Leadership for Equity Institute

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Leadership for Equity Institute

June 13-14, 2024

Speakers

Speakers | Panelists | Columbus City School Breakouts

Paul Gorski headshot

Dr. Paul Gorski

Founder, Lead Equity Specialist, & Research Director of the Equity Literacy Institute and EdChange

Keynote information

Fix Injustice, Not Kids” and Other Principles for Transformative Equity Leadership

Our tendency in education is to be driven by whatever happen to be the shiny new strategies or practices of the moment. Remember when “learning styles” was all the diversity and inclusion rage? We go through cycles of ineffective “equity” approaches that never quite get around to addressing the root causes of inequities and disparities. What if we started, instead, with a set of transformative guiding principles based on evidence for what, exactly, cultivates and sustains equity in schools? In this keynote I will share six such principles and discuss practical ways they can help us reimagine our equity efforts.

Workshop information

Institutionalizing Antiracism: A High-Impact Approach to Racial Equity

In most schools, the primary equity challenge is not a scarcity of neat-sounding diversity-related programs and initiatives. The biggest barrier to racial equity progress tends to be schools’ habit of adopting racial equity programs and strategies that pose no real threat to racial inequity. The result is that most racial equity efforts are high on optics and low on impact. In this session we will discuss how to avoid these “racial equity detours” and instead embrace an approach to racial equity that is high impact. We also will explore how to understand and respond to the blowback that often results from deep and authentic racial equity efforts.

Rich Milner headshot

Dr. Rich Milner

Cornelius Vanderbilt Chair of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Vanderbilt Peabody College of Education and Human Development

Workshop information

Leadership with Young People: Learning across Difference inside and outside of Classroom Space

During increasingly polarizing times, young people need to be equipped to work with, talk to, and understand people different from them. Young people should not be expected to think, believe, or feel the exact same on and across issues. However, they do need to learn how to engage with each other in civil and respectful ways as adults in society struggle to do so. Schools should not be places where they tell students what to think, believe, or how to feel. Rather, schools should be places that cultivate environments where young people build critical and analytical thinking skills on issues, read and learn from facts and data, and engage with others in civil ways even as they disagree. This session focuses on how leaders can co-develop and co-cultivate whole school initiatives to help students build knowledge and skills in and across four interrelated areas. School leaders will learn how to help young people (1) build capacity and desire to organically dialogue across racial and cultural groups, communities, and differences; (2) develop and sharpen leadership skills to make socially just decisions; (3) develop individual and collective proposals for social change and action; and (4) develop friendships and partnership across difference. Drawing from years of research working with middle and high school students, Milner shares lessons from two projects: Project TALK (Thinking, Acting, Learning about Kindness) and Cross Community Dialogue Series to help leaders build their own projects in schools and districts.

Headshots for Monica and Marla Marsh

Monica and Marla Marsh

Consultants for Did You Know Publishing and Retired School Administrators

Workshop information

Inclusive, Sensitive & Culturally Responsive Leadership

Have you ever wondered why some leaders seem to have a natural following without much effort on their part and others are always exercising their position of authority just to maintain their leadership? Why is this? To answer this question, we first need to look at a key quality found in culturally competent leaders; being sensitive. No matter what your goals are, communicating with others in a meaningful way can help you. On the other hand, if you can’t communicate it will cost you. For the person who aims to make a difference by partnering with others…communication is paramount. Communication is all about connecting. If you can connect with others at every level – one-on-one, in groups, and with an audience – your relationships are stronger, your sense of community improves, and your ability to create teamwork increases. In addition, your influence grows, and your productivity skyrockets.

Muhammad Khalifa headshot

Dr. Muhammad Khalifa

Professor of Educational Administration and Executive Director of Urban and Rural Initiatives at The Ohio State University

Workshop information

Culturally Responsive School Leadership

This presentation focuses on how school leaders can effectively serve minoritized students – those who have been historically marginalized in school and society. The lecture suggests that leaders must be central to culturally responsive school reforms, and demonstrates how leaders can engage students, parents, teachers, and communities in ways that positively impact learning by honoring indigenous heritages and local cultural practices. In this lecture, we look at a much deeper look at the portion of the book that focuses on Critical Self-Reflection.

headshot of Dr. Sharon Ravitch

Dr. Sharon Ravitch

Professor of Practice, Graduate School of Education, University of Pennsylvania

Workshop information

Mindsets, Emotional Labor, and Workforce Culture

This leader learning session focuses on leadership mindsets for cultural and Inclusive excellence and adaptive change in organizations. Mindsets in focus include growth mindset, equity mindset, and humanizing mindset. Central concepts are emotional labor, institutional holding, healing-centered organizations, and how to navigate identity-based stress and cultivate fruitful and sustainable identity and equity work. Participants will engage in experiential learning through flash self-assessments and dialogic engagement in relation to central session goals and topics.

Dr. Tyrone Howard

Pritzker Family Endowed Chair in Education to Strengthen Children & Families, UCLA

Keynote day two information

Leadership for Equity Now: Developing Leaders for Today’s Schools

In this address, Dr. Tyrone Howard will discuss principles, practices, and strategies that are essential for creating equitable schools where all students can thrive. Building off evidence-based practices, and pillars around justice, harm, and belonging, the presentation will offer recommendations for today’s school leaders that are vital for leading, teaching and learning in today’s schools.

