Alliance For Excellent Education

Guests Martha Bongiorno, President-Elect of the Georgia Library Media Association and Middle School Library Media Specialist, Fulton County Schools (GA) Liz Wiemann-Doll, 4-8th Grade Teacher Librarian, Pen Argyl Area School District (PA) Kim Habruner Borden, Elementary Librarian, Plainfield Elementary School, Pen Argyl (PA) Shannon McClintock Miller, Future Ready Librarian Spokesperson, K–12 District Teacher Librarian, Van Meter […]

Guests Dana Castine, Director for Math, Science, and Technology, Florida Union Free School District (NY) (@DanaCastine) Adam Phyall, Director of Technology and Media Services, Newton County School System (GA) (@AskAdam3) Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready SchoolsⓇ, Alliance for Excellent Education (moderator) (@thomascmurray) Seemingly overnight, the COVID-19 global pandemic forced schools to […]

Guests Anthony Jackson, EdD, Superintendent, Vance County Schools (NC) (@VanceCoSchools) Michael Abensour, Executive Director, Kramden Institute (@Kramden) Avril Smart Goggans, PhD, Research and Engagement Manager for Future Ready Schools®, Alliance for Excellent Education (moderator) (@DrAvrilSmart) Strong family-school-community partnerships are critical when transitioning to student-centered learning. The relationship between the school and the community can strengthen, […]

Guests Traci Chun, Teacher Librarian, Vancouver Public Schools (WA) (@TraciChun) Jeremy Tortora, Associate Principal and Athletic Director, Vancouver Public Schools (WA) (@MrTortoraVPS) Mark Ray, Future Ready Librarians® Lead (@_TeacherX) Deron Durflinger, Superintendent, Van Meter Community School District (IA) (@DeronDurflinger) Shannon McClintock Miller, Future Ready Librarians® Spokesperson and K–12 District Teacher Librarian, Van Meter Community School District […]

Guests Doug Henderson, Director of STEAM and Career and Technical Education, Val Verde Unified School District (CA) (@dhenderson_sci) Michael McCormick, Superintendent, Val Verde Unified School District (CA) Tom Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools®, Alliance for Excellent Education (moderator) (@thomascmurray) Future Ready SchoolsⓇ (FRS) believes that every child, no matter the child’s zip […]

Guests: Jeremy Wood, Senior Network Engineer, Newburgh Enlarged City School District, NY Kyle Pace, Director of Technology, Grain Valley Public Schools, MO Eujon Anderson, Technology Director, Troy City Schools, AB Amy Storer, Instructional Coach, Montgomery ISD, TX Moderator: Brianna Hodges, Future Ready Instructional Coaches Advisor, Future Ready Schools®, @bhodgesEDU Now more than ever instructional coaches […]

Guests Leslie DiChiara, Assistive Technology Specialist, Instructional Technology Specialist, North Bellmore School District (NY) (@lrdichiara) Sharon Plante, Chief Technology Integrator, The Southport School (CT) (@iplante) Ace Parsi, Director of Innovation, National Center for Learning Disabilities (@ncldorg) Avril Smart Goggans, PhD, Research and Engagement Manager for Future Ready Schools®, Alliance for Excellent Education (@DrAvrilSmart) Future Ready […]

Guests Michael Coats, Systems Infrastructure Manager and Cloud Solutions Architect, Southwest MiTech Dr. Travis Paakki, Senior Director, Portland Public Schools (OR) Thomas C. Murray, Director of Innovation for Future Ready Schools®, Alliance for Excellent Education (@thomascmurray) School and district leaders often are asked to do more with less, particularly when it comes to technology and […]

Building Strong Partnership to Support Future Ready Schools Guests Jerry Almendarez, Superintendent, Santa Ana School District (CA), @JerryAlmendarez Chip Slaven, Chief Advocacy Officer, National School Boards Association @NSBAPublicEd Mary Ann Wolf, Ph.D., Sr. Director of the Professional Learning and Leading Collaborative,The Friday Institute at NC State University @maryannwolfed, @FridayInstitute Moderator Thomas C. Murray, Director of […]

In this webinar, four leaders and practitioners who are actively working to support the growth and development of SEL skills in schools discussed experiencing and applying research-based ideas and strategies to support SEL in their respective educational contexts.  The panelists were excited to share their insights and experiences.

On February 11, 202 The National Urban League and the Alliance for Excellent Education held a Webinar on Implementation of the Every Student Succeeds Act.  This webinar continued the discussion on how ESSA implementation is working – and not working – for historically underserved students. The National Urban League and the Alliance for Excellent Education hosted this webinar to discuss progress on school improvement.

This webinar discussed how states, districts, external partners and vendors, researchers, and education advocates have responded to ESSA’s evidence requirements and the systems, capacity, supports, and other resources districts need to find, develop, and implement evidence-based approaches.

