) and Mark Estrada (Lockhart Independent School District) share how they rethought leadership\, professional learning\, and support structures to drive real gains for students. \nNancy unpacks how Charlotte-Mecklenburg aligned high-quality teachers\, high-quality curricula\, and accountable practice through a clear theory of change. Viewers see how Charlotte-Mecklenburg defined roles for specialists and master teachers\, created Crown Academy to better prepare new teachers\, and built monitoring systems that connect central office\, principals\, and classrooms in a continuous learning cycle. \nMark shares how Lockhart ISD’s “A Way\, Not The Way” approach and 4Bs/6 Levers framework led to a districtwide shared leadership model. He highlights the Lever Leader role\, talent identification and development systems\, and the 70–20–10 approach to coaching and on-the-job learning that is building a sustainable leadership bench. \nYou leave with concrete ideas for redefining leadership roles\, designing job-embedded support\, and building people-centered systems that improve outcomes for students without burning out your best educators. This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to PreK-12 school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \nThis edLeader Panel is part of Trailblazing Leadership Week. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nMark Estrada currently serves as the Superintendent at Lockhart Independent School District\, a fast-growth school district and participant in The Holdsworth Center Leadership Program. Mark has a wealth of leadership experience\, having served as Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction\, Principal of Hornsby-Dunlap Elementary School\, Plum Creek Elementary\, Lockhart Junior High\, and ML Cisneros Freshman Campus. He has also served as an Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and as a teacher at the middle school level in the Del Valle ISD. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Texas State University. Mark is a Class of 2014 ASCD Emerging Leader and currently a Doctoral Fellow at The University of Texas at Austin Cooperative Superintendency Program (CSP). Mark also sits on the board for the Texas State University College of Education and was the 2021 Region 13 Superintendent of the Year and a Texas Top 5 Finalist. \n \nNancy Brightwell currently serves as the Executive Director for Central 1 Learning Community at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in North Carolina. Previously\, Nancy served as the Chief Academic Officer for CMS from 2020-2023\, an assistant superintendent supervising schools for four years\, and a school superintendent for school support. Nancy has also led a 14-school turnaround initiative and served as a principal for 20 years at the elementary\, middle\, and high school levels. Nancy is part of the American Leadership Forum – Class XIII\, a co-lead for the CMS Equity-Centered Leadership Team\, a member of Community of Practitioners for North Carolina Department of Public Instruction\, and a member of the Technical Work Group reviewing Turnaround Leadership for U.S. Department of Education. \n \nAbout the Moderator \nDr. Jennifer Ferrari is a distinguished leader in the educational sector\, uniquely positioned at the intersection of education and business. As the CEO and President of the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI)\, she has married her extensive background in public education with her sharp business acumen to drive transformative solutions that meet the evolving needs of PK-12 education. Her leadership is characterized by a strategic blend of educational insight and business innovation\, facilitating impactful collaborations between district leaders and industry experts to optimize product development and implement effective solutions in schools nationwide. \nBefore ascending to her current role\, Dr. Ferrari served as the VP and chief schools officer for a pioneering education management organization\, where she spearheaded strategic planning and organizational growth. Her 25-year public education background\, spanning roles from middle school teacher to superintendent\, with expertise in curriculum and instruction\, leadership development\, change management\, and strategic planning\, provides her with a unique perspective on the intersection of education and business\, enabling her to lead with insight and innovation. Dr. Ferrari earned her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University in Chicago. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Leadership and Innovation community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nAt the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) we work to create a rich and meaningful forum for education leaders and solution providers to collaboratively discuss\, design\, and shape the products and services\, which support PK-12 education. We are committed to ensuring that all students have access to the highest quality learning experiences\, so that they will be productive\, ready stewards of the future. \n\n  \n  URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/leadersplc20251211/ CATEGORIES:Leadership/Administration,Professional Development,School Culture/Climate ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251211-leadersplc-event-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T170000 DTSTAMP:20251210T214837Z CREATED:20251031T175500Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T214837Z UID:10704578-1765382400-1765386000@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Bring the Science of Reading to Life Through Student Discussions DESCRIPTION:Presented by Dr. Mitchell Brookins\, Former Teacher\, Current Educational Consultant\, Brookins Consulting; Lisa Pagano\, Director of Advanced Studies\, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (NC); and Teri Laliberte\, Former Teacher\, Current Assistant Director of Professional Learning\, Great Books Foundation \nSponsored by The Great Books Foundation \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nThis edWebinar is for educators and school leaders who believe that true literacy growth happens not only through decoding and fluency\, but also through the power of purposeful conversation. Together\, we explore how structured\, academically rigorous discussions deepen comprehension\, build vocabulary\, and bring the Science of Reading to life in every classroom. \nWe begin with the metaphor of the teacher as conductor—a powerful way to reimagine classroom dialogue. Instead of “letting discussion happen\,” teachers orchestrate it: guiding\, supporting\, and amplifying student voices in harmony. You learn how to design and facilitate rich discussions that strengthen foundational skills and engage all learners\, including those who are struggling readers. \nNext\, we connect discussion practices to Science-of-Reading-aligned routines\, including active listening\, vocabulary development\, fluency work\, and structured annotation. You see how these elements work together to create confident\, thoughtful readers who understand deeply and speak with evidence. \nFinally\, we turn from classroom practice to schoolwide transformation. You learn how discourse can become a cultural pillar—elevating academic talk across grade levels\, uniting teachers around shared methods\, and sustaining literacy growth over time. \nViewers leave with: \n\nA clear vision of the teacher as conductor—how to intentionally orchestrate discussion for deeper comprehension\nPractical strategies for connecting reading science to authentic student discourse\nTools for using annotation\, fluency practice\, and evidence-based questioning to strengthen engagement and understanding\nLeadership insights for scaling rich discourse across classrooms and schools\n\nJoin us to experience how the power of Shared Inquiry—when paired with the Science of Reading—can create vibrant classrooms where every student has a voice and every text comes alive. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K–12 teachers\, literacy coaches\, school leaders\, and anyone eager to bridge the Science of Reading with the art of Shared Inquiry. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nDr. Mitchell Brookins is a nationally recognized educational consultant with 20+ years in K–12 as a teacher\, coach\, administrator\, district leader\, and thought leader. As a school administrator\, he led instructional efforts that yielded measurable gains—raising DIBELS scores from 43% to 72%\, increasing LEAP state assessment results by 16 points\, and improving school letter grades from “D” to “C” within one year at both ReNEW Cultural Arts Academy and Dwight D. Eisenhower Academy. \nHe has presented at Amplify’s Symposium\, PaTTAN Literacy Symposium\, Keys to Literacy\, The Reading League Summit\, the Black Men in Education Convening\, the Black Literacy Matters Conference\, and the Dyslexia Alliance for Black Children Conference. He also leads a citywide literacy fellowship in partnership with New Schools for New Orleans\, supporting over 40 literacy leaders across the city. As Managing Director at Leading Educators\, he supports system-level change in Jackson Public Schools\, Baltimore City Schools\, and Omaha Public Schools\, and serves on the Board of Directors for The Reading League. He holds a B.A. in elementary education\, an M.A. in teacher leadership\, and a Ph.D. in educational administration. \n \nLisa Pagano is the Director of Advanced Studies for Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools in Charlotte\, North Carolina\, where she leads districtwide initiatives supporting gifted education and specialized academic programming\, including Cambridge\, Montessori\, and International Baccalaureate (IB). With a strong background in instructional leadership and program design\, she works to ensure equitable access to rigorous learning opportunities for all students. Lisa’s career reflects a deep commitment to identifying and nurturing advanced learners while creating systems that make complex educational processes more effective and practical for educators. She is also a co-host and co-producer of They’ll Be Fine\, the North Carolina Association for Gifted & Talented’s (NCAGT) podcast that highlights voices and ideas shaping gifted education today. \n \nTeri Laliberte\, Assistant Director of Professional Learning\, started with the Great Books Foundation 20 years ago upon returning to the United States after teaching English\, developing teacher education programs\, and promoting critical-thinking skills in Turkey and Poland. She left the Foundation to work in higher education and professional associations focused on adult learning. Since returning to the Foundation\, she has enjoyed helping teachers implement Shared Inquiry across the curriculum. \nJoin the Science of Reading community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n\n \n \n The Great Books Foundation is a nonprofit educational organization best known for having created Junior Great Books® programs that use the Shared Inquiry™ method of teaching and learning. Junior Great Books programs comprise carefully curated anthologies of outstanding fiction\, nonfiction\, poetry\, and drama that help boost students’ critical thinking\, fluency\, vocabulary\, and listening and speaking skills. Junior Great Books literature is unmatched for sparking student engagement and enabling students to discover a love for reading. Our professional learning courses help educators learn\, practice\, and continuously improve their use of Shared Inquiry. This unique method provides teachers with a framework focused on a collaborative process of thinking and reading in which teachers and students work together to understand a text. Teachers use this inquiry-based approach across the curriculum\, opening classrooms to new ideas and more engaged students. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/scienceofreading20251210/ CATEGORIES:Literacy,Reading Skills,Science of Reading ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251210-scienceofreading-event-v2.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T150000 DTSTAMP:20260113T171630Z CREATED:20251121T044420Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260113T171630Z UID:10941615-1765375200-1765378800@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:The Literacy Breakthrough: Turn Parents into Your Most Powerful Reading Partners DESCRIPTION:Presented by Rebecca Honig\, Chief Content and Curriculum Officer\, ParentPowered\, and Former Teacher; and Françoise Lartigue\, Director of Content and Curriculum\, ParentPowered\, and Former Teacher \nSponsored by ParentPowered \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nThe latest research reveals a stark reality. Only one-third of fourth graders are reading at or above proficiency. While educators work tirelessly to address this crisis\, the most underutilized resource in literacy development is often right at home: parents and caregivers. \nThis edLeader Panel equips PreK through elementary educators and administrators with evidence-based\, strengths-based strategies to transform parents into confident\, effective reading partners. When families understand HOW reading happens and receive practical tools aligned with classroom instruction\, the impact on student literacy can be transformative. Viewers learn to: \n\nConnect family engagement to each pillar of the Science of Reading\nOrient parents around foundational skills\, including phonemic awareness\, phonics\, fluency\, vocabulary\, and comprehension\nIdentify strengths-based entry points that honor what families already bring to literacy learning\nSupport parents in building children’s attention\, focus\, and reading readiness\nScaffold home reading routines by connecting families with books\, literacy resources\, and doable activities that can become home reading habits\nPartner with families around learning goals in ways that leverage a family’s unique insights and funds of knowledge\n\nWalk away with actionable frameworks\, dozens of activity ideas\, and ready-made resources to share with families! Together\, we can create a powerful home-school partnership that accelerates reading success for every child. This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to PreK-5 teachers\, librarians\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nRebecca Honig is the Chief Content and Curriculum Officer at ParentPowered\, where she leads the creation of family engagement supports that have reached families across the country. Rebecca has been working in the field of education with a focus on literacy for the past 20 years. As a writer and producer\, she’s created dozens of segments for the Emmy Award-winning shows Sesame Street and The Electric Company. She’s authored over 20 early readers and contributed to literacy curricula for Scholastic\, HITN\, PBS\, WGBH\, and many others. As a classroom educator\, Rebecca focused on building literacy skills through storytelling and the arts and has had the opportunity to lead literacy workshops across the country. Rebecca has a master’s degree in education from Bank Street and is trained in the Orton-based reading program PAF. \n \nFrançoise Lartigue has been working in the fields of education and family engagement for over two decades. She is the Director of Content and Curriculum at ParentPowered\, where\, in addition to designing and developing ParentPowered’s curricula and programs\, Françoise also plays a key role in working directly with partners to identify\, create\, and vet resources to share with the families they serve. She began her career teaching kindergarten in the South Bronx through Teach For America and has extensive experience in developing and implementing STEAM-based curricula in the elementary years. She holds a master’s degree in early childhood education from Bank Street College. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Community & Family Engagement community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nResearch shows that families play a powerful role in fostering children’s development. ParentPowered is on a mission to help K–12 districts provide accessible\, evidence-based family engagement curricula\, without adding more to teachers’ plates. Our program—for PreK through grade 12—supports\, inspires\, and activates parents and caregivers with simple\, strengths-based insights they can turn into everyday teachable moments. Learn more and request a demo at parentpowered.com. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/engagement20251210/ CATEGORIES:Family and Community Engagement,Reading Skills,Science of Reading ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251210-engagement-event_panel.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251210T130000 DTSTAMP:20260109T190554Z CREATED:20251123T150438Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260109T190554Z UID:10951580-1765368000-1765371600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:From Isolation to Belonging: Practical Strategies to Strengthen School Communities DESCRIPTION:Presented by Dr. Doug Bolton\, Director of School Consultation\, Formative Psychological Services\nModerated by Dr. Jennifer Ferrari\, CEO and President\, ERDI \nPresented by ERDI \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nThe power of belonging within a school community is well documented. It fuels academic achievement\, enhances student behavior\, and supports student mental health and wellness. Yet despite widespread efforts\, student reports of belonging continue to decline\, leaving educators and leaders grappling with a complex and urgent challenge. \nIn the second edLeader Panel of Trailblazing Leadership Week\, Doug Bolton\, Ph.D.\, author of Untethered: Creating Connected Families\, Schools\, and Communities to Raise a Resilient Generation\, explores the systemic barriers that undermine belonging and offers clear\, actionable strategies that school leaders can implement immediately to foster authentic belonging among students and staff. \nThis recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 school leaders and district leaders. \nThis edLeader Panel is part of Trailblazing Leadership Week. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nDr. Doug Bolton is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and Director of School Consultation for Formative Psychological Services. He spent over 20 years as a Psychologist and Principal at North Shore Academy\, a K-12 therapeutic school in Highland Park. Dr. Bolton provides consultation\, supervision and professional development to parents\, educators\, and clinicians throughout Illinois to create communities that help foster student and staff resilience. His book\, Untethered: Creating Connected Families\, Schools\, and Communities to Raise a Resilient Generation\, was released in March 2025. \n \nAbout the Moderator \nDr. Jennifer Ferrari is a distinguished leader in the educational sector\, uniquely positioned at the intersection of education and business. As the CEO and President of the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI)\, she has married her extensive background in public education with her sharp business acumen to drive transformative solutions that meet the evolving needs of PK-12 education. Her leadership is characterized by a strategic blend of educational insight and business innovation\, facilitating impactful collaborations between district leaders and industry experts to optimize product development and implement effective solutions in schools nationwide. \nBefore ascending to her current role\, Dr. Ferrari served as the VP and chief schools officer for a pioneering education management organization\, where she spearheaded strategic planning and organizational growth. Her 25-year public education background\, spanning roles from middle school teacher to superintendent\, with expertise in curriculum and instruction\, leadership development\, change management\, and strategic planning\, provides her with a unique perspective on the intersection of education and business\, enabling her to lead with insight and innovation. Dr. Ferrari earned her doctorate in educational leadership and policy studies from Loyola University in Chicago. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Leadership and Innovation community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nAt the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) we work to create a rich and meaningful forum for education leaders and solution providers to collaboratively discuss\, design\, and shape the products and services\, which support PK-12 education. We are committed to ensuring that all students have access to the highest quality learning experiences\, so that they will be productive\, ready stewards of the future. \n\n  URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/leadersplc20251210/ CATEGORIES:Culture of Belonging,Leadership/Administration,School Culture/Climate ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251210-leadersplc-event-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T170000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T180000 DTSTAMP:20260107T175121Z CREATED:20251027T214243Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260107T175121Z UID:10664412-1765299600-1765303200@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:AI and Accessibility in the K-12 Environment: CoSN Blaschke Report DESCRIPTION:Presented by Christine Fox\, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer\, CAST; Bryan Dean\, Innovation Strategist\, CAST; and Stacy Hawthorne\, Ed.D.\, Board Chair\, CoSN \nSponsored by CAST \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, and earning your CE certificate. \nLet’s talk to promising practices\, policies\, and guidelines that state and school district leaders can implement around the use of generative AI and accessibility. Administrators must ensure that AI functionality is accessible to all students to align with the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Section 508. Likewise\, school districts must ensure compliance with federal and state education privacy laws. Yet many AI-enabled solutions are built for consumers\, not education. \nThis edLeader Panel reviews resources from the CoSN/CAST AI & Accessibility in Education: 2024 Blaschke Report and approve AI functionality as it relates to accessibility. Likewise\, the panelists discuss what policies and guidance school districts should provide around AI and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) to ensure the privacy of student data. \nThis recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 teachers\, librarians\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nChristine Fox\, Chief Growth and Innovation Officer at CAST\, leads business development\, sales\, design\, marketing\, and communications to support CAST’s mission. She is also Co-project Director of the Center on Inclusive Technology and Education Systems (CITES)\, supporting district inclusive technology practices. Prior to CAST\, Christine was the Senior Director of External Relations for CoSN\, where she coordinated professional advancement programs and corporate partnerships and supported federal advocacy. As the Deputy Executive Director of the State Educational Technology Directors Association\, she charted the strategic direction of the organization\, coordinated professional learning\, and led the research and reporting\, including authoring a variety of white papers and online tools to support quality edtech implementation. She has served as a teacher\, ELL coordinator\, reading coach\, and curriculum developer. \n \nBryan Dean is CAST’s Innovation Strategist with over 25 years of experience working at the intersection of human-centered design\, widespread educational impact\, and technology. Bryan has delivered training and presentations at the keynote\, international\, national\, state\, and regional levels. He is renowned for his innovative problem solving\, distinctive designs\, and eclectic style. His direct instructional experience includes working with students in behavioral dysregulation\, youth adjudication\, and those with trauma requiring moderate to intense interventions. Bryan’s specializations—professional learning\, learner experience design\, environmental/agile space design\, trauma-informed teaching\, educational technology\, and artificial intelligence—are all driven by the principles of Universal Design for Learning to ensure maximum participation and benefit for the broadest range of people. \n \nDr. Stacy Hawthorne\, Executive Director at the EdTech Leaders Alliance and CAO at Learn21\, has a distinguished career in educational technology. Dr. Hawthorne serves as the Chair of the CoSN Board of Directors. She led the Davidson Academy Online as Director of Online Learning\, and has consulted for digital learning program development across the U.S. Dr. Hawthorne holds a doctorate in educational technology\, a master’s in educational administration\, and a bachelor’s in business administration. She possesses CETL and CCRE certifications and holds teaching and administration licenses in Nevada. Dr. Hawthorne is an active member of several CoSN committees\, an ISTE Community Leader\, and a 2024 ISTE 20 to Watch Awardee\, and serves on several editorial and advisory boards related to digital learning. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, and earning your CE certificate. \nJoin the Artificial Intelligence in Education community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edLeader Panels\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n\n \n \n A nonprofit\, education research and development organization\, CAST leads\, inspires\, and convenes a global community to design inclusive learning experiences through our Universal Design for Learning framework and UDL Guidelines\, now used all over the world. CAST provides professional learning services to support UDL implementation\, accessibility solutions\, and the UDL Product Certification. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/ai20251209/ CATEGORIES:Accessibility,Artificial Intelligence ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251209-ai-event_panel.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T170000 DTSTAMP:20260106T222209Z CREATED:20251114T060354Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T222209Z UID:10880027-1765296000-1765299600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Teaching Reading Today: Bridging Research\, Practice\, and the Social Value of Literacy DESCRIPTION:Presented by Carol Jago\, Associate Director\, California Reading and Literature Project\, UCLA\, and Past President\, National Council of Teachers of English; Lorna Simmons\, Former Special Education Teacher\, and Author\, Saxon Reading Foundations; Dr. JT Torres\, Director\, Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning; and Samantha Garon\, VP of Product Management\, Heinemann \nSponsored by Heinemann \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nIn this edLeader Panel\, scholars Carol Jago\, Lorna Simmons\, and Dr. JT Torres engage in a dynamic and timely conversation exploring how foundational literacy skills\, strategic fluency development\, and deep comprehension work in harmony to empower confident\, lifelong readers. Viewers gain actionable classroom strategies and insights from diverse educator perspectives to support literacy growth across all grade levels. \nJoin us as they: \n\nAddress some of the most critical questions facing reading teachers today\nConsider and discuss recent literacy research and statistics\nExplore what success looks like for readers of all abilities—and how rigor can fuel joy in the process\n\nThis recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to PreK-12 teachers\, reading and curriculum specialists\, multilingual learner administrators\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \nEnjoy a complimentary ebook\, Establishing Effective Instruction: A Comprehensive Approach to Literacy. It offers practical\, research-based strategies to strengthen literacy instruction\, align tools for impact\, and help every student become a confident reader and writer. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nCarol Jago has taught English in middle and high school public schools for 32 years and is Associate Director of the California Reading and Literature Project at UCLA. She served as President of the National Council of Teachers of English and as Chair of the College Board’s English Academic Advisory Committee. She has published many books with Heinemann\, including The Book in Question: Why and How Reading Is in Crisis. She is also author of With Rigor for All and Cohesive Writing: Why Concept Is Not Enough\, and published books on contemporary multicultural authors for NCTE. \nCarol was awarded the International Literacy Association’s Adolescent Literacy Thought Leader Award and the CEL Exemplary Leadership Award. She has received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the California Association of Teachers of English. Carol has served on the National Assessment Governing Board and currently serves on the International Literacy Association’s Board of Directors. \n \nLorna Simmons is a former special education teacher and author of Saxon Reading Foundations. Combining her years of formal training and classroom experience with her personal struggles to guide her own son to reading success\, Lorna developed an immersive spelling and phonics program that has since helped over four million readers in all 50 states experience reading success. Lorna continues to work with schools to find ways to make the lessons more accommodating to the needs of teachers. \n \nDr. JT Torres directs the Houston H. Harte Center for Teaching and Learning. He supports teachers and students in all contexts\, both in and out of the classroom. His approach to educational development focuses on meaningful relationships with students\, teachers\, and content. His co-authored book\, How to Use Writing for Teaching and Learning\, is informed by his research into the ways students write themselves into a particular discipline as well as how students interpret faculty feedback on their writing. Dr. Torres argues that literacy is an inherently inclusive process\, a point frequently made in his co-edited book\, How to Incorporate Equity and Justice in Your Teaching. He also explored\, in Situated Narratives and Sacred Dance\, the ways oral literacy practices sustained the social memory of Arará communities in Cuba. \n \nSamantha Garon is a VP of Publishing at Heinemann. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Teaching Reading and Writing community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nDelivering world-class educational resources to enhance teacher practice\, advance student outcomes\, and set the foundation for a lifetime of learning. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/teach2read20251209/ CATEGORIES:Literacy,Reading Skills ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251209-teach2read-event_panel.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T160000 DTSTAMP:20251215T171208Z CREATED:20251201T164712Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251215T171208Z UID:10990556-1765292400-1765296000@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Supporting and Evaluating Student-Centered Classrooms DESCRIPTION:Presented by Kimberly Collins\, Professional and Organizational Development Success Coach\, Chesapeake City Public Schools (VA); Roxane Thomas\, Assistant Principal\, Northeast Career and Technical Academy\, Clark County School District (NV); and Matthew Hickson\, Former Teacher\, Current Head of Partner Transformation\, Modern Classrooms Project \nSponsored by Modern Classrooms Project \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Modern Classrooms Project and guest leaders from Clark County School District and Chesapeake Public Schools for an engaging\, practical edWebinar designed for district and school administrators. \nAs classrooms increasingly adopt student-centered\, mastery-based learning strategies\, leaders play a critical role in creating the conditions for innovative teaching to thrive. This session clarifies what strong student-centered instruction looks like and offer concrete strategies to support and evaluate educators as they make this shift. \nViewers learn: \n\nClear indicators of high-quality student-centered classrooms\nPractical look-fors for observing blended\, self-paced\, and mastery-based learning\nTools and structures that strengthen coaching\, feedback\, and schoolwide implementation\nInsights from Clark County Schools and Chesapeake Public Schools on building buy-in and sustaining progress\n\nYou leave with actionable ideas and leadership practices that help educators elevate student ownership and create classrooms where all learners can succeed. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 school and district leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nKimberly Collins is an experienced educator and instructional leader with over 13 years in K–12 education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in K–8 education from the University of Maine at Farmington\, a master’s degree in K–12 education from Saint Joseph’s College of Maine\, and an Education Specialist (Ed.S.) degree in Educational Leadership and Policy from Virginia Tech. As a Success Coach for Chesapeake Public Schools\, Kimberly supports educators in strengthening instructional practices\, building capacity\, and leading with purpose. She is passionate about empowering teachers through coaching and collaboration\, and she has designed and facilitated professional development experiences both within her district and at conferences across the country. \n \nRoxane Thomas is the Assistant Principal at Northeast Career and Technical Academy. She supports English\, math\, social studies\, and science in implementing schoolwide mastery learning. She is a collaborative learning strategy enthusiast—she loves a good jigsaw\, four-corners\, or fishbowl discussion—and a supporter of teacher autonomy and creativity to make learning fun for students of all ages. \n \nMatt Hickson\, Head of Partner Transformation at Modern Classrooms Project\, is a community organizer turned school leader. He believes in leveraging the power of education to build more joyful\, purposeful\, and just communities. In more than a decade of work in North Carolina\, he served his community both inside and outside of school buildings. Matt was the Durham Public Schools Beginning Teacher of the Year before becoming a Principal and Central Services Director. He also served on the Board of Directors at Student U and the DPS Foundation. When not working in schools\, Matt is an avid Buffalo Bills fan and dog dad to his puppy\, Archie. He currently resides in Washington\, DC. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Student-Driven Learning community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nThe Modern Classrooms Project empowers educators to implement a self-paced\, mastery-based instructional model that leverages technology to foster human connection\, authentic learning\, and social-emotional growth. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/sdl20251209/ CATEGORIES:Classroom Management and Practices,Student Agency and Voice,Teaching Practice and Pedagogy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251209-sdl-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T150000 DTSTAMP:20251209T194400Z CREATED:20251023T031039Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251209T194400Z UID:10629747-1765288800-1765292400@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Spotting the Signs Early: Using Screeners Responsively to Support Every Child’s Learning Journey DESCRIPTION:Presented by Nicol Russell\, Ed.D.