Dr. Mary C. Murphy – Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences at Indiana University

Classrooms of Growth: Growth Mindset Cultures that Spur Student Success

Mindset isn’t just in your mind, says Dr. Mary C. Murphy. If we believe that a fixed or growth mindset lives only in a student’s head, we miss opportunities to support and shape their learning environments to help them move from the unhelpful fixed mindset to the motivation-boosting growth mindset. And when we recognize our ability to foster Growth Mindset Cultures across our schools and organizations, we can increase belonging, motivation, persistence, and performance for all students.

Drawing on her decades of groundbreaking research, Mary helps audiences identify and improve the role of academic leaders, faculty, advisors, and staff in shaping the learning environment. She demonstrates how you can use these strategies to not only enhance learning, but also foster belonging and inclusion, and create lasting change across your whole organization. She offers simple and concrete practices to help you create Cultures of Growth that shift students toward their growth mindset more of the time to foster student success.

Dr. Decoteau Irby – Associate Professor of Educational Policy Studies, University of Chicago

Centering Dignity in Education: What it is and why it matters

Dr. Irby’s “Centering Dignity in Education” keynote weaves together stories of his South Carolina childhood and up-to-date educational research to explore what’s really at the heat of improving students’ school experiences and outcomes – treating them with dignity. Using what he refers to as loving critique, he challenges educators to reflect on if they are indeed committed to the self-work required to ensure that “other” people’s children have a fair chance at being successful in school and life. After hearing his keynote, educators and adults from all walks of life will be more conscious about what they believe about, say to, and act toward the children and youth in their lives. Certainly, they will leave reminded that educators’ words and actions profoundly shape children’s social, emotional, and academic well-being throughout their school years and far beyond.

Dr. Tyrone Howard – Pritzker Family Endowed Chair in Education to Strengthen Children & Families, UCLA

Creating Schools Where All Students Thrive

In this keynote address, Tyrone Howard will discuss strategies, approaches, and curricular interventions that are evidenced based on helping to create schools where all students can succeed. Building on the work that Dr. Howard has done with schools over the past decade, his address will offer solutions for school leaders, practitioners, and education advocates to maximize learning for all students.