OCP 2025 Program Booklet

A NATIONAL SUMMIT FOR COURAGEOUS

SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP powered by

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SANOMNI ANTONIO MARRIOTTRESORT RIVER CENTER THE RIVER WALK • JULY11-13, 12-14,2025 2024 SCOTTSDALE & SPA @ONMONTELUCIA • JULY

TABLE OF

CONTENTS

STNETNOC

WELCOME

4 6 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 12 SBP OFFERINGS 17 SESSION HIGHLIGHTS 41 SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK Opening Message

Presenters and Session descriptions

We are absolutely thrilled to gather with you at the beautiful Omni Scottsdale Resort & Spa at Montelucia for what promises to be a transformative experience. This year marks a significant expansion for OCP, as we widen our scope to embrace not only school board members, but also superintendents, administrative leaders, and other educational leaders from across the country. Our goal is to

WELCOME LETTER

Welcome to Our Collective Power (OCP) 2025!

bring together diverse voices who are all determined to support school boards in driving positive change in their school districts.

We are at a unique and pivotal moment in time for education. In the chaos of our new and evolving educational landscape, none of us have the luxury to learn and work in isolation.

The challenges facing our school districts today are immense, from tightening budgets and increasing political tension to persistent learning gaps and constant student safety concerns. In this landscape, the collective strength and collaboration of school boards and local leadership matters more than ever. This conference is designed to acknowledge these pressures and provide you with the tools, insights, and community necessary to navigate them effectively.

OCP 2025 offers a unique opportunity to refuel, retool, and reconnect. Here, you will find three days of practical instruction, brand new workshops, and unparalleled opportunities to build community. Our expanded programming includes deep-dive workshops across multiple tracks, allowing you to dig into critical topics like policy and leadership. Sessions will cover everything from effective governance and community engagement to strategic budgeting and utilizing generative AI for policy making. By improving individual knowledge, we will be collectively deepening our expertise and building skills that will help us successfully meet the challenges our districts, schools, and students currently face.

4

Welcome

WELCOME (CONTINUED)

Beyond the valuable content, OCP emphasizes the vital importance of investing in community and self-care. This year’s location offers a perfect setting to recharge and enjoy your stay. We believe that connecting with likeminded agents for change and building strong bonds with education leaders from across the country is essential for sustaining yourselves in our everchanging and unstable landscape.

For returning OCP participants and members of the SBP family, we encourage you to warmly welcome those joining from different roles and perspectives.

Help them feel included and supported—we are stronger when we learn and lead together. And for those new to this space, we invite you to see firsthand the power of working side-by-side with school board members committed to students. Together, we can build and sustain the schools all our students deserve.

Thank you for your commitment to our students and communities. We can't wait to see the positive steps and changes you will bring back to your school districts, seeded by the connections and learning forged here at OCP 2025.

With warm regards,

Ethan Ashley Ethan Ashley CEO and Co-Founder School Board Partners

5

Welcome

OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2025 | JULY 11-13, 2025

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE Hotel & Meeting Spot:

OMNI SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA @ MONTELUCIA Meeting Room Key Meeting room

Meeting room

Meeting room

Meeting room

Alhambra

Sevilla

Cordoba

Castillo

Friday July 11th, 2025 Day

DAY ONE

Arrive in Scottsdale

DAY TWO

11:00am - 1:00 pm

Conference Registration | Alhambra Foyer

12:00pm - 1:00pm

Lunch

1:00pm - 2:15pm

Policy & Leadership Session Options: Driving Change Through Policies That Meet the Moment | Alhambra A Courageous Leadership: Navigating Conflict & Presenting a United Front | Alhambra B

6

Conference Schedule

OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2025 | JULY 11-13, 2025

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE Hotel & Meeting Spot:

OMNI SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA @ MONTELUCIA Meeting Room Key Meeting room

Meeting room

Meeting room

Meeting room

Alhambra

Sevilla

Cordoba

Castillo

Friday July 11th, 2025 2:30pm - 3:45 pm

DAY ONE

Policy & Leadership Session Options: Unlocking the Power of Generative AI: Practical Tools for Policy Making | Alhambra A Adaptive Leadership | Alhambra B

7

3:45pm - 1:00pm

Snacks

4:00pm - 6:00pm

Relaxation Break. Enjoy the resort!

