EduLead 2025: Full Schedule

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7:15am CST

Registration Day 1

Friday May 9, 2025 7:15am - 8:00am CST

8:15am CST

Denise Pope Keynote

Friday May 9, 2025 8:15am - 9:30am CST

Guy Lott Auditorium

Friday May 9, 2025 8:15am - 9:30am CST
Guy Lott Auditorium

Keynote

9:45am CST

Listening So Your Child will Speak & Speaking So Your Child Will Listen (Part 1)

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

Middle School Library

The title of this workshop is a play on the popular book by Faber & Mazlish (1999) who called their work: How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk. In fact, the title should be reversed so that listening comes first: deep listening is the foundation for trust and for risk taking. It sets psychological safety in the environment so that children (and adults) of any age can feel seen and heard. This allows the conditions for individuals to engage in conversation and contribute thinking and ideas. 

Part 1 will focus on deep, active listening, a very old Chinese concept represented by the character 聽 (ting). We can signal our nonjudgmental listening through the use of paraphrasing, sending three very powerful messages: “I’m listening”, “I care”, and “I understand” (or, “I’m trying to understand”). The act of paraphrasing provides psychological safety so the speaker feels heard rather than judged.

Speakers

Dr. Ochan Kusuma-Powell

Ochan Kusuma-Powell is co-founder and director of Education Across Frontiers, an organization that promotes teacher education towards the development of professional learning communities. A graduate of Columbia University with a doctorate in international education development, she... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
Middle School Library

Parent/Student Session

9:45am CST

Connecting Digital Citizenship to Advisory / Homeroom: A Whole-School Approach to Student Well-Being

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

2nd Floor Tech Cube

One of my key takeaways from years in the field is that students are begging for help. “Don’t tell me what not to do, teach me how to deal with all of this.” is a direct quote from a student who inspired me at the beginning of my journey as a social worker in education. This session will provide practical strategies to help students cope with stress, anxiety, and social challenges—whether they stem from online interactions, academic pressure, or personal struggles. Advisory teachers will immediately understand the connection to digital citizenship and why it is important to work hand in hand with this program. They will also learn how to support students in navigating challenges with resilience and finding constructive solutions to the problems they face.

Key Takeaway:
Educators will leave with practical, discussion-based advisory tools to help students develop coping strategies, manage stress effectively, and approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset, reinforcing both emotional well-being and a sense of belonging.

Speakers

Allison Ochs

Founder and Owner, Edit change management -Digital Wellbeing and Citizenship

Allison Ochs is an American-Swiss social pedagogue, author, lecturer, and consultant specializing in digital literacy and citizenship in schools and beyond. With a background in social work and education, Allison has worked with families, children, and schools in diverse capacities... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
2nd Floor Tech Cube

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

9:45am CST

Redesigning Learning: Foundations of Student-Centered Design (Session 1)

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

2C80

This two-session workshop invites educators to reimagine their classroom practices through the powerful combination of design thinking and project-based learning. Moving beyond traditional instruction, participants will explore how intentionally designed learning experiences can transform student engagement and foster authentic belonging in school communities. The workshop bridges theory and practice, providing teachers with both conceptual frameworks and dedicated time to develop implementable units for their specific contexts.
Session 1: Redesigning Learning: Foundations of Student-Centered Design
In our first session, participants will explore the research-backed connections between student choice, engagement, and belonging. Through interactive activities and case studies, we'll examine how design thinking principles can be applied to curriculum development, creating learning experiences that honor diverse perspectives and learning styles. Teachers will analyze successful models that balance academic rigor with student autonomy, identifying specific strategies for implementation in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Aparna Sundaram

With over 30 years of dedicated service in education, Aparna has established herself as an innovative educator, strategic leader, knowledgeable recruiter, and respected consultant. She has led curriculum initiatives focused on culturally responsive pedagogy, design thinking... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
2C80

