Assessment

Assessment sits at the center of instructional decisions and multitiered systems of support that ensure student success. This webinar, featuring assessment expert Nicole Dimich, will provide guidance in how to design meaningful assessments and set up information that empowers teachers to be instructionally agile and students to be invested in their learning.

Dr. Jill Kind is the director of learning and achievement for Osseo Area Schools in a diverse suburb of Minneapolis. Her areas of focus are curriculum, assessment and standards-based instruction, and grading at the secondary or system levels.

Lucy Pearson, assistant principal at John E. Flynn/A Marzano Academy, brings over a decade of experience as a teacher, special education interventionist, and instructional coach. She is committed to building strong relationships with students and families.

Despite our best efforts, progress remains elusive with traditional remediation. It's time to rethink the approach. This webinar explores acceleration—a proactive, strengths-based model that empowers all students to achieve at or above grade level. This isn't just about closing gaps; it's about building a future where every student thrives.

Kirk Savage, EdD, is an assistant superintendent for Chilliwack School District in British Columbia, Canada, where he has been working as a senior leadership team member since 2012.

Bri Crook most recently served as the instructional coach at Baxter Elementary in Baxter, Iowa. She has several years of experience in education at the elementary level and district level, also serving as the technology director.

Effective assessment systems enable teachers and students to make informed decisions that drive learning forward. In this webinar, author Katie White outlines how to plan and implement self-assessment strategies that foster student growth across all grade levels. From setup to goal setting and celebration, participants will explore the link between thoughtful assessment design, evidence analysis, and responsive decision making, all through a Canadian perspective. Join us to reflect on your own assessment systems and discover ways to create equitable, meaningful learning for every student.

Melissa Dickson, EdM, is an outstanding presenter and educator. She is passionate about providing teachers with research-based ideas and strategies that they implement immediately. In her decades as an educator, Melissa has been a literacy coach, staff developer, site-based team leader, mentor teacher, inclusion teacher, classroom teacher, and early childhood teacher.

Dr. Anisa Baker-Busby was appointed principal of Shirley Hills Elementary in July 2022. She has over 20 years of educational experience serving as a teacher and administrator, and her passion is to help schools build systems of support that ensure high levels of learning for all students.

Matt Townsley, EdD, is an associate professor of educational leadership at the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls, Iowa. He is a former district administrator and teacher in Solon Community Schools, also in Iowa, where he led curriculum, assessment, and school-improvement initiatives, all under the umbrella of a professional learning community philosophy.