VASCD2024: Full Schedule

9:30am EST

Beat The Bot: A.I. Proof Assessments That Rock and Roll

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

Looking to "drum" up student interest in alternative assessments that can't be bested with AI? Rock with us on a dynamic journey through a series of smash hits of alternative assessments that defy the algorithms. Get ready to crank up the volume and revolutionize your assessment game as we count down the ultimate playlist of teaching strategies designed to outsmart artificial intelligence. Grab your air guitar, turn up the volume, and let's rock and roll our way to assessment excellence!

Speakers

John Meehan

Author, Co-Founder, EMC² Learning

John Meehan (@meehanedu.bsky.social) is an English teacher, instructional coach, and professional development specialist from Washington, D.C. He is the author of EDrenaline Rush: Game-Changing Student Engagement Inspired by Theme Parks, Mud Runs, and Escape Rooms (2019) and the co-author... Read More →

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST
Tidewater A/B

Elevate

9:30am EST

Blueprint for Success: Building an Immersive CTE Summer Academy from the Ground Up

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

Colony A

Spark student career exploration! This session explores Frederick County's Charting Pathways Summer Academy, where rising 8th & 9th graders dive into CTE programs like nursing, carpentry, and more. Learn how to design, collaborate, and run a similar academy to ignite your students' futures!

Speakers

Abigail French

NEXT Teacher, Frederick County Middle School, Frederick County Public Schools, (VA)

Ben Thompson

Caden Thurgood

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

Elevate

9:30am EST

Elevating Student Voice and Building Durable Skills

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

Allegheny B

The Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond has partnered with Virginia Learns and TNTP to make career programming more meaningful and engaging for students. We intend to improve student engagement by providing opportunities to experience how various careers use Durable Skills through a series of real-world decision-making scenario prompts. Participants will learn about this partnership, experience the scenario design process, and come away with a planning template useful to support students in applying critical thinking and other Durable Skills in any content area.

Speakers

Dave Kershner

Leadership Coach, TNTP

Jessica Proffitt

Director, Academics, TNTP

Jessica has served in a variety of roles in schools systems and universities on the East coast. Most recently, she led a teacher development residency program housed at Johns Hopkins University School of Education where she taught practice-focused methods courses in mathematics, STEM... Read More →

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST
Allegheny B 350 5th Ave New York, NY 10018 USA

Elevate

9:30am EST

Empowering Mathematical Minds: Unveiling the Depths of Proficiency

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

Allegheny A

Effective math instruction is distinct from reading instruction, necessitating a specialized approach. This session explores the 5 strands of Mathematical Proficiency from the "Adding it Up" report by the National Research Council, aiming to focus math education on leading research and best practices. Participants will gain the knowledge and tools needed to implement a research-based, proficiency-oriented framework. Join us to lead a paradigm shift in math education, ensuring every student accesses a comprehensive, robust & equitable understanding of math.

Speakers

Naomi Church

National Mathematics Director, Age of Learning, Inc.

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST
Allegheny A 18-20 Lisle St London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom

Elevate

9:30am EST

Spotlight on Implementation: Leveraging the Science of Reading to Develop a System of Support

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

Piedmont B/C

Join us to explore a system that is designed to support striving readers, ensuring they receive top-tier literacy instruction and avoid slipping through educational cracks. Take a peek into a partnership between a large district and a mission driven nonprofit and the strategies and resources that empower educators to address the unique needs of students. Don't miss this opportunity to learn and ask questions about the collective effort of ensuring students receive the high-quality education they deserve.

