Saturday
Ocotber 25, 2025
8:00 AM - 10:30 AM: Registration Desk Open
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.
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM: Mastery Transcript Consortium Forum
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.
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Learner-Centered Collaborative Workshop
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:
- Content Expertise: Participants will gain content area knowledge about grading and competency-based assessment
- 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
- Effective Communication: Participants will work on their storytelling and communication skills as they practice ways to bring others into these complex conversations
4:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Registration Desk Open
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.
Sunday
October 26, 2025
7:30 AM - 7:30 PM: Registration Desk Open
Registration Desk Open 7:30 am – 7:30 pm
The registration desk is located on the 3rd floor in the Celestin Foyer.
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Pre-Conference Workshops
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
12:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Illumination Hub Open
The Illumination Hub is located on the 3rd floor in Storyville Hall.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Networking Lunch in Illumination Hub
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Opening Keynote: More Than a Seat at the Table: A Conversation with Learners on Agency, Voice, and Choice
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.
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Breakout Sessions
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
2:15 PM - 3:15 PM: Framework Palooza
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
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Breakout Sessions
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
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM: Collaborative Roundtable Sessions
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.
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM: Breakout Sessions
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
4:45 PM - 5:45 PM: Collaborative Roundtable Sessions
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
5:45 PM - 7:45 PM: Networking Reception
Monday
October 27, 2025
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Registration Desk Open
7:00 AM - 5:30 PM: Illumination Hub Open
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Networking Breakfast in Illumination Hub
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Breakout Sessions
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
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM: Keynote Panel Can We Trust the Transcript? Building More Equitable Grading Practices as an Entry Point for Competency-Based Education
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.
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Breakout Sessions
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
Teacher as Coach
Carlon Howard, The Equity Institute
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM: Collaborative Roundtable Sessions
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
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM: Breakout Sessions
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
11:45 AM - 12:45 PM:Collaborative Roundtable Sessions
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
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM: Lunch in Illumination Hub
12:45 PM - 1:45 PM: Illumination Hub Presentations / Demos
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.
1:45 PM - 2:45 PM: Breakout Sessions
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
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
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Breakout Sessions
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
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Collaborative Roundtable Sessions
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
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Breakout Sessions
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
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
Tuesday
October 28, 2025
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Networking Breakfast in Illumination Hub
8:00 AM - 1:30 PM: Registration Desk Open
The registration desk is located on the 3rd floor in the Celestin Foyer.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Breakout Sessions
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
10:15 AM - 11:15 AM: Breakout Sessions
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
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM: Lunch Conversations in the Illumination Hub
12:30 PM - 1:30 PM: Closing Keynote: Luminary Talks: Igniting Minds, Illuminating Transformation
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.
Please Note: All times are in the Central Time Zone.