Giving students an equal chance to succeed in their careers and lives is at the heart of CCSA's mission. For that reason, education equity is top of mind throughout this year's programing for the upcoming California Charter Schools Conference happening on March, 15-19.
Here is a list of workshops that focus on strategies to improve conditions and close the achievement gap for students from historically underserved groups.
Day 1
Monday, March 15
10:00 AM
Beyond Compliance: An analysis of Promising Practices in Special Education
This workshop offers an overview of promising practices and resources that educators of students with disabilities have identified in the California Department of Educations (CDE) Special Education Monitoring Plans. Participants leave with greater awareness of equitably-designed Special Education Programs that shift the focus beyond compliance towards developing systems that improve student outcomes.
Presented by Moises Buhain and Marissa Thompson from El Dorado Charter SELPA.
Serving the Most Vulnerable: Supporting Homeless and Foster Youth
This session offered by administrators of charter public schools is dedicated to serving homeless and foster youth who have developed effective procedures, protocols, and partnerships that equitably support these populations. In addition to exploring balancing academic excellence with providing wraparound services to our most vulnerable students, attendees will learn how to attract, identify, and retain homeless and foster youth and the staff who support them.
Presented by Dennise Allotey and Andrew Crowe from Scholarship Prep Public Schools.
Teaching for Equity with Metacognitive Skills: Classroom Strategies
Research shows that the teaching of metacognitive and growth mindset skills can close the achievement gap. But how is this practically done in a virtual classroom? And how can administrators support that work in academically, socio-economically & culturally diverse settings? In this workshop, teachers will take away concrete strategies and tools to integrate into daily lessons aimed for the middle school classroom, while teacher leaders will gain both a professional development framework and strategies for prioritizing this work with faculty.
Presented by Suzanne Herko and Sharon Olken from Gateway Public Schools.
11:00 AM
Charting the Course to Equity: K-12 Leaders of Color and Student Success
60% of California public school students are of color, while only 20% of schools have a leader of color. Racial/ethnic diversity exposes children to what is possible, and research highlights the positive impact that educators of color have on student outcomes. Participants of this workshop will learn about research on leaders of color, hear from school leaders about how they have worked to improve diversity, equity, and inclusion, and brainstorm ways to implement these lessons in their schools.
Presented by CCSA's Jennifer Kress and Laura McGowan-Robinson from the Diversity In Leadership Institute.
Day 2
Tuesday, March 16
10:00 AM
Can We Talk Race? Race, Equity and Power on Charter School Boards
Diversity, equity and inclusion are critical for governing boards to understand and operationalize within their work as board members. This session will cover practical ways to intentionally foster a diverse and inclusive governance model in everything from student outcomes, enrollment, succession planning and procurement.
Presented by Lucy Castillo, Anita Landecker and Laura McGowan-Robinson from multiple organizations.
Success in Deprived Communities – A Mental Health/Trauma Informed Approach
Learn how to achieve success with students dealing with trauma and/or mental health issues. Discover long-term interventions that are used to keep the student and teacher engaged in the process of supporting academic and social/emotional growth, while dealing with trauma/mental health issues. This workshop will unpack how a school-wide approach, the Collective Care Continuum (C3), which supports staff, families, and students in dealing with the effects of untreated mental health/trauma on adolescent brain development.
Presented by Veronica Hernandez, Cesar Lopez, Alfonso Paz, and Jarrod Williams from PazLo Education Foundation.
Teaching with Heart: Trauma-Informed Interventions in Virtual Learning
In this workshop participants will learn how trauma can impact learning and behavior and the impacts of COVID-19 and racial injustice on student and family stress. Participants will take away trauma-informed strategies focused in resilience-building for tiered interventions that can be adapted to virtual learning environments, creating emotional safety in their digital classrooms, and preparing for the return to school.
Presented by Jasmine Lamitte from KIPP SoCal Public Schools
Day 3
Wednesday, March 17
9:00 AM
Evolving Legal Practices to Reflect an Anti-Racism Lens
While the legal profession remains predominantly white, charter schools are educating and employing a multi-racial, multi-ethnic population. Balancing statutory requirements, attorneys must work in partnership with school leaders to ensure that actionable advice considers the totality of the circumstances, especially when law enforcement and African-American and Black stakeholders are involved. In this session presenters will walk through case studies that show pathways for mutual evolution addressing historical and systemic trends that have impacted these stakeholders.