Speakers

Maria Arnett

Regional Director, Collaborative Classroom

I am a Regional Director with the Center for the Collaborative Classroom. I received my M.ED. from the University of Virginia and have experience as a classroom teacher, reading specialist, and instructional specialist at the district level. My role in both school and district-level... Read More →

Robyn Cady

Wednesday December 4, 2024 9:30am - 10:40am EST
Piedmont B/C

Elevate

11:00am EST

ALL In and More for Literacy

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

Patriot

Speakers

Lori Silver

National Literacy Consultant, Lexia Learning

Dr. Lori Silver

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

Elevate

11:00am EST

Diverse Approaches to Homogeneous ELA Tracking: Navigating the Dangers of Ability Grouping

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

Allegheny C

Designed with secondary ELA teachers in mind, this session explores the long-term impact of homogeneous ability reading groups. Using data from a literature review they conducted in the spring of 2024, presenters will lead participants through an exploration of data that reveals the most salient trends pertaining to secondary ELA students. Then, the group will explore practical solutions and have an opportunity to apply concepts to their own materials.

Speakers

Val Dunham

Kristen Huffman

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Allegheny C 229 W 43RD St New York, NY 10036 USA

Elevate

11:00am EST

Getting it Right: Selection and Adoption of High Quality Instructional Materials for Math

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

Colony C

In this session, participants will learn how to plan for and progress monitor a successful adoption process for high quality instructional materials. The work will center on math instruction, but planning and process for managing change are applicable to other content areas as well. Each participant will leave with a protocol for HQIM selection and adoption and a start on their own action plan.

Speakers

Jessica Proffitt

Director, Academics, TNTP

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

Elevate

11:00am EST

Navigating the Future of Education: AI’s Role in Personalized Learning

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

Tidewater A/B

Discover AI's transformative impact on education by exploring its fundamentals, personalized learning applications, and future trends. This session offers real-world examples, success stories, and discusses upcoming innovations and challenges in educational technology. District leaders will gain valuable insights and actionable strategies to integrate AI and enhance learning outcomes, equipping them with the tools to leverage AI effectively in their educational settings. Join us for an in-depth look at how AI is reshaping the educational landscape.

Speakers

Sarah DeCotis

National Literacy Director, Age of Learning

Sarah is an accomplished educator and district leader with over 15 years of experience in Broward County Public Schools, the sixth largest district in the nation. Throughout her tenure she has held various roles, including general education teacher, interventionist, , literacy specialist... Read More →

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Tidewater A/B

Elevate

11:00am EST

Our Students are Speaking... Are We Listening

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

Tidewater C/D

Our students are SPEAKING to us through their anger, silence, refusals, elopement, even absences, but are we LISTENING to what each of them are telling us? If you are looking for practical solutions to implement in your classroom or school tomorrow, please join us! We have done the boots-on-the-ground research and have collected the data for you- let us share practical tips for reaching the students whose message is that they only want to connect with us.

Speakers

Angie Davidson

Stephanie Staples

Wednesday December 4, 2024 11:00am - 12:10pm EST
Tidewater C/D

Elevate

11:00am EST

Supporting All Readers in the Application of Phonics Instruction.

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

Colony B

"Decodable Ready: Techniques for Supporting All Readers in the Application of Phonics Instruction. High-quality decoding and morphological instruction is systematic, explicit, and assessment informed. Importantly, it also provides learners with ample opportunities to decode, spell, and apply their knowledge as they read texts. Come to this session to learn how texts fit into effective phonics and morphological instruction. Learn specific techniques and strategies to prepare students to read texts."

Speakers

Heidi Anne E. Mesmer

Ph.D.

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

Elevate

1:20pm EST

Assessing What Matters: Designing Authentic Performance Tasks and Projects

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

Allegheny B

Have you ever been curious about how to effectively design and implement rigorous, standards-aligned performance tasks and projects? If so, come join us for an engaging and interactive session designed for educators across all roles, grade levels, and content areas. Together, we will explore the design process to develop authentic, meaningful learning and assessment experiences for students that are not only engaging, but also reflective of what truly matters in student growth and achievement.

