Agenda

Registration Desk Open 8:00 am – 10:30 am

We strongly recommend arriving early to complete your check-in at our registration desk, located on the third floor in the Celestin Foyer. Early check-in helps you avoid long lines and ensures you won’t miss any opening sessions.

From Vision to Action: Leveraging Community for Competency-Based Transformation

Mastery Transcript Consortium®

Join the Mastery Transcript Consortium for a dynamic, practitioner-centered conference dedicated to advancing your journey to competency-based learning. At this year’s forum, innovative schools will share real-world stories, problems of practice, and breakthrough successes in competency-based learning. Bring a team of 3-5 key people to dive into hands-on workshops, get personalized consulting, and master MTC’s tools. 

Whether starting fresh, refining your approach, or exploring higher ed alignment, this one-day event will showcase how a Portrait of a Graduate can be a tool for school-wide transformation.

• Master MTC’s powerful tracking tools to showcase student competencies with impact
• Connect with peer schools at all implementation stages to solve real challenges together
• Discover how competency-based education opens doors to college and career pathways
• Get the college admissions’ perspective on how MTC tools create standout applicant profiles
• Leave with actionable strategies to accelerate your competency work immediately

Mastery Transcript Consortium® (MTC), an ETS company, is a national and global nonprofit membership organization that helps make mastery learning—or competency-based education—available to all learners. MTC accelerates equitable access to and widespread implementation of mastery learning models, empowering students to showcase competencies and share evidence of their learning.

Breaking up with Grades: Shifting Mindsets toward Competency-Based Assessment and Reporting to Improve Learning 

Katie Martin, Chief Impact Officer, Learning-Centered Collaborative; Devin Vodicka, CEO, Learning-Centered Collaborative

A competency-based paradigm offers a promising shift from traditional letter grades to a system that values students’ strengths and growth over time. Making this shift requires more than just new systems—it demands a process of “unlearning” ingrained beliefs and practices. This new paradigm calls for educators and leaders who deeply understand the shifts and can compellingly communicate them. This session will make visible the alternative: a competency-based approach, by looking at models of assessment and reporting structures from schools and networks including Big Picture Learning, Mastery Transcript Consortium, One Stone, Bostonia Global, and Spring Lake Park Public Schools. Participants will develop a personal assessment philosophy and prepare for conversations about assessment and grading beliefs and practices. This workshop is designed for all educators and leaders who are interested in reimagining assessment, grading, and reporting in their context. 

Learning Outcomes: 

1. Content Expertise: Participants will gain content area knowledge about grading and competency-based assessment
2. Critical Thinking and Problem Solving: Participants will examine challenges with current grading practices and analyze different solutions that many schools are currently to work towards solving this problem
3. Effective Communication: Participants will work on their storytelling and communication skills as they practice ways to bring others into these complex conversations

Registration Desk Open 4:00 pm – 8:00 pm

We strongly recommend arriving early to complete your check-in at our registration desk, located on the third floor in the Celestin Foyer. Early check-in helps you avoid long lines and ensures you won’t miss any opening sessions.

Registration Desk Open 7:30 am – 7:30 pm 

The registration desk is located on the 3rd floor in the Celestin Foyer.

Building A Student-Centered High School Ecosystem – State Policy Roundtable

Lauren Bloomquist, Education Commission of the States; Ben Erwin, CCSSO; Jennifer Kabaker, Aurora Institute

From Awareness to Action: Building Culturally Responsive Systems for Impactful Leadership and Learning

Karla Vigil, Equity Institute

From Compliance to Commitment: Leading Change that Cultivates and Sustains Student-Centered Learning

Brian M. Stack, Jonathan G. Vander Els, V & S School Solutions

Pedagogies of Voice (PoV) Fundamentals Workshop 

Marlo Bagsik, Co-author of Pedagogies of Voice: Street Data and the Path to Student Agency 

Researchers Roundtable: Informing and Improving Personalized, Competency-Based, Deeper Learning

Beth Holland, The Learning Accelerator; Dr. Jilliam Joe, Aurora Institute

Transformational Learning Principles Meet AI in Learning Design

Jessica Garner, Joe South, ISTE

The Illumination Hub is located on the 3rd floor in Storyville Hall.

More Than a Seat at the Table: A Conversation with Learners on Agency, Voice, and Choice

Facilitator: William Hite, EdD, CEO and President, KnowledgeWorks

In this inspiring conversation, you’ll hear directly from young people across the country who have lived the learner-centered experience. They’ll share what it feels like to be truly  empowered in their learning—and what happens when school becomes a place where they can grow as thinkers, leaders, and human beings.

Their stories remind us what’s possible when we stop doing school to students and start co-creating it with them. Come ready to listen, learn, and be moved.

