A NATIONAL SUMMIT FOR COURAGEOUS SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP
R E S T O R I N G O U R S E L V E S , L I B E R A T I N G O U R B O A R D S HARRAH’S NEW ORLEANS • JULY 7 - 9, 2023
C O N T E N T S T A B L E O F 7 C O N F E R E N C E S C H E D U L E 4 W E L C O M E Opening Message 10 S E S S I O N H I G H L I G H T S Presenters and Session description 27 S U R V E Y We want to hear from you 28 S U P P O R T O C P 2 0 2 4 29 L O C A L G U I D E Things to do In New Orleans 30 S T A Y C O N N E C T E D W I T H U S
Dear Esteemed OCP Attendees,
On behalf of School Board Partners, it is with immense joy and anticipation that we welcome you home to Our Collective Power (OCP): A National Summit on Courageous School Board Leadership- inspired by o the theme of "Restoring Ourselves and Liberating Our Boards." We are honored to have each and every one of you join us as we embark on a journey of growth, empowerment, and restoration.
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, the role of school boards in fighting for antiracist education holds significant importance. We understand the weight of the responsibility you carry and the challenges you face in ensuring the success and wellbeing of our nation’s students, especially our students of color. It is precisely this understanding that has inspired us to create a conference that delves deep into the art of restoration and liberation.
Furthermore, we will delve into the critical topic of liberating our boards. This involves challenging conventional thinking, breaking free from limitations, and embracing innovative approaches that have the potential to transform education systems By fostering an environment of inclusivity, collaboration, and open-mindedness, we believe we can unleash the true potential of our boards, empowering them to create positive and lasting change.
We have curated a remarkable lineup of speakers, thought leaders, and experts who will share their insights, experiences, and best practices. Engaging workshops and interactive sessions will provide opportunities for lively discussions, idea exchange, and forging meaningful connections with fellow attendees. You will leave here with tangible and implementable resources, such as policies, resolutions, project plans, questions, and partnerships.
4 Welcome W E L C O M E L E T T E R
Beyond the formal program, we invite you to immerse yourself in the spirit of camaraderie and unity that this conference fosters. Take this opportunity to network, share stories, and build relationships that extend beyond these few days. The power of collaboration lies within each one of us, and together, we can inspire an anti-racist revolution in education
To all the participants, thank you for your dedication, passion, and unwavering commitment to the betterment of our education system We firmly believe that the impact of this conference will reverberate far beyond its conclusion, echoing in the boardrooms and classrooms of our schools for years to come
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors, funders, volunteers, staff, partners and board for their invaluable support in making this conference a reality
Let us embrace this unique opportunity to restore ourselves and liberate our boards, embarking on a transformative journey collectively. May this conference invigorate your spirits, ignite your imaginations, and empower you to create lasting change.
Welcome to Our Collective Power 2023!
With warm regards,
EthanAshley&CarrieDouglass
Ethan Ashley & Carrie Douglass
Co-CEOs and Co-Founders School Board Partners
5 Welcome
W E L C O M E ( C O N T I N U E D )
W E L C O M E
COMMUNITY BUILDING
Making connections and building a strong community of change agents in education is a key part of the Our Collective Power experience. We hope to see you at the following events:
FRI. JULY 7TH • 6:00 PM - 9:00PM
MANNING'S • 519 FULTON ST
WelcomeReception
We know how to have a great time!! Join us for food, fun, drinks and good music as we kick off Our Collective Power 2023. To celebrate being in New Orleans, we will conclude the welcome reception with a Second Line.
Conference registration will be set up at Manning's starting at 6pm.
SAT. JULY 8TH • 5:00 PM - 7:00PM
SPORTSBOOK (IN HARRAH'S)
NetworkingMixer
Join us for a networking happy hour at the end of day one of the conference.
