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Symposium Agenda

Monday, June 26, 2023 8:00AM - 4:00PM EDT

Times below are presented in Eastern Daylight Time. Time converter found here

8:00AM – Large Group Welcome in Main Salon
8:25AM – Keynote, “Systems Thinking for an Equitable Future”
Don Kennedy
Superintendent, Charleston County Public Schools, Charleston, South Carolina
8:45AM – Keynote Debrief
9:15AM – Directions for Opting into Strand Presentations
Participants will choose one of the following four strands as the context of their systems thinking learning for the remainder of the morning.
Applying Systems Thinking to School Leadership
What happens when schools function as learning organizations? Everyone learns. Systems thinking leaders see below the surface of the water. They take a big picture view to better understand their system, to find the feedback and to apply high leverage solutions to achieve desired results. Explore how leaders at every level of the organization can apply systems thinking to contribute in ways that deliver benefits, creating more equitable outcomes for students. Special Guest: Dr. Mark Bendell, Anne Arundel superintendent.
Hosted by
Peter Stiepleman, EdD
Advisor, author, podcaster and former superintendent
Leadership
Creating More Equitable Outcomes through Social Emotional Learning
Our physical bodies are made up of multiple physiological systems that when functioning together produce good health. Our wellbeing and that of our students requires that we live and work in healthy social systems. Systems thinking tools and Habits are effective for promoting social emotional wellbeing and offer tools for students to build their own resilience and SEL skills. This session will explore those connections and offer specific examples of how systems thinking has been used to enhance school culture and create structures that promote resilience and wellbeing. Special Guest: Heidi Luft PhD, RN, Fulbright U.S. Scholar, Autonomous University of Santo Domingo; Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, University of Texas Medical Branch.
Hosted by
Alexandria Sedar
Systems Thinking and Peacebuilding Consultant
Equity
Integrating Systems Thinking Into Classroom Practice with a FOCUS on STEM Education
Systems thinking increases student engagement and supports the integration of multiple disciplines, ideas and applications. This Symposium strand will provide specific ideas for embedding systems thinking in daily classroom practice. Part of creating equitable futures is helping every student access the curriculum. Systems thinking tools provide very practical strategies for doing just that. This strand is suitable for classroom educators, practitioners and will invite participants to consider specific classroom applications of systems thinking to their chosen content areas.
Hosted by
DaNel Hogan
Learning Officer, Waters Center for Systems Thinking
STEM
Early Learning and Leadership
Envisioning and creating equitable futures starts with our youngest children and families. Groups of early childhood professionals from across the US and around the world are working to improve and create systems that ensure positive conditions and outcomes for young children. Through the systems thinking experiences of practitioners in the field we will explore ways systems thinking has impacted EC classrooms, centers, schools, county and state-level agencies and leadership development. This highly engaging strand will weave equitable practices and Systems Thinking Habits and approaches together as common threads with examples shared and opportunities for dialogue throughout.
Special Guests: Demetria Joyce, Director of Early Childhood Policy Fellowship, Banks Street College of Education; Heather Lucas, Consultant, Michigan Dept. of Education & Governing Board President, Michigan Association for the Education of Young Children; Jen Parker, M.Ed, Special Education Teacher; Julie Montali, Ph.D. Executive Director, Early Learning Sacramento County Office of Education.
Hosted by
Tracy Benson
President, Waters Center for Systems Thinking
Early Learning
9:20AM – Strand Breakout Presentations 1
10:10AM – Break and Networking
10:30AM – Strand Breakout Presentations 2
11:30AM – LUNCH
12:15PM – Plenary Session: Applying systems thinking in building equitable futures for all students
1:00PM – Break
1:10PM – Job Alike and Special Interest Breakouts
A time for participants with similar roles and interests to share how they have engaged in this work within their specific settings.
1:40PM – Break
1:50PM – Team Specific Debriefs
A time for teams to talk about what they have heard in the symposium, how it applies to their specific context, and what will be next steps for advancing equitable futures work in their organization.
2:30PM – Engaging Students to Create Their Desired Futures
Hear the story of Trevor Hicks and Dianne Lam as they have engaged youth with systems thinking in a variety of contexts.
Trevor Hicks
Senior Fellow, Aspen Young Leaders Fellowship
Dianne Lam
Educator
3:05PM – Break
3:15PM – Closing Session
Alison Smith
Resilience Coach and Founder, The Thrive Designer
Joining us from the West Coast? Think you might miss the first hour of the day? We have you covered. We will host a “watch party” beginning at 4:15 ET / 1:15 PT with a few highlights from the morning, including Don Kennedy’s keynote address.
Select session recordings will be available to registered attendees on the event platform within two weeks after the event.