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

9:45am CST

Stretching your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

Lower School Library

At this moment in time when things are ever shifting, it is critically important that we strive to develop ourselves, not just as educators, but as human beings. What can we do to be bigger and better versions of ourselves as collaborative team members and as leaders? This workshop, based on Jennifer’s new book, Stretching Your Learning Edges: Growing (Up) at Work, will introduce us to adult developmental theory and to five focused ways we can develop ourselves at work.
We will build our skills to:

know ourselves and our identities
better suspend our certainty and think with greater complexity and openness
take increased responsibility for our language and communications
engage with reciprocity and live ‘out loud’ our belief of mutual respect for all
build our resiliency and work on our emotional hygiene
Consider what it means, in practice, to grow (up) – to develop our skills and capacities as lead learners in our schools.

Speakers

Jennifer Abrams

Communications Consultant

Jennifer Abrams is an international educational and communications consultant specializing in supporting public and independent schools, universities, and non-profits. She trains and coaches educators, administrators, and other professionals on new teacher and employee support, having... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
Lower School Library

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

9:45am CST

UBD Part 1: Understanding by Design (UbD) a framework for creating a future ready curriculum

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

Legacy Commons

n this introductory session, Janelle will present an overview of the UbD framework and address the following questions:

What are the drivers and goals of a future ready curriculum?
How should we design curriculum ‘backwards’?
What is understanding and how does it differ from ‘knowing’?
How should we design curriculum connecting students to ways of thinking, working and living in the world?

Speakers

Janelle McGann

Janelle is a global educator with over 25 years’ experience in public and private schools in Australia, Ireland and the US. As a teacher, leader, consultant and lecturer, Janelle understands the demands of a changing educational landscape for teachers and leaders. She has a passionate... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
Legacy Commons

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

9:45am CST

Understanding Multi Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): PART 1

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

Lotus Lounge

In today’s diverse classrooms, meeting the needs of all students requires proactive, structured approaches. This session introduces the Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) framework—a whole-school approach designed to ensure every learner receives the right level of academic, behavioral, and social-emotional strategies to access curriculum. Participants will explore what MTSS is, why schools are adopting it.  We’ll engage with and unpack the core principles of tiered interventions and set the stage for exploration of the ‘how’ of MTSS in Part 2. Whether you’re new to MTSS or looking to strengthen your understanding, this session provides a foundation for effective, student-centered support.

Speakers

Kristen Pelletier

Kristen Pelletier is a highly regarded educational consultant, coach, and teacher trainer dedicated to fostering inclusive cultures and practices in international schools. Her consulting, Castle Corner-Redefining Access recently relocated to Portugal, leverages over 20 years of experience... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
Lotus Lounge

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

9:45am CST

Unlocking Potential: Differentiation Through Universal Design for Learning

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

Upper School Library

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a dynamic framework that promotes equitable access to meaningful and engaging learning experiences for all students. This workshop will explore strategies to meet our diverse learners and, foster deeper student engagement to overcome barriers to success. We will explore flexible, student-centered approaches that create inclusive classrooms where every learner can reach their full potential!

Speakers

Kristel Solomon

Kristel Solomon is an accomplished International Educational Consultant with over 20 years of experience dedicated to ensuring that all children have access to high-quality education and the opportunity to achieve their individual pathways to excellence. She has served as Director... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
Upper School Library

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

9:45am CST

Belonging at TAS: Insights from Focus Groups and the Path Forward LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

Harmony Theater

Taipei International School continues its commitment to fostering a school community grounded in dignity and respect. Over the past two years, Dr. Gay has worked closely with TAS, engaging students, parents, faculty, staff, and the board to deepen understanding and strengthen efforts around belonging. During his most recent visit in October, he conducted focus groups to gather insights into the lived experiences within the school, identifying key strengths, challenges, and opportunities for growth.