Agency in Math: A Case Study at Lindsay Unified School District of How Elementary Learners Practice Math Skills and Learning-to-Learn Skills

Cinnamon Scheufele, Rebecca Sepeda, Casandra Luna, Erica Madrigal, Lindsay Unified School District; Nik Namba, Jane Bryson, Transcend

EdRIsing: Stories of Transformation from New Zealand

Derek Wenmoth, FutureMakers

Fueling the Future: State and Local Education R&D as a Catalyst for Learner-Centered Transformation

Adrian Bustillos, Aldine  Independent School District; Brian Darrow, Rhode Island Department of Education; Margo Roen, Imagine Network; Sarah Bishop-Root, Education Reimagined

From Barriers to Solutions: Proposing, Advocating for, and Making Legislative Change

Lucy Payne, EngageMN, Univ. of St Thomas; Mary Frances Clardy, MN House of Representatives; Aqueelah Roberson, Education Evolving; Renee Corneille, St. Anthony New Brighton Schools

From Grassroots to Harvesting Class Roots: How Teachers are Driving Transformative Change Through Innovation

Toni Rose Deanon, Robert Barnett, Modern Classrooms Project; Cecelia Gillam, Benjamin Franklin High School; Dana Kravchick, Wavio

Grading for Equity Book Talk: Burning Questions and Practical Responses 

Joe Feldman, Crescendo Education Group

How Schools Can Impact Students’ Futures through the Development of their Durable Skills

Dr. Chris Unger, Northeastern University; Dr. Michael Crawford, America Succeeds

Reclaiming Assessment Through Youth Expertise and Experiences: Early Findings

Jilliam Joe, Aurora Institute; Gregory Seaton, Analytic Enterprises; Parisia Hutchinson, Howard University

Transforming School Systems for Immigrant Youth: Policies and Practices for Equitable College Access

Marguerite Lukes, Khalia Joseph, International Network for Public Schools

Unlocking Algebra: What the Data Tells Us About Student Support Strategies

Adam Maier, TNTP; Joel Rose; New Classrooms

FRAMEWORK PALOOZA – COLLABORATIVE ROUNDTABLES

Culturally Revitalizing Equitable Learning: A Community-Driven Model for Open Education

Jimmy McCue, Open Way Learning

From Theory to Practice: Building Competency Based Learner-Centered Classrooms

Christy Kingham, Springpoint; Greg Zimdahl, The Young Women’s Leadership School Astoria; Jessica Waters, Nowell Leadership Academy

Leading Systemic Innovation with EDGE x IMPACT™: A Studio for Student-Centered Change

Matthew Callison, South Fayette Township School District

Six Learning Design Principles to Help Achieve Personalized Instruction at Scale, No Matter the Solution

Jayne Lammers, Edmentum

SONSOR SESSION: Why You need a Framework for the Future to Accelerate your Competency-Based Work

Learner-Centered Collaborative

Inclusive Practices for Supporting Students with Specific Learning Disabilities

Robin Thoma, IL SLD Support Project

Measuring What Matters: Designing Performance-Based Assessments for Rigor and Relevance

Sandra Moumoutjis, Ayris Sanders, Heather Harlen, Building 21; Sydney Schaef, CBL Partners

New York at the Vanguard: an Insider Perspective on the Statewide Shift to Performance Based Learning and Assessment Networks

Natalle Ferrell, Christipher Fleming, Briana Anguiano, South Bronx Community Charter High School

Portrait of a Leader: Strengthening Skills and Professional Practice for Lasting Systems Change

Laura Hilger, KnowledgeWorks; Brenda Martin, Westminster Public Schools; Briana Morales, East St. Louis District 189; Laura Jeanne Penrod, Clark County School District

Rooted in the Bluegrass: How Local Accountability Models Are Redefining Success in Kentucky Schools

Karen Perry, University of Kentucky; Travis Hamby, Allen County Schools; Brian Creasman, Fleming County Schools; Adam Hicks, Shelby County Schools; Doannie Tran, Center for Innovation in Education (C!E)

Schools With New Blueprints for Career and Life Readiness

Andrew Vega, NewSchools Venture Fund; Monica White, Elevate Academy; Nicole Mosley, McClure Health Science High School

Screen-free Emerging Tech for Early Learning Assessment: A Hands-on Exploration 

Keun-woo Lee, Kelly Mills, Ximena Dominguez, Danae Kamdar, Tiffany Leones, Teresa Solorzano, Digital Promise

Student-Centered Learning in Washington through the Mastery-based Learning Collaborative: Policy, Practice, and the Path to Sustainable MBL Implementation

Alissa Muller, Seema Bahl, Washington State Board of Education

The International Big Picture Learning Credential: Measuring How Every Student is Smart