6:00pm - 9:00pm

Welcome Recption (Dinner Included) | Castillo

Conference Schedule

DAY TWO

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE

OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2025 | JULY 11-13, 2025

Saturday July 12th, 2025

CONTINUED

DAY TWO

8:00am - 9:00amSpot Breakfast | Alhambra Hotel & Meeting

9:00am - 10:00am

Session Options: Morning Wellness: Going From Chaos to Calm | Alhambra

10:00am - 11:15am

Opening Plenary Session | Alhambra

11:30am - 12:45pm

Session Options:

Hotel & Meeting Spot

12:45pm - 1:15pm 8

Conference Schedule

Meeting the Needs of the Whole Student: The Vital Role of the Board in Supporting Social-Emotional Wellness in Schools | Alhambra Accountability and Repair: What to Do When We Screw Up | Sevilla Improving Student Outcomes: From Intent to Impact | Cordoba Combating the Attack on Educational Equity and Civil Rights: What Education Leaders Should Know | Castillo

Transition break & Lunch | Alhambra Foyer

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE

OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2025 | JULY 11-13, 2025

Saturday July 12th, 2025 1:15pm - 2:15pm Hotel & Meeting Spot 2:30pm - 3:45pm

CONTINUED

DAY TWO

Lunch Plenary Session: Fireside Chat | Alhambra

Session Options: Run With Purpose, Win With Precision: Turning Your Values Into a Voter Strategy | Alhambra Communicating in Challenging Times | Sevilla Future-Focused Budgeting: Aligining Resources With Evolving Needs | Cordoba Education for All: Schools and the Shifting Immigration Landscape | Castillo

Hotel & Meeting Spot 4:00pm - 5:15pm

Session Options: Leading in Sync: Cultivating Stronger Relationships Between Boards and Superintendents | Alhambra Stewarding Success: Raising the Bar in Charter School Governance | Sevilla More Than Money: Advancing Equity, Through Strategic Resource Use | Cordoba Leading Locally: How School Districts Can Take Bold Climate Action | Castillo

5:15pm - 7:00pm 9

Conference Schedule

Networking Mixer (Food & Drinks included) | Alhambra Foyer

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE SCHEDULE

OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2025 | JULY 11-13, 2025

Sunday July 13th, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am

Breakfast | Valencia

9:00am - 10:00am

Session Options:

CONTINUED

DAY THREE

Morning Wellness: Stretch it Out | Valencia

Hotel & Meeting Spot 10:00am - 11:15am

Session Options:

Governing for Justice: How School Boards Can Champion Culturally Responsive Civics Education | Alhambra Leading with Clarity and Purpose: Navigating Challenges in Equity Work | Sevilla Supporting Early Childhood Programs Through Community Collaboration- A Road Map to Accomplishing the Work | Cordoba Post with Purpose: Communications Strategies You Can use Hotel & Meeting Spot Now| Castillo

11:15am - 11:30am

Transition Break + Lunch | Valencia

11:30am - 12:45pm

Lunch Session From Insight to Impact: Turning Learning into Action | Valencia

1:00pm - 2:00pm

Closing Plenary Session | Valencia

Afternoon

Depart Scottsdale (or extend your stay )

10 Conference Schedule

2025

SPONSORS

Thank you for your generous support of Our Collective Power and for contributing to the success of this impactful event.

Connect with us online

schoolboardpartners.org

OUR

OFFERINGS School Board Partners provides tools, training, and community to help education leaders govern with impact. From certification programs to strategic coaching and peer networks, our offerings are built to support bold, equitydriven leadership.

OUR OFFERINGS

CSU CERTIFICATION CERTIFICATE IN EMPOWERED SCHOOL BOARD GOVERNANCE

Developed in partnership with School Board Partners and Colorado State University Global, this program equips participants with foundational knowledge and practical, transferable skills to lead and advocate for meaningful reform within public education. Whether you're a community leader, district official, or school board member, ESBG prepares you to navigate complex governance structures and drive equity-focused change.

