Catherine Thorn and Dr. Kadie Wilson of 2Revolutions

One of the first steps in moving toward a more learner-centered system is to examine our existing infrastructure around how we define valuable learning. While grading and reporting are the most visible components of that system, it isn’t necessarily where we need to start re-designing. In order to empower learners to play a greater role in the development of their skills through meaningful experiences, we will explore actionable strategies to establish a shared understanding of the learning that we value- both in and out of the classroom.

Dr. Ruth Hellams, 2Rev Coach

This session unpacks the systems and structures that extend learning beyond the traditional classroom walls. Attendees will share in one leader’s journey to support sustainable real-world connections between the community, its industries, and our schools. By reimagining what is possible when schools and communities come together in support of its students, participants in this session will leave with actionable next steps to rethink school to career and the world of work opportunities. 

Dr. Carmen Coleman, Chief of Transformational Leading and Learning of OVEC

How might schools change if we designed the learning experience to make sure students were not only equipped with the academic knowledge they need, but also the durable skills necessary to navigate the world? Knowing our students need to be equipped for futures requiring much more than clearing test score hurdles, we will explore the kinds of experiences and ecosystems that will lead to those outcomes along with protocols and other resources leaders, both positional and dispositional, might use as they set out to transform their system.

Dr. Carmen Coleman, Chief of Transformational Leading and Learning of OVEC and Dr. Cory Steiner Superintendent of the Northern Cass School District

District leaders discuss their experiences with implementation of student-led learning in their roles. 

Dr. Cory Steiner, Superintendent of the Northern Cass School District

What is personalized learning? Ask a group of 10 people this question and you’ll likely receive just as many answers. At its heart, personalized learning is about leveraging strategies, practices, and routines to support a fully realized student-centered learning journey. It is a multi-faceted approach to rethinking how students and teachers spend their time engaging in the process of Teaching and Learning. Leadership needs to deeply understand how they can shift district and building-level policies, practices, and routines to enable meaningful shifts in educator practice and the student experience. In this session, we’ll unpack the myths and misconceptions of personalized learning to build a collaborative and locally responsive vision of what is possible. 

Dr. Bethany Bernasconi, Keri Melmed, and Daniel Torres-Rangel of 2Revolutions

This interactive and thoughtful session integrates the systems and structures necessary to support and sustain a student-centered system in service of deeper learning outcomes for all students with increased opportunities for agency. Participants will collaboratively build the case for using student-centered systems and classrooms and leave with an actionable protocol on how to begin to spread student-centered in their context as a strategy to promote equity, agency, and deeper learning based on research best practices.

Furman Brown, Tegy

Schedules drive so many connected decisions about teaching and learning across the school day. School scheduling impacts every moment in every student's education and yet, the schedules found in most schools were designed to support a system rather than focusing on a purpose that places the student at the center. What would it mean for us to rethink time and schedules in a way that better supports all learners? In this session, we'll explore what is possible when schools change their thinking about time, leveraging the resources already on hand.    

While budgeting choices are made by district leaders, the decisions made impact the students and teachers in the classroom directly. This session will discuss current funding shifts being experienced in education in the state of Wyoming, and nationally, and delve into a framework & budgeting policy that Districts can utilize to directly support a shift to student-centered learning. We will walk through some lessons learned from federal relief funding and determine a path forward that allows the shift to be a little more manageable.

Katie Reed and Heather Wendell, Afton Partners

How can state funding policy advance Wyoming’s goals for student-centered learning? This session will discuss the historic demographic and funding shifts we are currently experiencing nationally and in Wyoming specifically and the implications for the work of student-centered learning across the state. We will explore ways in which state system leaders can support districts during these historic shifts and opportunities for state funding & finance policy to be more intentionally student-centered as we move forward in a new contextual paradigm

Nathan Driskell, Chief of Policy at the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE)

Gretchen Morgan, Center for Innovation in Education (CIE)

This session will provide an overview of the current policies in Wyoming, including recent shifts, that have set the stage to enable educators across the state to move toward more student-centered practices. Participants will consider what is possible when policy works with and in response to current practice and gain inspiration from examples from around the country.

Jack Elsey, founder and CEO of the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI)

Systemic challenges – like the educator shortage crisis – can feel impossible to solve, especially for K12 school districts. The Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative (MEWI) will highlight its work in Michigan, demonstrating what is possible when systems leaders build deep partnerships around bold ideas. MEWI will explore how states can improve their approach to educator talent through improved policy, collaboration, and innovative thinking – and what it might look like to take the first steps toward reimagining what’s possible.