Andrea Purcell; Big Picture Learning

Unsilencing Students’ Languages: Creating an Ecology of Equitable and Transformational Student-Centered Schooling

Francisca Sánchez, Liliana Sánchez, Scaling Student Success

Changing Course through Student Voice: The Impact of the BSU Network in CCSD

Yvette Williams, BSU Network; Sam Scavella, Clark County School District

Efficacy in Action: Collaborative Problem-Solving for Learner-Centered Success

Zak Lenski, Dria Setter, Kate Sommerville, i4PL

From Control to Collaboration: Building a Connected School Community Through Empathy and Collaboration

Jill McPherson, Elementary School Teacher

From Policy to Practice: How North Dakota is Building Public Will for a Mastery-Based Learning System

Ann Ellefson, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction

No More Empty Gestures: Amplifying Student Voice Through Feedback Loops and Collaboration

Baron Davis, Kimberly Smith, Digital Promise

Ready, Set, Play!

Bridget Yoko, Aaryn Drapiza, The Village School

Student Voice: The Highest Impact Lever for School Transformation

Kathleen Campbell, University of Denver (DU)

Supporting the Whole Student: Building Equitable Career Pathways through Internships in Title I Schools

Candace Eaton, Shingirai Middelmann, Claire Norwood, Jason Weinberg, The Workshop School

The Leadership Growth Curve

Richard DeLorenzo, CBE Ignited, Inc.

Applying an EmancipatoryR+D: Assessment and Community Involvement at Assessment For Good (AFG)

Oscar Cerna, Lauren D. Kendall Brooks, Assessment for Good/AERDF

Elevating Student Voice in School Change through a Student Summit Experience

Xochitl Garcia, Michele Phillips, The Learning Agenda

Embracing CBE to Transform a School and Evolve a District

John McMorris, Soledad Arteaga, Keith Aguilar, Sem Yeto High School

Empowering Youth Leadership through Intergenerational Change Movements 

Lucy Payne, EngageMN/University of St. Thomas; Jose Perez, Julian Spencer, Good Trouble

Leveraging Family Engagement through Immersive Technology for Deeper Learning

Cassandra McGraw, Felicia Cumings Smith, National Center for Families Learning; Kara Mason, BrainSTEM

Lighting The Way: A Student-Led Journey to Competency-Based Learning

Shane Ogden, Park County School District #16; Bethany Bernasconi, 2Revolutions; Clayton Yoder, Johnathan Ogden, Steely Faust, Hailey Christopherson, Meeteetse School

Minding the Gap: Funding Youth Mental Health

Shruti Sehra, Tezeta Tamrat, New Profit; Alfiee Breland-Noble, The AAKOMA Project

Ready for the Future of Work: Using Competencies to Build Strong Connections between School and the Careers We Can’t Imagine

Antonia Rudenstine, reDesign; Lee Green, Floyd D. Johnson Technology Center/York 1 District; Nick Martino, Jobs for America’s Graduates; Tony Donen, Hamilton County Schools

Redesigning High School for Relationship-Centered, Equitable, and Community-Engaged Learning

Charlie Thompson, Cheryl Jones-Walker, Learning Policy Institute; Barnett Berry, Accelerator for Learning and Leadership for South Carolina (ALL4SC)

So You Think You Can Start a Competency-Based School? What It Really Takes to Design and Launch a PCBE Model—Insights from Leaders, Coaches, and Funders

Sandra Moumoutjis, Ayris Sanders, Building 21; Dr. Chandra Sledge Mathias, Sledge Institute; Mike Taack, Western Youth Leadership, Engagement, and Empowerment Middle School (WYLEES); Thaddeus McCalister, Pathway Academy; Valerie Braimah, NewSchools Venture Fund

The Third Horizon: A Future-Ready Learning Ecosystem for Fully Realizing the Promise of CBE

Babak Mostaghimi, LearnerStudio

Empowering Educators, Empowering Students: Building Sustainable, Student-Centered Learning Environments that Support Students AND Educators

Steve Sell, Carolina Artacho Guerra, Avia Ferrande, Rachel Babcock, Map Academy

Empowering Learners: Digital Portfolios as Catalysts for Equity and Agency in Competency-Based Education

Starr Sackstein, Mastery Portfolio; Sierra Holtzheuser, SpacesEDU by myBlueprint

Focus Group: Help Shape a New Career-Connected Learning Resource Hub!

