The School Reform Initiative invites you to the annual Winter Meeting from January 12-14, 2017 in Denver, Colorado, as we explore this year’s theme: Exploring Our Assumptions about Educational Equity and Excellence.
The Winter Meeting offers professional educators from across the country and world the opportunity to engage as adult learners in the grounded, deeply relational types of learning experiences they offer their students every day.
The mission of SRI is to create transformational learning communities fiercely committed to educational equity and excellence. This mission guides the planning of Winter Meeting and your participation is an opportunity to enact these beliefs into practice.
Click here to learn more about Winter Meeting and to register to attend.
Winter Meeting Keynotes
Each year, the Winter Meeting programming committee looks for keynote speakers that will engage and inspire our attendees and this year is no different. We have two amazing opening keynote speakers and one closing speaker.
Opening Keynote Speakers – Thursday Morning
Dr. Deirdre Sharkey
Deirdre was introduced to the principles and practices of SRI critical friendship as a first-year science teacher. This philosophy had such a profound impact on her teaching that she made it her mission to continue this work, first as the science department chair, then as a school leader, and now at the Harris County Department of Education.Deirdre is credited with leading a turnaround school in Houston, and she attributes the success of the school to the deeply embedded work of SRI critical friendship. The culture of trust, embedded in action, was established with teachers and staff first. This translated to a positive culture of high expectations and a belief that all students could and would learn at high cognitive levels. With her leadership and commitment to students, in four years the school went from underperforming to the only state-recognized middle-school STEM academy in the Houston Independent School District.Deirdre has continued to support schools while serving as an elected board member for SRI, as well as in her current professional role of preparing school leaders and district superintendents where she continues to bring her commitment to equity and excellence for all students.
She has a background in epidemiology, along with experience in educational research and program evaluation.
Dr. Gregory Peters
Dr. Gregory Peters is school reform leader with a longstanding history working within both local and national efforts. As Principal of San Francisco’s Leadership High School, Gregory and his teachers effectively created a National Demonstration and Mentor School that made progress in closing the racial achievement gap and was “highly commended for… graduating all their students – of every race/ ethnicity – University of California eligible.”Building from his successful experiences and results, Gregory now leads The San Francisco Coalition of Essential Small Schools, which, established in 2005, is committed “to interrupt and transform current and systemic educational inequities to ensure all students have access to personalized, equitable and high performing schools that believe and demonstrate each student can, should and will succeed.” Towards this mission, Gregory facilitates equity-focused, educational transformation throughout the nation.Gregory’s instructional expertise and leadership in curriculum and school design; data based inquiry; and equity-centered professional development have resulted in a number recognitions including CESN’s “Commitment to Equity Award” and CANEC’s “Innovations in Excellence Award”.
Gregory earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership & Social Justice from California State University East Bay in 2012; his dissertation focused on Teacher Transformation.
Closing Keynote Speaker – Saturday Morning
Paul Gorski
Paul C. Gorski is an associate professor of Integrative Studies in George Mason University’s School of Integrative Studies, where he teaches classes such as Poverty, Wealth, and Inequality; Social Justice Education; Social Justice Consciousness and Personal Transformation; and Contemporary Issues in Social Justice and Human Rights. He recently led the design and development of the new Social Justice and Human Rights undergraduate and graduate programs. Paul is a Senior Research Fellow for the Center for the Advancement of Well-Being and is serving his third term on the board of the International Association for Intercultural Education. He has been an active consultant, presenter, and trainer for nearly twenty years, conducting workshops and providing guidance for schools and community organizations committed to equity and diversity. He created and continues to manage the Multicultural Pavilion, an award winning Web site focused on critical multicultural education. He has published more than 50 articles and eight books, focusing most recently on topics like poverty and educational opportunity, racial equity, and activist resiliency. He also has taught for the University of Virginia, the University of Maryland, Hamline University, and the Humane Society University. He lives in Virginia with his cat, Buster.
Areas of specialty:
- Equity literacy framework
- White privilege and racial equity in schools and school districts
- Poverty and class equity in schools and community organizations
- Research-based, holistic strategies for addressing achievement (or opportunity) gaps
- Activist burnout and resiliency
- Leadership development and the training of trainers for equity and diversity
Film Screening – Thursday Night: “I am not a Racist…am I?
This year we are excited to host a screening of the film “I am not a Racist…am I?”. This is a feature documentary following a diverse group of teens through a yearlong exploration to get at the heart of racism. The film producers asked 12 teenagers from New York City to come together for one school year to talk about race and privilege in a series of workshops and in conversations with friends and family members.
Through some tense and painful moments, we see how these difficult conversations affect their relationships with friends and parents, and ultimately challenge them to look deep within themselves.
By the end of their time together, we’ll see these remarkable young people develop deeper bonds, a stronger resolve and a bigger, more significant definition of racism than any of us ever imagined.
This film is part of a larger initiative – Deconstructing Race – developed by The Calhoun School to create a multimedia platform to get young people, their teachers and their families talking – and doing something – about structural systemic racism.
The screening on Thursday evening will be followed by a facilitated discussion. It will be open to the public and will include two students from the film as part of the facilitation team. Be on the lookout for a flyer that you can share with your friends and colleagues, inviting them to the Thursday evening film screen.
Click here to learn more about the film.
Wednesday Pre-Conferences
The Winter Meeting is so full, we can’t possibly fit it all in the 2.5 days – so we offer a number of pre-conferences the day before, allowing participants to dive deep into a variety of different topics.
Pre-conferences are open to registered Winter Meeting attendees. You can select the pre-conference you wish to attend when completing the Winter Meeting registration form.
Click here register and to learn more about this year’s pre-conferences.
We look forward to seeing you in Denver,
Kari Thierer, Heidi Vosekas, Chris Jones, and Beth Graham
On behalf of the Winter Meeting Planning Team
Carley Colton, Anastacia Galloway, Marjorie Larner, Stevi Quate, Dave Schmid, and Michael Soguero