In this session, Dr. Gay will share themes that emerged from these discussions, placing them within the larger context of belonging in international schools. Parents and students will engage in meaningful conversations to explore what these findings reveal about the TAS experience and how they can inform efforts moving forward. Participants will also learn about research-based strategies that support a culture of dignity and respect, fostering stronger connections within the school community. This session provides an opportunity to reflect on progress, reinforce shared commitments, and consider ways to further strengthen belonging at TAS.

Speakers

Dr. Derrick Gay

Dr. Derrick Gay is a globally recognized Belonging and Intercultural Strategist, dedicated to fostering cultures of dignity and respect. With multifaceted expertise as an international speaker, author, researcher, educator, and university lecturer, Dr. Gay empowers individuals and... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
Harmony Theater

Whole Community (Anyone)

9:45am CST

Raising Children to Thrive in a Globalized World LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST

MPR

In a world where students are being prepared for jobs that do not yet exist, to solve problems we’ve never encountered, using technologies that haven’t been invented, the question for families and educators alike becomes: How do we raise children to thrive amid uncertainty? And, more fundamentally, what does it mean to be a global citizen in today’s interconnected and often polarized world?

Drawing from insights across social science, neuroscience, and emerging trends in education and technology, this session explores the timeless human capacities that will matter most in an unpredictable future. Rather than focus solely on academic achievement or technical skill, the emphasis shifts to nurturing the attributes that make us fully human: deep empathy, cross-cultural understanding, a strong sense of belonging, and the psychological safety required for creativity and risk-taking.

Participants will consider how to foster these traits at home, in classrooms, and across school communities—equipping young people with the “new literacies” needed to navigate complexity, connect across difference, and contribute meaningfully to a more just, sustainable, and inclusive world.

Key Takeaways:

Explore the evolving definition of global citizenship and its relevance for today’s children
Understand the role of empathy, identity, and belonging in shaping future-ready learners
Discover how psychological safety supports resilience, creativity, and learning in young people
Gain practical strategies to nurture intercultural awareness and emotional intelligence at home and at school
Reflect on how families and educators can partner to support children's growth in an age of rapid change

Speakers

Homa Tavangar

Cofounder, Big Questions Institute

Homa Tavanger is the co-founder of the Big Questions Institute and the Oneness Lab.She brings 30+ years’ experience helping diverse organizations and individuals to build cultural, racial and global competence, strategic governance, and visionary, generative leadership in diverse schools and organizations. She coaches leaders on accountability for equity... Read More →

Friday May 9, 2025 9:45am - 11:00am CST
MPR

Whole Community (Anyone)

11:15am CST

Bridging the Digital Gap: Understanding Each Other in a Hyperconnected World LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

2nd Floor Tech Cube

Have you ever felt like your parents don’t understand how important your phone is? Or, as a parent, have you wondered why a simple request to “put the screen down” leads to frustration? Families often struggle to see eye to eye on technology—not because they don’t care, but because they experience digital life in completely different ways.
But what happens when online interactions become stressful? A message taken the wrong way, a group chat that turns mean, or a moment of thoughtless posting can create real tension at home and school. How do we handle these moments while protecting our well-being?
This interactive session brings parents and students together to explore how we communicate online, why misunderstandings happen, and how to navigate digital conflicts in ways that strengthen—rather than harm—relationships. Through open discussion, we’ll examine how screen time, messaging, and social media affect our emotions, how to set fair boundaries, and how to build a digital culture of kindness and respect—both at home and online.

Why This Matters:

Parents and students often misunderstand each other’s digital behaviors, leading to screen time, online friendships, and privacy conflicts.
Both sides experience digital stress, but in different ways—this session helps bridge that gap.

Practical Strategies:

Understanding how different generations perceive online time and the common misconceptions that cause frustration.
Setting realistic screen time expectations as a family—without unnecessary conflict.
Establishing clear and fair family rules for messaging and online communication.
Recognizing online meanness, its emotional impact, and how families can support each other.
Small, easy-to-implement well-being habits that can make a big difference in family dynamics.

Key Takeaway:
Families will leave with clear communication strategies, practical tools, and a deeper understanding of each other’s digital world—while having fun along the way.

Speakers

Allison Ochs

Founder and Owner, Edit change management -Digital Wellbeing and Citizenship

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
2nd Floor Tech Cube

Parent/Student Session

11:15am CST

12 Big Questions School Must Answer to Imagine Irresistible Futures LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

MPR

This session offers a guided exploration the just-released ebook on 12 Big Questions (free download here), following the popular  9 BIG Questions Schools Must Answer to Avoid Going "Back to Normal" (*Because "Normal" Wasn't That Great to Begin With) by Tavangar and Richardson.

The big questions are being used as a provocation to drive meaningful and fearless inquiry around school change and efficacy in the midst of volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous (VUCA) conditions in the world and in education.

Through probing, interactive activities we will audit and explore questions such as What is Learning? Why Do We ______? Who is Unheard? and Are We OK? as well as the three new questions: What is Your Story? What is Success? and What is Your Legacy? Embarking on a systematic interrogation of key questions, our “why” becomes clearer, to unlock new “how’s” for steering schools through crisis and uncertainty.

This session encourages educators and leaders to interrogate deeply held assumptions, clarify their shared purpose, and uncover pathways for designing learning environments that are inclusive, innovative, and responsive to both present challenges and future possibilities.

Key Takeaways:

Develop a shared language and framework for school transformation using the 12 Big Questions
Engage in reflective and collaborative inquiry to surface core values, assumptions, and beliefs about learning
Explore how questions of identity, equity, and purpose shape student experiences and school culture
Clarify your individual and collective “why” to inspire innovative “how’s” for navigating change
Leave with a set of tools and protocols for facilitating continued dialogue and strategic reflection within your own teams and communities

Speakers

Homa Tavangar

Cofounder, Big Questions Institute

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
MPR

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

11:15am CST

Developing & Assessing Psychological Safety in the Classroom LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

Middle School Library

We know many reasons that psychological safety is important in the classroom: it provides an environment in which students can take intellectual risks, be creative, and engage in critical thinking. And yet, there are students who find it difficult to engage, and no matter how we might coax them, their verbal contributions to class conversations remain minimal. What might be getting in the way? How do we go about deliberately establishing an environment in which all students feel safe enough to contribute their thinking? In this workshop, we will explore ways in which teachers deliberately establish a psychologically safe space for student engagement, and how we might assess our successes.

Speakers

Dr. Ochan Kusuma-Powell

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
Middle School Library

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

11:15am CST

Fostering Cultures of Dignity and Respect: The Educator’s Role in Addressing Bullying and Identity-Based Harm LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

Harmony Theater

Bullying and identity-based harm are pervasive challenges in international schools, impacting student well-being, academic success, and overall school climate. However, not all harm constitutes bullying. This interactive workshop introduces Dr. Gay’s Fostering Cultures of Dignity and Respect framework, equipping educators with research-based strategies to recognize, address, and prevent harmful behaviors while distinguishing between bullying, conflict, and teasing.

Grounded in evidence-based approaches, this session shifts schools beyond punitive discipline toward proactive, belonging-centered practices. Through discussion, reflection, and case studies, educators will examine their role in setting norms, modeling inclusive behavior, and fostering student agency in creating a respectful school climate. Participants will explore the defining characteristics of bullying, understand how differences are used to marginalize peers, and learn interventions that mitigate and address harm. Additionally, they will gain practical strategies to build a culture where all students feel seen, valued, and safe—ensuring a school environment that prioritizes dignity, respect, and inclusion.

Speakers

Dr. Derrick Gay

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
Harmony Theater

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

11:15am CST

Redesigning Learning: From Concept to Classroom (Session 2) LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

2C80

This two-session workshop invites educators to reimagine their classroom practices through the powerful combination of design thinking and project-based learning. Moving beyond traditional instruction, participants will explore how intentionally designed learning experiences can transform student engagement and foster authentic belonging in school communities. The workshop bridges theory and practice, providing teachers with both conceptual frameworks and dedicated time to develop implementable units for their specific
Session 2: Redesigning Learning: From Concept to Classroom
Building on our foundational understanding, the second session provides structured planning time for teachers to design or redesign a unit using project-based methodology. Participants will work collaboratively to address common challenges—from assessment design to scheduling constraints—while leveraging the collective wisdom of colleagues from diverse disciplines. Teachers will leave with a framework for a unit that incorporates authentic student choice, community connections, and real-world problem-solving.

Speakers

Aparna Sundaram

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
2C80

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

11:15am CST

UbD Part 2: Designing for deeper learning LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

Legacy Commons

Our students need to experience that their lives have influence; that they have power (internal locus of control); and that they can master new skills that assist them to handle future challenges.
Janelle will present a set of practical and proven strategies and tools to help students make meaning, build deep understanding and transfer their learning into the wider world. We will explore the following questions:

What is deeper learning and why is it important?
What is worth learning deeply? How do we decide?
Learn a process for framing curriculum for deeper learning
What kinds of instruction will support students to learn deeply?
Learn practical tools and strategies

Speakers

Janelle McGann

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
Legacy Commons

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

11:15am CST

Understanding Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): Part 2: From Theory to Practice LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

Upper School Library

Building on the foundational principles explored in Part 1, this session takes a deeper dive into the practical application of MTSS within school communities. Participants will move beyond the "what" and "why" of MTSS to explore the "how"—how to implement, refine, and sustain a tiered support system that effectively meets the diverse needs of all learners.

Speakers

Kristel Solomon

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
Upper School Library

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

11:15am CST

Building Relationships - Communication Basics (All Community Session) LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

Lower School Library

This foundational session is designed for all individuals interested in learning and reviewing basic communication skills that build more trust in relationships. The workshop will provide skills to change personal behaviors within one’s sphere of control that can increase trust in everyday interpersonal and group interactions.
Participants will learn how to:

Use effective non-verbal body language can increase or decrease how trustworthy others feel you are
Paraphrase and listen more skillfully so others truly feel heard
Ask questions that open other people’s thinking so they want to respond
Offer suggestions that others want to hear and will take into consideration
Praise so others will feel acknowledged
Apologize so others feel better
Respond more effectively to conflict and tension interpersonally and in group situations

Speakers

Jennifer Abrams

Communications Consultant

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
Lower School Library

Whole Community (Anyone)

11:15am CST

Raising Remarkable Kids for Success in School & Life LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST

Lotus Lounge

Success in today’s world goes beyond good grades—it requires resilience, efficacy, and adaptability. This session explores concepts and strategies to help children excel academically and develop the skills they need to thrive in life. Join us for an engaging discussion on raising future-ready, remarkable children!

Speakers

Kristen Pelletier

Friday May 9, 2025 11:15am - 12:30pm CST
Lotus Lounge

Whole Community (Anyone)

12:30pm CST

Lunch LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:15pm CST

1:30pm CST

Finding Your Voice: Parents and Students as Collaborative Advocates

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

2C80

In today's complex educational landscape, effective advocacy skills are essential for student well-being. This workshop brings parents and students together to explore how they can collaboratively navigate educational systems while building students' self-advocacy muscles. Through case studies, discussion and strategic planning exercises, participants will learn to identify when parent advocacy is appropriate and when stepping back allows students to develop crucial future-ready skills. Families will examine communication frameworks for addressing concerns with educators, strategies for gradually transferring advocacy responsibilities to students, and techniques for productive dialogue when perspectives differ. The session emphasizes how thoughtful advocacy partnerships ultimately strengthen students' sense of belonging and agency.

Speakers

Aparna Sundaram

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
2C80

Parent/Student Session

1:30pm CST

Listening So Your Child will Speak & Speaking So Your Child Will Listen (Part 2) LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

Middle School Library

The title of this workshop is a play on the popular book by Faber & Mazlish (1999) who called their work: How to Talk so Kids will Listen and Listen so Kids Will Talk. In fact, the title should be reversed so that listening comes first: deep listening is the foundation for trust and for risk taking. It sets psychological safety in the environment so that children (and adults) of any age can feel seen and heard. This allows the conditions for individuals to engage in conversation and contribute thinking and ideas. 

Part 2 will focus on developing powerful questions that simultaneously empower and invite deeper thinking in the recipient. Unless a recipient feels truly invited to engage in thinking, they won’t, perhaps because of a fear of being judged. So, how questions are constructed to reflect an invitation, matters. 

Speakers

Dr. Ochan Kusuma-Powell

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
Middle School Library

Parent/Student Session

1:30pm CST

Gen AI Wonderings?: Consider Hopes, Cautions, and Possibilities to Support Neurodiverse Learners LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

Lotus Lounge

This is a non-technical, open conversation for those who might be feeling curious and possibly a bit apprehensive about AI’s role in education, especially for those with neurodiverse learning profiles. We’ll unpack the recently released NFI and ISLES Position Statement on AI opportunities—focusing on the real-world tensions between hope and careful consideration. Can AI truly enhance accessibility and personalization? What are the risks of over-reliance? Through discussion, we’ll explore how to approach AI thoughtfully. Whether you’re optimistic, cautious, or simply curious, this session offers a space to reflect, question, and engage without technical jargon.

Speakers

Kristen Pelletier

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
Lotus Lounge

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

1:30pm CST

Having Hard Conversations LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

Lower School Library

As administrators, coaches or colleagues, we often come up against situations where difficult topics must be addressed. What do we know about the best strategies for those moments? What questions should we be asking ourselves before we speak, and what environments are best for when we do speak? Based on Jennifer’s book, Having Hard Conversations, and her work with conflict and interpersonal communication, this session will provide participants with action plans and scripting tools for having those necessary hard conversations.
Participants will learn how to:

Identify why they hesitate having hard conversations
Choose questions to ask themselves before they choose to speak up
Articulate in professional language the challenges they are facing
Determine the goals of the conversation and write an action plan of support
Script the conversation avoiding trigger words that put others on the defensive
Choose the best ‘wheres’ and ‘whens’ for a productive discussion

Speakers

Jennifer Abrams

Communications Consultant

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
Lower School Library

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

1:30pm CST

Managing the Digital Shift: How Online Communication Impacts the Classroom & School Community LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

2nd Floor Tech Cube

Have you ever walked into class and felt like something was off—students whispering, a shift in energy, or tension between friends—but you had no idea what had happened? In today’s world, so much of student life unfolds online, in group chats, gaming communities, and social media. What happens in these spaces doesn’t stay there—it spills over into the classroom, shaping friendships, conflicts, and overall school culture. This session will explore how online interactions influence student dynamics and how educators can foster a safe, connected learning environment that bridges the gap between digital and real-world relationships

Why this matters:

Students bring their online conflicts into the classroom, but educators often lack the tools to address these digital behaviors effectively.
Bullying, exclusion, and miscommunication online have real consequences for school culture.

Practical strategies:

Identifying digital conflicts early before they disrupt classroom culture.
Establishing proactive classroom norms that prevent online bullying and exclusion.
Effective interventions when online meanness spills into in-person interactions.
Schoolwide safeguarding approaches to ensure students feel safe both online and offline.

Key Takeaway: Educators will learn specific techniques for noticing, addressing, and preventing digital conflicts while fostering a classroom culture of belonging.