\, Former Early Childhood Educator\, Current Chief Academic Officer\, Teaching Strategies \nSponsored by Teaching Strategies \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nEarly childhood educators play a vital role in recognizing and responding to children’s unique learning needs. Developmental and learning screeners—when used purposefully and interpreted effectively—help teachers\, specialists\, and program leaders understand where children are in their growth and identify when additional support may be needed. \nIn this edWebinar\, Dr. Nicol Russell\, Chief Academic Officer at Teaching Strategies\, unpacks the purpose and power of developmental and learning screeners in early childhood education. Viewers explore how high-quality screening practices\, particularly when grounded in family partnership\, can help educators recognize children’s individual strengths and needs and take timely\, compassionate action. The session highlights how screeners fit within a broader system of formative assessment and how results can guide responsive teaching\, family engagement\, and early intervention efforts. \nViewers: \n\nExamine the role of developmental and learning screeners within a comprehensive\, strengths-based approach to assessment\nLearn how to interpret screener results to guide responsive caregiving and individualized instruction\nExplore how screening can inform early identification of potential learning differences\, such as dyslexia\, and be used to engage families as partners in decision making\nDiscover practical ways to integrate screening into daily practice\, intake processes\, and family communication across infant\, toddler\, and preschool settings\n\nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK teachers\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenter \nDr. Nicol Russell is the Chief Academic Officer for Teaching Strategies\, where she oversees the development of effective implementation and change management solutions for school administrators and early childhood educators who leverage their groundbreaking products. Previously\, Dr. Russell has worked as an early childhood teacher\, school administrator\, Head Start state collaboration director\, and state-level administrator for the Arizona Department of Education. Her research interests include studying the implementation practices of early learning programs and considering ways to create more equitable opportunities for all children and educators. Dr. Russell holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in early childhood and early childhood special education and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Early Childhood Learning Solutions community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n\n \n \n Teaching Strategies is the leading provider of early childhood curriculum\, assessment\, professional development\, and family engagement solutions. Its products\, including the most widely used curriculum and assessment solutions\, The Creative Curriculum® and GOLD®\, are found in over 270\,000 classrooms and more than 80 countries around the world and reach over 4 million children each year. A trusted partner and advocate for the early education community for 45 years\, today Teaching Strategies connects teachers\, children\, and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences\, insightful data\, stronger family partnerships\, and professional learning through the leading early learning platform and resources. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20251209/ CATEGORIES:Assessment,Early Childhood Learning,PreK-K Programs ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251209-earlychildhood-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251209T130000 DTSTAMP:20260106T162653Z CREATED:20251123T143410Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260106T162653Z UID:10950799-1765281600-1765285200@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:System-Level Transformation: How Greenville County Schools and San Antonio ISD Are Improving Student Achievement DESCRIPTION:Presented by Dr. Susan Stevens\, Associate Superintendent of Academics\, Greenville County Schools (SC); Justin Watwood\, Principal\, Edgar Allan Poe Middle School\, San Antonio ISD (TX); Dr. Dawn Hooker\, Principal\, Alexander Elementary School\, Greenville County Schools (SC); Santa Lopez\, Principal\, Davy Crockett Academy\, San Antonio ISD (TX); and Dr. Shawn Bird\, Deputy Superintendent of Teaching\, Learning\, and Leadership\, San Antonio ISD (TX)\nModerated by Jeff McCoy\, Chief Education Officer\, ERDI \nPresented by ERDI \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nDistricts across the country are being asked to raise student achievement with complex needs\, tight resources\, and growing scrutiny. Greenville County Schools (SC) and San Antonio Independent School District (TX) have both seen significant systemwide gains in test scores by focusing on coherent\, system-level transformation rather than isolated initiatives. \nIn the first edLeader Panel of Trailblazing Leadership Week\, you hear directly from school and district leaders who are doing the work every day. Together\, they unpack how their districts aligned vision\, instructional expectations\, and support systems so every school moved in the same direction. \nLeaders share how they: \n\nOrganized central office and school teams around a common instructional vision\nUsed data and high-quality instructional materials to drive classroom practice\nBuilt principal and teacher capacity while protecting time for what matters most\nMaintained focus on equity and access for all student groups\nBuilt school culture that focuses on high expectations and student-centered decision making\n\nViewers leave with practical moves\, hard-earned lessons\, and questions to bring back to their own leadership teams. This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \nThis edLeader Panel is part of Trailblazing Leadership Week. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nDr. Susan Stevens serves as the Associate Superintendent of Academics for Greenville County Schools\, where she leads districtwide instructional strategy\, curriculum development\, and academic innovation. With a deep commitment to advancing equitable access to high-quality learning\, she oversees initiatives that strengthen teaching and learning across all grade levels. Dr. Stevens brings extensive experience in school leadership\, instructional improvement\, and systems-level change. Her work centers on fostering collaborative partnerships\, supporting educators\, and ensuring that every student is prepared for success in college\, career\, and life. Renowned for her strategic approach and student-centered vision\, she continues to champion opportunities that elevate academic excellence throughout the district. \n \nJustin Watwood is an accomplished educational leader and current Principal at Edgar Allan Poe STEM Dual Language Middle School in San Antonio ISD. With over a decade of experience in instructional leadership\, curriculum implementation\, and school improvement\, Justin has held key roles including Director of School Leadership and Partnership Services and Manager of Curriculum Implementation. He has successfully led initiatives that improved instructional effectiveness\, strengthened teacher coaching systems\, and advanced campus performance goals. Justin holds a master’s in educational leadership from the University of North Texas and a bachelor’s in economics from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Certified as a Principal (EC–12) and Science Teacher (Grades 8–12)\, he is passionate about fostering collaborative school cultures\, leveraging data-driven strategies\, and ensuring equitable access to high-quality education for all students. \n \nDawn Hooker\, Ph.D.\, is a school administrator at Alexander Elementary School in Greenville County Schools\, bringing more than 23 years of experience in public education. Her career began in the classroom\, where she taught grades two\, three\, and seven\, building a foundation rooted in strong instructional practice and meaningful student relationships. Throughout her career\, she has served in a variety of roles that deepened her understanding of teaching and learning. Her leadership pathway includes serving as an instructional coach (K4–5)\, Title I facilitator (K4–5)\, and assistant principal (K4–5). She spent six years as an elementary assistant principal in both Pickens and Greenville Counties before becoming a principal in Greenville County Schools\, where she is now entering her 11th year in this role. \nDr. Hooker earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from North Greenville University in 2002. She went on to receive two Master of Arts degrees from Clemson University—in Elementary Education (2004) and Reading (2007). She achieved National Board Certification in 2007 and later completed her Doctor of Philosophy in Educational Administration at the University of South Carolina in 2013. Recognized for her ability to lead meaningful school improvement\, Dr. Hooker has consistently transformed school performance—from unsatisfactory to excellent—through a focus on instructional quality\, data-driven decision making\, and strong relationships. Her school was awarded the most growth in Greenville County in 2025\, along with awarding her the Jeff McCoy Innovative Leadership Award. \n \nSanta Lopez\, Principal of Davy Crockett Academy\, was born and raised in Pearsall\, Texas\, where she graduated from Pearsall High School. She earned her bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Texas at San Antonio in 2004 and began her teaching career at Highland Hills Elementary. Over the course of 10 years\, Santa taught kindergarten\, second\, and fourth grades\, demonstrating a deep commitment to student growth and learning. In 2014\, she earned a master’s degree in educational leadership and policy studies from the University of Texas at San Antonio\, further equipping her to support school communities. Two years later\, in 2016\, Santa was promoted to Assistant Principal at Highland Park Elementary\, where she served for three years. \nIn 2019\, she became Principal at Hillcrest Elementary\, leading the school to academic success with dedication for six years. Most recently\, in 2025\, Santa was appointed principal at Crockett Academy. She holds high expectations for ALL students\, firmly believing that every child can grow and succeed. Her leadership philosophy centers on building strong\, meaningful relationships with each student\, fostering an environment where learning thrives. \n \nDr. Shawn Bird currently serves as Deputy Superintendent of Teaching\, Learning\, and Leadership in the San Antonio ISD. He grew up in Houston and has served in public education for over two decades\, all in large urban school districts. He began his career as a high school English teacher and has also held the position of secondary literacy coach\, assistant principal\, and principal. After moving to California\, he worked in the Los Angeles Unified School District as a Principal Supervisor and in Pasadena Unified School District as the Chief Academic Officer. Dr. Bird has also served as Chief of Schools in the School District of Philadelphia and as the Deputy Superintendent of Instruction and School Communities at Portland Public Schools. Dr. Bird earned three degrees from the University of Houston: a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Spanish\, a Master of Education in Secondary Education\, and a Doctor of Education in Curriculum and Instruction. \n \nAbout the Moderator \nJeff McCoy currently serves as the Chief Education Officer for the Education Research & Development Institute (ERDI)\, where he leads national engagement with district leaders to shape innovative K-12 solutions and provide thought partnerships for school district leaders. Prior to joining ERDI\, Jeff spent over two decades with Greenville County Schools in South Carolina\, one of the largest districts in the Southeast\, serving as Associate Superintendent for Academics from 2015-2025. His leadership was instrumental in launching the district’s K-12 Literacy Framework\, Virtual School\, AI Implementation\, and transformation frameworks. \nJeff has been nationally recognized for his impact\, including being named one of District Administration’s Top 100 Most Influential Education Leaders and receiving the 1EdTech Leadership Award and RTM All Stars Award. He is a frequent national presenter on topics such as artificial intelligence in education\, instructional transformation\, instructional innovation\, and educational equity. Jeff also serves on multiple national and regional boards focused on advancing education policy and practice. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Leadership and Innovation community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nAt the Education Research and Development Institute (ERDI) we work to create a rich and meaningful forum for education leaders and solution providers to collaboratively discuss\, design\, and shape the products and services\, which support PK-12 education. We are committed to ensuring that all students have access to the highest quality learning experiences\, so that they will be productive\, ready stewards of the future. \n\n  URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/leadersplc20251209/ CATEGORIES:Leadership/Administration,School Culture/Climate,Student Achievement ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251209-leadersplc-event-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T160000 DTSTAMP:20251208T210519Z CREATED:20251113T150323Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T210519Z UID:10871109-1765206000-1765209600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:When Math Begins With Play\, Everything Changes DESCRIPTION:Presented by Brandon Smith\, Former Educator\, Current Director of Outreach Mathematics\, MIND Education \nSponsored by MIND Education \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nThis edWebinar explores how incorporating play into math instruction can improve understanding\, engagement\, and confidence for all learners. Grounded in research and classroom experience\, the session highlights how playful learning activates the brain’s problem-solving centers\, encourages persistence\, and supports the development of critical-thinking skills. \nViewers examine the role of curiosity and exploration in mathematical learning and learn how to move beyond traditional drills and worksheets. The session includes practical strategies for creating classroom environments that promote active engagement\, discussion\, and creative problem solving. Examples demonstrate how to use games\, manipulatives\, and open-ended tasks to deepen conceptual understanding. \nEducators leave with a clearer understanding of how to balance academic rigor with joyful learning experiences. The edWebinar also addresses how to shift classroom culture to focus on process\, collaboration\, and reasoning rather than speed or accuracy. \nBy integrating play into math instruction\, teachers can help students view mathematics as a subject to explore rather than fear. When learning begins with play\, both students and teachers experience meaningful growth and renewed enthusiasm for math. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK-12 teachers\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenter \nBrandon Smith is the Director of Outreach Mathematics at MIND Education\, where he creates experiential learning programs for people of all ages\, both in and out of the classroom—including two that are patent pending. Over the past several years\, he has focused on developing innovative projects to close what he calls the math “experience gap\,” where children have insufficient exposure to math in their daily lives. These projects include interactive exhibits and games for math fairs\, math camps\, and family math nights. Early in his career at MIND\, he designed mathematical requirements for the game-based ST Math® software and led the national roll-out of the sixth-grade ST Math curriculum. Brandon co-authored a paper in Cognitive Research: Principles and Implications and has written for the Huffington Post and presented at ISTE. Prior to joining MIND\, Brandon was a college instructor\, where he won an outstanding teacher award and was an educational liaison for the City of Costa Mesa to Windham\, Australia. Brandon has a bachelor’s in math and two master’s degrees in pure and applied mathematics. In his spare time\, Brandon enjoys piloting planes. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Math the Way the Brain Learns community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, and receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars. \n\nMIND Education’s math curriculum solutions build conceptual understanding—at scale. Designed to meet students where they are\, these programs invite all learners into math in a way that feels natural\, intuitive\, and empowering—while delivering results proven in classrooms across the country. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/mineducation20251208/ CATEGORIES:Game-Based Learning,Mathematics ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251208-mindeducation-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T150000 DTSTAMP:20251214T063024Z CREATED:20251106T180428Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251214T063024Z UID:10770758-1765202400-1765206000@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Small-Group Instruction to Meet the Needs of Diverse Learners DESCRIPTION:Presented by Lauren Bien-Aime\, Experienced Educator and Professional Development Facilitator\, Learn It Academic Services; and Marybeth Jones\, Experienced Educator and Vice President of Academic Services\, Learn It Academic Services\nModerated by Nicole Magliaro\, Education Manager\, Learn It Academic Services \nSponsored by Learn It Academic Services \nWatch the RecordingListen to the Podcast \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nIn this edWebinar\, viewers explore how small-group teaching fosters differentiation\, builds student engagement\, and supports academic growth. Through interactive activities and classroom scenarios\, teachers leave with actionable strategies to design\, manage\, and assess small-group instruction that meets the needs of all learners. \nThe presenters address how small-group instruction can be used to differentiate learning and meet individual student needs\, as well as effective strategies for forming and managing small groups in a classroom setting. \nBy the end of the edWebinar\, viewers are able to: \n\nIdentify the benefits of small-group instruction\, along with potential challenges and ways to overcome them\nDesign flexible grouping strategies based on student learning goals\nLearn ways to implement instructional techniques that promote engagement\, equity\, and academic rigor in small groups\n\nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nLauren Bien-Aime\, Professional Development Facilitator\, is a first-generation Miami native and a proud graduate of the University of Florida\, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Food Chemistry and Human Nutrition. Lauren’s career began as a Teach For America alumna\, when she returned to South Florida to teach in Miami-Dade and Broward County Public Schools\, integrating her passion for STEM education with a commitment to community service. Lauren also has a strong background in designing and facilitating professional development for educators and administrators\, helping them enhance their practices and better support diverse student populations. She has been specially training in project-based learning\, Sheltered Instruction Observation Protocol (SIOP) for English language learners\, blended learning\, instructional coaching\, college and career readiness\, and general instructional practices. \n \nMarybeth Jones\, Vice President of Academic Services at Learn It\, has more than 30 years’ experience in education\, as a K-12 teacher and higher education professor\, as well as delivering educational support services in the private sector. At Learn It\, she directs all the activities of the Academic Services Team\, delivering services in more than a dozen large urban districts\, including LAUSD\, New York City Public Schools\, and Chicago Public Schools. She is responsible for day-to-day program operations. She manages resource and personnel allocations\, deployment of staff\, budgets\, contract compliance\, client partnerships\, and program retention. She has conducted quality audits for academic improvement programs across the U.S. and has developed and executed improvement plans to ensure quality control. Marybeth holds a B.S. in education from Illinois State University and an M.S. in education in curriculum and instruction from Grand Canyon University. \n \nAbout the Moderator \nNicole Magliaro\, Education Manager at Learn It\, is a first-year doctoral student in educational research with extensive experience overseeing various educational programs. With over ten years of classroom experience teaching various grades and levels of students\, Nicole has designed curricula focusing on writing and literature aligned with Common Core Standards. She has developed\, implemented\, and assessed educational programs using research\, databases\, journals\, and project and presentation methodologies. Nicole also conducts quality assurance visits across Learn It’s programs to ensure high-quality instructional services are provided to students. She is experienced in collaboration with stakeholders and coordinating\, planning\, and presenting professional development. Nicole holds an MA in educational leadership and BA in English with a K-12 teaching certification. \nJoin the Teaching All Students community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nLearn It creates programs that promote student success and are customized and aligned to meet the unique needs of each school’s mission and vision. From our multiple curricula to our technology options\, Learn It creates fresh\, practical programs that change the trajectory of every student we encounter. Learn It is your partner in helping children succeed in school and life. Our expertise ​is broad and deep. Our team is caring\, flexible\, and outcome focused. Our approach is collaborative\, progressive\, and family centric. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/inclusiveeducation20251208/ CATEGORIES:Inclusive Education,Professional Development,Teaching Practice and Pedagogy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251208-inclusiveeducation-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251208T140000 DTSTAMP:20251208T185741Z CREATED:20251117T064506Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T185741Z UID:10895591-1765198800-1765202400@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:AI Leadership in Action: Building Bridges Between Students\, Staff\, and Systems DESCRIPTION:Presented by Dr. Alexandra Holter\, K-12 Computer Science and Career and Technical Education Coordinator\, Bloomington Public Schools (MN); Holly Skadsem\, Elementary Digital Learning Coordinator\, Bloomington Public Schools (MN); and Andrew Rummel\, Secondary Digital Learning Coordinator\, Bloomington Public Schools (MN) \nSponsored by Common Sense Education \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nThis edWebinar explores how school and district leaders can take intentional\, systems-level steps toward responsible and equitable AI integration. Presenters from Bloomington Public Schools\, MN\, share how they are bridging the gap between students\, educators\, and district leaders through an aligned set of AI competencies and practical tools. \nThe conversation spotlights the AI-Powered Project Toolkit for Administrators\, a role-embedded resource that helps school leaders explore and apply AI within their daily work\, as well as the Teacher AI Competencies Framework\, which connects classroom practice to districtwide goals. Together\, these free resources support a coherent approach across leadership\, instruction\, and student learning. \nViewers also see how Bloomington’s Digital Learning Scope and Sequence intentionally weaves AI into lessons and learning targets from elementary through high school\, ensuring that AI literacy and ethics develop alongside content knowledge. \nThroughout the session\, the presenters model how to frame AI integration as a whole-systems process\, anchored in ethical reflection\, collaboration\, and capacity building. Viewers leave with adaptable tools\, frameworks\, and examples to guide thoughtful AI adoption within their own schools and districts. \nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n\n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nAlexandra Holter\, Ph.D.\, Tekne Awards 2024 Tech Educator of the Year\, is the K-12 Computer Science (CS) and Career and Technical Education (CTE) Coordinator for Bloomington Public Schools in Minnesota. With over 17 years of experience as a STEM educator\, Dr. Holter is committed to eliminating barriers and fostering equitable access to STEM education for all students. In her current role\, Dr. Holter leads comprehensive K-12 computer science programming\, emphasizing identity-inclusive classrooms and equitable opportunities. She collaborates with community and industry partners to enhance learning experiences and professional development for teachers. Dr. Holter serves as the Chair of the Computer Science Teachers Association (CSTA) Policy Committee and a member of its Editorial Board. Her contributions include co-authoring Minnesota’s State Computer Science Education Strategic Plan and presenting on topics such as responsible AI integration and authentic implementation of computer science in the K-12 space. \n \nHolly Skadsem is the Digital Learning Coordinator for Bloomington Public Schools in Minnesota. A licensed K–12 principal and former elementary teacher\, she brings over 15 years of experience designing systems that make learning more inclusive\, engaging\, and future ready. In her current role\, she leads districtwide efforts to integrate instructional technology and AI\, and designs professional learning that empowers educators to give students greater voice\, choice\, and ownership. She led the design and launch of New Code Academy\, a full-time K–5 online school\, and authored a book on online learning. She is passionate about creating learning environments where students and families are co-creators in their educational journey. Whether in person or online\, her work focuses on disrupting the status quo and equipping educators to build classrooms where every learner is empowered and included. \n \nAndrew Rummel is a Digital Learning Coordinator for the Bloomington Public Schools. In this role\, he coordinates the secondary digital learning team\, the K12 media program\, and New Code Academy Middle and High School. With over 25 years in education\, he has served as an English/language arts teacher\, reading and writing interventionist\, and literacy coach. His leadership work includes a range of roles\, including K-12 Literacy Coordinator for the Minneapolis Public Schools and Coordinator of the Minneapolis Residency Program. Andrew has designed and taught university courses focused on professional learning and coaching\, adolescent reading and literacy leadership\, and curriculum design. He has a deep interest in digital literacies and their impact on teaching and learning\, and his dedication to advancing educational technology and literacy practices underscores his commitment to preparing students for success in a rapidly evolving world. \n\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Digital Learning & Leadership community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nCommon Sense Education develops high-quality digital citizenship programs and digital teaching resources\, providing educators and students with the digital learning tools they need to harness the power of technology for life. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/commonsense20251208/ CATEGORIES:Artificial Intelligence,Digital Learning ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251208-commonsense-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T170000 DTSTAMP:20251204T215812Z CREATED:20251111T071836Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251204T215812Z UID:10817936-1764864000-1764867600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Boosting PreK Literacy Skills DESCRIPTION:Presented by Dr. Wiley Blevins\, Author\, Educational Consultant\, and Researcher \nSponsored by Sadlier \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nAre your PreK students ready for the literacy demands of kindergarten? Join renowned literacy expert Wiley Blevins\, Ed.D.\, for an engaging edWebinar where you explore practical strategies to strengthen early literacy skills through cumulative learning experiences and knowledge-building texts that prepare young learners for success. \nThis session offers actionable insights to elevate your PreK instruction. Learn how to empower your students with the skills they need to thrive. \nedWebinar viewers: \n\nExplore practical strategies to strengthen early literacy skills\nGain actionable insights to elevate literacy instruction\n\nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK teachers\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenter \nWiley Blevins\, Ed.D.\, studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Education and Bowling Green State University and has his doctorate in education. He is an author\, educational consultant\, and researcher with deep expertise in literacy instruction and reading intervention. Dr. Blevins has taught in both the United States and South America\, bringing a global perspective to his work. He is widely recognized for his contributions to phonics and early literacy and has authored numerous professional books and instructional resources used in classrooms nationwide. Through his consulting and research\, Dr. Blevins supports educators in implementing evidence-based practices that accelerate reading growth for all learners. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Engaging Early Learners community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nWith 200 years of trusted experience\, Sadlier empowers K–12 educators to shape the future with proven\, research-based programs that drive student success. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/learningp320251204/ CATEGORIES:Early Childhood Learning,Early Literacy,PreK-K Programs ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251204-learningp3-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251204T140000 DTSTAMP:20260402T175836Z CREATED:20251106T145615Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260402T175836Z UID:10766013-1764853200-1764856800@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:5 Midyear Moves for Family Engagement: What to Keep\, Shift\, or Strengthen DESCRIPTION:Presented by Kate Pechacek\, Former Teacher\, Current K12 Strategic Advisor\, TalkingPoints; and Amanda Ensor\, Former Teacher\, Current Senior Content and Learning Manager\, TalkingPoints\nModerated by Heather Dooley\, Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communications\, TalkingPoints \nSponsored by TalkingPoints \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nBy midyear\, the back-to-school dust has settled\, and it’s the perfect time to pause\, reflect\, and recalibrate. What’s working well with families? Where are the gaps—in connection\, in communication\, in outcomes? And what small\, strategic shifts could make a big difference? \nIn this edWebinar\, we share five practical\, research-backed strategies to help you pivot with purpose\, strengthening family-school partnerships both around the classroom (culture\, systems) and within it (teacher-family relationships\, student support). \nYou walk away with clear\, scalable ways to course-correct and deepen engagement across classrooms\, campuses\, and the district—better supporting educators\, families\, and students through the second half of the year. You gain strategies to: \n\nReassess and adapt family engagement efforts\nAlign systems to classroom realities and needs\nReconnect with hard-to-reach families\nHelp teachers reflect and adjust using family interaction data\nSustain engagement through high-stress months\n\nWhether your focus is attendance\, academics\, or morale\, this session helps you refocus and keep families at the center of your second-semester success strategy. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \nView part one: Nourishing a Strong School Culture with Sustainable Family Partnerships\nView part three: Spring Family Engagement That Sets Up Success: Finish Strong\, Launch Stronger \n\n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nKate Pechacek currently serves as K12 Strategic Advisor to systems-improving edtech organizations and school districts\, including TalkingPoints\, and is the founder and CEO of OpendoorsEd. Prior to founding OpendoorsEd\, Kate served as Head of Impact at TalkingPoints\, one of several roles she has held in education technology over the last nine years. She began her nearly 30-year career in education as a secondary math teacher. In addition to 15 years as a teacher\, Kate has served in districts nationwide\, holding multiple site and district leadership roles in curriculum\, instruction\, assessment\, and MTSS. She is passionate about ensuring equity\, disrupting predictability\, and narrowing opportunity gaps. \n \nAmanda Ensor is Senior Content & Learning Manager at TalkingPoints\, an education nonprofit strengthening family–school partnerships through an innovative digital platform. A former elementary teacher and 2013 Queen Anne’s County Teacher of the Year\, she has 20+ years in public education. She previously served as a Family & Community Engagement Specialist with Scholastic and as Title I Family Engagement Specialist for Queen Anne’s County (2018–22). Amanda also founded It Takes A Village\, LLC\, consulting with districts and early childhood providers. A nationally recognized presenter\, she has led national sessions\, including the 2024 National Assembly for Family Engagement. She holds degrees in Human Development and Learning and Elementary Reading and Literacy\, plus an administrator certification. At the core of her work is a clear mission: to help schools and districts cultivate effective\, equitable partnerships between home and school\, ensuring every student receives the support they need to thrive. \n\n \nAbout the Moderator \nHeather Dooley is the Senior Director of Brand Marketing and Communications at TalkingPoints. She is driven by a deep belief in the power of education to help students realize their full potential and contribute to thriving\, healthy communities. As a public school parent in a diverse district\, Heather has seen firsthand the critical role that access\, inclusion\, and strong school-family partnerships play in student success. Her experience fuels her commitment to fostering meaningful connections between families and schools. Heather brings a strong background in digital marketing\, with nearly a decade dedicated to the nonprofit education sector. Her work has focused on advancing effective school practices and empowering families with the information they need to support learning at home and in their communities. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Creating a Positive School Climate community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nTalkingPoints is an edtech nonprofit dedicated to driving student success by unlocking the power of effective family-school partnerships. TalkingPoints’ communications and family engagement platform provides capacity-building guidance\, time-saving tools\, and universally accessible\, two-way\, text-first communication in more than 150 languages. This unique approach removes barriers like language\, time\, mindset\, and capacity\, fostering positive and purposeful family engagement. Unlike traditional communication tools\, TalkingPoints is purpose-built to improve student outcomes by guiding partnership efforts toward the practices that matter most for student success. The platform empowers educators at every level—from district leaders to classroom teachers—to engage every family\, in their home language\, through barrier-free\, multilingual communication. \n\n \n  URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/positive20251204/ CATEGORIES:Family and Community Engagement ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251204-positive-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T170000 DTSTAMP:20251210T051343Z CREATED:20251106T043319Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T051343Z UID:10762582-1764777600-1764781200@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Advancing Multilingual Learner Literacy: District Leadership in Action DESCRIPTION:Presented by Sonja Bloetner\, Director\, Office of Multilingual Achievement\, Baltimore County Public Schools (MD)\, and Co-Founder\, CREATE Solutions\, LLC; Marybelle Marrero-Colón\, Associate Director of Professional Development Relations\, Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL); and Dr. Kia Johnson\, Senior Director\, PreK-12 Professional Development and Evaluations\, Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL) \nSponsored by Vista \nWatch the RecordingListen to the Podcast \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nDistrict administrators and supervisors are uniquely positioned to drive systemwide change that supports equitable literacy outcomes for multilingual learners. This edWebinar discussion brings together perspectives from research\, policy\, district leadership\, and instructional approaches. \nThe presenters share: \n\nConcrete strategies for systematizing curriculum\, instructional models\, and teacher support\nApproaches to sustaining professional development and progress monitoring\nGuidance on family engagement and adapting to various district cultures\nReal-world examples of laying a research-backed foundation for multilingual learner success\n\nAll registrants receive downloadable checklists\, project templates\, and a curated set of actionable resources to support ongoing success. \nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 school and district leaders.