VASCD2024: Full Schedule

9:30am EST

Supporting Mentor & Pre-Service Teacher Partnerships through Relationship Building and Problem-Solving

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST

This interactive session will explore effective mentorship programs for pre-service teachers, focusing on building relationships, providing timely feedback, and designing and implementing quality lesson. Participants will discuss common challenges, share solutions, and learn data-driven techniques to improve mentorship. Key takeaways include enhancing mentor-mentee relationships, improving communication, and aligning classroom experiences with teacher education coursework. Through discussions, attendees will gain practical skills to apply in their own mentorship programs.

Speakers

Dr. Amelie Smucker

Assistant Professor, Radford University

Leighann Pennington

Supporting Mentor and Pre Service Teacher Partnerships through Relationship Building and Problem Solving Slides Handout pdf

VASCD Feedback Handout Mentors pdf

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST
Colony B

Connect

9:30am EST

The Middle Matters: Transformative Teacher Leadership Development

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST

Tidewater C/D

A bold approach towards leadership development–focusing on skills department chairs, team leads, and building-level staff need to rally teams and create cohesive, professional communities. Examine the purpose and vision for teacher-leader programs. Learn about MPCS’ success with launching Teacher Leader Academy, a program dedicated to recognizing and supporting middle-level leaders. Dig into the logistics of providing the space, time, and knowledge needed. Learn how a redesigned program increases retention and overall investment of leaders within the school community.

Speakers

LeeAnn David

Christie Graf

K-12 Division Math Specialist, Manassas Park City Schools

Christie Graf has over 10 years of experience teaching math. She has recently guided the division through its navigation of better standards aligned instruction and movement based math practices, and serves as the K-12 Math Specialist. Serious about all things math, she began her... Read More →

Katherine Maurer

Elizabeth Schoenberger

Manassas Park City Schools

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST
Tidewater C/D

Connect

11:00am EST

Bridge to Success: A Tiered Mentorship Approach for New Teacher Success

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST

Colony E

This session explores a support system for new teachers up to their fifth year, tailored to individual needs, including international educators. Attendees will learn to identify needs through data, structure mentorship programs, and implement a coaching cycle for ongoing development. Key takeaways include practical strategies for enhancing teacher retention and effectiveness, with interactive discussions and collaborative activities for hands-on application.

Speakers

Dusti Johnson-Brinker

Diana Demosiuk

Angela Randolph

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Colony E

Connect

11:00am EST

Building the Partnership: 6 Ways to Practice Collaborative Communication

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST

Allegheny B

What is your game plan for communicating with parents? Sharpening your approach to collaborative communication and proactively having a plan can strengthen parent-teacher partnerships. In this session, you’ll learn 6 ways to practice collaborative communication, explore ways to approach common scenarios and create an action plan for communication as you head into the spring.

Speakers

Anne Jewett

Asst Professor of Education, University of Virginia

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Allegheny B 350 5th Ave New York, NY 10018 USA

Connect

11:00am EST

Crafting High Quality Feedback: Unveiling the Power of Point, Prove, Explain

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST

Colony A

Explore the evolution of observation feedback from a divisin that incorporates Point-Prove-Explain (PPE). Discover how to align feedback with instructional look focus and gain actionable feedback for emproving student outcomes ad teacher growth. Identify ways to streamline observation feedback while making the feedback more impactful for teachers resulting in improved student outcomes.

Speakers

Melissa George

Principal HS, Kempsville High School

Joshua Petrice

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Colony A

Connect

11:00am EST

Elevating Student Voices: Civil Discourse and Culture in the Classroom

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST

Colony D

Discover and explore strategies to build a culture and practice for facilitating difficult, but equitable conversations through viewpoint diverse civil discourse. Learn ways to empower students’ individual voices while encouraging meaningful, inclusive discussions. Connect to Virginia standards and interdisciplinary opportunities; find inspiration through stories of success; gain knowledge, content, and pedagogical strategies to add to your toolbox for the classroom and/or school community.