What You’ll Learn Through nine comprehensive modules, participants will: Understand the core roles and responsibilities of school board members Explore strategic levers of power for effective governance Develop skills to revise and create equity-centered school board policies Use self-assessment tools to support continuous professional growth in equity-driven leadership

OUR OFFERINGS

REGIONAL PARTNER HUB Join a national network of over 500 school board leaders dedicated to equity, excellence, and connection. The SBP Partner Hub offers: Local Programming – Tailored gatherings, workshops, and wellness retreats Networking – Peer mentoring and collaboration opportunities Resources – Access to toolkits, PD materials, and wellness guides Cross-State Initiatives – National seminars, joint projects & more Built for school board members by school board members.

Let’s broaden perspectives, accelerate learning, and amplify impact—together.

SBP FELLOWSHIP NATIONAL POLICY & GOVERNANCE TRAINING FOR SCHOOL BOARD LEADERS Step into your full leadership potential. The SBP Fellowship equips school board members to evaluate, craft, and implement bold, kid-first policies through personalized coaching, expert-led training, and a national network of peers.

Fellows receive professional development in: Good Governance Student-Centered Strategies Personal Leadership Self-Care & Sustainability

1-Year Cohort | Mentorship & Webinars | National Conference

Interested in learning more?

Scan & Fill out our Fellowship Interest Form

OUR OFFERINGS

WHOLE BOARD CONSULTING TRANSFORM YOUR BOARD. TRANSFORM YOUR DISTRICT.

School Board Partners delivers high-impact consulting designed to do more than improve governance—it transforms it. Using our Empowered Governance framework, we guide school boards from dysfunction to clarity, compliance to leadership, and reactive decisions to strategic, student-centered action.

Deliverables You Can Expect: Clear district performance goals Superintendent evaluation policies Year-long board agenda with data tracking

Our consulting services include: Board Retreats & Trainings 1:1 Governance Coaching Monthly Meeting Observations Policy & Deliverable Development Empowered Governance Toolkit Whether you're ready to lead with greater purpose or align your board for lasting change—SBP is your longterm partner for real results.

Reorganized governance structures Updated finance policies Reform strategies on key issues Annual board self-evaluation

OUR OFFERINGS

SBP MEMBERSHIP NETWORK

EMPOWER YOUR LEADERSHIP. EXPAND YOUR IMPACT. Join a national network of school board leaders driving student success through bold, values-aligned governance. Whether you're just getting started or ready to take your board to the next level, SBP Membership provides the tools, coaching, and community to lead with purpose and impact.

Why Join?

Choose the Membership That Fits You

Because leadership shouldn't be lonely. SBP Membership connects you to: Peer Leaders Nationwide – Collaborate, learn, and grow with board members facing the same challenges.

Coaching & Strategy Support – Get one-onone help to set goals, troubleshoot barriers, and move your board forward.

Powerful Resources – Gain access to our Empowered Governance Toolkit and a library of policy exemplars passed by real boards.

Member Benefits Personalized coaching + Whole Board Assessment Private listserv & leadership WhatsApp groups Member-only events with VIP perks Discounts on SBP programs and webinars Early access to new content and trainings

Individual Membership

$99/Year Perfect for school board members, educators, or advocates seeking independent growth at an accessible price.

Whole Board Membership Custom Pricing • Multi-user access • Team alignment tools • 10% off retreats and consulting • Dedicated account support

10–25% off on conferences and assessments

Ready to Lead Differently?

Join today and get the tools, strategies, and support to govern with impact.

