OCP 2023 Program Booklet

A NATIONAL SUMMIT FOR COURAGEOUS

RESTORING OURSELVES, LIBERATING OUR BOARDS

SCHOOL BOARD LEADERSHIP

HARRAH’S NEW ORLEANS • JULY 7 - 9, 2023

4 CONFERENCE SCHEDULE 7 SESSION HIGHLIGHTS 10 SURVEY 27 28 S U P P O R T O C P 2 0 2 4 LOCAL GUIDE 29 30 S T A Y C O N N E C T E D W I T H U S Opening Message

Presenters and Session description

We want to hear from you

Things to do In New Orleans

CONTENTS

TABLE OF WELCOME

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

WELCOME LETTER

Dear Esteemed OCP Attendees,

WELCOME (CONTINUED)

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.

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,

Ethan Ashley & Carrie Douglass Ethan Ashley & Carrie Douglass Co-CEOs and Co-Founders School Board Partners

5

Welcome

WELCOME

We extend our heartfelt appreciation to our sponsors, funders, volunteers, staff, partners and board for their invaluable support in making this conference a reality.

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

Welcome Reception 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)

Networking Mixer Join us for a networking happy hour at the end of day one of the conference.

6

Community Building

OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2023 | JULY 7 - 9, 2023

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE Hotel & Meeting Spot:

HARRAH’S NEW ORLEANS • 228 POYDRAS ST NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130

Meeting Room Key Vieux Carre Ballroom

Fulton Street Room 1

Fulton Street Room 2

Fulton Street Room 3

VCB

FS1

FS2

FS3

Friday July 7th, 2023 6:00pm - 9:00 pm

DAY ONE

Registration & Welcome Reception @ Manning's

Saturday July 8th, 2023

DAY TWO

8:00am - 9:00am

Registration & Breakfast

8:00am - 9:00am

Opening Session - Step forward/Step back | VCB

11:00am - 12:15pm

Session Options: Right Sizing the District (Closures & Optimization) | VCB The Issues of The Current Generation: How Will We Wage Struggle? | FS1 Examples of Powerful Board Leadership | FS2 Effective Governance: Improving Student Outcomes by Changing Adult Behaviors | FS3

7

Conference Schedule

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2023 | JULY 7 - 9, 2023

CONTINUED

Saturday July 8th, 2023

DAY TWO

12:30pm 1:45pm Spot Lunch Keynote: Fireside Chat about Culture Wars | VCB Hotel & -Meeting 2:00pm - 3:15pm

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 8

Conference Schedule

Networking Mixer @ Sportsbook

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

OUR COLLECTIVE POWER 2023 | JULY 7 - 9, 2023

Sunday July 9th, 2023

DAY THREE

8:00am - 9:00am

Breakfast

9:00am - 10:45am

Keynote: New Governance Framework | VCB

11:00am - 12:15pm

Session Options:

Hotel & Meeting Spot

12:30pm - 1:45pm

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

Session Options:

Hotel & Meeting Spot

2:00pm - 3:00pm

9

CONTINUED

Conference Schedule

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

Closing/Lunch | VCB

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 11:00AM

Right Sizing the District (Closures & Optimization) Vieux Carre Ballroom

Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr. 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. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 11:00AM

The Issues of The Current Generation: How Will We Wage Struggle?

Fulton Street Room 1

Dr. Howard Fuller

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

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 11:00AM

Examples of Powerful Board Leadership Fulton Street Room 2

Judith Cruz & Ben Lindy 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. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 11:00AM

Effective Governance: Improving Student Outcomes by Changing Adult Behaviors Fulton Street Room 3

AJ Crabill 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.

12 Session Highlights

SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 12:30PM VIEUX CARRE BALLROOM

FIRESIDE CHAT

CULTURE WARS

Carrie Douglass

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.

Emily Amick, Esq. 13 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 2:00PM

Vieux Carre Ballroom

From Turnover to Long-Term: Superintendents are leaving in droves, how do we make the job sustainable?