\n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nSonja Bloetner serves as a director of the multilingual education program in a large suburban district in Maryland. She oversees the K-12 curriculum\, professional development\, and instruction with over 13\,000 Multilingual Learners enrolled in the program. Her work focuses on leading district-level improvement efforts in collaboration with other leaders in her district. She has been a central office leader for over 25 years in the state of Maryland. \n \nIn her 39 years as an educator\, inclusion specialist\, program coordinator\, administrator\, and professional developer\, Marybelle Marrero-Colón has acquired experience within the fields of ESL\, bilingual education\, bilingual special education\, special education instruction and evaluation\, content area instruction\, and professional development. She has adjuncts at various colleges and universities in teacher preparation programs. These include\, but are not limited to\, Central Connecticut State University\, College of New Rochelle\, College of Mount Saint Vincent\, and the University of Maryland-Baltimore Campus. At the current time\, Marybelle is the Associate Director of Professional Development Relations for Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL). \nFor the Center for Applied Linguistics\, she has provided coaching\, workshops\, and presentations for schools\, districts\, national conferences\, and various education-based organizations on topics involving bilingual students\, English learners\, dually identified students\, and second language acquisition. Marybelle has a B.A. in psychology and Spanish language and literature\, an M.A. in bilingual special education\, and an M.S. in administration and supervision with a specialty in professional development. She is also a U.S. Department of Education Title VII Fellow in Bilingual Special Education. In her spare time\, Marybelle is an avid reader\, cook\, and crafter. \n \nDr. Kia Johnson is Senior Director of PreK–12 Professional Development and Evaluations at the Center for Applied Linguistics (CAL)\, where she leads research-based training\, coaching\, and evaluation initiatives that strengthen instructional practices and program quality for multilingual learners. She has more than 17 years of experience as an educator\, leader\, and policy specialist\, having served as an ESL teacher\, department chair\, and English Learner Assessment and Title III Specialist at the Virginia Department of Education. In that role\, she oversaw statewide implementation of WIDA’s assessments and Title III compliance for Virginia’s 115\,000 English learners. Her research\, which examines the leadership practices of EL Program Directors in low-incidence districts\, reflects her commitment to equity-centered leadership and integrating language\, identity\, and culture into instructional systems. Dr. Johnson holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University. \nJoin the Helping ELL\, ESL\, and Bilingual Students Succeed community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nVista is a leading publisher and edtech provider solely dedicated to language learning. For more than 25 years\, Vista has partnered with educators to create innovative print and digital solutions that empower diverse learners\, develop language and literacy\, and promote intercultural understanding. By raising the standard of language teaching and learning\, our hope is to positively impact the lives of countless learners around the world. For more information\, visit www.VistaHigherLearning.com URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/ell20251203/ CATEGORIES:ALAS,Bilingual and Multilingual Language Acquisition,ELL/ESL Language Acquisition,Literacy,Multicultural Learning ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251203-ell-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T160000 DTSTAMP:20251210T034725Z CREATED:20251112T152304Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251210T034725Z UID:10849253-1764774000-1764777600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Families Make the Difference: Practical Ways to Boost Early Literacy and Math DESCRIPTION:Presented by Lori Anderson\, Director of Elementary Curriculum\, School City of Hobart (IN); Sara Gutierrez\, Director of Early Learning\, School City of Hobart (IN); and Allison Leedie\, Former Educator and Literacy Coach\, Current Sr. Manager\, School Partnerships\, Khan Academy Kids \nSponsored by Khan Academy Kids \nWatch the RecordingListen to the Podcast \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nFamily engagement is one of the highest-leverage ways to accelerate early literacy and math—when it fits real families’ time\, languages\, and routines. In this edWebinar\, moderated by Allison Leedie\, School Partnerships—Khan Academy Kids and former educator and literacy coach\, with guests from School City of Hobart\, Lori Anderson\, Director of Elementary Curriculum\, and Sara Gutierrez\, Director of Early Learning\, PreK–2 educators explore practical strategies that connect school and home. \nYou learn to: \n\nLaunch weekly home routines for phonological awareness\, vocabulary\, and early numeracy\nAdapt multilingual\, family-friendly messages and visual guides caregivers can use tomorrow\nAlign centers and take-home activities so families see and reinforce priority skills\nTrack progress with simple checks and celebrate growth to sustain engagement\n\nViewers leave with strategies that can be put into action on the very next day\, and a district example from Hobart that shows how small habits build big gains—while honoring diverse caregivers and busy schedules. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK-2 teachers\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \n\n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nLori Anderson serves as the Director of Elementary Curriculum and Instruction for School City of Hobart\, Indiana. With 19 years of classroom experience across multiple elementary grade levels\, including as an MTSS interventionist\, Lori brings a deep understanding of student learning and instructional practice. She also served ten years in school leadership roles as an assistant principal and head principal before advancing to district leadership. In her current capacity\, Lori partners closely with building leaders and educators to foster student success and promote professional growth. She regularly leads and engages in grade-level meetings to support teachers in developing as instructional leaders within their classrooms and collaborative teams. \nCommitted to continuous learning\, Lori actively participates in professional development statewide and with the Indiana Department of Education to bring evidence-based strategies to her district. A passionate advocate for family engagement\, Lori believes that strong partnerships between school and home are essential for students to thrive both academically and socially. She values the meaningful relationships she has cultivated with staff\, students\, and families and looks forward to strengthening these connections to support early learners. \n \nSara Gutierrez serves as the Director of Early Learning and Education for the School City of Hobart\, where she leads a vibrant ecosystem of prenatal to kindergarten programming focused on family engagement\, preschool\, and kindergarten. As an instructional leader\, she guides and empowers educators to deliver high-quality\, developmentally appropriate experiences that help every child and staff member “Be Excellent on Purpose.” \nA passionate advocate for early literacy\, play-based learning\, and family partnerships\, Sara has helped develop Hobart’s recognized Brickies from the Start initiative\, which connects schools and caregivers in building strong foundations for lifelong learning. She also partners with the Indiana Department of Education to design statewide professional development supporting smooth transitions to kindergarten. Known for her joyful energy and commitment to collaboration\, Sara inspires educators and families alike to see themselves as partners in growing curious\, confident learners\, one meaningful connection at a time. \n\n \nAllison Leedie has spent her career helping children fall in love with reading. She began her career in the classroom as an elementary teacher\, where she discovered the magic of watching a child unlock a book for the first time. That experience led her to become a literacy specialist and coach\, supporting other teachers in giving students the strong foundation they need as readers. With a master’s in language and literacy from Harvard\, Allison now leads School Partnerships at Khan Academy Kids. The best part of her job is sharing joyful\, accessible resources that help every child grow into a confident\, curious reader for life. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Community & Family Engagement community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nKhan Academy Kids is a free early learning program that empowers teachers and families to nurture confident\, curious learners. Developed by Khan Academy in partnership with early childhood learning experts from Stanford University\, the app helps children ages 2–8 build foundational literacy\, math\, and executive functioning skills through play-based learning. Interactive lessons\, books\, and activities adapt to each child’s level\, while teachers can track progress and assign standards-aligned lessons in the classroom. Used by schools and districts nationwide\, Khan Academy Kids supports equitable access to research-backed early education—no subscriptions\, ads\, or barriers. Available on mobile\, tablet\, and Chromebook devices\, the app brings joyful\, effective learning to every child\, everywhere. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/engagement20251203/ CATEGORIES:Early Childhood Learning,Early Literacy,Family and Community Engagement ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251203-engagement-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T150000 DTSTAMP:20260104T001703Z CREATED:20251114T171734Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260104T001703Z UID:10884875-1764770400-1764774000@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Boost STEM Anywhere with UDL + Drones: CAST Take Flight DESCRIPTION:Presented by Chris Hesselbein\, Director\, Northwest STEM Hub; Laurie Prewandowski\, Digital Learning Specialist\, Kearsarge Regional School District (NH); Dr. Jessica Hall\, Senior Research Scientist\, CAST; and Adrienne White\, Director of Marketing\, Robolink\nModerated and led by Dr. Amanda Bastoni\, Senior Director of Workforce and Higher Education Implementation\, CAST \nSponsored by Robolink\, creators of CoDrone EDU \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nWhat happens when you combine inclusive design with emerging educational technology? \nCAST’s Take Flight study explored that question\, and now YOU can get first access to the study’s impact with actionable recommendations to help any school transform STEM learning. \nAcross 11 states\, more than 1\,100 middle school students learned to code and fly drones through UDL-aligned lessons (Universal Design for Learning) that significantly increased their STEM interest\, skills\, and sense of belonging. Plus\, with Take Flight’s curriculum-based professional learning (CBPL)\, teachers reported a 40% boost in confidence and strong intent to continue the program. \nIn this edLeader Panel\, moderated by CAST’s Dr. Amanda Bastoni\, Dr. Jessica Hall (CAST Senior Research Scientist)\, Chris Hesselbein (Director of Oregon’s Northwest STEM Hub)\, Laurie Prewandowski (Digital Learning Specialist and DoD STEM Ambassador)\, and Adrienne White (Robolink Director of Marketing) share data-driven strategies that educators in rural communities and beyond can use to expand STEM pathways through UDL and drones. Learning objectives include: \n\nDiscover data-backed strategies to meet district priorities for STEM\, CTE\, and computer science standards\nAlign drone lessons with career-connected learning goals\, emphasizing local and industry-relevant applications\nCenter CBPL that sustains teacher growth and instructional equity\n\nWhether you’re in a rural community or an urban one\, the free Take Flight curriculum offers a replicable model to help all students see themselves in STEM—and soar. This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to grades 5–12 teachers\, librarians\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nChris Hesselbein is the Director of the Northwest STEM Hub and the STEM Team Lead TOSA at the Northwest Regional ESD. The Oregon STEM Hub Network is dedicated to providing equitable STEM opportunities for students across the state with the aim of promoting participation in STEM careers. In partnership with the Northwest Regional ESD\, Portland Community College\, and CAST\, the Northwest STEM Hub organized a career-focused professional development session featuring the Take Flight curriculum. This innovative model of PD addresses many of the barriers teachers face while attempting to implement STEM learning experiences. They were provided with high-quality curricula\, classroom equipment\, industry perspective\, connections to other rural teachers\, and\, most importantly\, hands-on experience and confidence. Other STEM Hubs have now joined the effort\, and so far\, they have involved over 50 teachers from across the state in drone education opportunities. \n \nLaurie Prewandowski is a DoD STEM Ambassador\, FAA-Certified Remote Pilot\, ISTE-Certified Educator\, and experienced digital learning specialist teacher. She holds a master’s in instructional media and is a Certified Education Technology Integrator in New Hampshire. Laurie is a Robolink Ambassador and Certified CoDrone Edu Pilot\, actively promoting drone education through workshops and competitions. She has been using the Take Flight curriculum since January 2023 and is a drone competition team coach\, guiding students in hands-on coding and flight challenges. She also is an REC Event Partner hosting drone competitions at her school. Laurie has presented drone-focused sessions at the CSTA Conference\, NHSTA\, and NHSTE\, sharing strategies for integrating flight and coding into STEM instruction. Laurie’s passion is inspiring educators to embed real-world STEM experiences into their classrooms\, empowering students to think creatively\, problem solve\, and innovate. \n \nAs a Senior Research Scientist\, Dr. Jessica Hall is involved in the research and evaluation of CAST projects focused on improving outcomes for all learners\, from well-being and cognitive skills to engagement and academic performance\, as well as examining and supporting the efficacy of education agencies’ systems of support. Prior to joining CAST\, Dr. Hall was a Senior Research Scientist at Pearson and at the National Institute for Excellence in Teaching. In those roles\, she studied the efficacy of programs designed for professional learners\, teachers\, university students\, and K-12 students. She has expertise in quantitative methods of analysis and outcomes/impact measurement\, and she received funding from the NIH National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders for her doctoral and postdoctoral research. In her early career\, she served as an English literature teacher and an English language instructor. \n \nAdrienne White is the Director of Marketing at Robolink\, where she oversees brand\, product\, and content marketing and helps students’ futures take flight from classrooms to the Aerial Drone Competition. Formerly at Quizizz and Ozobot\, Adrienne is passionate about growing educational technology brands with big missions and supporting communities of STEM and CTE educators. \n \nAbout the Moderator \nDr. Amanda Bastoni is the Senior Director of Workforce and Higher Education Implementation at CAST and Principal Investigator for the National Science Foundation-funded Take Flight project. Through Take Flight\, Dr. Bastoni and her team have engaged more than 1\,100 rural middle school students and 100 educators across 11 states\, helping youth build confidence\, technical skills\, and STEM identity through hands-on\, drone-based learning. Grounded in the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) framework\, Take Flight demonstrates how inclusive design and real-world tools can expand STEM pathways for students who might otherwise be left out. Dr. Bastoni has presented on Take Flight at ISTE\, state STEM Hubs in Oregon\, and National Science Foundation convenings\, sharing evidence-based strategies for engaging rural learners in STEM. Her work continues to connect educators\, researchers\, and communities to reimagine how accessibility\, technology\, and workforce preparation intersect in STEM education. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the STEM Learning community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, and receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars. \n\nRobolink makes career-launching educational drones and learning experiences for grades 5 and up. CoDrone EDU\, the drone of choice for classrooms and the Aerial Drone Competition\, allows students to program with Blockly and Python to build CS\, STEM\, and future-ready skills from their first flight. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/stem20251203/ CATEGORIES:Career Education,CTE: Career and Tech Ed,STEM/STEAM,Universal Design for Learning ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251203-stem-event_panel.