2022 ELEVATE Conference Program

All In: Energizing School Communities through Inclusive Practices

What does it mean to be ‘all in’? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, being all in shows a lot of determination and a willingness to take a big risk in order to achieve something.

For students with disabilities to succeed in our schools, we collectively must be all in. Today's conference is a series of facilitated conversations with school leaders, teachers, students, and community members that highlight inclusive practices, We hope that the sessions spark conversations about ways in which teams can work towards our common goal of ensuring that all of our students feel success in learning.

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VIRTUAL MEDITATION 8:30 - 8:50 AM

La Sarmiento

KEYNOTE 9:00 - 9:45 AM

Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., founder and chief executive officer of Revolutionary ED, LLC

FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS 10:00 - 10:45 AM

Why We Need Universal Design for Learning

11:00-11:45 AM

Equitable Multi-Tiered Systems of Support

12:00 - 12:45 PM

Uplifting Students through Transition Supports

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KEYNOTE SPEAKER: GREGORY C. HUTCHINGS, JR. Dr. Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr. is the founder and chief executive officer of Revolutionary ED, LLC. He is a nationally recognized educational leader, antiracism activist, and published author who unapologetically advocates for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and racial equity in education. Dr. Hutchings was also recently appointed as the first Executive-InResidence at American University’s School of Education and plays a key role in elevating the school’s Antiracist Administration, Supervision, and Leadership (ARASL) certificate program.

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VIRTUAL MEDITATION

Morning Meditation Led by La Sarmiento 8:30-8:50 AM In this meditation session, participants will experience a heart and mind-opening settling in practice to ground folks with the theme of inclusivity.

FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS Why We Need Universal Design for Learning 10:00-10:45 AM Olivia Smith, Founder & Head of School, Bridges PCS; Nakita Packer, 4th Grade Special Education Teacher, Bridges PCS; Brandon Woodland, 4th Grade General Education Teacher, Bridges PCS

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a way of thinking about teaching and learning that helps give all students an equal opportunity to succeed. This session will focus on a school that has prioritized UDL and how it has transformed teaching and learning.

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FACILITATED CONVERSATIONS Equitable Multi-Tiered Systems of Support 11:00-11:45 AM James Kelly, Principal, Washington Latin PCS; Khashiffa Roberts, Director of Special Education, Washington Latin PCS; Pat Bane, General Education Teacher, Washington Latin PCS Schools need strong Tier 1 supports to ensure all students receive the interventions they need. Join us for this talk where representatives from Washington Latin PCS discuss their experiences building MTSS into an existing school, and building a school with MTSS from the beginning.

Uplifting Students through Transition Supports 12:00-12:45 PM Dean Weeks, Co-director of Special Education, Maya Angelou PCS; McKenzie ___, Student at Delaware State University; Terrance Matthews, Student at Maya Angelou PCS; Paula Almond, Transition Specialist at DC Special Education Cooperative Students who receive strong transition supports find their post-secondary paths effectively. Join us to hear from a current student, a former student, and an administrator about how their program uplifts students with disabilities and improves their post-secondary outcomes.

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PRESENTER BIOS Why We Need Universal Design for Learning 10:00-10:45 AM Moderated by Meagan Alderton, Program Quality Specialist Olivia Smith, Founder & Head of School, Bridges PCS Olivia Smith had not planned on becoming a teacher. Her first job out of college was supposed to be as an assistant teacher with the HeadStart program in Hartford, Connecticut. On the first day of teacher orientation the Hartford HeadStart program was short one lead teacher and because Olivia had some experience teaching and a bachelor’s degree, she was asked to take the job. During the first three months on the job, Olivia fell in love with teaching and fell hard. She fell in love with supporting learning through play, building relationships with her students and especially loved working with students who have special needs.

Prior to founding Bridges Public Charter School in 2005 she taught in both general education inclusion classrooms and special education classrooms. She has a Master of Arts degree in Social Work from Columbia University, and a Master of Arts in Education from Bank Street College of Education. Olivia Smith loves working at Bridges because of the dedication and intelligence of the school’s teachers and staff, and because of the diversity of the students and families that the school serves.

Brandon Woodland, General Education Teacher, Bridges PCS

Uplifting Students through Transition Supports 12:00-12:45 PM

Brandon is a fourth and fifth grade Math teacher. This year is his sixth year with Bridges PCS. Prior to starting at Bridges, Brandon worked as a High/Middle School Special Education teacher at a non-public school in Maryland.

Dean Weeks, Co-director of Special Education, Maya Angelou PCS; McKenzie ___, Student at Delaware State University; Terrance Matthews, Student at Maya Angelou PCS; Paula Almond, DC Special Education A big believer in inclusive Transition practices for Specialist all students, at Nakita Henderson-Packer is a Cooperative UDL and Special Nakita Packer, Special Education Teacher, Bridges PCS

Education Instructional Coach with Bridges Public Charter School in Washington DC. In this role, Nakita mentors, coaches,who and provides professional development ontheir best practices for engaging all Students receiveschoolwide strong transition supports find post-secondary paths students. Throughout her 20-year career, she has served in various leadership roles across the public, private, effectively. Join us to hear from a current student, a former student, and an and charter school sectors. Mrs. Packer developed a virtual Saturday School program to support learning loss administrator about how shutdowns. their program uplifts students disabilities improves due to the pandemic and school This contributed to Bridges with PCS being identifiedand as a Bold post-secondary outcomes.

