Teaching Beyond the Barriers

TEACHING BEYOND THE BARRIERS

6-WEEK VIRTUAL COURSE TAUGHT BY STATE TEACHERS OF THE YEAR AND FINALISTS

WHAT IS ONE THING YOU WOULD CHANGE ABOUT YOUR TEACHING PRACTICE?

The Teaching Beyond Barriers series delivers engaging, interactive experiences where educators learn how to harness the power of habit science, identify and change equity gaps, and implement effective instructional practices so that all students are supported and successful.

COURSE DETAILS DATES

COHORT I: MAY 7- JUNE 11, 2024

COHORT II: JUNE 26-JULY 30, 2024

Space is limited to 24 participants per cohort

CONTINUING EDUCATION UNITS

INVESTMENT

$585 ($13/credit hour)

45 contact hours

(6) 2.5 hour Interactive Virtual Sessions plus additional asynchronous and self-guided work

Receive a certificate of 3 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) from Hofstra University School of Education

HOW IT WORKS

WHERE DO YOU IMPLEMENT CHANGE? DISCRETIONARY SPACES

Discretionary spaces are the moments that are not dictated by policies or curriculum, but are places where we make countless decisions, such as how to facilitate a discussion or how to manage a small classroom event (Ball, 2020).

HOW DO YOU DO IT? HABIT SCIENCE

Habit science is a behavioral loop that consists of a cue, a routine, a reward (Duhigg).

WHY MAKE THESE CHANGES? EDUCATIONAL EQUITY

Educational equity means that each child receives what they need to develop to their full academic and social potential.

TEACHING BEYOND THE BARRIERS

PROFESSIONAL LEARNING SERIES

PERSONALIZED, TARGETED, REFLECTIVE

Personal and Professional Growth: Deepen your understanding of your own identity and cultural positioning and learn how to leverage this awareness to create equitable learning experiences.

Content: Rooted in habit science, the course content investigates the history of segregated schools, identity, and strategies for promoting equity.

Expertise: Facilitated by experienced State Teachers of the Year and Finalists, with a 6:1 participant-to-facilitator ratio, ensuring high-quality guidance and personalization.

Network: Join a community of like-minded educators committed to making a difference.

Practical Application: Develop and implement an "Equity Habit Plan" targeting specific areas for improvement in your teaching practice.

5-I EQUITY MODEL

IMPACT

INSPECTION

INTERVENTION

INVESTIGATION

IDENTITY

RESEARCHED AND DESIGNED BY AWARDWINNING STATE TEACHER OF THE YEAR EDUCATORS.

Identify and Investigate barriers in your school or classroom.

Design Interventions to remove those barriers.

Inspect your Interventions, receive 1:1 coaching.

Scale for Impact.

WORDS FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS

"The information was presented in a non-judgmental way and the presenters met me where I was in my teaching practice. The value of this class was evident immediately."

"I can't begin to tell you how important this course was! The most doubtful of teachers would learn from this course and not feel offended or attacked. As a teacher striving to do better for my students, I felt encouraged and uplifted."

"I think everyone can benefit from the materials in this course. Having a place to explore biases and try to work through them is invaluable."

TEACHING BEYOND THE BARRIERS EXPERT FACILITATORS

EACH COURSE WILL BE CO-TAUGHT BY A TEAM SELECTED FROM FROM BELOW

Dr. Richard Warren Jr., the 2019 Maryland State Teacher of the Year and Chair of Education Executive Policy for the Governor of Maryland, is an award-winning educator renowned for his work on teacher morale, recruitment, and retention, with a focus on the intersection of race and gender. His strategies have been implemented across Maryland’s Eastern Shore schools.

As a co-developer of Teach for Equity, Richard established the “Habits for Equity Framework” its first year to enhance equity literacy and combat racism in education. The project’s subsequent years saw the nationwide launch of “Teaching Beyond the Barriers” and a podcast to further these aims, alongside mentoring Teacher Leader Fellows to drive educational policy reform.

A distinguished speaker, he has presented at prestigious venues like Tedx, Google, and ESPN. Richard also founded the UMES Men of Color in Education program and holds the Hazel Professorship of Education at the University of Maryland Eastern Shore, underlining his commitment to fostering inclusive and equitable learning environments.

Brianna Ross has forged a reputation for being a passionate student advocate who views teaching as a “revolutionary act of love”. Dedicated to dismantling inequities within educational systems, she has relentlessly pursued the mission of creating more equitable learning environments. Often being the only Black girl in a classroom, she acknowledged the need for BIPOC students to learn from teachers who shared their perspectives, understood their experiences and recognized the need to make an unwavering commitment to their success.

After seven years in the classroom, she was named the 2022 Maryland Teacher of the Year. She currently serves as an Assistant Principal in Randallstown, Maryland. As a school leader, she spearheads initiatives that foster positive school culture, emphasizing the importance of authentic student-teacher relationships. Ross is grounded in the belief that this work must be rooted in love. She knows that it is critical to create space where students of color can show up as their authentic selves and know that they are loved, valued, and seen. In addition to her work in the school, Ross is an adjunct professor at Mount Holyoke College and a Professional Development Facilitator for the National Network of State Teachers of the Year. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Urban Educational Leadership from Morgan State University.

Mirta Valdes-Bradner is an Advanced Placement Spanish language teacher who is passionate about inspiring students to learn a new language. She is a dedicated supporter of AP Programs and one of only 23 State Advocate Leads in the country. In that role, she worked to pass legislation supportive of the AP Program. She brings over 26 years of experience teaching World Language in private and public schools. She has been selected as Caroline County’s Teacher of the Year for 2022-23, the Maryland Language Educator of the Year for 2023-24, the Maryland State Educators Association, Minority Achievement Award recipient in 2023 and as a 2024 NEA Global Fellow.

Jacqueline Thurston has taught special education in North Branford, Connecticut for 18 years. She holds education degrees from Providence College, Plymouth State University and The Graduate Institute in elementary education, special education, and experiential education. She recently went through the Educational Administration program at Sacred Heart University to obtain her Administrative Certification. She was a 2019 Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms fellow, where she studied global education and did a field placement in Hyderabad, India. In 2020, she was a VOYA Unsung Heroes Grant recipient. In 2021, she became a Connecticut Teacher of the Year Finalist and is currently part of the National Network of State Teachers of the Year.

CT Voice Magazine awarded her the Unsung Heroes Award for her work as President of the CTGLC Foundation, which supports and celebrates LGBTQ+ youth. In 2023, she was placed on the “40 Under 40” list for Connecticut Magazine. For the past three years, she has been involved in the NNSTOY Teaching Beyond the Barriers course which teaches how habit science can be used to build equitable teaching practices.

Rebecca Snyder, Ed.D. (University of Pennsylvania 2016), the 2009 Pennsylvania State Teacher of the Year, has spent more than two decades in the English Language Arts classroom. She is still serving students and colleagues as English Language Arts Teacher Leader at Greater Latrobe Senior High School in Pennsylvania. She also holds an advisory role on assessment committees for the Pennsylvania Department of Education. Dr. Snyder was a member of the original Steering Committee and then the newly elected board of NNSTOY during its reorganization in 2010. NNSTOY’s first board chair, Dr. Snyder served as a director until 2022 with roles in both the Governance and Strategic Planning Committees. As a founding board member of the Pennsylvania Teachers Advisory Committee (PTAC), before its dissolution, Dr. Snyder has spent more than a decade invested in non-profit initiatives at the state and national levelsf focused on developing ways for teachers to lead in policy, practice, and advocacy. She served with other NNSTOY members as a course facilitator helping to shape the Teaching Beyond Barriers course during its pilot phase.

Justin Minkel spent 20 years teaching multilingual learners in highpoverty public schools in New York City, the Bay Area, and northwest Arkansas. As part of the Elementary Education faculty at the University of Arkansas, Justin now mentors student teachers at the school where he spent the last 16 years of his teaching career. He also works with teacher leaders as the Assistant Director for Mount Holyoke's Teacher Leadership Programs alongside Dr. Jemelleh Coes.

Justin is the 2007 Arkansas Teacher of the Year, a 2006 Milken Educator, and a National Board Certified Teacher. He received his Masters in Elementary Education from UC Berkeley and an MFA in Creative Writing for Children and Young Adults from Hamline University. He completed his undergraduate degree in Africana Studies and Intercultural Education at Cornell University.

Justin founded an initiative to provide home libraries for over 7,000 children living in poverty. As a columnist for Education Week and other publications, he has written over 100 pieces about education policy and teaching practice. Justin helps to lead Equity initiatives through the National Network of State Teacher of the Year, including the Teaching Beyond the Barriers course for teachers seeking to better meet the needs of students of color and LGBTQ+ students. Justin believes our job as educators is to help all children to live the lives they dream.

Dr. Leticia Guzman Ingram, a distinguished ELD/SPED educator, is renowned for her unwavering advocacy for student needs. Her dedication to educational excellence earned her the honor of 2016 Colorado Teacher of the Year and ELD Colorado Teacher of the Year. Dr. Guzman Ingram's commitment to inclusive learning led to diverse educational experiences, including journeys to Finland, China, and Cambodia. She contributes significantly to education, lending expertise to The Aspen Institute and presenting at prestigious venues like congressional briefings and the Aspen Ideas Festival.

As a National Geography Grosvenor Fellow, she explored Arctic regions, enriching her understanding of geography and culture. With a doctorate from Abilene Christian University, her research focuses on immigrant students' resilience, particularly those of Salvadoran descent. Beyond Basalt High School, she serves as an adjunct professor at Colorado Mountain College and co-facilitates Teach for Equity courses with the National Network of State Teachers of the Year. Continuing her dedication to advancing educational practices, Dr. Guzman Ingram recently presented at the 31st AHRD International Research Conference, further solidifying her reputation as a trailblazer in education.