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T130000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T140000 DTSTAMP:20260103T195016Z CREATED:20251119T173321Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260103T195016Z UID:10926491-1764766800-1764770400@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Advancing Grade-Level\, Meaningful Instruction Through Mindset and System Alignment DESCRIPTION:Presented by Valery Dragon\, School Improvement Strategist and VP of Strategic Partnerships\, UnboundEd; and Doe Kim\, Director\, Program Design\, UnboundEd\nModerated by Clay Willis\, VP of Marketing and Communications\, UnboundEd \nSponsored by UnboundEd \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nWhile the free GLEAM® instruction framework—grade-level\, engaging\, affirming\, and meaningful—offers guiding principles and strategies to get to the art of teaching\, its not-so-secret power lies in its ability to inform systems. This edLeader Panel invites viewers to look beyond tools and resources to consider how GLEAM shapes mindsets\, planning\, and leadership. \nDrawing on years of coaching and consulting across schools and districts\, we push on our hypothesis to help you refine your theory of action—and help you adjust your thinking about improvement to align with GLEAM. By the end of this session\, viewers are able to: \n\nUse GLEAM to surface mindset work and shift adult culture toward student-centered\, effective instruction\nApply GLEAM as a lens for examining and strengthening organizational and instructional operating frameworks\nLeverage GLEAM to evaluate and align tools\, resources\, and practices that drive meaningful teaching and learning\n\nThis recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 school and district leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nValery Dragon\, VP of Strategic Partnerships at UnboundEd\, has worked for over a decade in the Washington\, D.C. area as an ELL specialist\, language teacher\, and instructional coach before leading a PK-8 school as a principal. Both New Leaders and RELAY trained\, she then transitioned to a national organization as a managing director of instructional support to focus on leadership actions and practices. In this role\, Valery crafted development for leaders through targeted improvement cycles anchored in operationalizing instructional improvement plans\, auditing systems\, and structures through the lens of internal coherence and equity\, as well as modeling and developing coaching practices anchored in content-specific pedagogy. It is Valery’s belief that fidelity to our mission will empower educators to own their input in school-based outcomes and allow them to intentionally launch their influence as change agents in hopes that their affirmed identities and leveraged leadership position them to build a strong coalition for change. \n \nDoe Kim is an education leader with nearly 20 years of experience as a teacher\, dean\, assistant principal\, and principal. Passionate about building systems that honor identity\, skill\, knowledge\, and criticality\, Doe believes every child has limitless potential. As Program Design Director\, she drives the strategy and leads the design for leadership program vision\, coaching models\, and professional learning that strengthen instructional leadership and collective efficacy. Her work equips district and school leaders to create the conditions where adults and students thrive as learners and humans. \n \nAbout the Moderator \nClay Willis is a mission- and results-driven marketing and communications leader committed to making education work for every single learner. As UnboundEd’s Vice President of Marketing and Communications\, Clay advances the organization’s reach and impact by forging meaningful connections with visionary educators. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Leadership Practices for Innovative Leaders community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nUnboundEd empowers educators to meet the needs of every single student through grade-level\, engaging\, affirming\, and meaningful—GLEAM®—instruction. We work side-by-side with teachers\, coaches\, principals\, and district leaders to ensure the success of your instructional vision for exceptional education and improved outcomes. By cultivating the mindsets\, knowledge\, and skills at the heart of truly transformative teaching and learning\, we can break the predictability of historic achievement patterns so all kids thrive. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/leadership20251203/ CATEGORIES:Student Achievement,Student Agency and Voice,Teaching Practice and Pedagogy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251203-leadership-event_panel.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251203T130000 DTSTAMP:20260805T171803Z CREATED:20251009T162339Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260805T171803Z UID:10504382-1764763200-1764766800@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:The Education of an Artist: Lessons from Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Journey DESCRIPTION:Presented by Daniel Pollack-Pelzner\, Author and English and Theater Scholar\nModerated by Lisa Schmucki\, Founder and CEO\, edWeb.net \nWatch the RecordingListen to the Podcast \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nLin-Manuel Miranda has transformed the world of musical storytelling with his giant stage and screen hits: Hamilton\, In the Heights\, Moana\, Encanto\, and more. But this Grammy-\, Tony-\, Emmy-\, and Pulitzer-winning songwriter didn’t do it alone. As a new book\, Lin-Manuel Miranda: The Education of an Artist\, argues\, Miranda’s success stems not only from innate genius\, but from a lifetime of insatiable curiosity and an overwhelming appetite to learn from everyone around him. \nJoin author Daniel Pollack-Pelzner for this edWebinar to explore the teachers who shaped Miranda’s journey from the shy\, sensitive child of Puerto Rican parents\, growing up in an immigrant neighborhood in the northernmost tip of Manhattan\, to the galvanizing force who would expand America’s sense of its own story. How can we\, as educators\, nurture the future Lin-Manuels in our classrooms and communities? What are the parenting\, teaching\, collaborative\, and creative lessons that Miranda’s story reveals? \nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers and school leaders\, as well as higher education educators interested in the arts. \n \n \nAbout the Presenter \nDaniel Pollack-Pelzner has written about theater and contemporary culture for The New Yorker\, The Atlantic\, and The New York Times. Born and raised in Oregon\, he teaches theater history at Portland State University and is the Scholar-in-Residence at the Portland Shakespeare Project. He lives in Portland with his wife\, whom he met in a fifth-grade production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream\, and their two children. \nJoin the Creative Arts in Education community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \n \n\n  URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/creativity20251203/ CATEGORIES:Arts in Education,Book Talk,Creativity,Music ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251203-creativity-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T170000 DTSTAMP:20251208T212608Z CREATED:20251103T053838Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T212608Z UID:10714456-1764691200-1764694800@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Connecting Digital Citizenship and Reading Comprehension: Safe Learning\, Strong Literacy DESCRIPTION:Presented by Dyane Smokorowski\, Coordinator of Digital Literacy\, Wichita Public Schools (KS) \nSponsored by PebbleGo \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nAs access to technology expands\, so does the need to prepare students for safe and responsible participation in the digital world. This edWebinar helps educators understand how to teach the principles of digital citizenship alongside literacy instruction. Viewers explore methods for empowering students to think critically about information\, recognize safe practices\, and engage respectfully with online content. \nNonfiction literacy activities are presented as a powerful way to connect reading comprehension with responsible digital habits. While PebbleGo is discussed as one example of a platform that offers a secure environment for exploration\, the session highlights broader strategies for supporting students in their journey toward safe\, informed\, and thoughtful digital engagement. \nEducators leave with practical tools to foster curiosity while reinforcing the values of safety\, respect\, and responsibility in their classrooms. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-5 teachers\, librarians\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenter \nDyane Smokorowski—known to many as Mrs. Smoke—is a passionate educator\, speaker\, and edtech advocate dedicated to making learning an adventure. Named one of EdTech Focus K–12’s “30 K–12 IT Influencers to Follow in 2024” and honored with the 2023 Wichita Business Journal Community Innovator Award\, she’s committed to reimagining what education can be. A lifelong champion of creativity and curiosity\, Dyane has earned numerous accolades\, including Kansas Teacher of the Year (2013)\, Dolly Parton’s Chasing Rainbows Award (2015)\, and induction into the National Teacher Hall of Fame (2019). As the Coordinator of Digital Literacy for Wichita Public Schools\, she designs engaging\, playful learning experiences that blend educational technology\, global collaboration\, and creativity for students and educators alike. Her mission: to inspire lifelong learners who see education as an adventure filled with discovery\, connection\, and joy. \nJoin the Success in a Digital World community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nPebbleGo is a K–5+ platform that equips educators with standards-aligned\, leveled articles and multimodal tools to strengthen literacy. With leveled nonfiction articles in English and Spanish\, read-aloud audio\, vocabulary support\, and multimodal tools\, teachers can integrate literacy instruction with science and social studies while encouraging independent reading\, exploration\, and content mastery. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/digitalworld20251202/ CATEGORIES:Digital Citizenship,Digital Learning PreK-3,Digital Literacy,Reading Skills ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251202-digitalworld-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T160000 DTSTAMP:20260301T144108Z CREATED:20251117T054401Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260301T144108Z UID:10894829-1764687600-1764691200@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Sentence Writing: The Overlooked Element of the Science of Reading DESCRIPTION:Presented by Shawn Datchuk\, Ph.D.\, M.Ed.\, Director\, Iowa Reading Research Center\, University of Iowa; and Cheryl Lundy Swift\, Ed.D.\, Director\, Professional Learning\, Learning Without Tears \nSponsored by Learning Without Tears \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nMany classrooms are making strides with evidence-based reading instruction—yet too often\, students still struggle to write clear\, complete sentences. Why? Sentence writing is an essential but overlooked piece of the Science of Reading. Strong sentence skills don’t just support writing; they reinforce decoding\, fluency\, syntax\, and comprehension. \nIn this interactive edWebinar\, we explore the latest research on how sentence writing develops alongside reading\, why it matters for literacy achievement\, and practical\, evidence-based ways to teach and assess it. Kindergarten through third-grade educators leave with ready-to-use routines and assessment tools that can be embedded into daily instruction to accelerate student growth in both reading and writing. \nBy the end of this session\, viewers are able to: \n\nExplain how sentence writing develops and why it is critical to both reading and writing success\nApply instructional routines that integrate sentence writing into literacy instruction across grade levels\nUse brief\, standardized assessments to evaluate sentence writing and related language skills\n\nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to kindergarten through third-grade teachers\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \nRegister for the follow-up edWebinar\, Teaching Sentences with Intention: Differentiation\, Language\, and Transfer \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nDr. Shawn Datchuk is Professor of Special Education at the University of Iowa and the Director of the Iowa Reading Research Center. He is a former K-12 special education teacher\, elementary teacher\, and academic director. He received his Ph.D. in special education from Pennsylvania State University. He researches evidence-based methods to improve the sentence writing and related literacy skills of K-12 students with and without disabilities. He has over 30 peer-reviewed publications\, has delivered 70+ conference presentations\, and has been awarded over $6 million in federal and state funding. He serves on the editorial boards of eight peer-reviewed journals and is the Chair of the Research Committee of the Division for Learning Disabilities of the Council for Exceptional Children. \n \nDr. Cheryl Lundy Swift has been a dedicated and innovative educator for over 25 years. Dr. Lundy Swift currently serves as Learning Without Tears’ Professional Learning Director where she leads the curation of professional learning experiences for teachers and school leaders worldwide. Dr. Lundy Swift also serves as the podcast host of Literacy Matters: Empowered Conversations where she interviews renown literacy researchers\, authors\, and practitioners to explore today’s early literacy landscape and to provide school leaders\, teachers\, and families with practical solutions. She has worked in leadership and executive roles for various educational organizations including public schools\, post-secondary institutions\, and education companies. \nDr. Lundy Swift is an award-winning educational leader\, curriculum developer\, motivational speaker\, and facilitator. Her unique mix of wit\, grit\, and passion “edutains\,” inspires\, and equips school leaders\, teachers\, and families to help students reach their fullest potential. Dr. Lundy Swift has received a number of awards and commendations including Investor Bank’s Educator of the Year Award. Dr. Lundy Swift makes a difference in her community by serving on a variety of boards and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority\, Inc. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Building Foundational Literacy Skills community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nLearning Without Tears’ mission in today’s changing learning landscape is to ensure that the path to student success remains simple and fun. We provide child-friendly\, hands-on\, innovative instruction for early learning\, handwriting\, keyboarding\, and writing strategies\, and our programs reach more than 31 million students in Pre-K through fifth grade. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/lwt20251202/ CATEGORIES:Early Literacy,Reading Skills,Science of Reading ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251202-lwt-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T150000 DTSTAMP:20251208T212331Z CREATED:20251023T030042Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251208T212331Z UID:10629295-1764684000-1764687600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Assessment in Action: Using Data and Daily Observations to Support Responsive Teaching and Programming in Early Childhood DESCRIPTION:Presented by Nicol Russell\, Ed.D.\, Former Early Childhood Educator\, Current Chief Academic Officer\, Teaching Strategies \nSponsored by Teaching Strategies \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nPurposeful\, comprehensive assessment in early childhood education goes beyond documentation—it is a responsive practice that helps teachers see\, support\, and celebrate each child’s unique growth. In this edWebinar\, Dr. Nicol Russell explores how observation-based and formative assessment practices can inform individualized teaching\, strengthen partnerships with families\, and promote continued growth for all children. \nViewers examine how to interpret data through a strengths-based lens and use it to guide daily interactions\, curriculum decisions\, and continuous program quality improvement—ensuring that every child’s story of learning is seen\, valued\, and acted upon. Viewers: \n\nDiscover how responsive\, observation-based assessment supports responsive teaching and individualized learning\nIdentify when and how to use different types of assessment to inform instruction and program decisions\nPractice strategies for embedding assessment into play-based learning and relationship-based routines\n\nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to PreK teachers\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenter \nDr. Nicol Russell is the Chief Academic Officer for Teaching Strategies\, where she oversees the development of effective implementation and change management solutions for school administrators and early childhood educators who leverage their groundbreaking products. Previously\, Dr. Russell has worked as an early childhood teacher\, school administrator\, Head Start state collaboration director\, and state-level administrator for the Arizona Department of Education. Her research interests include studying the implementation practices of early learning programs and considering ways to create more equitable opportunities for all children and educators. Dr. Russell holds a bachelor’s and master’s degree in early childhood and early childhood special education and a Doctor of Education degree in Educational Leadership. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Early Childhood Learning Solutions community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n\n \n \n Teaching Strategies is the leading provider of early childhood curriculum\, assessment\, professional development\, and family engagement solutions. Its products\, including the most widely used curriculum and assessment solutions\, The Creative Curriculum® and GOLD®\, are found in over 270\,000 classrooms and more than 80 countries around the world and reach over 4 million children each year. A trusted partner and advocate for the early education community for 45 years\, today Teaching Strategies connects teachers\, children\, and families to inspired teaching and learning experiences\, insightful data\, stronger family partnerships\, and professional learning through the leading early learning platform and resources. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/earlychildhood20251202/ CATEGORIES:Early Childhood Learning,Early Literacy,PreK-K Programs ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251202-earlychildhood-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251202T130000 DTSTAMP:20251217T155736Z CREATED:20251006T205118Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251217T155736Z UID:10467811-1764676800-1764680400@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Improving Professional Learning Systems for Today's Educators: Playbook for State and Local Leaders DESCRIPTION:Presented by Ji Soo Song\, Director of Projects and Initiatives\, SETDA; Michael Ham\, Partner\, Research and Policy\, FullScale; Kurt Beer\, Senior Account Executive\, MagicSchool AI; Coleen Putaansuu\, Title II\, Part A Lead Program Supervisor\, OSPI\, Washington State; Tate Toedman\, Federal Program Specialist\, Nebraska Department of Education; Elizabeth Foster\, Senior Vice President\, Research and Strategy\, Learning Forward; and Dr. Beth Holland\, Managing Director\, Research and Policy\, FullScale \nHosted by SETDA \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nSETDA\, in partnership with ISTE+ASCD\, Learning Forward\, and FullScale\, has developed Improving Professional Learning Systems to Better Support Today’s Educators: How Title II\, Part A Offers a Model for State and Local Leadership\, a new guide on strengthening state and local systems for edtech and AI professional learning\, that was released at the SETDA Leadership Forum on November 5\, 2025. In this edLeader Panel\, viewers learn about the research behind the guide\, key recommendations for leaders\, and strategies for building sustainable systems that expand educator capacity. \nThis session emphasizes how Title II-A and braided funding can shift professional learning from compliance-driven training to educator-driven growth. By highlighting coaching models\, PLC structures\, and AI literacy building opportunities\, the panelists show how systems can empower educators to set goals\, lead peers\, and personalize learning pathways. Viewers explore strategies that build capacity while ensuring professional learning is sustained and aligned to instructional vision. \nThis recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to K-12 school leaders\, district leaders\, education technology leaders\, and state education leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nJi Soo Song is the Director of Projects and Initiatives at SETDA\, where he oversees a portfolio of initiatives to support 40+ state education agencies in implementing promising practices on topics such as digital opportunity\, edtech procurement\, professional learning\, sustainability\, and AI. He leads SETDA’s partnerships with philanthropic groups and corporate sponsors and advises the organization’s federal advocacy strategies. Ji Soo also oversees the design and evaluation of SETDA’s signature events and represents state leaders in national and international forums\, including as a designated focal point for the UNESCO-UNICEF Gateways to Public Digital Learning Initiative. \nPreviously\, Ji Soo served as a Digital Equity Advisor and Federation of American Scientists Impact Fellow at the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Educational Technology. He led the Department’s efforts to bridge the digital access divide\, organized the National Digital Equity Summit\, and supported development of the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan. \n \nMichael Ham is a Partner at FullScale\, leading policy initiatives to foster equity-driven innovation in K-12 education. He collaborates with sector leaders nationwide to create conditions that enable transformative learning and equitable access for all students. Michael’s career in K-12 education began in high-need Title I public schools\, where he scaled impactful instructional practices alongside school and district leaders. His passion for human-centered systems improvement and leveraging technology evolved into leading broader systemic change efforts. As a Partner of Research\, Measurement\, and Policy at FullScale\, he works with state and federal leaders to implement programs that scale evidence-based practices\, focusing on sustainable models that prioritize equity and empower students. \n \nKurt Beer’s helping teachers and students. For 20 years\, Kurt has supported schools’ integrations of information and instructional technologies. As a former IT professional\, he loves finding ways technology can safely and responsibly improve the lives of educators. Forgive him if he slips too deep into tech talk. He just loves this stuff. Kurt supports MagicSchool’s partner operations throughout Illinois\, Indiana\, Michigan\, and Ohio\, advising schools on the responsible integration of AI-powered instructional tools. In this role\, Kurt helps empower teachers to accomplish their many tasks more efficiently\, ultimately making their work in the classroom easier\, more impactful\, and more fulfilling. MagicSchool’s mission is to combat educator burnout and support thriving classrooms through innovative\, responsibly designed AI tools. MagicSchool is trusted by millions of educators and thousands of schools\, advancing the future of teaching and learning. \n \nColeen Putaansuu has worked at the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State since 2006. Prior to that time\, she served for 18 years as an elementary teacher and elementary principal. \n \nTate Toedman is a Federal Programs Specialist in the Office of ESEA Programs at the Nebraska Department of Education. Tate oversees Title II-A and Title IV-A\, and is the Private School Ombudsman for ESEA programs. He is involved in approving applications and monitoring school districts and Education Service Units. He has previously served at the Kansas State Department of Education overseeing ESEA federal programs\, served as the Coordinator for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth\, and as the Private School Ombudsman. He was at the Kansas State Department of Education from 2006 to 2024. \n \nElizabeth Foster is the Senior Vice President of Research and Strategy at Learning Forward. She leads the organization’s research efforts for partnerships\, programs\, and fundraising. Elizabeth co-wrote the Standards for Professional Learning (2022) with Tracy Crow and now facilitates learning sessions about the standards and develops resources that support their implementation. She contributes to the design\, facilitation\, and evaluation of networks\, including those focused on middle school mathematics and curriculum-based professional learning. \nPrior to Learning Forward\, Elizabeth was the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at the National Commission on Teaching and America’s Future (NCTAF)\, where she led a major research investigation about educator support systems that resulted in a report entitled What Matters Now (2016) and a successful three-year improvement network with Learning Forward. Her published work includes studies on teacher recruitment\, preparation\, and professional learning\, urban teacher shortages\, community college teacher preparation\, professional learning communities\, and the demographics of the education workforce. \n \nDr. Beth Holland is Managing Director of Research & Policy at FullScale. Since joining FullScale in 2020\, she has expanded the organization’s initiatives\, building research partnerships with districts\, systems\, and other organizations to engage in program evaluation as well as specific areas of interest. She is a nationally recognized expert and thought leader in the edtech and digital equity spaces\, recently serving on a Technical Working Group to author the 2024 National Educational Technology Plan (NETP). Prior to joining FullScale\, she completed a postdoctoral research fellowship at the University of Rhode Island\, where she worked on a project funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Ready to Learn Initiative\, and served as the Digital Equity and Rural Project Director at the Consortium of School Networking (CoSN). \nJoin the Professional Learning & Practice community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nSETDA is the principal association representing U.S. state and territorial educational technology and digital learning leaders. Through a broad array of programs and advocacy\, SETDA builds member capacity and engages partners to empower the education community in leveraging technology for learning\, teaching\, and school operations. For more information\, please visit our website\, LinkedIn\, or Twitter. \n\n\n \n\n  URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/pd20251202/ CATEGORIES:Digital Learning,Leadership/Administration,Professional Development ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251202-pd-event_panel.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251201T150000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251201T160000 DTSTAMP:20251202T200807Z CREATED:20251030T212048Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251202T200807Z UID:10695598-1764601200-1764604800@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Nonfiction Read Alouds to Build Knowledge and Vocabulary: Powerful Practices for Grades 3–8 DESCRIPTION:Presented by Katy Wischow\, Former Teacher\, Current Staff Developer\, The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower \nSponsored by The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nRead alouds aren’t just for the primary grades—they’re one of the most powerful tools upper elementary and middle school teachers have to nurture comprehension\, language\, and content knowledge. In this engaging edWebinar\, Katy Wischow of The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower shares practical\, research-aligned ways to make nonfiction read alouds central to your literacy and content instruction. \nViewers explore how purposeful text selection and intentional discussion can spark curiosity\, deepen understanding\, and expand students’ vocabulary across subjects. Katy demonstrates strategies for choosing complex\, high-interest texts that align with your curriculum\, and for using talk\, writing\, and vocabulary routines to support knowledge building. You learn how to balance the joy of shared reading with deliberate teaching moves that strengthen students’ background knowledge and word consciousness. \nJoin us to discover how a few minutes a day of powerful shared reading can build not only better readers—but more curious\, knowledgeable learners. Whether you’re a grade 3-8 classroom teacher\, coach\, or literacy leader\, you leave with practical tools and a fresh vision for how read alouds can transform your students’ engagement and achievement. \n \n \nAbout the Presenter \nKaty Wischow is a Staff Developer with The Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower. She began her career as a classroom teacher before joining the Project\, and earned her master’s degree in literacy from Teachers College\, Columbia University. Katy is the co-author of Unlocking the Power of Classroom Talk\, a co-writer of several Units of Study in Reading and Writing\, and the author of decodable texts in both the Jump Rope Readers and Moonlit Mountain Readers series. She is deeply interested in vocabulary\, grammar\, professional writing\, nurturing teachers’ own writing lives\, and fostering strong\, joyful learning cultures in schools and classrooms. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Teaching Reading and Writing community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nThe Reading & Writing Project at Mossflower was created out of the pioneering work that Lucy Calkins began over 40 years ago. Inspired by her research\, she developed innovative curricula and methods that transformed the way children learned to write. For decades since\, she has worked with educators to help students become what she always knew them to be: proficient and enthusiastic writers\, readers\, and thinkers. \nToday\, RWP-M remains deeply rooted in this experience\, while also holding true to this a spirit of innovation and continuous learning. Lucy Calkins and her team author the Units of Study in Reading\, Writing\, and Phonics and several series of engaging decodable texts. More than authors of curricula\, at its core\, RWP-M is a community of practice\, a think tank\, and a professional development organization dedicated to transforming the way students learn to read\, write\, and think. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/teach2read20251201/ CATEGORIES:English, Language Arts, Writing,Reading Skills ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251201-teach2read-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251201T140000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251201T150000 DTSTAMP:20251219T212420Z CREATED:20251117T041130Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251219T212420Z UID:10893854-1764597600-1764601200@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Managing the Modern Classroom: Tech Infrastructure as the Hidden Key to Teaching Time DESCRIPTION:Presented by Amy Jaeckel\, Executive Director of Technology and Information\, Green Bay Area Public School District (WI); and Mike Faherty\, Chief Revenue Officer\, JAR Systems \nSponsored by JAR Systems \nWatch the RecordingListen to the PodcastRead the Article \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nUnlock the full potential of instructional devices as we discuss how strategic technology infrastructure transforms classroom management and student engagement. This edLeader Panel makes a powerful case for rethinking device-charging systems—not just as logistical necessities\, but as catalysts for better teaching and learning. By effectively leveraging charging systems\, schools can eliminate chaos\, reduce hazards\, and ensure every device is ready for action. \nBut the real game-changer is student accountability. This session demonstrates how assigning tech captain roles\, tracking device readiness\, and rewarding responsible habits foster a culture of ownership and leadership. These tested strategies don’t just minimize disruptions—they empower students and free teachers to focus on instruction. \nTechnology teams and instructors discover actionable steps for implementing classroom charging systems and policies that maximize equitable instruction. This session bridges classroom practice with system-level support\, ensuring sustainable improvements. \nViewers leave equipped with proven routines\, digital toolkits\, and a clear action plan to maximize learning. Don’t let device management steal precious teaching time—embrace these strategies and create a classroom where technology works for you\, not against you. This recorded edLeader Panel is of interest to PreK-12 teachers\, librarians\, school leaders\, district leaders\, and education technology leaders. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nAs the Green Bay Public School District’s Executive Director of Technology and Information\, Amy Jaeckel serves a crucial role as the liaison between the district’s operational teams and educational teams. Experienced in both large and small school districts\, Amy enjoys working alongside individuals and teams to implement initiatives of innovation for school improvement. A previous classroom teacher\, Amy currently holds a Master of Arts in Educational Technology from Marian University. She has earned her Certified Education Technology Leader (CETL) National Certificate\, International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Certificate\, and\, most recently\, was selected for the public sector Wisconsin CIO ORBIE Award. \n \nAs an entrepreneur and business leader with 25+ years of experience leading sales and marketing organizations in the EdTech market\, Mike Faherty is well-versed in complex solution markets. Recognized as an industry leader in the areas of edtech marketing\, sales development\, demand generation\, and sales management\, it is a passion of his to help emerging enterprise companies accelerate growth through practical sales and marketing strategies coupled with demand generation strategy and execution. As Chief Revenue Officer at JAR Systems\, Mike is leading the organization to revenue growth\, increased profitability\, and customer retention. \nJoin the Technology in Schools community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nJAR Systems provides more versatile ways to charge and manage ever-evolving technologies. The company works closely with its clients to develop products that support and streamline how mobile technology is used for learning. JAR Systems recognizes the disruptive impact of low battery issues\, the necessity for reliable charging technology\, and the importance of prompt\, hassle-free support. The company designs solutions-focused products and prioritizes customer care throughout every phase—from initial planning to post-deployment support. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/technology20251201/ CATEGORIES:Classroom Management and Practices,Mobile Learning, Apps, and Devices,Technology Infrastructure ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251201-technology-event_panel.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251124T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251124T130000 DTSTAMP:20251124T180546Z CREATED:20251103T030118Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251124T180546Z UID:10712335-1763985600-1763989200@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:LinkedIn for Education Leaders: Build Influence\, Community\, and Opportunity DESCRIPTION:Presented by Elana Leoni\, CEO\, Leoni Consulting Group; Porter Palmer\, Vice President\, Leoni Consulting Group; and Amos Fodchuk\, CEO\, Advanced Learning Partnerships (ALP) \nSponsored by Leoni Consulting Group \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nAs AI continues to dominate\, the leaders who will stand out are those who show up authentically and consistently. Your ability to connect with purpose\, tell your story\, and share your expertise is no longer optional. It is one of the most effective ways to grow opportunities\, partnerships\, and credibility in education today. \nIn this edWebinar\, Elana Leoni and Porter Palmer of Leoni Consulting Group share a proven framework that helps education and EdTech leaders grow their reach\, engage consistently with colleagues and partners\, and achieve measurable results. Amos Fodchuk\, CEO of Advanced Learning Partnerships\, shares his experience applying these strategies to strengthen visibility and expand his organization’s impact. \nViewers learn: \n\nHow to use LinkedIn to lead\, learn\, and connect authentically\nHow to audit and refine your presence so it aligns with your goals\nHow to set routines that make showing up on LinkedIn sustainable\nHow to create content that reflects your purpose and expertise\nHow to engage strategically to increase visibility and drive opportunities\n\nWhether you lead a school or district\, run an EdTech company\, or want to elevate your professional presence\, this recorded edWebinar helps you use LinkedIn with purpose to build influence\, relationships\, and opportunity. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nElana Leoni is the Founder and CEO of Leoni Consulting Group (LCG)\, a certified women-owned marketing agency that partners exclusively with education organizations to grow their reach\, relationships\, and impact. With nearly two decades of experience in K–12 marketing\, she led digital strategy at Edutopia (George Lucas Educational Foundation)\, helping grow its audience to over 20 million educators a month. At LCG\, she’s partnered with 50+ education brands—including Meta\, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative\, Education.com\, Teach For America\, and Teaching Channel—to grow audiences\, deepen relationships\, and drive meaningful impact. Elana is the host of the All Things Marketing and Education podcast\, which just reached over 10\,000 downloads\, and advises emerging EdTech startups. A proud first-gen college grad\, she holds an MBA from Berkeley Haas and a business degree from Cal Poly SLO. \n \nPorter Palmer is Vice President at Leoni Consulting Group (LCG)\, where she brings over three decades of experience in education and more than seven years supporting the digital marketing efforts of leading brands like the University Innovation Alliance\, Meta\, Teach For America\, and Stanford Medicine. She specializes in digital strategy\, community engagement\, and audience growth. Porter began her career as a classroom teacher in South Carolina after earning her Bachelor of Science from Lander University. She later supported state-level curriculum and assessment development for students with disabilities and went on to lead the Discovery Educator Network\, Discovery Communication’s award-winning professional learning community. She holds a Master of Science in Instructional Media from Wilkes University. \n \nAmos Fodchuk is an insatiably curious career educator with more than 25 years of experience leading learning across Canada\, South Korea\, China\, and the United States. He is the Founder and President of Advanced Learning Partnerships (ALP)\, where he helps districts\, states\, and organizations design sustainable\, learner-centered systems of change. A National Board Certified Teacher and Fulbright Scholar\, Amos is driven by a passion for travel\, diverse pedagogies\, and authentic partnerships that improve teaching and leadership outcomes. Before founding ALP in 2009\, he taught English and literacy in Virginia and California\, earning recognition for innovative approaches to curricula\, technology integration\, and formative assessment. Amos holds a Master of Arts in Education from California State University\, Sacramento\, and a Bachelor of Education in Secondary Language Arts from the University of Alberta. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the edFocus community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\nLeoni Consulting Group (LCG) is a certified women-owned marketing agency that exclusively partners with education brands to increase their reach\, relationships\, and revenue. We offer these primary services: Social Media Management\, Content Marketing\, Community Strategy\, and Email Marketing. Learn alongside them from their popular podcast\, All Things Marketing and Education\, blog\, and downloads. Reach out to them at LeoniConsultingGroup.com or talk to them on LinkedIn. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/edfocus20251124/ CATEGORIES:Education Marketing,Social Media ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251124-edfocus-event.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T170000 DTSTAMP:20251120T214557Z CREATED:20251017T024854Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T214557Z UID:10562470-1763654400-1763658000@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:The Brain Science Behind Math Success: How Emotion and Relevance Drive Deeper Learning DESCRIPTION:Presented by Liesl McConchie\, Education Consultant\, Math With the Brain in Mind; and Jay Meadows\, Former Educator\, Current CEO\, Exemplars \nCo-Sponsored by Math With the Brain in Mind and Exemplars \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nWhat if the key to solving the math crisis in many classrooms isn’t another curriculum or digital platform—but the human brain itself? In this interactive edWebinar\, brain expert Liesl McConchie and educational explorer Jay Meadows uncover the inseparable connection between emotion and cognition in math learning. \nDrawing from brain science and classroom experience\, they reveal how students’ emotional states—curiosity\, hope\, and a felt sense of value in what they’re learning—can dramatically enhance their capacity to think and learn mathematically. Viewers learn how to: \n\nCreate emotionally engaging classrooms that ignite curiosity and move students toward optimal learning states\nDesign math tasks that feel relevant and meaningful to students’ lives\nFoster autonomy through problem-solving opportunities that honor multiple strategies and student voice\n\nLiesl and Jay share tangible\, classroom-ready strategies and activities that help educators shift students’ neurobiological states toward engagement and growth. \nViewers leave with a renewed sense of purpose\, practical tools to nurture positive emotions in their classrooms\, and hope that math learning can be both rigorous and joyful—when students’ hearts and brains work together. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \n\n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nLiesl McConchie is an international expert on how the brain learns\, author of Building a Positive Math Identity: A Brain Science Approach\, and co-author of the best-selling book Brain-Based Learning with Dr. Eric Jensen. She has been published in multiple education journals\, including ASCD’s Educational Leadership journal and NCTM’s Mathematics Teacher. With over 25 years of experience in education\, Liesl bridges her knowledge of how the brain best learns with her experience of teaching math to create tangible strategies to support teachers and schools across the globe. She has a rich background in education that includes creating new schools\, leading whole-school reforms\, delivering workshops to educators\, and speaking at conferences. Liesl brings the highest quality of research\, professionalism\, and engagement to all her contributions to the field of education. \n \nJay Meadows is the Chief Executive Officer of Exemplars\, a leading force in redefining how students learn to think mathematically. Jay is also the Co-founder of TRISTAN\, an AI augmented assessment tool for teachers and students. With over 30 years in education\, Jay brings a rare blend of classroom insight and research-driven innovation. A former middle school math and science teacher\, he holds advanced degrees in both teaching and mathematical pedagogy—credentials that reflect his deep commitment to meaningful\, effective math instruction. At Exemplars\, Jay is not only a primary author of performance tasks but also a national thought partner for educators. \nHe leads dynamic professional development experiences across the United States\, helping teachers transform their classrooms with problem solving\, authentic assessment\, and the practices that research shows make the biggest difference. His mission is bold: to cultivate a generation of learners who can tackle any challenge with confidence and grit. Jay’s impact extends far beyond U.S. borders. Before his teaching career\, he facilitated diplomatic exchange programs for the U.S. State Department\, partnered with international nonprofits\, and served in the Peace Corps in Kazakhstan. This global lens continues to shape his belief in education as a force for empowerment and improving the world. \n\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Building Math Proficiency community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n \nLiesl McConchie is a recognized expert in brain-based learning\, mathematics education\, and instructional strategies that improve student achievement. With over 25 years of experience\, she has partnered with more than 300 schools to bridge the gap between neuroscience and practical teaching methods. Her dynamic style of presenting demonstrates the principles of effective teaching and learning that will engage any group of educators. \n  \n \nExemplars provides performance tasks\, rubrics\, and student anchor papers for schools and districts in Math and Science. Our performance material engages students and promotes reasoning\, critical thinking\, communication\, and problem solving. Our performance tasks are classroom tested and may be used for assessment\, instruction\, and professional development. Exemplars’ supplemental resources are research based and designed to meet state and national standards. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/mathskills20251120/ CATEGORIES:Brain and Learning,Mathematics ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251120-mathskills-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T120000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251120T130000 DTSTAMP:20251120T175309Z CREATED:20251027T163429Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251120T175309Z UID:10660577-1763640000-1763643600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:A Research-Backed Guide to Sparking Powerful Collaboration Within and Beyond the Classroom DESCRIPTION:Presented by Jose Gonzalez\, 21st Century Learning Specialist\, Davis Middle School (CA); Linette Victor\, Ed.D.\, Senior Research Program Manager\, Digital Promise; and Elyse Gainor\, Program Director\, Digital Promise \nSponsored by Digital Promise \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nUnlock the potential of collaborative learning with research-backed\, practice-proven strategies to foster powerful\, meaningful collaboration in your classroom. \n\nThis edWebinar is for teachers\, coaches\, principals\, and school leaders seeking to build and support essential collaboration skills in their students. Join Linette Victor\, Ed.D.\, Senior Research Program Manager at Digital Promise\, to learn best practices from the free Collaborative Learning Toolkit. Then\, hear from Jose Gonzalez\, 21st Century Learning Specialist at Davis Middle School\, who shares compelling classroom examples and insights from facilitating a cross-cultural collaboration between his students in Compton\, California\, and students in Manaus\, Brazil. \nYou leave with ready-to-use strategies and resources to implement high-impact collaborative learning in your classroom. You also learn how to apply best practices in collaborative learning to the Ciena Solutions Challenge\, a global design challenge for middle and high school students to design solutions to issues they care about. Through March 5th\, participating teachers can apply for a $3\,000 Ciena Solutions Challenge Sustainability Award to sustain and scale students’ projects. \nThis recorded edWebinar is of interest to K-12 teachers\, librarians\, coaches\, principals\, and school leaders. \n \n\n \nAbout the Presenters \nA nationally recognized educator for 23 years\, Jose Gonzalez is currently the 21st Century Learning Specialist at Davis Middle School in the Compton Unified School District in Compton\, California. Jose’s passion is for project-based learning and giving students the opportunity to have a voice and choice in the learning process. By introducing students to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and concepts of sustainability at a young age\, his goal is to create a student-centered classroom where students are addressing real-world issues such as climate change and sustainability that affect their communities. Beyond having students learn technological knowledge and acquire 21st century learning skills\, his mission is to bring awareness about our planet’s future and to teach students to become good global stewards. \n \nLinette Victor\, Ed.D.\, is the Senior Research Program Manager for Researcher-Practitioner Collaborations and Communities at Digital Promise. With a strong background in grant coordination and STEM education\, her work focuses on cultivating researcher-practitioner relationships and co-designing evidence-based instructional materials. Her goal is to ensure research findings are effectively translated into practical tools and strategies that can be readily adopted by practitioners for testing and implementation in educational settings. \n \nElyse Gainor is a Program Director at Digital Promise\, where she runs the YouthMADE Festival\, a global celebration of youth creativity and innovation that culminates in a two-week festival annually in May. She also leads communications for the Ciena Solutions Challenge\, a global design challenge for middle and high school students to design solutions for the Sustainable Development Goals. \n\n\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nJoin the Personalize Learning for Learner Variability community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \n\n\n\n\n \n \n Digital Promise is a global nonprofit working to expand opportunity for every learner. We work with educators\, researchers\, technology leaders\, and communities to design\, investigate\, and scale innovations that support learners\, especially those who’ve been historically and systematically excluded. Our vision is that every person engages in powerful learning experiences that lead to a life of well-being\, fulfillment\, and economic mobility. For more information\, visit the Digital Promise website and follow Digital Promise for updates. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/personalizedlearning20251120/ CATEGORIES:Teaching Practice and Pedagogy ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251120-personalizedlearning-event.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T160000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20251119T170000 DTSTAMP:20251119T215627Z CREATED:20251106T170221Z LAST-MODIFIED:20251119T215627Z UID:10768513-1763568000-1763571600@home.edweb.net SUMMARY:Engage Students in Economics and U.S. History Through Arts-Based Teaching Strategies DESCRIPTION:Presented by Christopher Cannon\, Ph.D.\, Associate Director and Chief Program Officer\, Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE); Triza Cox\, Harmony Student Wellness Program Manager\, TeachRock; and Gina Machado\, Former New York City Public School Teacher\, Current Director of Programs and Partnerships\, TeachRock \nSponsored by TeachRock \nWatch the Recording\nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \nIn this edWebinar\, supply and demand meet historical sight and sound! This immersive\, interdisciplinary session is for high school economics and U.S. history teachers who want to spark deeper connections through the power of music—no music experience required. \nEducators explore dynamic\, free resources that feature: \n\nArts-based teaching strategies using Library of Congress primary sources\nReady-to-teach lessons developed through a partnership between the Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE) and TeachRock on topics including:\n\nDeindustrialization\nCopyright\nReconstruction\nLabor issues\n\n\n\nTeachers leave inspired with new\, classroom-ready lessons\, innovative teaching tools\, and creative ideas tailored to economics and U.S. history classrooms that make their content sing—literally. This recorded edWebinar is of interest to high school teachers\, librarians\, school leaders\, and district leaders. \nView all of the recent TeachRock edWebinars. \n \n \nAbout the Presenters \nChristopher Cannon\, Ph.D.\, serves as Associate Director and Chief Program Officer of the Georgia Council on Economic Education (GCEE). A former classroom teacher (Economics Teacher of the Year 2012) with experience at Morrow High School in Clayton County and Sandy Creek and McIntosh High School in Fayette County\, he has also served as Social Studies Program Specialist for the Georgia Department of Education. At GCEE\, Dr. Cannon leads K–12 professional development workshops\, designs curricula and activities on topics such as personal finance\, international trade and manufacturing\, and coordinates statewide initiatives including the Personal Finance Challenge and a Rural Georgia education program. He is committed to helping educators engage students through real-world applications of economics and financial literacy. \n \nTriza Cox is the Program Manager for TeachRock’s Harmony Student Wellness Program. In this capacity\, she uses her passion for democratizing arts access as well as her commitment to wellness through the use of art to engage students in social and emotional learning. Triza holds a Master of Fine Arts in Theatre Performance from the University of Louisville and has worked for over a decade as an arts educator as well as a playwright\, director\, producer\, and actor. Additionally\, Triza has been a Certified Prevention Specialist and worked in drug and alcohol prevention. She is currently a National Leaders of Color Fellow in Arts Administration. In 2021\, Triza was awarded a fellowship in screenwriting from the South Carolina Arts Commission. She is also currently the Artistic Director of The Drama Lady Theatre Group. \n \nGina Machado is the Director of Programs and Partnerships at TeachRock\, where she leads the development of an arts-integrated social and emotional learning program and designs and facilitates professional development initiatives nationwide. Drawing from her foundational experience as a classroom educator in The Bronx\, New York\, and her Master’s degrees in Special Education and Educational Leadership\, Gina supports educators across the United States in implementing TeachRock’s innovative curriculum and pedagogical approaches. An educator at heart with extensive experience working with students of various levels and abilities\, Gina’s passion lies in developing creative ways to engage all learners while strengthening meaningful student-teacher relationships. \nJoin the Music in Education community to network with educators\, participate in online discussions\, receive invitations to upcoming edWebinars\, and view recordings of previous programs to earn CE certificates. \nLearn more about viewing the live presentation and the recording\, earning your CE certificate\, and using our new accessibility features. \n\nLaunched by Stevie Van Zandt and the Founders Board of Bono\, Jackson Browne\, Martin Scorsese\, and Bruce Springsteen\, TeachRock.org provides free\, standards-aligned resources that use music to help K-12 students succeed in science\, math\, social studies\, language arts\, and more. URL:https://home.edweb.net/webinar/musiced20251119/ CATEGORIES:Arts in Education,Music,Social Studies and Civics,TeachRock ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://home.edweb.net/wp-content/uploads/20251119-musiced-event.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR