Sessions: Friday Morning

8:30 a.m. – 10 a.m.

Beyond Bias and Backlash: Elevating Girls of Color in Addressing the #MeToo Movement and the School-to-Prison Pipeline
In some states, policymakers have answered the call for greater school safety with proposals that make schools look more like prisons than places for learning; students who face race and sex discrimination are doubly impacted by such policy and program changes. Too often, the voices and needs of girls of color are absent from the conversation. In this workshop, you will learn how you can promote a safe, healthy and inclusive school for all students by centering on the needs of girls of color—from small decisions like how to enforce dress codes in their classrooms to bigger actions like civic engagement on harassment and discipline policies.
Presenters: Nia Evans, manager of campaigns and digital strategies for education, National Women’s Law Center; Adaku Onyeka-Crawford, senior counsel for education, National Women’s Law Center

Developing High-Impact STEM Programs
Are you looking to start a STEM program in your classroom or school? Learn about developing a high-impact STEM program from a local-based STEM coordinator and get examples that will help you develop your own science, technology, engineering and math programs. You will hear about different processes, from concept to creation, as well as gain resources that will support program development in each area.
Presenter: Harry Preston, teacher and program director for grades 7-8 STEM, Baltimore City Public Schools

Engaging Students Through Career Education and Apprenticeship Opportunities
You will learn about the changes in career and technical education programs that provide students with 21st-century skills along with technical skills and academics. Today’s CTE programming is a successful approach to getting students to graduate with the skills needed for college and career. Both CTE and apprenticeships offer alternate pathways to prepare students for well-paying, high-demand jobs. The AFT has partnered with North America's Building Trades to connect our teachers and students to apprenticeship opportunities as well as an award-winning pre-apprenticeship curriculum that is available for free to public schools.
Presenters: Mal Caravatti, associate director, American Federation of Teachers; Thomas J. Kriger, director of research, North America’s Building Trades Unions; Art Lujan, special assistant to the president, North America’s Building Trades Unions

Implementing Alternatives to School Discipline: Restorative Practices and Inclusion—Part 1
Learn strategies to make inclusion and equality a reality in your school. Restorative practices represent alternative school discipline designed to lead schools and their communities away from harsh, counterproductive, zero tolerance environments. With historical roots in practices found worldwide, restorative practices have been an innovative addition to public schools, and have found their way into teachers union contracts. This session will help you build a positive learning environment by developing healthy and holistic relationships with students and, as a result, lessen the amount of detentions, suspensions, expulsions and arrests. Part 2 will be held at 1:15 p.m. today. Participants must attend both sessions to qualify for a certificate.
Presenter: Walter Taylor, director of professional development, Chicago Teachers Union Foundation Quest Center

Mentoring Student Activism Through Authentic Learning Experiences
What role can a teacher play in mentoring students to become activists on issues that matter the most to them? When students are passionate about an issue, how do we empower and enable them to take charge and go out and make a difference? You will walk through the steps of tapping into students’ concerns, creating an organized structure and getting to work on student-centered activism. This session has a particular focus on the movement surrounding gun safety both at the school level and within the community, but the topics are endless as they relate to what your kids care about and what your community needs.
Presenter: Emily Muellenberg, social studies teacher, Highlands Ranch (Colo.) High School, TeamENOUGH

Powerful Words: Using Children’s and Young Adult Literature to Teach Tough Topics
Books have the potential to create lasting impressions. When books contain experiences and characters to which children can relate, they foster children’s positive self-concept and respect for diversity. Attend this session to see how a variety of excellent children’s literature can help teachers explore the concepts of bias, diversity and social justice in their own classrooms. Participants will learn about central anti-bias education mastery skills such as developing vocabulary on basic terms and concepts relating to bias and discrimination, appreciating identity and culture, and recognizing and challenging bias and bullying.
Presenter: Michelle Magner, assistant education director, Anti-Defamation League (ADL)

Re-Imagining Migration: Connecting Immigrants of the Past, Present and Future—Part 1
We live in an era of mass migration. In the U.S., 26 percent of school-age students are either immigrants or the children of immigrants, and they are part of the 1 billion people on the move around the world. Thus, young people must understand migration as a shared condition of our past, present and future if they are to develop the knowledge, empathy, and mindsets that sustain inclusive and welcoming communities. We will explore a framework for teaching about migration to promote social, emotional, academic and civic growth. Part 2 will be held at 1:15 p.m. today. Participants must attend both sessions to qualify for a certificate.
Presenter: Adam Strom, director, Re-Imagining Migration

Teaching Strategies for Maximizing Student Engagement—Part 1
Student engagement can be used to foster a positive learning environment, meet students' preferred learning styles, incorporate technology, encourage collaboration/teamwork among students and maximize academic learning. In this session, you will experience a wide variety of research-based, engaging, student-led learning strategies that can be immediately implemented in the classroom. In addition to having fun, participants will leave this session with a detailed list of proven teaching strategies that they can use when planning lessons to maximize student engagement. Part 2 will be held at 1:15 p.m. today. Participants must attend both sessions to qualify for a certificate.
Presenters: Janet Bird, elementary teacher mentor, Toledo (Ohio) Federation of Teachers; Jahnine Blosser, science teacher, Toledo Public Schools

Using Primary Sources to Build Skills in Language Arts and Social Studies
Are you looking for a hands-on way to build skills in language arts and social studies? Join the Library of Congress as it presents instructional strategies to promote student engagement and critical thinking through hands-on experience analyzing primary sources, including reading complex informational text and making connections to literary texts. Learn how to access free teaching tools and primary sources from the Library of Congress to develop skills and meet interdisciplinary content standards.
Presenters: Kathleen McGuigan, education specialist, Library of Congress; Lee Ann Potter, director of learning and innovation, Library of Congress

Visual Literacy: Arts-Based Reading and Writing Strategies—Part 1
Are you interested in learning how visual art can be incorporated into all content areas as a support for Common Core standards? This session will highlight strategies that support reading and writing skills, including analyzing text, vocabulary acquisition, increasing background knowledge, creative writing, communications skills, and more through activity. You will be led through two activities that can be used in your classroom. Part 2 will be held at 1:15 p.m. today. Participants must attend both sessions to qualify for a certificate.
Presenter: Stacy Vocasek, high school English and creative writing teacher and instructional coach, Arts at the Capitol Theater Performing Arts Magnet High School, Willimantic, Conn.