Speakers

Allison Ochs

Founder and Owner, Edit change management -Digital Wellbeing and Citizenship

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
2nd Floor Tech Cube

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

1:30pm CST

UbD Part 3: Essential Questions – Opening Doors to Student Understanding LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

Legacy Commons

A good essential question serves as a doorway for engaging student inquiry, helps teachers ‘uncover’ the big ideas of curriculum content and leads students to deeper understanding. We will explore critical questions including:

What makes a question ‘essential’?
If the content represents the ‘answers’ then what were the questions that led to content knowledge in the first place?
How can Essential Questions be used to guide inquiry and deeper learning?

Participants will learn how to craft essential questions and get examples of excellent discipline specific Essential Questions that can be used across year levels and units.

Speakers

Janelle McGann

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
Legacy Commons

Teachers/Staff/Administrators Session

1:30pm CST

Embracing Neurodiversity: Understanding Ourselves & Our Global Impact LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

Upper School Library

Diverse minds bring creativity, innovation, and new perspectives that shape our world in meaningful ways. This course delves into the importance of neurodiversity in schools and society, fostering a deeper appreciation for individual strengths and their role in building inclusive, globally minded communities.

Speakers

Kristel Solomon

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
Upper School Library

Whole Community (Anyone)

1:30pm CST

Fostering Cultures of Dignity and Respect: Creating a Safe and Inclusive School Community LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST

Harmony Theater

Schools thrive when students, parents, and educators work together to create an environment where everyone feels valued, respected, and safe. However, not all harm is bullying, and understanding the differences between conflict, teasing, and bullying is essential. This session introduces Dr. Gay’s Fostering Cultures of Dignity and Respect framework, equipping students and parents with research-based strategies to recognize, address, and prevent harmful behaviors. Participants will gain a clear understanding of bullying—its defining characteristics of intentional harm, power imbalance, and repetition—and explore how it manifests physically, verbally, socially, and online. With the increasing role of social media in students' lives, the session will also highlight the impact of cyberbullying, including harmful messages, exclusion, and the rapid spread of rumors.

The session will examine why bullying happens, unpacking the social dynamics that contribute to harmful behaviors, such as peer pressure, insecurity, group hierarchies, and bystander behavior. Students will be empowered with practical tools to respond effectively, whether experiencing bullying themselves or witnessing it happen to others. They will learn strategies to become active bystanders, safely intervene when appropriate, and seek support from trusted adults. Special attention will be given to navigating online spaces, including recognizing harmful digital behaviors, setting boundaries on social media, and knowing when to report online harassment.

Speakers

Dr. Derrick Gay

Friday May 9, 2025 1:30pm - 2:45pm CST
Harmony Theater

Whole Community (Anyone)

3:00pm CST

12 Big Questions Schools Must Answer to Create Irresistible Futures LIMITED

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST

Guy Lott Auditorium

Based on her forthcoming 2025 book of the same name, this keynote invites educators, school leaders, and communities to take a bold stance of fearless inquiry in the face of our rapidly shifting global landscape. Designed for a world marked by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity (VUCA), this keynote offers both provocation and inspiration to help schools respond with clarity, courage, and creativity.

At the heart of the keynote are twelve transformative questions—such as What is Learning? Who is Unheard? What is Your Story? and What is Success?—that challenge us to rethink the fundamental purpose, structures, and values of schooling. These questions are not theoretical; they are deeply practical entry points for reimagining learning environments that cultivate belonging, agency, and well-being for every student.

As we clarify our collective “why,” we unlock new and innovative “how’s” for designing the future of education—where students don’t merely succeed by conventional standards but truly flourish. This keynote empowers participants to engage with ambiguity not as a barrier, but as an invitation to lead with intention, inclusivity, and imagination.

Speakers

Homa Tavangar

Cofounder, Big Questions Institute

Friday May 9, 2025 3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
Guy Lott Auditorium

Keynote

4:15pm CST

Reception

Friday May 9, 2025 4:15pm - 5:45pm CST