Workshop Program
Conference Workshop Program
Opening Plenary Session
Thursday, October 21, 2021
The Power of "Rethinking" in Schools
1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
***LIVE STREAMED***
Rethinking school amidst massive disruption means that solutions that solved old problems aren’t going to address new problems. School leaders need to learn to be nimble enough to adapt midstream and emerge on the other side with the right level of self awareness and mindset in order to meet the needs of our constituents. Building on the research of top-rated Wharton professor and renowned organizational psychologist Adam Grant, come explore how we might “rethink” our assumptions and practices in the midst of significant social, ideological, technological, economic and structural disruption. As we continue to adjust to the “next normal,” Rob and Garhett will facilitate a conversation around how we as school leaders can foster a sense of open curiosity and humility within our communities and our daily practices in order to create cultures of learning and exploration that embrace new ideas and perspectives to keep our schools moving forward in a sea of constant change.
Presenters: Rob Devlin, Head of School, St. George Episcopal School, San Antonio, TX
Garhett Wager, Head of School, St. Mark's Episcopal School, Houston, TX
Workshop Program
Friday, October 22, 2021
Session 1: 1:45 pm - 2:45 pm
1A - Planned Possibilities: Fostering Creativity and Curiosity through Meaningful, Integrated, and Connected Curriculum - Join Rachel as she shares early childhood classroom tips, stories, and photographs of engaging play possibilities. Leave with integrated ideas for creating sensational centers and dynamic group times that support the interests and stretch the abilities of thoughtful young learners.”
***LIVE STREAMED***
Presenter: Rachel Daigre, Director of Learning Innovations, Knock Knock Children’s Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin
1B - Legal Topics for Episcopal Schools - Every school, from a stand-alone preschool to a large high school, has, at some point, found itself in need of advice around a legal issue. In this breakout session, Kristin Smith will tackle some of the most important legal topics that schools are dealing with today as well as offering thoughts on how schools can move forward in a post-covid world.
Presenter: Kristin Smith, Attorney, Fisher Phillips, LLC, Houston, TX
Target Audience: Admin, Clergy
1C - Instructional Differentiation in Lower School - Discover fun,practical, and engaging math and reading Differentiated Instruction strategies for elementary students (K-5), including centers, and flexible grouping that will meet the needs of the diverse learners in your class.
***LIVE STREAMED***
Presenter: Samira Ibeawuchi, St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal School, Houston, TX
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin
1D - The Work of the Young People in Preschool and Lower School Chapel - School chapel is sometimes viewed as the “work of the Chaplain” since we are working with younger students. However, liturgy is “the work of the people,” no matter how young the people are. School chapel is most engaging when students are leading at all levels. Even the youngest of our children can make Chapel their “work,” an offering to God and to one another. This session will highlight ways that Preschool and Lower School students can lead and participate in Chapel whether it is daily chapel or Eucharist.
Presenter: Jill Walters, Lower School Chaplain, All Saints’ Episcopal School, Fort Worth, TX
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin, Clergy
1E - A New Approach To Governance and Governance Training - We will explore the keys to sustaining stability on your board and tapping their potential. Attendees will leave with specific goals for strengthening governance in the three most critical areas: mission, vision, and mindset; relationships; and structures.
Presenters: Ned Murray, President & Senior Consultant, NRM Consulting, North Augusta, NC; George Andrews, President, G.E. Andrew’s & Associates; Shannon Earle,President, Shannon Earle Coaching
Target Audience: Admin, Clergy
1F - Supporting Student Well-being by Prioritizing Educators' Social-Emotional Health - At a time when 54% of teachers are reporting high levels of burnout, and one in four teachers are considering quitting their jobs due to stress, schools nationwide are searching for ways to fuel teacher well-being. If you feel like you’re encouraging your students to keep their cool, but you’re losing yours, don't worry -- you’re not alone. As schools begin doubling down on social-emotional learning and integrating SEL into the 2021-2022 school schedule, we also know adults must walk the walk and be positive role models themselves when it comes to social-emotional health.
Presenter: Andrea Jenkins, The Social Institute
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin, Clergy
Session 2: 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
2A - Rebuilding Faculty and Staff Morale Post COVID - As life begins to return to normal, it's likely that you have found faculty and staff morale to be on shaky ground. This breakout session will focus on the importance of building back morale and will offer ways in which you can keep everyone on your team feeling positive and secure.
Presenter: Julie McLeod, Head of School, Good Shepherd Episcopal School, Dallas, TX
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin
2B - Service Learning + Community Partnerships = Responsible, Concerned, and Engaged Students - Learn how to re-engage in community partnerships with any grade level through service-learning. After a year of disengagement find out how to reinvigorate your service-learning with onsite activities or remote partnerships.
Presenter: Joel Bicknell, Head of School, St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, Amarillo, TX
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin, Clergy
2C - Leading Through Turbulent Times - The challenges of leadership are many, particularly in times of stress, anxiety and rapid change that have characterized the leadership landscape lately. In this workshop, we’ll identify the leadership competencies that can be developed to help navigate the turbulence. We’ll also explore the potential blockers that can get in the way of our success and how to avoid them. You’ll come away with practical strategies that will help you effectively and thoughtfully lead through turbulent times.
Presenter: Ed Hollinger, Consultant, Hollinger Group Consulting, Chicago, IL
Target Audience: Admin, Clergy
2D - Panel Discussion on Rebuilding Community and Connection - A global shutdown and remote learning has a way of disconnecting people from each other. Episcopal schools are known for how their communities are connected to each other and this became a significant challenge during Covid. Join three school heads as they lead a panel discussion on the strategies and ideas they plan to implement to rebuild connection and community at their schools.
***LIVE STREAMED***
Presenters: Netra Fitzgerald, Head of School, St. Michael Episcopal School, Dallas, TX; Jennifer Morgan, Head of School, Trinity Episcopal School, Austin, TX; Bridget Henderson, Head of School, St. James Episcopal School, Baton Rouge, LA
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin, Clergy
2E - Let’s Get Rowdy: Your Author Adventure Awaits - Keep creativity alive in your classroom and school by providing students with an outlet to express themselves both digitally and through the written word. Act as a teacher/producer to help ideas flourish from concept to reality and create a lifelong tangible memory that shows off the efforts of your class/school that will lead your parents to say, “This is why I send my child to private school!” Through class produced movies and storybooks, students will have an opportunity to engage in more than just creative thinking, but can be given opportunities for public speaking, peer review, cooperation & compromise, as well as technological experience in movie production or book publishing.
***LIVE STREAMED***
Presenter: Chris Mullen, Author and former Connie Wootton Award Winner
Target Audience: Faculty, Admin