Presented by Attorney Janelle Ruley (YM&C) and Alison Suffet Diaz from Environmental Charter Schools.
11:00AM
Empowering Hearts, Expanding Minds: Strategies to Bridge Achievement Gap
For many students, living in adverse conditions creates toxic stress that is a major barrier to learning. To bridge the achievement gap, we must consider the whole child and build emotional capacity to support learning at their fullest potential. Discover how social-emotional strategies taking just minutes can make the most of instructional time, and add to its effectiveness. Participants will leave with techniques they can use immediately, to create an environment that supports struggling students.
Presented by Sima Aleahmad from Watts Learning Center.
Filling the Well: Investing in Teachers’ Wellbeing to Promote Equity
Our education system constantly requires educators to choose between their own wellbeing and serving their communities ––this false choice rapidly leads to chronic stress, burnout, and turnover. The Teaching Well shifts this paradigm by helping educators see that resourcing themselves actually gives much more capacity to serve our communities and sustain themselves in the work long-term. Participants will learn about the biology of stress and trauma through the lens of the education system.
Presented by Chanee Hawkins Ash and Sonya Mehta from The Teaching Well.
Day 4
Thursday, March 18
11:00 AM
Supporting Equitable Mathematics Instruction with Social-Emotional Learning
To meet Common Core math standards equitably and effectively, teachers must create learning environments that feel safe, foster collaboration, and encourage discourse. In this workshop, participants will explore a math tasks where SEL skills are explicitly taught and supported for problem-solving. Time will be provided to explore a common problem of practice. Throughout, the presenters will model strategies that support SEL skill development.
Presented by Therese Arsenault and Sarah Nielsen from multiple organizations.
Day 5
Friday, March 19
10:00 AM
Leading Schools for Racial and Social Justice #4Real
This workshop will equip educators with the #4REAL approach to achieving a racial and social justice lens when leading your school or agency. the presenters will address the root causes of student inequities and social injustice so that participants create the foundation of an action plan on how to recognize and dismantle systemic racism, increase student outcomes and rebuild the charter education system #4Real.
Presented by Leena Bakshi from STEM4Real.
Equity Driven Distance and Hybrid Learning
Distance learning and hybrid learning during a pandemic has not been an easy shift, but educators do what needs to be done with equity in mind. Participants will learn key elements to consider when planning and implementing quality instruction virtually. Tools and resources to support continuing to educate kids, work with families, and find moments to care for themselves and others will be provided through the CCEE Continuity of Learning Playbook.
Presented by Karla Estrada and Michelle Magyar and Sujie Shin from the California Collaborative for Educational Excellence.
Manipulatives are Key to Equity in Mathematics Education
This workshop explores using manipulatives to build critical thinking skills and increase equity. Using a visual approach evens the playing field – by getting away from questions that require algorithmic speed only – and increases conceptual understanding for all students. This presentation is based on the Concrete>Pictorial>Abstract approach of Singapore Math and will engage participants in several challenging, enjoyable questions that are only efficiently solved with manipulatives. Presenters will provide resources for further learning.
Presented byKathleen Jalalpour from The Pi Project.
12:00 PM
Navigating Race and Implicit Bias in STEAM Education
In this session the presenter will address implicit bias and race in the STEAM classrooms and discuss pedagogy practices that both widen and narrow opportunity gaps for underrepresented students in STEAM. Participants will discuss what equitable STEAM instruction looks like using culturally responsive and content-driven phenomena. The workshop involves charter school/district/agency action planning for next steps for creating equitable learning outcomes in the STEAM classroom that promotes content, equity and access for all students.
Presented by Leena Bakshi from STEM4Real.
The 2021 California Charter Schools Conference will bring together in a virtual setting charter school leaders, operators, board members, educators, and policymakers across the state and provides a numerous professional development and networking opportunities for the strengthening of public education. With these equity-focused sessions CCSA aims to improve conditions for all students, regardless of background or current needs. Please Join us!