Future Ready Superintendents Julie Mitchell and Marlon Styles both understand that innovation must include sustainability. As seasoned district leaders, they understand that sustaining innovative practices means districts must put a vision in place, incorporate professional learning, involve the local community, and ensure that the financial components add up. It’s not simply about dollars and cents.   In this webinar, our panelists will discuss  evaluating the total costs of new initiatives;  looking past costs and including aspects such as professional learning and staffing needs;  including the community’s voice as a core component of the vision of sustainability;  evaluating the performance and effectiveness of the initiative; and  replicating lessons learned. 

As a part of the Alliance for Excellent Education’s ongoing #OurHopeOurChallenge campaign to focus on the continuing needs of students—no matter their race, zip code, or background—sixty-five years after Brown, this webinar will examine the role of educators and community leaders in preventing students from entering the school-to-prison pipeline. Our expert panel of education and community leaders will discuss how influences both in and out of school can contribute to students being put on a trajectory to incarceration, as well as the policies and practices that can steer students back toward success, whether in schools, juvenile justice education facilities, or re-integration programs.

“What will happen today that has your kids running back tomorrow?” That’s just one of the thought-provoking questions best-selling author Thomas C. Murray asks in his latest book, Personal & Authentic: Designing Learning Experiences that Impact a Lifetime. Join Tom and All4Ed President Deb Delisle in this webinar on how educators have the power to leave a legacy by: making students’ learning experiences personal and authentic; ensuring that the culture around you is personal and authentic; developing and nurturing personal and authentic relationships; and being personal and authentic. The work is hard, but our kids are worth it!

In this webinar, part of the Alliance for Excellent Education’s Science of Adolescent Learning initiative, our expert panel will discuss how educators can ensure that school environments promote positive mindsets in adolescent students and motivate them to take risks associated with positive outcomes.

In the last Future Ready Librarian webinar of the year, Shannon McClintock Miller has invited a few special guests to share favorite books, authors, technology, trends, ideas, advocacy tips, and other top things that have been happening in the library and within education in 2019. When we examine our framework as Future Ready Librarians, we tie this essential work into the wedges of curation, empowering our students as creators, literacy, equitable digital access and more.

This webinar featured experts from the field and researchers who discussed the challenges and opportunities educators and district leaders face in expanding deeper learning. The discussion featured new research from the Learning Policy Institute that highlights how three networks— Big Picture Learning, Internationals Network for Public Schools, and New Tech Network—have partnered with traditionally structured public school districts to create systems and processes that spread deeper learning models in ways that advance equity and result in greater success for traditionally marginalized students.

As a follow up to the National Urban League’s report Standards of Equity and Excellence: A Lens on ESSA State Plans, we are hosting a webinar alongside our partners at the Alliance for Excellent Education to discuss an important part of state accountability systems: Subgroup Performance. Subgroup Performance is how well particular groups, divided by characteristics (gender, race/ethnicity, language status, socioeconomic status, etc.) perform in particular measurable areas including language arts, math, and many others. We invite you to join us for a brief discussion on what we are seeing in the field and how we can continue to hold states accountable as we move forward.

Dr. Montra Rogers and Dr. Joe Sanfelippo teamed up to discuss the trials and triumphs of transforming stale, sit-and-get professional development into uniquely personalized and appropriate professional learning opportunities for educators, regardless of the role they hold in their districts. Underscored with a common goal of meaningful personalized professional learning, they highlighted how to: create a culture of continuous learning, foster capacity and shared agency, and design for and be mindful of scalability and sustainability, so as to increase the efficacy of implementation

In this webinar, part of the Alliance for Excellent Education’s yearlong #OurChallengeOurHope campaign to both honor the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education Supreme Court case and focus on the continuing needs of our most underserved students sixty-five years after Brown was decided, our expert panel will share their knowledge on how educators can recognize and support students who are experiencing homelessness.

In this webinar, join Shannon McClintock Miller, and her special guests, for this informative, exciting and fun conversation around digital citizenship. 1. What skills do digital citizens need to be successful? 2. How can librarians be champions of this work? 3. What digital citizenship successes can you celebrate? 4. What does an empowered digital citizen look like?

This webinar addressed how students with disabilities are and are not being prepared for the realities of today and the challenges, opportunities, and possibilities of tomorrow. The impact of the changes we see aren’t discriminating between students with and without disabilities--they impact everybody equally. It’s time that our practices and policies provide all students access to key 21st century skills and dispositions like critical thinking, problem solving, collaboration, self-advocacy, growth mindsets, and self-determination. Panelists described the urgency behind including students with disabilities in the vision of 21st century learning and what each of us—policy makers, practitioners, families, communities, and students—can do to make this a reality.

