VASCD2024

Feeling like you're lost on exile island trying to survive the whirlwind influx of so many AI apps, tools and teaching techniques? With the explosion of A.I., teachers are in the eye of a raging storm of change. Keeping up with all of these new technologies can feel overwhelming - so don't get blindsided! In “A.I. Classroom Survivor,” you’ll have the opportunity to rescue all sorts of new and time-tested classroom strategies from the rising tides of Artificial Intelligence.

You are invited to join us in building bridges toward fostering a restorative school culture that prioritizes belonging, empathy, and accountability. This session offers a comprehensive exploration of strategies and practices aimed at transforming school environments into nurturing spaces where both adults and students feel valued, supported, and connected. Participants will emerge equipped with actionable steps and tools to initiate and sustain a restorative school culture, fostering positive relationships, resilience, and community.

Leading with diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility is the foundation of building a division wide school community where each and every student, staff, and community member feels valued and has a sense of belonging. This session will focus on growing and sustaining DEIA practices and develop an understanding of cultural humility. Participants will leave with applicable next steps and be inspired about their role as a leader in DEIA and the lasting impact on their school community.

This session focuses on equipping educators with strategies to enhance adolescent literacy within the framework of the Virginia Literacy Act (VLA) and to foster success. Participants will learn research-based practices aligned with VLA requirements and gain practical tools for strategic planning. Emphasis will be placed on addressing diverse literacy challenges, meeting students' language needs, and effectively utilizing instructional resources. Attendees will leave empowered to create supportive learning environments for adolescent students.

Evaluating the implementation process enables educators and division leaders to identify how professional training affects educators in literacy instruction. Pinpointing opportunities in the process enables leaders to revise their professional training to meet the contextual needs of their specific division based on feedback from the educators themselves. The evaluation techniques in this presentation specifically address teacher voice, autonomy, and self-efficacy within the implementation of the Virginia Literacy Act but can apply to other instructional programs as well.

Ditch those funky old logos, reimagine the mascot, and bring some pep to those socials! Bring your creative side and learn fundamental graphic design skills that will put you on the right path to rejuvenating your school (or classroom) brand. Primary technology focus: Adobe Express, Illustrator, and Firefly (generative AI). Optionally, bring a device and work along with the demo.

Explore 'RejuvenatED Impact: Revitalizing School Improvement through Instructional Coaching,' where educators unlock innovative strategies to elevate school improvement through instructional coaching. This session positions instructional coaching as an elevation tool to drive school improvement. Participants will embark on an interactive journey, exploring current coaching practices, aligning goals with school needs, and crafting pathways for professional growth rooted in continuous improvement.

UnpluggED: The Administrator's Guide to Work-Life Balance (WLB) was developed from my journey to finding work-life balance as a school administrator. I have utilized strategies and practical methods to maximize my productivity, lift the overwhelming feeling of being constantly “on”, and allow me to create space for joy in my work. We will explore the strategies, workflows, and free tools/apps that I use to find balance and participants will have space to collaborate and find solutions to issues that affect their work-life balance.