Scan the QR Code

HIGHLIGHTS

SESSION

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SESSION HIGHLIGHTS FRI. JULY 11TH, 2025 • 1:00PM-2:15 Driving Change Through Policies That Meet the Moment Alhambra A

Presenter: Ben Kleban School boards and district leaders are navigating one of the most demanding periods in recent history. From political tensions and persistent learning gaps to safety concerns and tight budgets, the pressures are constant and the stakes are high. But amid the complexity, one powerful tool remains within reach: policy. In this timely and interactive workshop, we’ll explore how smart, student-centered policymaking can serve as a catalyst for meaningful change and impactful governance. Together, we’ll discuss top policy priorities that address today’s challenges and opportunities. Participants will gain access to model policies, national best practices, and practical frameworks designed to strengthen our public education systems—ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive, now and into the future.

18 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS FRI. JULY 11TH, 2025 • 1:00 PM-2:15 PM Courageous Leadership: Navigating Conflict & Presenting a United Front Alhambra B

Presenter: Dr. Amanda Aiken In public education leadership, conflict is not a sign of dysfunction—it’s a sign of engagement. This session uses the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode framework (TKI) to explore how board members and superintendents navigate complex dynamics, differing opinions, and public scrutiny. While participants won’t take the formal assessment, we’ll discuss five core conflict approaches—Competing, Collaborating, Compromising, Avoiding, and Accommodating—and how these show up in governance and executive leadership. We’ll also practice how to disagree productively behind closed doors while maintaining a united front in public—a necessary skill for advancing trust and strategic progress Objectives: Explore the five conflict modes from the TKI framework in a governance context Reflect on your personal conflict tendencies in public vs. private spaces Identify the difference between necessary and unproductive conflict Learn strategies to maintain trust while navigating disagreement and external pressure

19 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS FRI. JULY 11TH, 2025 • 2:30–3:45 PM Unlocking the Power of Generative AI: Practical Tools for Policy Making Alhambra A

Presenter: Ethan Ashley, Esq. School districts across the country are facing a critical question: how do we responsibly and effectively leverage generative AI? This hands-on workshop is your opportunity to move beyond the buzz and into meaningful action. Discover how generative AI is reshaping the public sector—streamlining operations, enhancing decision-making, and sparking innovation. Participants will gain a clear understanding of how these tools work, explore real-world applications, and leave with actionable strategies to integrate AI into your district’s policy-making process. Plus, get an exclusive introduction to Policy IQ—a new app designed specifically for school boards and district leaders to simplify and elevate policy development.

20 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS FRI. JULY 11TH, 2025 • 2:30–3:45 PM Adaptive Leadership Alhambra B

Presenter: Dr. Lisa Kingsley Strong technical systems — clear policies, compliance structures, and well-monitored operations — are essential for schools and districts to run smoothly and meet legal obligations.

But many of the most persistent challenges facing boards — like closing achievement gaps, strengthening community trust, or shifting culture — can’t be solved by technical fixes alone.

They require adaptive work: changing mindsets, roles, habits, and beliefs over time.

This session will help board members see how technical actions can be used purposefully to unlock and support this deeper change. Together, we will: Clarify the difference between technical and adaptive challenges in common district scenarios.

Examine typical pitfalls, such as relying too heavily on quick fixes, misreading the root issue, or unintentionally silencing diverse perspectives.

Explore practical ways to frame board-level questions, decisions, and policies to connect day-to-day actions back to bigger, mission-centered goals.

Discuss how to pace change so stakeholders stay engaged without being overwhelmed — and how to monitor progress in ways that promote learning, not just compliance.

Grounded in a “do now, build towards” philosophy, this session provides board members with realistic ideas to take immediate steps while laying a stronger foundation for long-term, adaptive progress. Participants will leave with clearer language, mindsets, and examples to help them lead for both stability and innovation in complex systems.

21 Session Highlights

SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 9:00 PM–9:45 AM

MORNING WELLNESS: Going From Chaos To Calm

Presenter: Dominic Malone Without a rubric for living good all we have is a partial remedy. The 11 Keys To Well-being workshop is a roadmap to wellness longevity, that activates the potential in individuals and organizationally.

22 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 11:30AM–12:45 PM Meeting the Needs of the Whole Student: The Vital Role of the Board in Supporting Social-Emotional Wellness in Schools Alhambra

Presenter: Armando Montero and Sarah James In June of 2021, Tempe Union HSD passed a board-led, comprehensive student social-emotional wellness policy that incorporates research-based strategies on how to approach mental health, create safe and health school environments, and creates procedures for suicide prevention, intervention, and postvention while giving schools the tools necessary to create best practices that fit their individual needs and student populations. This policy is aimed to create a long-term infrastructure of support systems to identify and support students in need and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in order to create a positive and socially/emotionally healthy school environment for all students. This session will demonstrate the process to develop this policy and how school board members can use their role as policymakers to effectuate systemic change.

23 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 11:30AM–12:45 PM Accountability and Repair: What to Do When We Screw Up Sevilla

Presenter: Jorge Arteaga Imagine you did or said something that hurt someone, whether you meant to or not.

Perhaps, you’re wondering: What should I do next? We have some solutions to move forward. At some point, we all cause harm—intentionally or unintentionally. When we’re called into accountability, it’s not an attack on our character but an invitation to examine and address our actions. What we do next matters.

In this interactive training, we’ll explore: What accountability really means—and why it’s a crucial part of building trust and strong relationships.

The impact of harm—how our words and actions affect others, regardless of intent.

The HEAL methodology—Right To Be’s four-step approach to taking accountability and repairing harm: Hear: Listen fully without defensiveness.

Empathize: Acknowledge the impact of your actions.

Apologize: Offer a meaningful, responsible apology.

Learn: Commit to change and do better moving forward.

24 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 11:30AM–12:45 PM Improving Student Outcomes: From Intent to Impact Cordoba

Presenter: AJ Crabill School systems exist for one reason: to improve student outcomes. Yet, too often, adults inadvertently center their work around inputs that create comfort for the adults, rather than centering their work around outcomes that create choice-filled lives for students. In this interactive session, participants will explore a framework for noticing when our intentions -- causing growth in what our children know and are able to do so they can experience liberation and choice -- don't fully match our impacts. And participants will leave with practical insights on clarifying community priorities, monitoring progress effectively, and aligning resources. It is possible to transform your vision for student success from aspiration into reality; let's talk about it.

SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 11:30AM–12:45 PM Combating the Attack on Educational Equity and Civil Rights: What Education Leaders Should Know Castillo

Presenter: Hamida Labi, Esq. In today’s rapidly evolving legal and political landscape, education leaders face unprecedented challenges and complexities. From legislative changes and executive actions to political polarization and policy shifts, the environment is shaping how schools operate, govern, and serve their communities. This session will unpack key developments, explore their implications for K-12 education, and offer recommendations on what state and local school leaders can do to advance educational equity and defend students’ civil rights. on staying compliant, adaptive, and mission-driven in uncertain times.

25 Session Highlights

SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 1:15PM

FIRESIDE CHAT Staying Rooted in Purpose:

Lynae Vanee

An inspiring conversation about reclaiming and wielding our power.

Ethan Ashley, Esq. 26 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 2:30–3:45 PM Run With Purpose, Win With Precision: Turning Your Values Into a Voter Strategy Alhambra

Presenter: Justin McCorkle This interactive 75-minute session is designed for both sitting board members preparing for re-election and aspiring candidates considering a run for school board. Participants will explore how to ground their campaign in personal values—and use data to identify and mobilize the voters who can help them win.

We’ll walk through how to build a voter universe, connect your story to message pillars that resonate with your community, and apply targeting techniques to focus your outreach where it matters most. Whether you’ve campaigned before or are just getting started, this session offers a practical roadmap to run with purpose and win with precision.

Participants will leave with: A clear understanding of how to identify their base, persuadable voters, and opposition.

Tools to translate their personal “why” into a compelling message.

Insight into how voter files, precinct data, and community intel can guide outreach.

A draft outreach plan rooted in targeting—not guesswork.

Strategies to align governance priorities with campaign messaging.