6 Community Building
Spot:
Meeting Room Key
Friday July 7th, 2023 DAY ONE
6:00pm - 9:00 pm
Registration & Welcome Reception @ Manning's
Saturday July 8th, 2023
8:00am - 9:00am 8:00am - 9:00am 11:00am - 12:15pm Session Options:
Registration & Breakfast
DAY TWO
Opening Session - Step forward/Step back | VCB
RightSizingtheDistrict(Closures&Optimization) | VCB
TheIssuesofTheCurrentGeneration:HowWillWeWageStruggle? | FS1
ExamplesofPowerfulBoardLeadership | FS2
EffectiveGovernance:ImprovingStudentOutcomesbyChangingAdult Behaviors | FS3
OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2023 | JULY 7 - 9, 2023 H A R R A H ’ S N E W O R L E A N S • 2 2 8 P O Y D R A S S T N E W O R L E A N S , L A 7 0 1 3 0
7 Conference Schedule
CONFERENCE
Hotel & Meeting
SCHEDULE
Vieux Carre Ballroom VCB Fulton Street Room 1 FS1 Fulton Street Room 2 FS2 Fulton Street Room 3 FS3
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
Saturday July 8th, 2023
12:30pm - 1:45pm
Hotel & Meeting Spot
2:00pm - 3:15pm
Lunch Keynote: Fireside Chat about Culture Wars | VCB
Session Options:
From Turnover to Long-Term: Superintendents are leaving in droves, how do we make the job sustainable? | VCB
Deep in the Pocket- The Narrative of Control | FS1
Intersectional Conversations: How White School Board members can use their White Privilege to Change Perceptions & Support LOC | FS2
You vs. You: Regaining Control of Your Inner Peace for Optimal Decision Making | FS3
Hotel & Meeting Spot
3:30pm - 4:45pm
Session Options:
Empty Seats at Powerful Tables: How to Elect & Support More School Board Members of Color | VCB
First Generation Politicians: Politicking Instead of Being Politicked | FS1
Addressing the Teacher & Leadership Pipeline | FS2
School Board Finance 201 | FS3
5:00pm - 7:00pm
Networking Mixer @ Sportsbook
8 Conference Schedule
DAY TWO
COLLECTIVE POWER 2023 | JULY 7 - 9, 2023 CONTINUED
OUR
CONFERENCE SCHEDULE
OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2023 | JULY 7 - 9, 2023
Sunday July 9th, 2023
8:00am - 9:00am
Breakfast
9:00am - 10:45am
11:00am - 12:15pm
Hotel & Meeting Spot
CONTINUED
DAY THREE
Keynote: New Governance Framework | VCB
Session Options:
Tools & Coalitions to Overcome the Culture Wars | VCB How to Plan Best for a Superintendent Transition - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Superintendent Transitions | FS1
Leading Climate-Ready Schools | FS2 Securing Your Seat at the Table | FS3
12:30pm - 1:45pm
Hotel & Meeting Spot
Session Options:
Funders Investing in Governance & Democracy | VCB
Securing Your Dream Job (Whether You Are Looking or Not) - A Workshop for Electeds | FS1
Student Voice and Representation | FS2
Shrink and Expand: How to Activate Courage in Moments of Anxiety and Opposition | FS3
2:00pm - 3:00pm
Closing/Lunch | VCB
9 Conference Schedule
SESSION HIGHLIGHTS
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS
SAT.JULY8TH,2023•11:00AM
RightSizingtheDistrict (Closures&Optimization)
VieuxCarreBallroom
In this session, school board members will learn from the New Orleans case study on school closures and apply those insights. They will explore practical approaches to optimize staffing, facility allocation, and budgeting, leading to improved educational quality and fiscal efficiency, particularly for districts dealing with declining student enrollment.
SAT.JULY8TH,2023•11:00AM
TheIssuesofTheCurrentGeneration: HowWillWeWageStruggle?
FultonStreetRoom1
Civil rights leader, Dr. Howard Fuller, presents the issues facing School Board Members of Color who are actually committed to making a difference for students and families in their districts; particularly the students from families of the “disinherited.”
11 Session Highlights
Dr.HendersonLewisJr.
Dr.HowardFuller
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS
SAT.JULY8TH,2023•11:00AM
FultonStreetRoom2
JudithCruz&BenLindy
As members of the School Board President's club, Board members Judith Cruz (Houston) and Ben Lindy (Cincinnati) share their top 10 list of things powerful board leaders do.
SAT.JULY8TH,2023•11:00AM
FultonStreetRoom3
AJCrabill
Offered by author and national school board coach, AJ Crabill, this session offers school board members insights on advancing effective governance practices by focusing on improving student outcomes by changing adult behaviors.
StudentOutcomesbyChangingAdult Behaviors
EffectiveGovernance:Improving
12 Session Highlights
ExamplesofPowerfulBoard Leadership
VIEUX CARRE BALLROOM
FIRESIDE CHAT CULTURE WARS
This session offers an intimate discussion on how white allies can and should be standing up to fight against the culture wars for the betterment of our country and education system.
Carrie Douglass
Emily Amick, Esq.
SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 12:30PM
13 Session Highlights
DeepinthePocket-TheNarrativeof Control FultonStreetRoom1 SAT.JULY8TH,2023•2:00PM MichaelBland 14 Session Highlights SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS This session provides clear examples and strategies on how best school board members can own their narrative and not be controlled by those who have donated to their campaigns. FromTurnovertoLong-Term:Superintendentsare leavingindroves,howdowemakethejobsustainable? SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 2:00PM Vieux Carre Ballroom Concrete approaches & strategies to build trust and stay on the same team with your superintendent to ensure leadership stability
CaitlinSullivan Dr.HendersonLewisJr. Dr.JenniferCheatham
Regardless of demographics, this session will help school board members to better understand how to collaborate and lead across lines of difference.
Discover the profound connection between your outer experiences and inner thoughts with "You vs. You." This transformative workshop unveils the power within as you reclaim control over your inner landscape.
CarrieDouglass
SueDeigaard
JudithCruz
15 Session Highlights
MarcusLeGrand
JULY 8TH, 2023
2:00PM Fulton Street
2
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS IntersectionalConversations: SAT.
•
Room
InnerPeaceforOptimalDecision Making
How White School Board members can use their Privilege to Change Perceptions & Support Leaders Of Color
Youvs.You:RegainingControlofYour
FultonStreetRoom3 SAT.JULY8TH,2023•2:00PM
TunnelVision
SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 3:30PM
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS
Vieux Carre Ballroom
EmptySeatsatPowerfulTables:
How to Elect & Support More School Board Members of Color
This session explores how can C4s better support school board members in electoral and governance work.
SAT.JULY8TH,2023•3:30PM
FirstGenerationPoliticians: PolitickingInsteadofBeingPoliticked
FultonStreetRoom1
Dr.AmandaAiken
This session allows first-generation politicians to engage and embrace the idea of being a politician in a positive way. This session will explore power, coalition building, and owning your narrative.
AnthonyWilson
Jasmin
Shaheed-Young BrianaMullen
Dr.CoketheaHill
16 Session Highlights
A case study discussion of New Orleans that provides key takeaways and strategies that can be used in different cities from the board's scope (governance) to address the teacher & leadership pipeline.
SAT.JULY8TH,2023•3:30PM
SchoolBoardFinance201
FultonStreetRoom3
School districts are facing complex financial challenges in the coming year, as one-time federal relief funds expire amid falling enrollments, expanded staff rolls, a tight labor market, inflation, and slowing state revenue. What should board members look for as they consider the district’s response to these challenges and how to mitigate the impacts on students? In this interactive workshop, participants will dive into real district budget documents to learn to distinguish trends of concern and practice weighing trade-offs to make budget reductions while keeping a focus on transparency, equity and school improvement.
17 Session Highlights SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS AddressingtheTeacher& LeadershipPipeline FultonStreetRoom2
SAT.JULY8TH,2023•3:30PM
DanaPeterson&Dr.AvisWilliams
Dr.JessicaSwanson
SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 9:00 AM VIEUX CARRE BALLROOM
NewGovernance Framework
K E Y N O T E
Ushering in a new era of empowered governance, founders of School Board Partners- Ethan Ashley and Carrie Douglass- chat with national school board policy coach and former school board member Ben Kleban about the new governance framework and adjoining policy exemplars.
Ethan Ethan
Ashley Ashley Ben Ben Kleban Kleban
Carrie Carrie
18 Session Highlights
Douglass Douglass
SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00AM
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS
Vieux Carre Ballroom
Tools&CoalitionstoCombattheCultureWars
This session offers leaders from different areas of expertise (media, parent and student organizing, etc.) providing examples of tools and coalitions that are helping to provide cover for school board leadership advancing accurate and equity focused agendas and ways school board members can tap into the different coalitions/strategies to combat the culture wars.
SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00AM Fulton Street Room 2
LeadingClimate-ReadySchools
This session will explore opportunities for school board members and people in the school system to take actionable steps toward building climate resilience. Attendees will learn about tools, resources and possible resolution language to help school systems take action against climate change.
19 Session Highlights
AmiGadhia Dr.DavidJohns JenniferWarner
JonathanKlien
MarcusColeman
ChrisStewart
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS
SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00 AM FULTON STREET ROOM 1
HowtoPlanBestforaSuperintendent Transition-TheGood,theBad,andthe UglyofSuperintendentTransitions
A transition of leadership is a critical period for any school district. While research indicates the importance of a well-organized and intentional plan for any leader entering into a new role, there is often a lack of intentionality placed on the leadership transitioning out of an organization. In order to create sustainable organizations, there must be an intentional shift from being people-dependent to system-dependent. This session will explore intentional exit planning to ensure that the incoming Superintendent is provided the institutional knowledge, historic context, and status of the current state of the district, allowing the Superintendent’s first day to focus on implementation and execution.