Speakers

Sarah Lane

Educator Engagement Specialist, Sphere Education Initiatives

Sphere provides educators with viewpoint diverse resources to bring conversations to the classroom and equip students to engage in civil discourse. Sphere offers lesson plans, videos, publications, and free professional learning on various topics for use in the classroom that are... Read More →

John Snoad

Senior Manager, Sphere Education Initiatives

John Snoad is a lifelong, career educator with 34+ years of teaching and coaching in the high school arena, where he was rated accomplished and highly effective, with a focus on Government, Civics and both U.S. and World History. His experiences range from urban to suburban and rural... Read More →

Principles of Civil Discourse 2 sided Flyer pdf

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Colony D

Connect

11:00am EST

From Good to Great: Creating a school where Staff STRIVE and where Students and Families THRIVE

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST

Piedmont A

Sponsors

Ginny Gills

Successful Innovations

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Piedmont A

Connect

11:00am EST

Leading the Charge: AI for teaching, learning and leading

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST

Liberty

Are you ready to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) can revolutionize your teaching, learning, and leadership approach? This session will empower educators and school leaders to take charge of integrating AI into classrooms and professional practices. Discover practical tools and strategies to enhance instructional planning, streamline tasks, and support continuous improvement. Together, we’ll demystify AI, tackle common challenges, and explore real-world applications that can transform how we teach, learn, and lead. Whether you’re a tech novice or an AI enthusiast, join us to gain actionable insights, hands-on experiences, and a roadmap for leveraging AI in your educational context.

Speakers

Dr. Michelle Beavers

Coordinator, Administration & Supervision Programs; Associate Professor, University of Virginia

Expert in Continuous Improvement, Instructional Leadership, and AI in EducationDoes using AI and how it can transform leading, teaching, and learning leave you curious about the possibilities? An AI guide for the university, local, national, and international conference presenter... Read More →

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Liberty

Connect

1:20pm EST

CS Peer Coaching: Empower Educators and Transform Schools

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST

Colony A

Explore how a CS peer coaching model can revolutionize integration in your school! Discover how teacher-led coaching teams enhance professional skills, foster collaboration among colleagues, and integrate computer science across disciplines. Learn effective strategies to empower teachers, share best practices, and prepare students for success in a technology-driven world. Don't miss out on this opportunity to transform CS education and elevate integration practices at your school!

Speakers

Kristen Franklin

Product Publication Manager, CodeVA

Perry Shank

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST
Colony A

Connect

1:20pm EST

Hope for Students Experiencing Homelessness: Strategies for Teachers and Counselors

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST

Colony B

Homelessness can have a significant impact on student well-being and academic achievement. The McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act is federal legislation whose purpose is to address the identification, enrollment, school stability, and success of these children and youth. As frontline workers, teachers and counselors need appropriate training and support to ensure student access and success. Join Project HOPE-Virginia staff to learn how you can help teachers and counselors make a difference in the lives of students experiencing homelessness.

Speakers

Martha Crockett

Kate Miller

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST
Colony B

Connect

1:20pm EST

Refining your full Structured Literacy System: A Metric-based Tool for Literacy Leaders

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST

Colony C

To deliver on the promise of the Science of Reading, not only must a commitment be made to structured literacy practice, but organizational change requires a framework to be built for the success of the system. Arlington Public Schools will share their journey to date around structured literacy practice, share a tool being used to align all components across the district together with intended outcomes and provide access to this tool for literacy leaders to use in their systems.

Speakers

Matt Hunter

Sarah Cruz

ELA Supervisor K-12, Arlington Public School

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST
Colony C

Connect

8:15am EST

Connecting Bridges: Peer Mentors in Social Skills Groups

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST

Colony E

This session examines the impact of peer mentoring in social skills groups for students with IEP goals in social communication. Peer mentors from programs like Teachers for Tomorrow collaborate with professionals (e.g. Speech-Language Pathologists, counselors) enriching interventions and fostering leadership skills. This dynamic approach provides valuable peer feedback, enhancing participant engagement compared to traditional methods. Attendees will gain practical strategies and participate in hands-on activities to optimize learning outcomes for all students involved.