Caitlin Sullivan

Dr. Henderson Lewis Jr.

Dr. Jennifer Cheatham

Concrete approaches & strategies to build trust and stay on the same team with your superintendent to ensure leadership stability

SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 2:00PM

Deep in the Pocket- The Narrative of Control Fulton Street Room 1

Michael Bland

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.

14 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 2:00PM

Fulton Street Room 2

Intersectional Conversations: How White School Board members can use their Privilege to Change Perceptions & Support Leaders Of Color

Carrie Douglass

Judith Cruz

Marcus LeGrand

Sue Deigaard

Regardless of demographics, this session will help school board members to better understand how to collaborate and lead across lines of difference.

SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 2:00 PM

You vs. You: Regaining Control of Your Inner Peace for Optimal Decision Making Fulton Street Room 3

Tunnel Vision 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.

15 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 3:30PM

Vieux Carre Ballroom

Empty Seats at Powerful Tables: How to Elect & Support More School Board Members of Color

Anthony Wilson

Briana Mullen

Dr. Cokethea Hill

Jasmin Shaheed-Young

This session explores how can C4s better support school board members in electoral and governance work.

SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 3:30PM

First Generation Politicians: Politicking Instead of Being Politicked Fulton Street Room 1

Dr. Amanda Aiken 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.

16 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 3:30 PM

Addressing the Teacher & Leadership Pipeline Fulton Street Room 2

Dana Peterson & Dr. Avis Williams 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. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 3:30PM

School Board Finance 201 Fulton Street Room 3

Dr. Jessica Swanson 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

Carrie Douglass

Ben Kleban

Ethan Ashley

New Governance Framework

KEYNOTE

SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 9:00 AM VIEUX CARRE BALLROOM

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.

18 Session Highlights

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00AM

Vieux Carre Ballroom

Tools & Coalitions to Combat the Culture Wars

Ami Gadhia

Dr. David Johns Jennifer Warner Chris Stewart

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

Leading Climate-Ready Schools

Jonathan Klien

Marcus Coleman

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

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00 AM

FULTON STREET ROOM 1

How to Plan Best for a Superintendent Transition - The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly of Superintendent Transitions

David Thomas

Dr. Kelli Peterson

“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail” 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

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00 AM

Withstanding the Attacks Securing Your Seat at the Table Fulton Street Room 3

Tyronne Walker & Justin McCorkle 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.

SAT. JULY 8TH, 2023 • 12:30PM

Securing Your Dream Job (Whether You Are Looking or Not) - A Workshop for Electeds Fulton Street Room 1

Cassie Blausey & Mollie Stephens 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).

21 Session Highlights

FIRESIDE CHAT SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 12:30 PM

VIEUX CARRE BALLROOM

Funders Investing in Governance & Democracy

Dr. Amanda Aiken

Dr. Gisele Shorter

Nekima Armstrong, Esq.

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

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUN. JULY 9TH, 2023 • 12:30 PM

FULTON STREET ROOM 2

"Nothing About Us, Without Us" A Student-Led Discussion about Student Leadership in Your

David Ulrich

Boluwasefe Adelugba

Amelia Frederico

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

SESSION HIGHLIGHTS SUNDAY, JULY 9TH, 2023 • 11:00 AM

Shrink and Expand: How to Activate Courage in Moments of Anxiety and Opposition Fulton Street Room 3

Tunnel Vision

"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-Care Lounge & 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

Morning Wellness 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

HARRAH’S NEW ORLEANS HOTEL SECOND FLOOR

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Post-Event Survey: Our Collective Power 2023 Please use this QR Code to share feedback on your overall experience at OCP.

THANK YOU!

PAY IT FORWARD Donate today to support OCP 2024!

Your support will help us continue to provide conference scholarships to school board members looking to lead with courage, competence, and impact.

We have a goal to reach 100 individual donors.

We appreciate your support!

LOCAL GUIDE THINGS TO DO

NEW ORLEANS

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

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