Eyes on Equity: How the Pandemic Has Created Glaring Inequality and Historic Opportunities
Inequity in American schools has never been more glaring. Distance learning and the COVID-19 pandemic are challenging old definitions of student readiness.
Inequity in American schools has never been more glaring. Distance learning and the COVID-19 pandemic are challenging old definitions of student readiness.
Carlos Hernandez (Director, Curriculum and Instruction / Instructional Support Services) and Manuel Colon (Chief Academic Officer, Educational Services) from Anaheim Union High School District shared how Savanna High School tackled these challenges using the 5Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Creativity, Critical Thinking, and Character) and student reflection to transform the student experience at the school.
Mandy Ballenger, Director of Human Resources in Merced Union High School District, shares how she used the routine of classroom observations when she was principal at Livingston High School to reinforce the 4C’s (Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication) for teachers in all classrooms.
Dr. Ross Anderson, Principal Researcher with Inflexion, will share three aspects of the student learning experience that when applied, allow student to develop a sense of autonomy and ownership.
Antonio shared how he used Abraham Lincoln High School’s (ALHS) shared identity and vision for readiness to create an innovation plan for a College and Career Academy within the school that blends the high school experience with a college-going and career exploration culture.
This workshop will center on creating brave spaces with staff and students, in order to build a culture of transparency and trust.
Todd Miller, Superintendent of Santiam Canyon School District, will explore the central role of shared identity in connecting schools to each other and to the larger community, especially in rural areas.
In this Crowdsource Coffee, we will examine the fears that exist in our schools–fears of failure, chaos, disagreement, and others–and how they get in the way of a positive school climate. We will brainstorm strategies to get at the root of these fears and how to address them with affirming, brave practices.
The beginning of the school year is an exciting time, but many educators are returning to their buildings already exhausted. A shared school identity–agreement on what a school stands for–is one tool for building a strong community, combating fatigue, and creating space for meaningful school change. This Crowdsource Coffee will feature discussion about how identity can be leveraged at this time in the school year, especially in the midst of staff shortages and low morale.
This hour-long webinar will feature Angela Stevens-Stevenson, former principal at Martin Luther King, Jr. Junior High School in Pittsburg, CA. Topics of conversation will include embedding school identity in instruction, setting positive expectations, and embracing meaningful change.
Every member of a community, from students to teachers to staff, brings their unique experience and background to school each day. This Crowdsource Coffee will center discussion around how we acknowledge and elevate a diversity of voices.
This hour-long webinar covers the importance of student voice and how to create equitable structures to maximize its use in decision making.
Explore how we can identify students who may feel unseen, disconnected, or left out of their school community. Through collaborative discussion and idea-sharing, we’ll crowdsource strategies that foster authentic connection and belonging—ensuring that every student is known by name, face, and story.
Together, we’ll reflect on how to build inclusive systems of support—especially in larger school settings—so that no student falls through the cracks. This conversation will center equity and representation, with a focus on designing school experiences that resonate with all students, not just a few.
Courtney Spelber, Former Principal at Ocean View High School in Huntington Beach Union High School District, discusses ways to use your second term to get started the right way by reinforcing your identity with your students and staff.
She shares how she uses school-wide activities connected to Ocean View’s values to remind everyone in their community about their shared identity, while at the same time creating opportunities for students to build better relationships with other students and staff.
The academic and behavioral needs of most students are met through a continuum of support within a school. Some students, however, require out-of-system support due to extreme or intensive circumstances, such as long-term hospitalization. This Crowdsource Coffee will focus on the proactive building of relationships between schools, districts, and other organizations to provide the structural support necessary for students and families to succeed in exceptional situations.
A 2019 study on workplace readiness, surveying over 3,000 members of Generation Z (those born after 1995), revealed that while students feel confident in their ability to collaborate and take on new challenges, many report feeling unprepared for key communication demands in the workplace—such as networking, negotiating, and resolving conflict. In this session school leaders will engage in a discussion about how education systems can more intentionally foster 21st-century skills. The conversation will highlight how a strengths-based approach can amplify the competencies students already possess and support their transition into a complex, ever-evolving workforce.
Many school leaders move into district-level administration for the same reasons they got into education: to have a positive impact on students and on public education and to use their leadership skills. This Crowdsource Coffee will provide space for current and aspiring superintendents to discuss the rewards and challenges of a central office position. Topics will include the process of moving into a district office, superintendent roles and responsibilities, and cultivating a beneficial relationship between your district and your school site.
Many schools and districts are struggling to hire and retain talented teachers, with small candidate pools and other constraints. In this Crowdsource Coffee, school leaders will share concerns and best practices for the upcoming hiring cycle.
Educators and administrators are evaluated at many levels, from community surveys to nationwide testing. Data collection is a powerful tool: it influences the allocation of resources at the state and national levels, informs decision making around instructional practices at the school level, and may even factor into where families choose to send their children to school. But the power of data lies in its analysis and the conclusions we draw. In this Crowdsource Coffee, leaders will discuss the value and purpose of data collection, reconciling differences in how numbers can be interpreted, and how to leverage data to drive positive school change.
Join us for this Crowdsource Webinar, which will feature Carlos Hernandez (Director of Community Schools, Family and Community Engagement at Anaheim Union School District) and Araceli Huerta (Community School Coordinator at Sycamore Junior High School) as they share strategies for effectively engaging parents and family members. Topics of discussion will include both site-level strategies to include families in your school community, and district-level approaches to building systems that center family perspectives in decision-making.
Our March 16 Crowdsource Webinar featured Carlos Hernandez and Araceli Huerta from Anaheim Union High School District, where their prioritization of engaging families has resulted in success for students and families alike. In this Crowdsource Coffee, we will draw from the themes and ideas that arise during the webinar and discuss how they can be employed in other contexts. We will examine different circumstances and challenges to family and community engagement, and brainstorm ways to overcome these obstacles.
The Inflexion Approach incorporates core elements of a multi-tiered support approach to ensure each and every student gets what they need to be ready to thrive in the 21st century. In this webinar, Inflexion CEO Matt Coleman will share how the framework of the Inflexion Approach helps implement MTSS with aligned instructional supports across the school for every student, every period, every day.
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