Bring Leading Educators to SXSW EDU 2025!
08/06/2024
Vote In PanelPicker® By August 18
Imagine a future where every educator has the knowledge, tools, and support to unlock their students’ potential despite new world and workforce demands. Imagine schools where the principal’s influence is recognized by robust preparation and the resources for catalytic leadership. This is a future we can all begin to create now.
Leading Educators is thrilled to present six dynamic proposals for SXSW EDU 2025 across the Teaching and Learning, Leadership for Tomorrow, and Future of Technology tracks. We designed these proposals to showcase actionable insights that have the potential to shape the future of education, but we need your help bringing them to life.
About SXSW EDU 2025 and How You Can Help
SXSW EDU (pronounced South by Southwest E-D-U) is an annual event fostering innovation and learning in the education industry. The four-day event brings together the learner, the practitioner, the entrepreneur, and the visionary to share their groundbreaking stories, tackle complex issues, and build reimagined paths forward.
From now until August 18, you can vote in PanelPicker® to include Leading Educators in the conversation and leave comments about what excites you about our proposals. Learn more below.
It’s Time to Reimagine Science Education
Compare today’s K-12 science experience to the science professions we need to meet emerging global challenges, and you’ll find major gaps in design and diversity. Too few students of color, in particular, have access to meaningful and relevant science learning that prepares them for later success in in-demand, high-earning science careers.
The realistic science classroom should feel like organized chaos! A chemist and inventor turned science educator will explore ways to reimagine science education for the real world, unpacking shifts in the teacher role, dominant mindsets, and learning design.
Takeaways:
- Unpack your own science experiences and how they may limit what you imagine to be possible today.
- Learn about the skills, mindsets, competencies, and practices necessary for success in today’s science careers.
- Reflect on opportunities to help students see themselves in science careers and ensure their success in the role you hold.
Speakers: Solona Hollis, Senior Director of Science Strategy, Leading Educators
Empowering Principals for Transformational Leadership
Just as elite athletes benefit from expert coaching, principals can unlock their full potential with intentional support.
When new principals take on leadership, they face an endless number of new operational and instructional responsibilities—often without training. Principal attrition is at a 5-year peak, with veteran leaders exiting at higher rates.
Imagine if principals were supported to build their skills and grow the efficacy of their teams by design. Two former principals who now help districts coach principals will explore actionable opportunities to help principals maximize their impact.
Takeaways:
- Gain practical strategies for boosting effectiveness.
- Know what high-impact principal development includes.
- Reflect on avenues for systemic action.
Speakers: Dr. Keli Swearingen, Senior Director at Leading Educators; Dr. Lakita McKinney, Managing Director of Western Networks at Leading Educators
VATTastic Coaching: Empowering EdTech
With new edtech emerging daily, isn’t it challenging to support teachers in strategic planning and effective use? Navigating thousands of available tools can be overwhelming for both coaches and educators.
Join us for a dynamic workshop to explore coaching strategies that empower educators to maximize their technology. Learn to identify and integrate the best tools, enhancing teaching practices and student outcomes. Equip yourself with practical approaches to guide teachers in tech-enabled instruction, streamline their workflows, and boost their confidence.
Takeaways:
- Know: Practical strategies to harness technology in teaching and instructional coaching.
- Feel: Energized! Boost your confidence in your ability to strategically use technology to enrich your teaching and coaching practices, making a meaningful impact on student engagement and success.
- Do: Practice new coaching skills to effectively leverage tech-enabled teaching strategies, fostering continuous growth in both your own practice and your teachers’ and students’ learning experiences.
Speakers: Antoinette Melvin, Senior Director of Innovation; Mike Little, Instructional Leadership Coach; and Alex Magiera, Senior Director Of Innovation at Leading Educators
Enough Talk! Let’s Play with AI
There’s been much big dreaming (and some worrying) about what AI will mean for the future of education. But amid the chatter, many entrepreneurial educators are already using it to shift possibilities for instruction and engagement in real ways!
This rotation workshop—which includes a teacher from the School Teams AI Collaborative—will help attendees learn how to leverage promising practices emerging from action research with real educators. These could include using AI in writing, teaching students to create their own chatbots, and differentiating support plans. Let’s play!
Takeaways:
- Learn how real educators are already using AI in promising ways.
- Develop a game plan to incorporate effective AI practices in your local context.
Speakers: Albert Kim, Managing Director of Innovation at Leading Educators; Jin-Soo Huh, Partner at The Learning Accelerator; Zach Kennelly, Strategic Leader, DSST Public Schools
Empowering School Teams to Develop AI Instructional Practice
What if school teams led the conversation about the future of learning & AI? Learn how aligning school leadership, instructional strategy, & educator practice can power AI-enabled instructional best practices to improve student outcomes & accelerate instructional improvement. Join the School Teams AI Collaborative, a national network of schools fostering environments where educators can explore AI by learning from success & refining practices. See an instructional ecosystem where school leaders & teachers work to align support, structures, & resources for the responsible & effective use of AI.
Takeaways:
- Learn about rich, concrete examples of how teachers successfully integrated AI into instruction in a student-driven way.
- Understand how schools aligned AI usage to strong pedagogical practices and advanced their district’s instructional vision.
- Gain insights into what conditions are needed at the school and district levels that allow for the successful use of AI in instruction.
Speakers: Chong-Hao Fu, CEO of Leading Educators; Dr. Beth Rabbitt, CEO of The Learning Accelerator; Dr. Simone Wright, Chief Academics Officer at Denver Public Schools; Patrick Gittisriboongul, Ed.D, Asst. Superintendent, Technology & Innovation, Lynwood Unified School District
AI as a Partner: Enabling Teacher-Led Professional Growth
Teacher attrition isn’t only on the minds of superintendents; it shakes the foundation of entire school communities. We believe that when teachers feel truly supported, they’re more likely to stay in the classroom. In this session, panelists will explore how to craft tailored teacher professional development experiences that center teachers’ specific learning styles, content knowledge, and needs. They will discuss their creation and pilot of a mobile coaching app that harnesses AI to offer on-the-go supports, and share actionable strategies to empower teachers as self-directed learners.
Takeaways:
- Discover how to effectively combine AI tools with individualized coaching for data-driven insights and enhanced instructional practices.
- Identify and delve into 4 essential focus areas that will drive impactful teacher growth and development.
- Learn how the partnership between EdLight, Leading Educators, and Valley View Community Unit School District 365U (VVSD 365U) delivers holistic, humanizing professional learning experiences for teachers.
Speakers: Teryn Thomas, CEO of EdLight; Araceli Flores, Interim Senior Director of Programming, Leading Educators; Christy Vehe, Director of Mathematics & Science Grades 6-12 at Valley View School District (VVSD)