20 Session Highlights
“Ifyoufailtoplan,youareplanningtofail”
DavidThomas
Dr.KelliPeterson
This session will provide school board members with a checklist of key strategies that should be implemented to best secure their seat- making the run for re-election easy- and tools to use to help secure their agendas, even if they decide not to run for re-election.
This session will offer school board members the opportunity to learn how to apply the skills and competencies they’ve developed as elected leaders to future roles that they may wish to pursue. School board members will create an action plan including specific people to connect with and questions to ask regarding their fit and interest in roles- walking away with information about how to access additional career supports through Leadership for Educational Equity (LEE).
WithstandingtheAttacksSecuringYourSeatatthe Table FultonStreetRoom3 SecuringYourDreamJob (WhetherYouAreLookingor Not)-AWorkshopfor Electeds FultonStreetRoom1 SAT.JULY8TH,2023•12:30PM TyronneWalker&JustinMcCorkle 21 Session Highlights SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00 AM
CassieBlausey&MollieStephens
FIRESIDECHAT
SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 12:30 PM VIEUX CARRE BALLROOM
FundersInvestingin Governance&Democracy
This session provides an intimate discussion with three brilliant Black women in philanthropy on reasons for investing in school board members to be change agents to dismantle racist education systems, procedures and policies for kids. These leaders will discuss the vision they have for our school board leaders and their districts.
22 Session Highlights
Dr.Amanda Aiken Dr.GiseleShorter Nekima Armstrong,Esq.
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS
SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 12:30 PM
FULTON STREET ROOM
Improving outcomes for students requires a crucial but often missing step: listening. And truly transforming your school district takes something even bigger, which is sharing power with students. This youth-led session will grow your vision for student engagement and student leadership, and will leave you with guiding principles, program ideas, and sample policies to advance this work in your district. Presented by Our Turn, a revolutionary nonprofit that empowers students of color, queer students, and students with disabilities to join the fight for education justice.
23 Session Highlights
2 "NothingAboutUs,WithoutUs" AStudent-LedDiscussionaboutStudent LeadershipinYour
DavidUlrich
Boluwasefe Adelugba AmeliaFrederico
SESSIONHIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY, JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00 AM
ShrinkandExpand:HowtoActivateCourage inMomentsofAnxietyandOpposition
FultonStreetRoom3
TunnelVision
"Shrink and Expand" is an enlightening group exercise crafted to cultivate selfawareness, gracefully guiding each school board leader on an introspective journey to explore their social and emotional triggers. School Board leaders will gain invaluable insights into recognizing moments of shrinking and cowering, empowering them to respond with grace and consciously embrace more expansive behaviors.
24 Session Highlights
SELF CARE
Restoring Ourselves...
Being a school board member can be both challenging and rewarding. We encourage you to take advantage the opportunities to engage in self-care.
SAT. JULY 8TH - SUN. JULY 9TH • SATCHMO ROOM
Self-CareLounge&Massages
We have designated the Satchmo Room as the Self-Care Lounge. The lounge is available for you anytime you need a break from the sessions, want to relax, or just need a calm place clear your mind.
FREE Massages! We will have massage therapists available to provide a brief massage for OCP attendees. Please see a team member to sign up for an available slot.
SAT. JULY 8TH - SUN. JULY 9TH • VIEUX CARRE BALLROOM
MorningWellness
Start your day off right! Each day during the breakfast hour, Tunnel Vision will be leading a motivational activity to inspire you.
25 Self-Care
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LOCAL GUIDE
NEWORLEANS
THINGS TO DO
Visit Mardi Gras World
Steamboat Natchez Jazz Cruise
Louis Armstrong Park
Visit Studio BE
Create your own perfume @ Tijon
DINING
Nonno’s
Chemin a la Mer
GW Fins
Monday
Casa Borrega
Yvonne's
Chapter IV
Katie's
Neyow's
Sukhothai
Morrow's
Ralph's on the Park
Compere Lapin
Doris Metropolitan
El Gato Negro
Santa Fe
NIGHTLIFE / ENTERTAINMENT
Razzoo Bar & Patio
Blue Nile
Emporium Arcade Bar Vandal
Hookah Lounge
Davenport Lounge at the Ritz
JamNola
Wrong Iron Bacchanal Wine
Bayou Beer Garden
Second Vine Wine
STAY CONNECTED WITH US
Follow us on social media
Join our Conference Whatsapp Group Tag us and use the hashtag #OCP23 schoolbpartners schoolbpartners schoolbpartners School Board Partners to share your best OCP experiences and memories. to connect with other conference attendees.
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