Performance School, where student their proficiency rates were higher than pre-pandemic average scores. As a Veteran of the Army Reserve, Mrs. Packer has also served for 11 years in the military. Mrs. Packer’s education includes a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation from Lincoln University, a Master’s of Education in Special Education from Cheyney University, and a Master's in Educational Leadership from Trinity Washington University.

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PRESENTER BIOS Equitable Multi-Tiered Systems of Support 11:00-11:45 AM Moderated by Laura Lorenzen, Program Quality Specialist James Kelly, Principal, Washington Latin PCS James (Jimmy) Kelly began his tenure as Principal in July 2021, having previously served as the Assistant Principal and Director of the Middle School. He also serves as co-chair of the Ninth Grade Counts Network at Raise DC and is a member of the organization’s Postsecondary Access and Completion Change Network.

Prior to joining the faculty at Washington Latin, Jimmy served as the Director of PrepNext at DC Prep. Jimmy began his education career as a Teach For America Corps Member teaching middle school math in St. Louis, Missouri. In 2011, he co-founded the college access program inspireSTL, which supports scholars from 7th grade through college graduation with securing tutoring/coaching, financial aid, and college access.

Khashiffa Roberts, Director of Special Education, Washington Latin PCS Khashiffa first joined Washington Latin in 2010 as a Special Education teacher, with a degree from Howard University in journalism and a Masters from the University of the District of Columbia in Special Education.

After five years supporting our students with disabilities in partnership with both classroom faculty and families, Khashiffa began taking on administrative responsibilities, serving as Dean of Students, 12th Grade Director, Director of Special Education, and Assistant Principal for Student Life over the next five years. In each of these roles, Khashiffa ensured that the foundational principles of our classical model remained central to our daily work, reflected in our policies and practices and clearly visible in our classrooms and daily life on campus. Her leadership balanced this “big picture” focus with her constant devotion to our students, challenging and supporting them in their academic and personal growth. This will continue to be Dean Weeks, Co-director of Special Education, Maya Angelou PCS; McKenzie ___, Student her focus for the students and families of the Cooper Campus.

Uplifting Students through Transition Supports 12:00-12:45 PM

at Delaware State University; Terrance Matthews, Student at Maya Angelou PCS; Paula Almond, Transition Specialist Pat Bane, 5th Grade Teacher, Washington Latin PCSat DC Special Education Cooperative

Since Students moving to America from Ireland in 2000, Pat has supports worked as afind 4th-grade Athletic Director, and who receive strong transition theirteacher, post-secondary paths independent school elementary principal. Very grateful to have an opportunity to return to the classroom effectively. Join us to hear from a current student, a former student, and an and public school education, and Pat is now in his fourth year at Washington Latin. As I fully expected, my administrator about howtotheir program with and improves 5th-grade students never cease remind Pat of theuplifts richnessstudents of a teacher's lifedisabilities in the classroom.

their post-secondary outcomes.

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PRESENTER BIOS Empowering Students 12:00-12:45 PM Moderated by David Fridie, Community Engagement Coordinator Terrance Matthews, current charter school student Terrance Matthews is a 10th-grade student at a DC charter school. His favorite subjects are math and history.

He’s interested in politics and becoming an activist.

McKenzie Collins, college student McKenzie is a first-year student at Delaware State University and a proud graduate of Capital City PCS. She enjoys listening to music, hanging out with friends, word search puzzles, and refining her makeup application skills. She is studying early childhood education in service of opening a daycare when she graduates.

Dean Weeks, Co-director of Special Education, Maya Angelou PCS Mr. Weeks has served students and families as an education leader for nearly twenty years in the metro D.C. area. He successfully dedicated fifteen years to the High Roads Schools of Washington – a private, independent group of schools for exceptional learners. While at High Roads, Mr. Weeks served as the organization’s founding Associate Director, Senior Director, and eventually Executive Director, a role in which he led and supported several campuses and school leaders. Prior to becoming an educator, Mr. Weeks served in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant and a parachute rigger with the 11th Special Forces Group at Fort Meade, MD. Mr. Weeks holds a B.A. in Communications from Bowie State University Dean Weeks, Co-director of Special Education, Maya Angelou PCS; McKenzie ___, Student and earned his M.A. in Curriculum and Instruction from National Louis University in Chicago, Illinois.

Uplifting Students through Transition Supports 12:00-12:45 PM

at Delaware State University; Terrance Matthews, Student at Maya Angelou PCS; Paula Specialist at DC Special Education Cooperative Paula Almond, Almond, Secondary Transition Transition Specialist

Ms. Paula Almondwho joined the Co-op in April of 2022. Shesupports provides support to thepost-secondary Director of Secondary Students receive strong transition find their paths Transition and is responsible for a wide range of workforce activities, to include, development and program effectively.

Join us to hear from a current student, a former student, and an delivery. Before joining the Co-op, Paula worked at E.L. Haynes Public Charter High School for five years as a administrator aboutshe how their programto uplifts students with disabilities and improves Transition Teacher, where taught Introduction Transition and College and Career Readiness.

The last theironpost-secondary outcomes.

11 years, Paula has worked with students various levels in Elementary, Middle, High School, and also being a Special Education Coordinator.

Paula holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from St. Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Virginia.

When attending St. Paul’s College, Paula was the President of the Best Buddies Leadership of America organization.

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