Liz Texeira, Caroline Healy, American Student Assistance

From Research to Reality: Crafting Learning Principles to Guide Your School

Sydney Schaef, CBL Partners; Chris Sturgis, LearningEdge

Igniting Minds, Illuminating Transformation: Equity-Driven Approaches to Personalized Learning and Competency-Based Education

Jasmine Fluker, The Pivotal Paradigm Project

Personal Interest Projects: A Path to Purpose and Engagement in the Age of AI

Elizabeth Radday, EdAdvance

Sowing Seeds of Sustainability: Empathy-Based Education for Early Childhood

Tanika Kapa, Aarav Panjwani, The John Cooper School

The North Dakota Network: Strengthening Educators, Building Collective Efficacy

David St Peter, Bismarck Public Schools

Beyond the Resume and College App: How Cañon City Empowers Learners to Document, Reflect, and Own Their Journey

Bill Summers, Madison Tortessi, Cañon City High School; Aaron Schorn, Unrulr

Culture Meets Curiosity: Using Diverse Stories to Spark STEAM Exploration

Teresa Grande, Cicely Hanner, Urban Academy of Greater Pittsburgh Charter School

Driving Student Success with Durable Skills & Learning-Mindsets: How Uncommon Schools Uses Assessment Data to Elevate Achievement, Wellbeing, and Postsecondary Readiness

Patrick Rametti, Uncommon Schools; Monique Calderon Dotson, Motivate Lab; Jabali Sawicki, nXu

Igniting Innovation in Public Schools: The Transformative Power of Microschools

Victoria Andrews, Getting Smart; Deborah Gist, Transcend & The University of Tulsa; Katie Martin, Learner-Centered Collaborative; George Philhower, Eastern Hancock School; Megan Hanley, ASU Preparatory Academy

The Future of Student Success: Why a Portrait of a Learner should be part of your strategic plan and how to bring it to life

Sierra Holtzheuser, SpacesEDU by myBlueprint; Abby Benedetto, Core Shifts; Michael Crawford, Ph.D., America Succeeds

The Kids Are Gonna Be Alright! How School Communities are Systematically Improving Social-Emotional & Academic Development (SEAD) in a New Era of Learning Design

Malika Ali, Throughline Learning

What’s Working, What’s Next: Lessons from Mesa’s Learning Redesign

Hector Estrada, Jennifer Echols, Randy Mahlerwein, Mesa Public Schools

Can We Trust the Transcript? Building More Equitable Grading Practices as an Entry Point for Competency-Based Education

Joe Feldman, Alan Chang, Jill Gurtner, Dr. Patel, and Rae Li

Grades intend to communicate what students have learned, either allowing or prohibiting opportunities for them, but how can we ensure their grades are accurate and fair? A recent study of over 33,000 middle school and high school grades, “Can We Trust the Transcript? Recognizing Student Potential Through More Accurate Grading” shows the inaccuracy and inequity of common grading practices in ways that both hide and misrepresent student readiness. In this keynote panel, Joe Feldman, author and leading expert on equitable grading, will moderate a conversation with learning communities that have improved grading, and explore how that work is leveraging and accelerating larger transformations toward competency-based education. 

CBE Static: Tuning our Way from Chaos to Clarity in Assessment and Reporting

Melissa Olson, Deanna Enstad, Jennifer Craft, Kelly Stewart, Megan Jahnke, Spring Lake Park Schools

Centering Youth Voice: Catalyzing Competency-Based Learning Through Student Agency

Loren Demeroutis, Big Picture Learning; Sara Kahn, New Legacy Charter School; Sara Mounsey, Methow Valley ILC

Lessons From The Field: Leading Student-Centered Learning in Your District

Jonathan Vander Els, Brian Stack, V&S School Solutions; James Neihof, Green River Regional Educational Cooperative; George Philhower, Eastern Hancock Schools; Patty Haynes, Portsmouth School District; Adam Hicks, Shelby County Public Schools

Measuring What Matters: Designing Equitable Accountability Metrics for Innovative Education Models

Rachel Babcock, Josh Charpentier, Map Academy Charter School

​​Multiple Approaches to Mastery – Customizing CBE Implementation In An Array of Settings

Mike Ruyle, Bill Zima, Marzano Resources

Senior Year Reimagined: Innovating Competency-Based Education for Real-World Success

Brenda Diaz, Gary Hook, Sparkle King, Graham Mote, Rachel Blough-Ledet, Metro Nashville Public Schools

Transforming Learning for All: How Diverse Students Experience Competency-based Education

Kelly Organ, Jilliam Joe, Aurora Institute; Jacqueline Zweig, EdResearch Solutions

Connecting Student Competencies to Careers of the Future: how durable skills build promising pathways! 

