The COVID-19 pandemic may have disrupted traditional classroom instruction, but it has not stopped schools from fostering connections and engaging in robust teaching and learning. As challenging as the pandemic has been, a common theme has emerged among the League — embrace the innovations of the moment as designs for the future.
Join us on April 15-16 for our spring virtual convening to share ideas and explore practices and strategies that will continue to shape public education in 2021 and beyond.
The spring convening is an opportunity for you to engage with the League of Innovative Schools based on your needs, interests, and capacity. You are welcome to invite up to three (3) members of your district team to join us.
The first two registrants from each district will receive a welcome gift containing materials and exclusive items for the upcoming meeting. Please register by Friday, April 2 to ensure you receive your box prior to the convening. Supplies are limited.
Note: The convening is open only to active League of Innovative Schools districts and Digital Promise partners.
Welcome and State of the League
12:00-12:30 PM ET
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Bettina Love
We Gon’ Be Alright, But That Ain’t Alright: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom
12:30-1:30 PM ET
Partner Highlights
1:30-1:35 PM ET
Transition Break and Virtual Hallway
1:35-1:45 PM ET
League Shoutouts
1:45-1:55 PM ET
Partner Highlights
1:55-2:00 PM ET
The League on the Road to Recovery: Virtual School Tours
2:00-2:25 PM ET
The League on the Road to Recovery: Round Table Discussions
2:25-3:00 PM ET
Opening Welcome
12:00-12:15 PM ET
The Voices of Our Students: Designing an Equitable Future
12:15-12:45 PM ET
Featured Speaker: FCC Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel
Closing the Homework Gap: Where Are We Today?
12:50-1:50 PM ET
Closing
1:50-2:00 PM ET
Superintendents Only Meet Up
The Art of Meaningful Work: Navigating a Crisis with Ernest Barbaric
2:00-3:00 PM ET
Thursday, April 14, 2021
12:30-1:30 PM ET
Dr. Bettina L. Love will discuss the struggles and the possibilities of committing ourselves to an abolitionist goal of educational freedom, as opposed to reform, and moving beyond what she calls the “educational survival complex.” Abolitionist Teaching is built on the creativity, imagination, boldness, ingenuity, and rebellious spirit and methods of abolitionists to demand and fight for an educational system where all students are thriving, not simply surviving.
Speaker Biography
Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and the Athletic Association Endowed Professor at the University of Georgia, and one of the field’s most esteemed educational researchers. In 2020, Dr. Love co-founded the Abolitionist Teaching Network (ATN). Dr. Love’s writing, research, teaching, and activism meet at the intersection of race, education, abolition, and Black joy. Learn more.
Friday, April 15, 2021
12:15-12:45 PM ET
In partnership with nine school districts, Digital Promise is hosting the Students for Equitable Education (SEE) Summit, a free, national social justice summit envisioned and led by students across the country. Offered virtually and open to the public, this event engages students—the very students whom the education system is underserving—as leaders, designers, and facilitators of authentic professional learning for the education community.
Start the day off with TED-talk style opening presentations from three SEE Summit student leaders. Noor Slameh (Kettle Moraine School District), Ray’Aunnah Tillis (Middletown City School District), and Yazmine Latimore (Richland School District Two) will join us to provide a glimpse of the topics and discussions participants can expect during the event, including the experiences of first-generation/undocumented students; “real talk” with teachers; and racism and prejudice in the classroom. Learn more and register for the SEE Summit.
Friday, April 16, 2021
12:50-1:50 PM ET
Acting FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel joins us to update the League on progress in funding and addressing the device and access gap—with a panel of students and district leaders.
Speaker Biography
Federal Communications Commission Acting Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel believes that the future belongs to the connected. She works to promote greater opportunity, accessibility, and affordability in our communications services in order to ensure that all Americans get a fair shot at 21st century success. She believes strong communications markets can foster economic growth and security, enhance digital age opportunity, and enrich our civic life.
From fighting to protect net neutrality to ensuring access to the internet for students caught in the Homework Gap, Acting Chairwoman Rosenworcel has been a consistent champion for connecting all. She is a leader in spectrum policy, developing new ways to support wireless services from Wi-Fi to video and the internet of things. She also is responsible for developing policies to help expand the reach of broadband to schools, libraries, hospitals, and households across the country. Learn more.
The Art of Meaningful Work: Navigating a Crisis with Ernest BarbaricSuperintendents Only Meet Up
Friday, April 16, 2021
2:00-3:00 PM ET
This closed session is for League superintendents to deepen peer relationships and engage in a discussion on leadership through times of crisis.
Speaker Biography
Ernest Barbaric has more than 15 years’ experience working with high-level leaders to navigate strategy, innovation and digital transformation. His clients include global brands, health and tech startups, non-profits, and universities.
Barbaric helps people break glass ceilings; get promoted; fund startups, and unify around a vision. “My clients are often recognized by their peers for how calm, clear, and confident they are, no matter what situation they’re facing.” His strength lies in helping leaders rise to the best version of themselves and face what they’ve been hiding from. Learn more.
The Spring 2021 Virtual League Convening is powered by Swapcard, an engaging, all-in-one event platform.
After you register on Eventbrite, you will receive an email prompting you to create an account on Swapcard. This account will enable you to access the convening agenda; create a personalized convening schedule; browse for information about sponsors; schedule networking meetings with your peers; and receive general information about the meeting.
We will email all participants with relevant information and update this event page with any additional details.
Please contact Jessica Bates at jbates@digitalpromise.org with any questions.
We thank our Digital Promise partners for their generous support!
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