Professional Learning for Diversity & Equity in Schools

Implementing Culturally Responsive Instruction

Support underserved students using culturally and linguistically responsive teaching strategies across content areas and grade levels.

• Examine techniques for culturally and linguistically responsive teaching.
• Access sample activities that can be used in classrooms immediately.

Owning It: Empowering Teachers to Close the Opportunity Gap

Learn to embrace the struggles teachers face every day, then implement effective teaching strategies to close the opportunity gap and ensure that all students succeed. This on-site engagement (can also be delivered as a live virtual session) empowers teachers to own their careers, teach effectively, and develop strong relationships with their students and colleagues.

Time for Change

Transformational leadership is a skill that can be practiced and improved. Receive powerful, authoritative guidance as you work with your team to develop and strengthen the four distinctive skills of exceptional leaders and prepare to lead your school or district toward lasting, meaningful change.

School Culture Audit

The School Culture Audit is a comprehensive look at the existing policies, practices, and procedures in place in a school and the impact these have on student learning. Recommendations for changes to policies, practices, and procedures are included in the formal report, which is provided to the school principal.

• One-day, on-site visit to observe school environment. This day includes:
• Review of policies, practices, and procedures
• Review of key artifacts produced and displayed by school community
• Formal interviews with staff and students
• Walkthrough of school and classroom observations
• Prior to the on-site visit, we collect three years of performance, attendance, and disciplinary data disaggregated by grade level and demographics, and we conduct a school staff survey.
• A Solution Tree author or associate reviews data and survey and compiles the formal report.
• The report includes the following:
• Formal rating on a four-point rubric of school culture based on six critical indicators
• Analysis of relevant data and staff survey findings
• Key findings and specific actionable recommendations in critical areas to improve, grow, and maintain a positive school culture
• Web conferencing is available for schools interested in follow-up support.

Equity and Excellence Now

With an exploration of the latest evidence on success in high poverty schools, participants will learn the five core competencies of Equity and Excellence Systems and the seven professional practices that distinguish Equity and Excellence schools. Participants will leave with specific action steps to implement these ideas in their schools and districts. The research in this presentation specifically supports the PLC at Work^® practices.

The Language of Possibility: Because What We Say Matters

The language adults use in a school or district can change the expectations those adults have for student achievement and reveal much about the culture of an organization. Educators of all levels and positions will benefit from learning how the brain organizes our inner thoughts into words and actions that can make or break students' successes and change an organization. Attendees will also learn how to create new neural pathways to improve student learning expectations and build trust with colleagues.

• Learn how the brain creates predictions in a moment and then works to make those predictions come true.
• Discover key factors in changing those predictions from being almost exclusively negative to becoming much more optimistic.
• Understand the effect these predictions can have on student success and the impact they can have on adult relationships within an organization.

Power Engage Workshop: Mastering Relationship Power for Student and Family Engagement

Join us for an immersive one-day professional learning engagement led by renowned educator, author, and speaker “Coach Carlos” Johnson. In this transformative workshop, you'll dive deep into the principles outlined in his book, Power Engage: Seven Power Moves for Building Strong Relationships to Increase Engagement With Students and Parents. Discover proven strategies that will elevate your ability to create performance-based relationships, boost student engagement, and foster meaningful connections with families.

• Identify the driving force behind your commitment to student engagement and learn how to help your students discover their own sense of purpose and motivation.
• Discover how to cultivate an environment of healthy competition among your students, inspiring them to strive for their personal best and reach their full potential.
• Learn how to navigate the complex factors of race, socioeconomic background, and gender, as you tailor your engagement strategies to create an inclusive classroom that honors diversity and equity.
• Gain insights into building powerful relationships with parents that transcend the traditional parent-teacher dynamic.
• Acquire practical skills and actionable techniques from Coach Carlos's systematic approach

Be The Driving Force: Leading Your School on the Road to Equity

Gain insights and strategies for fostering equity and inclusivity in your school communities. This professional learning service delves into the importance of leadership in driving positive change and promoting equitable outcomes for all students. Through research-backed practices and practical examples, you will discover ways to create a culture of equity, address systemic barriers to learning, and empower students from diverse backgrounds to succeed.

Educators attending this professional development session will learn how to:

• Gain a deeper understanding of equity-centered leadership principles and their role in promoting equitable outcomes for all students
• Create vision and mission plans and measurable goals to create learning environments where both teachers and students thrive
• Learn research-backed strategies and best practices for fostering a culture of equity and inclusivity within their school communities
• Develop actionable steps and implementation plans to address systemic barriers to learning and promote equitable access to resources, opportunities, and supports

Compassion as Our Compass: 20+ Professional Learning Activities to Nurture Educator Empathy

Successfully foster a more compassionate, relationship-focused culture on campus or in the classroom. Learn to instill the consistent practice of compassion to promote positive change and build trust, understanding, and acceptance. Through this important service, you will hear personal vignettes and receive ready-made lesson plans, templates, and reflection questions. Whether your goal is to enhance an already positive culture or to improve and support a culture in need of positive change, this professional development is for you.

• Address and model the importance of building connections with colleagues and students to foster a sense of trust and safety.
• Examine the various roles of educators and the many ways they are called upon to support students.
• Learn the challenges high-mobility students face and how educators can be mindful of and address these unique challenges.
• Take advantage of detailed directions and materials lists for facilitating activities that focus on bringing compassion to your workplace and/or classroom.