27 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 2:30PM–3:45 PM Communicating in Challenging Times Sevilla

Presenter: Debbie Veney It's a tough time to be a leader in education. Any words said have the potential to upend careers, jeopardize funding or set off a hailstorm of criticism. What's a person to do? Before scrubbing the language on websites or deleting past social posts, let's talk about how to communicate well...even in the toughest of environments. Using research tested language, it is possible to hold onto your values without inciting controversy.

SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 2:30PM–3:45 PM Future-Focused Budgeting: Aligning Resources with Evolving Needs Cordoba

Presenter: Dr. Jessica Swanson Amidst the ongoing need to accelerate student learning post-pandemic, address enrollment declines, and navigate an uncertain federal context, School Board members must think beyond the current fiscal year. This session offers practical strategies to shape budgets that are studentcentered, sustainable, and responsive to long-term priorities. This session will explore aligning budgets with strategic goals, anticipating future challenges, and making tough trade-offs.

28 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 2:30–3:45 PM Education for All: Schools and the Shifting Immigration Landscape Castillo

Presenter: Marlene Berroa Rodriguez This presentation will explore the evolving landscape of immigration policy and its impact on public K–12 education. It will examine current efforts to restrict educational access for immigrant youth and the increasing concerns surrounding enforcement actions in and around schools. The session will provide public K–12 school leaders with information and best practices to help ensure they can continue to offer a safe and welcoming learning environment for all students and their families.

29 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 4:00 PM–5:15 PM Building Bridges: Strengthening Superintendent-Board Relationships Alhambra

Presenter: Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. This presentation, Building Bridges: Strengthening Superintendent-Board Relationships, offers a comprehensive guide for educational leaders seeking to cultivate a more cohesive, strategic, and impactful relationship between superintendents and school boards. Through four practical strategies—fostering a team mindset, establishing empowering routines, aligning messaging, and recognizing achievements—this session explores how effective collaboration can drive sustainable leadership and improved educational outcomes. Attendees will engage in interactive discussions, explore real-world examples, and leave with actionable insights to strengthen governance and create unified school district leadership.

30 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 4:00 PM–5:15 PM Beyond the Agenda: Personal Leadership Tools for School Boards Navigating Crisis, Controversy, and Change Sevilla

Presenter: Ashley Fortner-Domínguez School boards today are facing intense pressure. From community tension and media attention to difficult decisions around curriculum, staffing, and policy, the role has never been more complex. This session invites board members to explore how they lead under pressure and how their personal responses, values, and role clarity shape the impact they have. Drawing on research-based tools from adaptive leadership, adult development, and systems thinking, participants will build skills to lead with intention, communicate across disagreement, and remain effective in the face of disruption.

Participants will leave with practical tools to: Navigate high-conflict issues with clarity and emotional steadiness Reflect on their leadership identity and role during challenging public moments Lead across disagreement in a way that strengthens board effectiveness Respond to pressure without losing connection to their core purpose

31 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 4:00 PM–5:15 PM More Than Money: Advancing Equity Through Strategic Resource Use Cordoba

Presenter: Nicholas Munyan-Penney and Shayna Levitan There’s no denying that money matters in education. However, school board members must not only consider “how much” money is available, but also “how well” that money is being used to leverage available resources. To best meet the unique needs of every student, especially students from systemically marginalized groups, school boards have a responsibility to support ensuring resources are equitably distributed across and within schools.

In this session, participants will learn about the Alliance for Resource Equity (ARE) framework and toolkit, which are designed to start conversations, create shared understandings, and build action plans designed to support the needs of all students. The session will have a short overview of the framework and toolkit and then spend most of the session getting hands-on experience with the ARE tools by working with their peers to analyze sample district data connected to Dimensions 2 (Teacher Quality and Diversity) and 4 (Empowering, Rigorous Content). The guided practice will help board members understand how they could use the ARE tools to assess the state of equity and excellence in their own community by analyzing local data, considering root causes of their identified challenges, and pinpoint relevant actions to influence positive change for students.

