This workshop will help expand the capacity of educational leaders by exploring community-centered practices, student engagement strategies, and approaches that support inclusive school communities. Sessions will demonstrate practical strategies for integrating African and African American Studies into core learning and school culture, as Florida Statute 1003.42 (h) requires. Subsection h states that instruction should include "The history of African Americans, including the history of African peoples before the political conflicts that led to the development of slavery, the passage to America, the enslavement experience, abolition, and the history and contributions of Americans of the African diaspora to society." The theme is Past, Present and Possibilities/ Pasado, Presente y Posibilidades. 

Date: June 10th and 11th

Times: See agenda below 

Register here 

You can earn 7 in-service points for attendance and completing the assignment. 

8:00 - 8:30 am 

Registration 

8:30  - 9:30 am 

Opening Ceremony, 

•  Libation - Akbar Watson

• Lift Every Voice & Sing - Ja' Myia Jones & Catherine Soriano, Palm Beach Lakes Community High School Chorus 

• Kim Smith- Spoken Word

• Opening Remarks:  

  •  Mrs. Maria Bishop, Chief Academic Officer, The School District of Palm Beach County

  •  Mrs. Debbye Raing, President of the Palm Beach County African Diaspora Historical & Cultural Society 

• Your Summit Snapshot - Ethel Kennedy, Manager of African, African American, Latino, and Holocaust Studies

10:00 - 11:00 am 

From Classroom to Global Impact: Elevating Student Voice as the Foundation for Tomorrow

Jarrod Benjamin, Motivational Speaker

This keynote calls educators, school leaders, and partners to reimagine classrooms as incubators of leadership, innovation, and social responsibility. Dr. Jarrod Benjamin invites participants to see themselves as co-architects of a world where students' voices are not just heard, but heeded—where the classroom becomes a sanctuary of advocacy and empowerment. Through storytelling and strategy, this keynote highlights how K–12 education lays the foundation for a globally conscious and equity-minded individuals. The message challenges participants to teach, lead, and inspire with a lens of purpose and possibility that unlocks every student’s potential. It concludes with a loud voice of encouragement, affirmation, and validation that the work of educating is needed and valued!

Location: Main Auditorium 

Lunch 11:00 - 12:00 pm 

12:00 - 12:55 pm

Education with Purpose: Ensuring the Academic Success of All Studients, Including Hispanic Students

Presented by Dr. Margarita Pinkos, Former Assistant Superintendent of Global Education for the School District of Palm Beach County

This presentation explores the pedagogical, cultural, and social components that create a critical foundation to ensure the success of all students. A particular emphasis is placed on the unique considerations Hispanic students need to maximize their learning experience.

Location: Main Auditorium 

Concurrent Sessions

1:00 pm - 1:55pm

200 Building at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School

A Celebration of Hispanics and Latinos in the Aerospace Industry.

Presented by Dr. Barbara Ganson, History Professor at Florida Atlantic University

Examine the historical contributions of Hispanic/Latino pioneers in aerospace, bringing forward narratives that are often underrepresented in traditional accounts. This session centers on the “Past” lens of the Ceiba Tree Framework, providing educators with strategies to integrate these histories into STEM and social studies instruction in ways that are standards-aligned and academically rigorous.

Location: 2-130

1:00 pm - 1:55pm

Making History Matter: Integrating Community Context into Educational Practice

Presented by Dr. Alisha Winn

This session provides teachers and administrators with evidence-based strategies to connect classroom instruction with local history, anthropology, and community engagement. Through a holistic approach, participants will explore ways to incorporate community narratives, oral histories, and collaborative projects into curricula. The session highlights the importance of valuing community knowledge, establishing partnerships with local organizations, and supporting students, particularly in neighborhoods undergoing redevelopment. Educators will acquire practical tools to guide students in identifying community assets, addressing local challenges, and fostering pride in their neighborhoods, thereby creating educational experiences that reflect the strengths and histories of diverse communities.

Location: Classroom 2-129

Student Voice as a Catalyst for School Improvement: Nothing About Us, Without Us

Presented by Janina Simmons

Discover how authentic student voice functions as a powerful lever for enhancing school belonging, leadership growth, and overall improvement. This session draws on insights from a large-scale Student Voice Initiative to demonstrate how schools can transition from performative involvement to meaningful shared leadership. Participants will examine structures that position students as essential partners in systems change and problem-solving. Key focus areas include:

• Practical methods for establishing effective student voice councils.

• Cultivating student centered leadership and bettering school climate.

• Strategies for deepening student-adult partnerships.

Real-world examples of student-led impact across K-12 levels, including peer-driven culture initiatives and collaborative decision-making.

Location: Classroom 2-128

Rooted in Community: Latino Leaders Driving School and District Improvement Through Collective Action

Presented by Fernelize Henry,  SDPBC Secondary Social Studies Program Planner of Instruction

This session explores how Latino leaders, grounded in community and collective action, strengthen schools and influence district improvement. Participants will examine collaborative leadership practices that honor cultural strengths, elevate present-day systems, and shape future impact across school and district environments.

Location: 2-134

Concurrent Sessions

2:00 pm - 2:55pm

200 Building at Palm Beach Lakes Community High School

Latino Migration, History and Culture

Presented by Dr. Luis Martínez-Fernández, Pegasus Professor of History at the University of Central Florida 

This multi-media PowerPoint Presentation offers teachers a crash course in the field of Hispanic/Latino studies for application in middle and high school history and social science courses. Focusing on immigration from Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic, it provides demographic information, webpage links, lesson plans, and primary documents. Interactive activities include critical examinations of photographs, art, literature and music.

Location: 2-134

The Power of Story: Representation, Identity, and the Future of Education 

Dr. Michael Woodward

This engaging session explores how storytelling and representation can strengthen student identity, amplify voice, and boost academic confidence. Children's author and professor, Dr. Michael Woodward, shares practical, classroom-ready strategies that connect literacy to student engagement while shaping more inclusive, empowering school cultures. 

 Location: The Lecture Hall

Forged African Brotherhood: The Pan American Experience

Presented by Marlyn Henríquez, PhD Retired Teacher

Despite the cruel reality of slavery, African Americans did not focus their fight for freedom and equity only on themselves, but on all enslaved Africans and their descendants on the American continent. This forged a brotherhood committed to the pursuit of freedom and equity for all enslaved and oppressed people.

Location: The Little Theater

Closing Session 

3:00 - 3:30pm

Closing Remarks

Location: Auditorium