Meg Riordan, Yasenia Dudley, The Possible Zone

From Vision to Reality: Building Equitable, Competency-Based Career Pathways for Sustainable Futures

Daniel Gray, Uplift Education; Amanda Daniels, GPS Education Partners

Leading with Vision: Activating Pillars That Inspire Innovation and Spark Transformation

Melody Stacy, Michelle Klein, Emily Giles, Brittney Howell, Northern Kentucky Cooperative for Educational Services

Local Accountability Workshop: Reimagining Assessment and Accountability with Kentucky Communities

Rob Collins, Kentucky Department of Education

Making Mastery Measurable A Practical Approach to Assessing Open-Ended Learning with Clarity and Confidence

Michael Prater, Tessellations High School

Measure What Matters: Designing Skills-Based Assessment in the Math Classroom

Alyson Morse, The Mount Vernon School

Restorative Justice in Education: Building Transformative School Culture through Proactive Practice and Student Leadership

José Bou, Great Schools Partnership

Using AI in Inclusive Strategic Planning

Doannie Tran, Jenny Poon, Center for Innovation in Education (C!E)

“When I graduate, the security blanket of high school goes away” – High School Students Reimagining the Capstone: Personalized Future-Ready Plans that Build Agency, Connection & Optimism

Carolyn Eastman, EdConnect

SPONSOR SESSION: Measuring What Matters for Student Success in School and Life 

Ally Skooh-Hoffman, Luna Nguyen, New Schools Venture Fund

All In: Centering Youth Voice in the Future of Internships

David Berg, Big Picture Learning

A Practical Approach to Self-Paced, Mastery-Based learning: Meet all your learners’ needs – and have fun doing it! 

Dana Kravchick, Wavio; Robert Barnett, Toni Rose Deanon, Modern Classrooms Project; Dr. Cecelia Gillam, Benjamin Franklin High School

Beyond the Cliff: 100 Districts, 100 Realities, 1 Bold Future for Professional Learning

Shawn Rubin, Throughline Learning; Cory Steiner, Northern Cass School District

Creating Personalized Pathways with Competency-Based Education

Jonathan Alfuth, KnowledgeWorks

Designing Real-World Projects for Multilingual Learners: Engaging, Equitable, and Impactful PBL

Marguerite Lukes, Nancy Rosas, Internationals Network for Public Schools

Empowering Educators through CBL: Leveraging Effective Instructional Tools for Student Agency, Equity, and Culturally Responsive Teaching

Leah Tuckman, Erin Conley, Katie Thompson, Great Schools Partnership

From Bold Vision to Breakthrough: How Lindsay Unified and Southern Berkshire Are Transforming Schools Through Community-Driven Innovation

Nikolaus Namba, Jane Bryson, Holly Reardon, Transcend; Cinnamon Scheufele, Lindsay Unified School District; Beth Regulbuto, Southern Berkshire Regional School District

The Educator Reimagined: Thriving in a Learner-Centered Ecosystem

Bobbi Macdonald, Education Reimagined; Geoffrey Roehm, Runway Green; Coi Morefield, The Lab School of Memphis; Stephanie Lewis, Remake Learning

Transforming Learning in Michigan: A Regional Approach to Personalized, Equitable Systems

Dr. Dave Richards, Future of Learning Council; Rebecca Midles, Getting Smart

Weaving Success: Career-Connected Pathways from K–8 to High School Transformation

Dr. Mahnaz Charania, Nithya Vasudevan, TNTP; Patricia Russell, Nicola Martin, Hamilton County Schools; Rachel Gustafson, Rapid River Schools

Advancing Competency-Based Teacher Education: Building a National Network for Impact and Innovation

Laureen Avery, Jason Cervone, UCLA Center X

Differentiation Through Technology: Personalized Learning for Diverse Learners and Promoting Digital Equity

Kurt Knueve, Khyati Sanjana, Nipa Surati, Digital Promise

Grading the Past: Empowering APUSH Students to Build Their Own Assessment System

Nicole Johnston, Oak Knoll School of the Holy Child

Learner-Led Assessment for All

Starr Sackstein, Mastery Portfolio

Policy Partnerships – How Feedback Loops Improve NCAA Eligibility Rules

Sarah Overpeck, NCAA

Operationalizing your Portrait of a Graduate: Student-led documentation and demonstration of competency development 

Jordan Lewis, SpacesEDU

Join this session to discover how Carter County Schools brought their Profile of a Learner (Portrait of a Graduate) to life using digital portfolios. Learn how they’ve operationalized their portrait to empower students to document and reflect on their competency development while measuring the students’ growth through their Defense of Learning initiative – a student-led presentation on their growth over time. Uncover how this process has empowered students to take ownership of their learning, clearly demonstrating growth of key skills and engaging educators and families in meaningful conversations around their learning and future readiness. Educators joining this session will leave with actionable strategies for operationalizing their Profile and view how districts can gather insightful data on student growth to inform their instructional practices. 

