Building School Around Students: 4 Districts Reimagine School During the Pandemic

Terrie McNabb, Deputy Superintendent, Aubrey ISD
Jami Ivey, Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction & Accountability, Athens ISD
Tiffany Whitsel, Executive Director, Secondary Education, Waco ISD
Sarah Goolsby, Executive Director of Secondary Education, Willis ISD

Beck Simon-Burton, Regional Vice President, Edmentum

Join Athens, Aubrey, Waco, and Willis ISDs as they discuss their innovative approaches to education during the pandemic. What lessons did they learn? What adjustments did they make? How are they preparing for the lasting impacts that COVID-19 will have on K-12 public education? Learn about innovations they are considering for after the pandemic.

School Finance Prospects in the 87th Legislative Session

Amanda Brownson, Associate Executive Director, TASBO
Janet Spurgin, Research & Policy Associate, TASBO
Karen Wilson, Policy & Research Associate, TASBO
This will be a presentation in which participants will hear detailed presentation of the latest state budget projections and understand its relation to the state funding system and possible impacts of the projected deficit.

How Round Rock ISD Redefined School Policing with a Focus on Equity and Behavioral Health

Amy Grosso, Director of Behavioral Health Services, Round Rock ISD
DeWayne Street, Chief Equity Officer, Round Rock ISD
Jeffrey Yarbrough, Director of Safety & Security, Round Rock ISD

It is only through Round Rock ISD approaching the new police department through a focus on equity and behavioral health that the district can ensure school policing will be transformed to a place of safety and security for all students, staff, families, and community members.

Adapting to a Frequently Changing Environment is Key to a Successful Bond Election

Tim McClure, Assistant Superintendent for Facilities, Northwest ISD
Greg Bonewald, Deputy Superintendent of Operations, Victoria ISD
Michael Kuhrt, Superintendent, Wichita Falls ISD

Join this panel of school leaders to learn how they’re successfully managing bond programs and legislative changes while adapting to a pandemic. Hear from those who have passed a bond election in November and some who are going through the planning process now. Either way, a wealth of information will be shared!

Pivot, Swerve, Focus – Three Words to Guide Communications During and Beyond a Crisis

Brad Hunt, Superintendent, Coppell ISD
Angela Brown, Executive Director of Communications and Community Engagement, Coppell ISD
Amanda Simpson, Director of Communications, Coppell ISD

Explore strategies and examples for pivoting (being appropriately reactive), swerving (proactively adjusting), and focusing on core values as a filter for communications and engagement. Through the lens of lessons learned from COVID-19, attendees will examine strategies for strategic planning, tools to foster communication and engagement, viewing data to proactively guide communications, and reaching varied audiences.