Diversity & Equity

Shawn W. McCusker has 25 years of experience as a teacher and leader and is currently the director of professional learning at Digital Promise, a nonprofit dedicated to closing the digital learning gap.

In this one-hour session, K-12 educators will consider the impact of social-emotional learning (SEL) on students when making instructional decisions. Using the highly effective, research-informed Equity and SEL Integration Framework, you will learn to incorporate impactful, creative strategies to craft experiences focused on preparing students for learning.

Michael Meechin is an award-winning educational leader, strategist, and thought partner. Currently, Michael supports schools and districts nationwide to move their work forward by breaking down systemic barriers to improvement.

Kathy Vergara, EdD, is an experienced educator dedicated to serving and improving educational outcomes for multilingual learners and their families. She focuses on designing and implementing curriculum for bilingual, dual language, and ESL programs in grades preK–12.

Yetunde Reeves, EdD, is principal of Paul Laurence Dunbar High School in Baltimore. She is committed to social justice education, and her passion is working with students of color and supporting first-generation college students.

Deborah Ricker is principal of Glenwood Ridge Elementary School in Basehor, Kansas. Prior to going into administration, she spent 19 years as a school psychologist in the Kansas City area.

Join author Hedreich Nichols to examine the cognitive processes we use to draw a circle around our “in groups,” and learn to mitigate any negative fallout that may impact our practice as educators. While learning about the brain science behind belonging, you will explore a few of more than 180 cognitive biases. This webinar will equip you to use this knowledge to look closely at personal connections and trends that impact student and staff relationships.

Jackie Palmquist is a national presenter and educational consultant with over 30 years of high school classroom mathematics teaching and leading experience. Her leadership emphasizes and supports collaborative planning and current research-informed best instructional practices.

Daman Harris, PhD, has over 28 years of experience as an educator. He’s had a wide range of positions from teaching to coaching, speaking, and writing. He currently serves as a manager for Anne Arundel County Public Schools in Maryland.

Ari Gerzon-Kessler leads the family partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colorado. He is also an educational consultant working with schools and districts committed to forging stronger school-family relationships. Ari Gerzon-Kessler is a seasoned facilitator, has served as a teacher and principal, and currently leads the family partnerships department for the Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colorado.