Open Up a Conversation About Learning

Rebecca Brown, JumpRope

Join us to see how you can gather evidence of learning and shift the conversation to be about learning ― not grades or completion. JumpRope is the standards-based gradebook that empowers teachers, students, and families with meaningful insights about progress and mastery.

AI Coalition: Leveraging AI for Personalization and Educational Innovation

Stephanie Cardella, Jessica Paulsen, LEAP Innovations; Roberto Vargas, Distinctive Schools

Beyond Surveys: Using New Tools To Support Complex Change Processes

Jennifer Poon, Rita Harvey, Center for Innovation in Education (C!E); Karen Perry, University of Kentucky

Centering Truth Telling in DEI Initiatives

Nicole Caridad Ralston, Rhonda Broussard, Beloved Community

Empowering Student Voice and Measuring Durable Skills with the One Stone Growth Framework

Michael Reagan, Mackenzie King, One Stone

Equitable Grading: A Competency-Based Education Entry Point and Core Practice

Joe Feldman, Shantha Smith, Crescendo Education Group

How can high school career pathway programs influence graduates’ agency, competency development, and life trajectories? Listening and learning with Dearborn STEM Academy

Annie Leonard, Center for Collaborative Education; Tania Baez, Dearborn STEM Academy – Boston Public Schools

How One District Engaged Students in Leading Teacher Learning 

Yesenia Ayala, WestEd; Larissa Peru, Kasie Betten, Sunnyside Unified School District

Implementing Competency-Based Education: Multiple Entry Points to a Shared Destination

Laurie Gagnon, Aurora Institute; Chris Sturgis, LearningEdge; Ryan Asher, Woodford County Public Schools

Learning in the Loop: Using AI to Accelerate Personalized, Competency-Based Learning

Thomas Gaffey, Sandra Moumoutjis, Heather Harlen, Ayris Sanders, Building 21

Messaging That Moves. Designing Effective Messaging Around Personalized, Competency-Based Systems Transformation

Chiara Wegener, Aurora Institute; Brian Stack, Fremont School District; Christy Kingham, Springpoint; Alan Cheng, NYC Public Schools

Scaling from the Margins to the Mainstream: Insights from Carnegie’s R&D Agenda to Catalyze High School Transformation Nationwide

Brooke Stafford-Brizard, Diego Arambula, Carnegie Foundation

Students as Change Agents: Creating Sustainable Student-Driven Change

Kimberly Cawkwell, Matthew Swenson, Challenge Success

Teaching Climate Change: A Hands-on Model, Adaptable Tools, and Expert Insights from a Climate Scientist

Sydney Schaef, Jen Soalt, CBL Partners; Charles Harvey, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

The Interaction of Montessori Education and Personalized, Competency-Based Learning:  A Case Study of a Rural, Title I Public School 

Brooke Culclasure, Riley Institute at Furman University

Adapting On-Track Metrics for Competency-Based Schools

Kathryn May, Dell Steckel, Philadelphia Academies, Inc.; Geneva Sloan, Aja Holden, School District of Philadelphia; Rebecca Esposito-Anderson, The U School; Emily Kulick, Analytics for Change LLC

Building Partnership Through Student-Led Conferences 

Kristen Watkins, Alma Knutson, Kristen Schroder, Akiba Yavneh Academy

Finding Your Leadership Soul

Eunice Mitchell, Carlos Moreno, Big Picture Learning

Giving Learners an Advantage in the World – A Rural Wyoming School’s Personalized Learning Model

Clark Coberly, Joe Samuelson, Amanda Knapp, Nick Johnson, Darian Samuelson, Karla Ludemann, Weston County School District #7

Graduate Resume: Leveraging Workplace Lexicon for Durable Skills to Catalyze High School Transformation

Dr. Lara Ohanian, TNTP; Lisa Relou, Jeffco Public Schools

Real Talk: School Leaders on Growing and Sustaining Innovation from the Ground Up

Chelsea Waite , Center on Reinventing Public Education; Neil Poynter, Educators for Quality Alternatives (EQA); Bahiy Watson, The 1881 Institute; Angelica Jackson, Phoenix International School of the Arts

Teaching for Liberation: Problem-Based Learning to Foster Student Voice and Action

Kimberly Eckert, Western Governors University & Point Coupee Parish Schools

The Future of Durable Skill Assessment: Transforming Competency-Based Learning with Voice AI

Ian Zhu, SchoolJoy Inc.; Dr. Michael Crawford, America Succeeds; Dr. Chris Unger, Northeastern University

The Moth* Returns to Aurora: Deep, Heartfelt Stories Worth Re-Telling, from the Edges of Transformational Change in K-12 Schools

Andrew Calkins, Next Gen Learning Challenges (NGLC)

“The Rules Make it Fun!”: Balancing Structure and Personalization in Performance Assessment Systems