This webinar described profound changes in student engagement at ABC Unified School District in California resulting from the district’s efforts to align its strategic vision with research on how students learn and develop—what we at All4Ed call the “Science of Adolescent Learning.” Dr. Mary Sieu, the superintendent of ABC Unified, described how research-based changes in the district’s policies and practices have impacted schools and student learning. She also shared ideas for how the science of adolescent learning can be used to support systems-level change in every school and district, no matter its size, location, or composition.

In this webinar, panelists shared their experiences as leaders committed to equity and tips to foster conversations about race and inclusion that break down walls and strengthen school communities. They shared promising practices for: culturally responsive educator training, professional learning to address implicit biases, recruiting and hiring faculty and staff of color, and supporting equitable changes at the school, district, and state levels. Panelists also responded to questions submitted by viewers from across the nation.

In this webinar, panelists shared some amazing tips and tricks that will help Future Ready Librarians®, district leaders, and other educators prepare for the best school year yet. Panelists examined how librarians can engage their communities, expand their collections, and take advantage of marketing, partnerships, and collaboration opportunities. They also shared advice on how to sustain these programs and practices throughout the school year.  

As the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) continues the conversation on the legacy and impact of the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case, this webinar examined why increasing retention and postsecondary graduation rates among students of color is so important for students and the nation as a whole. Our expert panel offered examples of strategies and programs that two- and four-year postsecondary institutions can adopt to better serve their students of color prior to and after their enrollment, ensuring that these students graduate and are prepared to succeed in today’s job market.

Panelists described the characteristics of student-centered learning, and the importance of applying an equity lens when planning and implementing digital learning. The National Center for Learning Disabilities' Ace Parsi explained the importance of including the needs of students with disabilities in plans for personalized student-centered learning environments.  he also shared common barriers that impede their full engagement. Winsome Waite related research from the Alliance for Excellent Education's work on the Science of Adolescent Learning (SAL) describing environmental factors like community values, poverty, prejudice, and inequity that can influence classrooms, schools, and student learning, especially among historically underserved and marginalized students. The session concluded with recommendations for school and district leaders about important considerations when designing their student-centered learning efforts.

In this webinar, Vince Scheivert, Rachel Johnson, and Linnette Attai discussed how school districts have used data and the cloud to innovate and optimize learning, while also providing data privacy for all. They also addressed: How districts are using data visualization and predictive analytics to support learning; How to implement next-generation safety and security tools to ensure a sustainable and robust system; and Best practices for protecting student data privacy in the cloud.

As the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) continues the conversation on the legacy and impact of the landmark Brown vs. Board of Education case, this webinar shines a spotlight on the work still remaining and offer solutions to schools, districts, states, and federal policymakers on how they can advocate for students who are furthest from opportunity.

This webinar will highlight the need to change our mindset and practices on these two issues. Dr. Perez-Isiah will highlight effective approaches that will help merge the topics of equity and gaps in teaching and learning. Let’s move from achievement “gap-gazing” to achievement gap-closing in our school communities.

This Future Ready Schools® (FRS) webinar will highlight effective approaches to addressing digital inequities in both teacher preparation programs and in schools today; offer recommendations for moving beyond identifying an inequity into recommendations for closing the digital equity gap; and provide practical solutions to support students both in and outside of school.

In this webinar, panelists discussed how the effects of developmental changes and shifting social environments are impacting academic learning. They shared their expertise on Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and explained how educators can help students navigate these changes by supporting the development of social and emotional skills.

On May 21, 2019, Future Ready Schools® held a webinar in which Future Ready Advisors Jimmy Casas and Brianna Hodges shared the importance of collaboration between principals and instructional coaches. With collaborative leadership as the driving force of the Future Ready Framework, Jimmy and Brianna offered tales from the trenches from the purview of shared instructional leadership.

On April 30, 2019, All4Ed and Future Ready Schools® held a webinar for Future Ready Librarians.  Panelists discussed the value of maintaining a book collection that not only reflects the school community, but also is reflective of the global community of which we all are a part. Recognizing that centering diversity means centering the stories, experiences, and voices of historically marginalized people, including people of color, indigenous voices, LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies, differently-abled individuals, and neurodiverse voices.

In this webinar, panelists explored how educators and school leaders can use a more comprehensive understanding of student learning environments to improve educational outcomes for diverse populations. Specifically, panelists discussed why culture and identity matter in adolescent education; how stress affects learning and development; how technology influences student learning and relationship building; and​ how school leaders and educators help combat the effects of inequality, bias, and discrimination​.

In this webinar veteran Principal and Future Ready Advisor, Jimmy Casas, discussed how school leaders create cultures of innovation in their schools. It’s no secret that school and district leadership set the tone for such transformation, but building trust, modeling the way, and creating a culture of excellence remain vital for the change process to happen and be sustainable over time. Future Ready Schools’ Director of Innovation, Thomas C. Murray, moderated the event and drew upon his experience as a former principal and district level leader. Additionally, he shared what’s been happening around the nation through the work of Future Ready Schools.

During this webinar, Prince George’s County Public Schools (MD) and Vancouver Public Schools (WA) will showcase their innovative partnerships. Sarah Thomas will discuss how instructional coaches can facilitate learning experiences, where students and teachers “learn by doing” through creating and collaborating. Also, Lisa Spencer will share several school- and district-wide digital learning initiatives. Mark Ray will explore ways in which librarians can lead, teach, and support schools both on their own and in collaboration with instructional coaches. Traci Chun and Kelsey Aske will discuss their work at Skyview High School in Vancouver, Washington.

In this webinar, panelists discussed the powerful impact that results from a partnership between instructional coaches and librarians when focus is placed not on tool or device, but instead on the learning community. They shared the examples of this partnership from the field highlighting stories, swapping tips and inspiring all of us to go back and do the same within our schools and districts.

In this webinar, Jerry Almendarez and Kim Buryanek, discussed their participation in the Future Ready Schools Digital Equity Program and their efforts to use technology to address inequities among their district’s underperforming students.

In this webinar, the panelists explained how the curriculum landscape has dramatically changed in recent years, and the important implications for school and district leaders.

In this webinar, Dr. Randall Sampson shared how his innovative personalized professional learning opportunities support teachers in promoting equity and access for all students. Dr. Sampson’s wealth of experience comes from years of working as a secondary level administrator, teacher, and a national transformation specialist.

In this webinar, panelists discussed how we, as Future Ready Librarians, should leverage an understanding of school and community needs to identify and invest strategically in digital resources such as eBooks, eResources, digital tools and apps, and other digital tools for our libraries and Makerspaces.

In this webinar, panelists discussed how school library programs help ensure that students have equitable digital access. School librarians are supporters and advocates for equitable access to collections tools using digital resources, programming, and services that support the school district’s strategic vision.

In this webinar, Pam Moran and Ira Socol, two authors of Timeless Learning: How Imagination, Observation, and Zero-based Thinking Change Schools, discussed how developing a culture of invention and innovation creates new pathways to activate creativity, voice, agency, and influence in all young people. Through making, engineering, creating, designing, and producing projects and products that enrich learning experiences, students can impact their classrooms, schools, communities, states, and even the world.

In this webinar, representatives from Meriden School District will share how they are using the initiative to support personalized professional learning for teachers while also leading a digital transition to meaningfully integrate technology into the classroom.

This webinar will provide an overview of what’s in the new law, which will go into effect on July 1, 2019, plus how the new law can specifically support the implementation of high-quality Linked Learning in California. The webinar will also highlight specific strategies that educators and community members can use to inform the development of the state plans required under the new law. Similar to the state plans required under the Every Student Succeeds Act, states must develop plans describing how they plan to implement the Perkins law to ensure that all students are truly college and career ready upon graduating from high school.

In this webinar conversation with Alliance for Excellent Education President Bob Wise, Raymond, now president of the Stuart Foundation will offer advice and share lessons learned. He will also discuss his new book, Wildflowers: A School Superintendent’s Challenge to America. Part memoir, part manifesto, Raymond’s book journeys into the Sacramento school system to bring readers into the heart of the nation’s education crisis. A book about public education that is written for the public, Wildflowers offers an accessible road-map for transforming public schools into thriving centers of excellence.

In this webinar, the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) welcomes Dr. Jesse Washington, III, a practitioner, and Dr. Richard Clark, a researcher, to examine biological changes that occur during adolescence, both in the body and the brain, and to discuss how to ensure that learning opportunities support adolescents’ development during this critical time.

Join the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) for a webinar and book talk, during which All4Ed President Bob Wise will interview Sarah-Jayne Blakemore, PhD, professor of cognitive neuroscience at University College London, about her new book, Inventing Ourselves: The Secret Life of the Teenage Brain. Dr. Blakemore, one of the world’s leading researchers on adolescent neurology, has published more than 120 papers in scientific journals and won multiple major awards for her research. She was named in The Times’s Young Female Power List 2014 and was one of only four scientists on the Sunday Times 100 Makers of the 21st Century 2014.

In this webinar panelists will discus the key question behind Andreas Schleicher’s new book, World Class: How to Build a 21st-Century School System. He writes, “Every economic age has its core asset. In the agricultural age that asset was land; in the industrial age it was capital; and in our times, it is the knowledge, skills and character qualities of people. This core asset remains largely untapped and undervalued. It’s time for us to change that.” Schleicher examines the many successes from which to learn, looking seriously and dispassionately at good practice in countries around the world, all to understand what works in which contexts. Join the Alliance for Excellent Education (All4Ed) for a spirited and thoughtful conversation between Schleicher and All4Ed’s president Bob Wise.