32 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 12TH, 2025 • 4:00 PM–5:15 PM Leading Locally: How School Districts Can Take Bold Climate Action Castillo

Presenter: Markus Cineceros As heatwaves, air pollution, and extreme weather increasingly impact students and schools, local districts have a unique opportunity—and responsibility—to lead on climate action. Join Markus Ceniceros, Vice President of the Governing Board for the Littleton Elementary School District, to explore how school boards can reduce emissions, transition to clean energy, and invest in healthier, more resilient learning environments. Drawing from his own experience leading solar energy projects and sustainability initiatives, Markus will offer practical, actionable steps that board members can take to advance climate solutions in their own communities.

33 Session Highlights

SUN. JULY 13TH, 2025 • 9:00–9:45 AM

MORNING WELLNESS: Stretch it Out

Presenter: Arise Wellness powered by Tunnel Vision Creative Agency A stiff body limits the mind. Stretch It Out is a movement-based micro-activation designed to awaken the underused and overlooked parts of the body—releasing tension, increasing circulation, and restoring flow. When the body opens, the mind doesn’t have to focus on healing—it’s free to create, build, and move with clarity.

34 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 13TH, 2025 • 10:00 AM–11:15 AM Governing for Justice: How School Boards Can Champion Culturally Responsive Civics Education Valencia

Presenter: Andrea Foggy-Paxton This interactive session will equip school board members with practical tools and insights to advance high-quality, culturally responsive social studies and civic education through policy and oversight. Drawing on the Social Studies HQIM Framework and lessons from the 2023 System Leader Learning Lab, participants will explore how governance levers—such as curriculum policy, graduate profiles, budget priorities, and accountability tools—can strengthen civics instruction aligned with equity and democratic readiness. Through realworld scenarios, case studies, and SSA implementation supports, board members will develop action plans to lead instructional transformation in their districts.

Participants will leave with resources, strategies, and a clearer understanding of how school boards can accelerate impact in social studies classrooms and champion inclusive civic learning.

35 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 13TH, 2025 • 10:00 AM–11:15 AM Leading with Clarity and Purpose: Navigating Challenges in Equity Work Sevilla

Presenter: Christina Horner Efforts to promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools can sometimes spark differing viewpoints and concerns from community members. This interactive session is designed to help school board members and education leaders better understand the sources of pushback and explore strategies for productive engagement.

Participants will examine real-world scenarios, reflect on their leadership roles, and engage in guided dialogue to explore how values-based leadership can support effective communication and thoughtful decision-making. Through practical tools and structured activities, attendees will leave with strategies to stay focused on their goals, build trust, and lead with confidence—even when conversations are complex.

Session Outcomes: Participants will gain insight into the underlying factors—emotional, psychological, and social—that contribute to differing perspectives on equity-related initiatives, and how these dynamics can influence board interactions and community trust.

Participants will analyze real scenarios and develop practical strategies to lead with empathy, courage, and clarity in the face of conflict.

36 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 13TH, 2025 • 10:00 AM–11:15 AM Supporting Early Childhood Programs Through Community CollaborationA Road Map to Accomplishing the Work Cordoba

Presenter: Sarah Richardson Research highlights the critical importance of ensuring quality early childhood experiences, and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are uniquely positioned to lead the charge. In this session we will discuss how LEAs can implement programs and policies within the community that support early learners, promote school readiness, improve education retention, and optimize school funding to ensure a strong foundation for future success. We will also highlight programs and policies that have successfully leveraged government, municipal, LEA, business, and nonprofit collaboratives to provide programs supporting early childhood.

37 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 13TH, 2025 • 10:00 AM–11:15 AM Post with Purpose: Communications Strategies You Can Use Now Castillo

Presenter: Dr. Marcelle Beaulieu Whether it’s through an email, a social media post, or a website, how you communicate matters. In this session, Marcelle Beaulieu, Director of Communications at School Board Partners, will share practical strategies for using your voice to build trust, share information clearly, and empower your community. We’ll explore how to connect with people across different platforms, how to bring empathy into your messaging, and how to help others feel seen, informed, and activated. Walk away with tools you can start using right now to make your communications more effective, purposeful, and people-centered.

38 Session Highlights

OMNI SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA @ MONTELUCIA Site Map

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