Speakers

Susanne Cook

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST
Colony E

Connect

8:15am EST

Creating and Sustaining Meaningful Mentoring Relationships

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST

Allegheny A

The session will equip attendees with essential skills to establish, nurture, and maximize mentoring. Participants will delve into principles; building trust, effective communication, and fostering mutual respect. Techniques for initiating connection and adapting mentorship practices will be explored. Attendees will gain actionable insight to foster personal growth, enhance collaboration, and leverage mentorship for success.

Speakers

Jerri-Lynn Workman

Induction & Development Specialist - Elementary, Hampton City Schools

Heather Ulsh

Induction & Development Specialist - Secondary, Hampton City Schools

Creating and Sustaining Meaningful Mentoring Relationships HANDOUT pdf

Creating and Sustaining Meaningful Mentoring Relationships (1) pdf

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST
Allegheny A 18-20 Lisle St London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom

Connect

8:15am EST

Fostering Collaborative Cultures: Essential Strategies for Transformative Teacher Teams

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST

Allegheny B

Unlock the transformative power of Achievement Teams with a proven collaborative protocol. This session dives into fostering professional trust, developing collective efficacy, and promoting honest discussions on instructional practices. Participants will gain practical strategies through interactive discussions, role-playing, and case studies, leaving equipped with actionable steps to build high-functioning teacher teams. Enhance your collaboration, drive data-informed decisions, and achieve significant improvements in student outcomes.

Speakers

Steve Ventura

PD Consultant & Author, Advanced Collaborative Solutions

Steve Ventura is the president and lead consultant at Advanced Collaborative Solutions. He is a highly motivational and knowledgeable speaker who approaches high-stakes professional development armed with practical, research-based strategies. Steve is a former elementary and secondary... Read More →

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST
Allegheny B 350 5th Ave New York, NY 10018 USA

Connect

9:45am EST

Breaking Through Resistance

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:45am - 10:55am EST

Piedmont B/C

In today's ever-changing educational landscape, fostering a culture of innovation can be difficult when teachers are resistant to new ideas. This session tackles that challenge head-on, providing coaches and leaders with research-based strategies to breakthrough resistance and ignite a passion for continuous improvement. You'll delve into the "Four Levels of Teacher Resistance" and learn targeted approaches to reduce resistance for each level. In addition coaches and leaders will experience and practice tools that breakthrough the “Nine Forms of Resistance,” understanding how to reduce resistance with varying unproductive adult behaviors. By the end, coaches and leaders will have immediately actionable steps to support a collaborative environment that embraces innovation, builds teacher buy-in, and unlocks the full potential of your entire school community.

Speakers

Becca Silver

CEO and Founder, The Whole Educator

Host of the podcast Coaching the Whole Educator: https://coachingthewholeeducator.buzzsprout.com/

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:45am - 10:55am EST
Piedmont B/C

Connect

9:45am EST

Frigid Feedback Conversations? Let's Warm Things Up

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:45am - 10:55am EST

Colony D

This session explores the intersection of brain science and feedback conversations, empowering educational leaders and coaches to cultivate a culture where feedback is comfortable and impactful. Participants will learn practical frameworks for delivering constructive feedback that promotes teacher growth. By the session's end, attendees will possess the knowledge and tools to build trust, integrate feedback practices seamlessly into the fabric of their school or district culture, fostering continuous improvement and collaboration.

Speakers

Mia Pumo

Instructional Coach Developer, MGT Impact Solutions

Mia Pumo is a Program Manager at MGT Impact Solutions, working directly with education leaders to create environments where educators and students can thrive. Mia works across the country with school and district leaders, instructional coaches, and teachers to design structures that... Read More →

Frigid Feedback.pptx pdf

Feedback Conversation Agreement docx

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:45am - 10:55am EST
Colony D

Connect

9:45am EST

Utilizing Marginalized Voices to Enhance Student Learning

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:45am - 10:55am EST

Allegheny B

Elevate student learning by incorporating marginalized voices. This interactive session empowers educators by providing hands-on strategies, facilitating inclusive discussions, and positioning students as co-creators of knowledge. Participants will gain skills in revising curricula, discussions, and assignments to center diverse perspectives. Leave with a toolkit for building inclusive learning environments that develop cultural competence and engage all students.

Speakers

Dr. Heather Tolbut

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:45am - 10:55am EST
Allegheny B 350 5th Ave New York, NY 10018 USA

Connect