Speakers

Eric Carbaugh

Professor, James Madison University

Dr. Eric Carbaugh is an award-winning professor in the Department of Middle, Secondary, and Mathematics Education at James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA, where he instructs both undergraduate and graduate courses. As an educational consultant, he has worked with teachers... Read More →

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST
Allegheny B 350 5th Ave New York, NY 10018 USA

Elevate

1:20pm EST

Bridging the Digital Divide: Empowering Students Through AI and Data Literacy

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

Liberty

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

Elevate

1:20pm EST

Discover How You Can Tech Up the Math in Elementary School

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

Colony D

Discover ways that you can create transformative math learning experiences for elementary students by giving them ways to visualize math, use multimodal learning, and then empower our students to interact with their classmates' math thinking. See how technology tools like Desmos, Wixie, and Flashcard Factory can help you tech up your math instructi

Speakers

Debbie Tannenbaum

School Based Technology Specialist, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA

Recognized as a 2024 ISTE 20 to Watch award winner, Debbie Tannenbaum is an ASCD Emerging Leader, ISTE Certified Educator, ISTE Community Leader, author, blogger, and speaker. She offers schools and districts a wealth of expertise. With over 20 years of experience, she advocates... Read More →

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

Elevate

1:20pm EST

Elevating Student Achievement: Harnessing Progression Charts and Mastery Checks for Personalized Learning

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

Allegheny C

This interactive workshop is your opportunity to discover how progression charts and mastery checks can elevate student achievement. You will learn to create and implement these tools, enhancing your ability to personalize learning in your classroom. The workshop will cover the theoretical foundations, develop your design skills, and provide strategies for targeted feedback. Through hands-on activities and collaborative discussions, you will gain practical insights and resources for immediate classroom application.

Speakers

R. Erin Comninaki

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST
Allegheny C 229 W 43RD St New York, NY 10036 USA

Elevate

1:20pm EST

Explore adaptive digital solutions with AI: Tier 1 and Tier 2 Supplemental Solutions

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

Patriot

Speakers

Dr. Kris Peterson

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

Elevate

1:20pm EST

It Takes a Village: Supporting Multilingual Learners in Every Classroom

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

Allegheny A

As the number of multilingual learners (MLs) in our schools continues to grow, let’s explore the “why” and the “how” of supporting MLs in every classroom, framed around TESOL’s 6 Principles for Exemplary Teaching of English Learners. Discuss MLs' unique challenges and assets, then engage in interactive modeling and practice of strategies to enhance language and content instruction. The session concludes with a Q&A and collaborative resource sharing.

Speakers

Victoria Pierson

Coordinator of Multilingual Learner Instruction, Richmond Public Schools

Wednesday December 4, 2024 1:20pm - 2:30pm EST
Allegheny A 18-20 Lisle St London, WC2H 7BA, United Kingdom

Elevate

8:15am EST

Empowering Students Through Data Literacy: Strategies, Connections, and Community Partnerships

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

Colony C

Explore innovative strategies for enhancing data literacy in education, tailored to cross-curricular standards of learning in Virginia. Engage in dynamic 'Data Talks,' create Project-Based Assessments using the data cycle and build transformative community partnerships. Gain invaluable tools and resources to empower students with vital data skills, nurturing their critical thinking and readiness for the data-driven challenges of tomorrow. Embark on this journey with us to ignite innovation and revolutionize data literacy education in your school.

Speakers

Rebecca Cothran

Heather Holcomb

Division Math Coach, Williamsburg-James City County Schools

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

Elevate

8:15am EST

Empowering Young Voices: Build Your Middle School Toolkit for Civil Discourse

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

Colony D

Discover and explore our middle school civil discourse toolkit for educators, designed to prepare students as citizens and within communication-driven careers. The skills and strategies within the session will support you in developing students’ communication to be clear and persuasive, while also empathic and responsive. Learn to empower them to amplify their voices through active listening, embracing diverse perspectives, and sparking dynamic, respectful dialogue. Join us in fostering a culture of civility—where each student finds their voice and shapes conversation.

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 →

Middle School Suite Resources pdf

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

Elevate

8:15am EST

STEMming the Future: Cross-Curricular Data Science for K-12 Educators

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

Tidewater C/D

This session empowers K-12 educators to integrate data science into STEM and other subjects. Participants will gain foundational knowledge in data science, develop data analysis and visualization skills, and create cross-curricular lessons. The session includes interactive activities, collaborative lesson planning, and group discussions, providing practical tools and strategies for classroom implementation.