Nikki Holland, Becky Kelley, Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment (MCIEA)

The Career Exploration Ecosystem: From Interest Discovery to Sustainable Work-Based Learning

Dr. Goggins, North Gibson School District; Judy Bueckert, Southern Indiana Education Center (SIEC); Lindsey Lovern, East Central Educational Service Center; Mandy Janssen, Stephanie Loeck, GPS Education Partners (GPS Ed); Taylor Philhower, East Central Educational Service Center

Creating Systems to Promote Learner Agency

Gabrielle Lumbra, Lynn Cota, Michelle Irish, Franklin Northeast Supervisory Union

Making an IMPACT: Bringing a CBE Model to Life

Grace Jones, Tara Sparks, Lindbergh Schools

“What is AI competency?” And How it Aligns to Future Ready Skills through the Portrait of a Graduate

Kimberly Erickson, Ralph Valenzisi, Norwalk Public Schools; Kyle Dunbar, Digital Promise

SPONSOR SESSION: Walk the Talk: Collaborative Competency-Based PD to Empower Learner-Centered Classrooms

Katie Martin, Learning-Centered Collaborative

AI-Powered Career Access: A Real-World Use Case on Reducing Systemic Barriers And Creating Inclusive Career Pathways For Learners

Stephanie Loeck, Mandy Janssen, Sarah Stacey, GPS Education Partners; Ian Zhu, SchoolJoy; Frank Herman, Robbinsdale Area Schools

Breaking Down Silos: Using Statewide Survey Data to Measure Holistic Student Competencies & Drive Systemic Change

Amy Riker, Dr. David Kowalski, Panorama Education; Dr. Margaret Cage, Dr. Tyre Jenkins, New Mexico Department of Education, Office of Special Education

Community-Based Schools and Competency-Based Learning: Better Together

Laurie Gagnon, Kelly Organ, Aurora Institute; Kristin Eng, Distinctive Schools – CICS West Belden; Jean Berthiaume, Winooski Middle-High School

Competencies in the Real World of Work

Kimberly Mawhiney, Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies

Cultivating, Supporting and Retaining Culturally Responsive Teachers

Marguerite Lukes, Lara Evangelista, Internationals Network for Public Schools

Empowering Learners with the Portrait of a Learner: Carter County Schools Journey to Shifting Mindsets and Practices

Jordan Lewis, SpacesEDU by myBlueprint; Kristen Bledsoe, Jefferey Huffman, Carter County Schools

From Policy to Practice: Blended Learning and Strategic Staffing as Policy-Driven Solutions for Personalized Learning in Texas

Kristin Mansell, Heather Greenhalgh-Spencer, Texas Tech University; Michael Strange, Texas Education Agency; Angelita Lopez, Claire Moreno, Taft ISD; Mandy Hinojos, Ector County ISD

Innovations in AI Procurement: Leading with Evidence and Learner Outcomes

Sierra Noakes, Alison Shell, Digital Promise; Lucas Mund, Denver Public Schools; Jasmine Walker, The Center for Outcomes Based Contracting

Mapping the Future: A Roadtrip Through State-Level Innovation in Education

Rebecca Midles, Getting Smart; Bill Nicely, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation; Jeanine Collins, Center for the Future of Learning; Scott Bess, Indiana Charter Innovation Center; Dave Richards, Future of Learning Council

Redesigning Learning Through the Next Education Workforce: Team-Based Models in College and Career Academies

Lennon Audrain, Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation; Marlo Loria, Jennifer Echols, Mesa Public Schools

The registration desk is located on the 3rd floor in the Celestin Foyer.

SPONSOR SESSION: Reflect & Plan: Take stock of your Aurora learnings and identify your next steps

Devin Vodicka, Katie Martin, Learner-Centered Collaborative 

SPONSOR SESSION: Culture is the Catalyst: Building the Schools Our Students Deserve 

Mario Acosta, Marzano Resources 

Alabama Talent Triad: Using Competencies for State-Wide Transformation 

Nick Moore, Governor’s Office of Education and Workforce Transformation; Amber Garrison Duncan, Competency-Based Education Network

Aligning AI with Purpose: Personalization, Autonomy, and Competency-Based Design – Building High-Impact and High-Quality Units for Each Student in Under 30 Minutes

Alex Magaña, Beacon Network Schools; Erika Twani, Dani Bedoni, Learning One to One Foundation

Architecture, Data, and Dashboards for Mastery Learning: a Detailed Example of Implementation of Mastery Learning Including Free Scalable Tools, Processes, Learning Objectives, and Mastery Thresholds

Alison Rini, Star Lab; Scott Ellis, MasteryTrack

Building Our Own: How Siembra High School Creates a Self-Sustaining Pipeline for Teachers of Color

