Thought Leaders
Monday, January 29 | 10:45 – 11:45 a.m.
Ballroom F
Olajide Williams, M.D.
Founder, Hip Hop Public Health
Doug E. Fresh
Founding Artist & Honorary Board Member, Hip Hop Public Health
Lori Rose Benson
CEO, Hip Hop Public Health
Moving the Needle: One Conversation at a Time
Lingering stigma, especially in under-represented communities, keeps many people from seeking the help that they need. While public awareness of the risks around unchecked or ignored health issues — especially mental health — is at a global high, we’re also faced with significant inequities when it comes to accessible and culturally competent care. These barriers that prevent individuals from seeking treatment can isolate them even more —worsening their condition and even becoming life-threatening.
Session Sponsor
Monday, January 29 | 1 – 2 p.m.
Ballroom F
Donalyn Miller
Best-selling Author
Angela Dominguez
Superintendent, Donna ISD
Developing Ferocious Readers: Leveraging Classroom Libraries for Student Success
Students’ literacy development benefits from high-quality instruction paired with abundant print access. Unfortunately, too many students lack consistent access to engaging reading material. In this interactive session, explore district and campus-wide initiatives that engage students with reading and measurably increase their background knowledge, vocabulary, and fluency. Learn practical strategies, explore resources, and gain inspiration for your own literacy goals.
Session Sponsor
Tuesday, January 30
9 – 10 a.m.
Ballroom F
Brenda Richmond
Senior Adviser, Frontline Education
Enhancing School Safety: Geo-visualizing Student/Staff Data
Student success is deeply intertwined with their sense of safety and security. When students feel safe in their learning environment, several positive outcomes tend to emerge such as better academic performance, emotional well-being, improved attendance, and positive behavior. Discover the critical importance of knowing the exact locations of your students and staff in this informative session focused on enhancing safety and security within Texas public schools by leveraging geovisualization techniques.
Session Sponsor
Tuesday, January 30
10:15 – 11:15 a.m.
Ballroom F
Shannon Buerk
Chief Executive Officer, engage2learn
The Right Systems Are in Place, But Are They Effective?
Many times, districts have all of the right systems in place but are still not able to get the results they desire. This session will cover how to effectively implement talent development systems aligned to research on the science of coaching to create a high-performance culture of growth and learning for all roles in the organization and reach the desired outcomes for both students and educators.
Session Sponsor
Tuesday, January 30
1 – 2 p.m.
Ballroom F
David Vroonland
Education Strategist, SoftChoice
Future is Now: Standardization is Past, Tailored Learning is Forward!
You have heard we must prepare our students for the future your whole career. This new reality reveals a need for a new education model. To prepare our children to navigate this current economy, as well as a future economy, the education landscape has to evolve from a standardized system to one that creates owners who can operate in dynamic, evolving systems.