Speakers

Dr. Katelyn Leitner

Teacher, School Administration Offices

Kelly Greening

Coordinator of Math Instruction, Suffolk Public Schools

Passionate Math Educator and Leader.

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST
Tidewater C/D

Elevate

8:15am EST

Strong Instruction for Multilingual Learners: Theory and Practices

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

Allegheny C

"This session will develop educator practice and expertise in: Understanding the linguistic and cultural assets of Multilingual Learners (MLs), The Science of Reading and MLs, Universal Best Practices for High-Quality Instruction of MLs. By the end of this session, all attendees will leave with recommendations on how to apply new learning to their work and with resources to support MLs more equitably.

Speakers

Andrea Diaz

Director, TNTP

Thursday December 5, 2024 8:15am - 9:25am EST
Allegheny C 229 W 43RD St New York, NY 10036 USA

Elevate

9:45am EST

AI Visionaries: Empowering Every Learner in MCPS

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

Colony E

Discover how Martinsville City Public Schools is using AI to empower every learner. This session will cover the vision and goals of the AI Visionaries initiative, implementation strategies, and the impact of AI on student performance. Participants will gain insights into practical applications of AI in education and strategies for effective community engagement.

Speakers

Tyler Hunt

ITRT, Martinsville City Public Schools

My name is Tyler Hunt and I am an ITRT for grades 6-12 at Martinsville City Public Schools.We are a small division with two elementary schools, a middle school, and a high school.My daily job tasks are to successfully implement and run our Clever (SSO) system for our district, super... Read More →

Dr. Angliee Downing

Assistant Superintendent of Instruction, Martinsville City Public Schools

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

Elevate

9:45am EST

Enhancing Inquiry-Based Instruction through Document Based Questions

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

Colony C

Explore how Document Based Questions (DBQs) enhance inquiry-based instruction, critical thinking, and cross-curricular learning. Learn strategies for vertically aligned curriculum integration from early elementary to 12th grade. Gain practical insights from Virginia partner districts and receive a sample Assessment Plan (grades 3-12), Virginia Alignment Guide, and Sample DBQ. Engage in hands-on activities, group discussions, and Q&A for practical application.

Speakers

Jackie Migliori

Kathryn Adkins

Professional Development and Partnerships Regional Lead, The DBQ Project

Originally from North Carolina and currently residing in Virginia, Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts in History Education with a minor in American Studies from Elon University and a Master of Education from the University of Virginia. With a decade of experience as a social studies... Read More →

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

Elevate

9:45am EST

Math Workshop: Implementing a Student-Centered Classroom to Align to the 2023 SOL

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

Allegheny C

Let's explore effective strategies for creating a student-centered math classroom that aligns with the 2023 Math SOL. Participants will gain practical techniques designed to foster student engagement, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. We will discuss best practices for differentiating instruction, incorporating technology, and utilizing formative assessments to meet diverse learning needs. Discover how math workshop can transform your math classroom into an environment where students take ownership of their learning and thrive academically.

Speakers

Skip Tyler

Math Consultant, CTLG Consulting, LLC

Skip Tyler most recently retired after 31 years in public education as the High School Mathematics Educational Specialist for Henrico County Public Schools in Virginia. His responsibilities included supporting mathematics instruction and providing professional development and coaching... Read More →

Thursday December 5, 2024 9:45am - 10:55am EST
Allegheny C 229 W 43RD St New York, NY 10036 USA

Elevate

9:45am EST

There are Oral Language Standards? Academic Conversations in the Elementary Classroom

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

Colony A

From kindergarten through twelfth grade students are expected to be building oral language skills. Teachers, however, are rarely supported in how to help students develop these skills. Learn about how to help students grow as listeners and co-constructors of their own learning through academic conversation, no matter how young or old they may be.

Speakers

Jennifer Orr

Teacher, Fairfax County Schools

Teacher, Fort Belvoir Elementary

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

Elevate