Jaqlyn Cornejo-Baldwin, Jesus Rodriguez, Robert Jenkins, Dominic Segura, Siembra High School

Empowering Diverse Learners Through a Competency-Based, Therapeutic Alternative Model

Margaret DePasquale, Jack Haverty, Next Wave Jr. High Full Circle High School

How Interdisciplinary, Community-Connected Experiences are Reimagining School in Rural Massachusetts

Dr. Beth Regulbuto, Julie Dolan, Southern Berkshire Regional School District; Nikolaus Namba, Holly Reardon, Transcend

The Art of “I Can”: CBE and Creative Confidence for Young Learners

Melissa Yount-Ott, Janel MacLean, Sarah Adams, Pattonville School District; Nicole Hagedorn, Christina Livingston, Parkwood Elementary School

The Changing Nature of Graduation Requirements: Replacing Traditional Tests With Authentic Measures of Knowledge and Skills

Harry Feder, National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest); Christine DonFrancesco, National Education Association

The Eastern Edge: Experience the Journey from a Traditional One-Size-Fits-All Teacher Led System to a Personalized Competency-Based System with Students at the Center 

Joseph Mancuso, Keith Shoemaker, Jacqueline Gordon, Anneliese Fasen, Victor McNair, Eastern York School District; Sean Ryan, McGraw Hill

The Next Generation of Changemakers: Community-Engaged Learning in Rural Appalachia 

Dustin Hensley, Rachel Wagner, Elizabethton High School; Meaghan Heimbach, East Tennessee State University

The Teacher Expertise Ecosystem: ASU Prep’s Comprehensive Approach to Developing and Deploying Teacher Leaders

Agueda Nava, Jill Loveall, Megan Hanley, Yesenia Rubio-Gudino, ASU Preparatory Academy

With, Not For: Partnering with Educators to Build Capstone Criteria

Alcine Mumby, ADLM Consulting LLC; Angela Landrum, Robin Russell, Colorado Department of Education

Bridging Growth: Aligning a Teacher Mentor Program with Competency-Based Learning Principles

Patricia Wons, Amybeth Taylor, Erica MacNeil, Newmarket School District

Career Preparation for All: Transforming Education by Replacing the Broken “College or Career” and “College for All” Paradigms with a “Career for All” paradigm emphasizing pathways and preparation for strong early careers.

Steve Wallis, Crissel Rodriguez, Erin D’Souza, Da Vinci Schools

Documenting Transformation: How the Kentucky Innovative Teacher Fellowship Uses Unrulr to Drive Competency-Based Innovation

Rob Collins, Kentucky Department of Education; Aaron Schorn, Unrulr

Embracing Your Role as Guide and Co-Creator: Four Teen-Centered Teaching Practices that Unleash Student Engagement and Agency in Competency-Based High School Classrooms

Michelle Bertoli, History Co:Lab

From Random Acts to Real Results: A District’s Blueprint for Scaling Student-Centered Learning and Igniting Systemic Transformation 

Nick LaFave, Erica Fielder, Michelene Richey, Clover High School

Illuminating AI Competencies: Transforming CBE for an AI-Augmented Future

Justin Bruno, Ken Dirkin, Michigan Virtual

Learning That Matters: Community-Driven & Future-Ready Project-Based Learning in a Competency-Based System

Karina Costas , Sergio Figueroa, Ryan McCoy, Westminster Public Schools

Rethinking Time: Designing and Implementing Master Schedules for Competency-Based Learning

Lacey Eckels, Rachel Albright, Carmen Coleman, ElevatED Studios; Jennifer Echols, Marlo Loria, Cathy Beaudoin, Sang Hee Kim, Mesa Public Schools; Cheryl Hibbeln, IlluminatED Collective

Strategic Planning for Legitimacy, Impact and Survival

Doannie Tran, Rita Harvey, Center for Innovation in Education (C!E); Victor Prussack, Burlington School District

Luminary Talks: Igniting Minds, Illuminating Transformation

Brought to you be the Nellie Mae Foundation 

Innovation is happening all around us, driven by leaders and advocates who see firsthand how we must make a concerted effort to meet the needs of all students. Join us for our closing keynote where members of the Nellie Mae Education Foundation Speakers Bureau recount how to bring communities together, break down barriers, redesign systems, and advocate for change in a turbulent environment through short “Luminary Talks.” Don’t miss this powerful finale to our Symposium—come ready to be inspired, connect with changemakers, and leave energized to shape the future of education together.

The Nellie Mae Speakers Bureau is a group of education, youth, and community leaders from New England who are advancing racial equity and education justice through their work and advocacy. Stay tuned to learn more about the presenters, and visit the Nellie Mae website to learn more about the Speakers Bureau and its members.