Dr. Melissa Crum

Equity Practitioner and Inclusion Coach at Mosaic Education Network

Closing Keynote Information

Sustaining Joy in Equity-Centered Leadership

Learn how aligning values, giving and receiving feedback, engaging in brave communication, strengthening your emotional intelligence, and practicing vulnerability can create a lasting state of contentment, satisfaction, and enthusiasm while navigating the complexities of equity work.

Panelists

Cherie Caldwell

CEO, The Cherie Caldwell Company

Jason Kenkins speaker headshot

Jason Jenkins

Chief Diversity Officer and Executive Director of the Office of Diversity & Inclusion for Mayor Andrew J. Ginther

Shawn Holt

National Youth Advocate Program Vice President

Julie Savaria

Founder, Masla Empathy Lab

Columbus City Schools – Breakout Sessions

Dr. Kenyona Walker and Kristen Kettlehake

Authentic and Affirming Leadership: Moving Beyond Deficits

Join the office of Equity to explore elements of strength-based leadership.  Participants will have an opportunity to identify ways to strengthen their practice and to create a space where authentic voice can be leveraged for the full school community.  

Dr. Sandy Womack, Jr

The Change Starts With Me

This workshop was designed to gain a deep understanding of individuals self-identity and the impact it has on our thinking, as well as designed to be the catalyst for changing student outcomes for our most marginalized students.  Interactive presentation designed specifically to engage the audience as active participants. 

LeTrece Griffin

Communication is Key: Leading in the Age of Social Media

Communication can be tricky in the modern age of digital and social media, but it doesn’t have to be!  In this breakout session, learn how to effectively communicate as a leader while tackling the monster of social media influences.  This session will equip attendees with the tools needed to be adaptable, effective, and skilled communicators (regardless of the situation you find yourself in).

Juanda Ferris

Inclusionary Practices for Culturally Responsive Leaders

This interactive session is geared towards leaders who are interested in thinking outside the box to improve their school climate. Participants will be asked to self-reflect on current practices that may be exclusionary and practice community building activities that will increase a sense of belonging among staff and students. 

Dr. Mickie Sebenoler

Now You Want me To Rethink? Designing Effective and Equitable Professional Learning in Every School

Designing equity-focused professional development for educators requires careful planning and consideration of the unique needs and experiences of all staff members.  This interactive session will share resources and tools, as well as provide time for reflection as we gather our ideas for effectively leading next year’s professional development work. 

Aundray Brooks, Andre Jones, Teri Coward-Burns, Dr. Sam Johnson, Austin Taylor

From the Lens of a Building Administrator: Growth Mindset to Equity Mindset and Thinking about the Futures.

This interactive session will share insights and replicable activities learned as presenters who attended the 2023-2024 Wallace Foundation ECPI Principal PLC cohort. Operating through the lens of equity, we can learn more about ourselves, our staff, and become more intentional in our practice to the benefit of our students.

Equitable Outcomes – Johnson Park Middle School, Buckeye Middle School & South 7-12

In this session, we will be providing a framework for teachers to disaggregate data and respond through intentional planning and interventions for the PDSA cycle. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in this process hands on and leave ready to lead with equitable outcomes.

Nursing and Enhancing our Outliers – Arts Impact Middle School, Champion Middle School, Hilltonia Middle School

This session will review information of various student subgroups, as well as provide strategies to increase achievement – math intervention and needs, Special Education & matriculation and military students and their families.

THE MOVEMENT – Leading with Equity to Improve Climate & Culture and Instructional Practices – Mifflin Middle School, Yorktown Middle School, World Language Middle School, Westmoor Middle School

This presentation shares a middle school model, designed intentionally for development aligned to increased academic student overall achievement. This transformational middle school model has been created to establish a safe, inclusive, equitable and fair multilingual environment while honoring all students. Through the creation of opportunities to learn in an academically rigorous environment where culture and climate are at the forefront of pedagogical approaches, and reimagining learning while preparing students for global citizenship. This middle school model has led to increased academic achievement, higher attendance rates, and the narrowing of achievement gaps in the course of only one year. This presentation will discuss academic Tier 1, Tier 2 strategies, Culture and Climate strategies but also considerations when setting up systems/procedures for supporting the equity-centered strategies. This session will allow you to create this inclusive, diverse, and equitable learning environment in your own building.

Leading with an Equity Mindset – Woodward Park Middle School, Ridgeview Middle School, Dominion Middle School

Equity, Rigor and Support – It’s all aligned.

Exploring Equity Aligned Beliefs, Practices and Impact in Middle School – Sherwood Middle School, Medina Middle School, Linden-McKinley 7-12, Columbus Preparatory School for Girls

The teams at Linden McKinley, Medina, and Sherwood Middle Schools will take you on a journey to continuous improvement as we explore equity aligned beliefs, practices and impact on the school community.

Equity Chat and Chew – Africentric K-12, Wedgewood Middle School, Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys

Three, twenty-minute equity topic discussions (i.e. Equitable Scheduling to Account for Tier 1 instruction and Tier 2 Supports); three guided questions per each topic; and a 15 minute open dialogue opportunity at the end.