Centering Equity: Unpacking the Revised Standards for Professional Learning

It’s an open invitation for educators at all levels to continue their learning journeys and deepen their knowledge of high-quality professional learning that changes practice. This workshop explores how the standards lead to improvement for all learners. There is also a focus on the new inclusive equity standards and moving toward an equity mindset in self and others.

CONNECT & ENGAGE

Given that some educators and students excel while others struggle to demonstrate growth, you will reflect on your existing and desired state of professional learning support for staff. You will connect and build safety among each other to share your experiences and foster a learning community for our time together.

LEARN

In this workshop, you’ll learn about the revised Learning Forward Professional Learning Standards, the importance of providing access to high-quality professional learning to all educators, and ways the standards lead to improvement for all learners.

Participants will engage in the following:

• Identify common equity challenges and exploring various resources for aligned support;
• Unpack the newly revised professional learning standards with a hyper-focus on the equity standards.

REFLECT & APPLY

After exploring the standards and benefits of high-quality professional learning, participants will reflect on the role of their identities in navigating application of their learning. You will also have time to consider ways you might increase collaboration with diverse colleagues and ampifly voices of educators who have been traditionally marginalized.

Leveraging Polarities: Addressing Complex Issues Without Being Overwhelmed

There’s a need for mindful adaptivity in response to the disruptive changes happening in our work and society. Much of the chronic conflict and polarization we face are unavoidable and unsolvable. These dilemmas need diversity and divergent thinking. This session provides practical resources leaders can use to manage tensions in their work.

CONNECT & ENGAGE

Polarities are natural competing tensions inherent in all individual and organization systems. Honoring and embracing polarities is about resourcefully engaging the fullness and complexity of life. As human systems increase in diversity, change, uncertainty, and conflicting demands, so does the need for understanding and developing adaptive and holonomous mindsets.

To function holistically, honor diversity, and produce collective results, individuals must recognize their dual identities within systems as autonomous and interdependent. Participants will initially engage with foundational principles and then explore contextual paradoxes and strategies to manage them.

LEARN

Learn about the diverse and dichotomous conditions that give rise to certain tensions and challenges such as ambiguity and certainty, embracing one’s culture while honoring another’s cultural norms, and providing structure and freedom.

Participants will engage in:

• Identifying tensions in their school and community contexts;
• Developing maps to make invisible tensions visible;
• Exploring ways to increase the benefits of diverse perspectives;
• Discovering resources to support polarity principles in mediating self, individuals, and groups toward balance.

REFLECT & APPLY

After exploring principles, maps, strategies, and structures, you will reflect on the role of your identities in navigating holonomous tensions. You will also have time to consider ways you might consciously use personal and group tensions, diversity, and divergent thinking as resources to develop further cultures that promote community and productivity. Additionally, you will develop and share a plan with a few next steps for integrating these ideas into your work and life.