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9-9:25 a.m.
BACI CEREMONY WITH CHONG YANG
Great Hall
Chong Yang is the Culturally Responsive Instruction Coordinator in the Office of Teaching & Learning and previous educator for 25 years. In this role, she is working to achieve the district's goals of building a culture centered on a shared understanding of culturally responsive instruction, creating learning environments where all students make connections to what they are learning, and helping teachers meet the learning needs of students, which will contribute to successful academic outcomes.
9:25-10 a.m.
WELCOME ADDRESS: SUPERINTENDENT JOE GOTHARD & BOARD OF EDUCATION CHAIR JIM VUE
Great Hall
Joe Gothard has been superintendent of Saint Paul Public Schools since 2017. He is the educational leader of the school district, which serves approximately 33,000 Pre-K-12 students and employs over 5,500 staff. Gothard launched the SPPS Achieves strategic plan in December 2018 to set aspirational and attainable goals for student achievement, guide decision-making, and focus the district’s efforts on long-term student outcomes.
Jim Vue has served on the Saint Paul Public Schools Board of Education since July 2020. He and his family have been a part of SPPS for the past 13 years, and his experience as a parent in the district is a value to the Board. With his strong background in parent leadership and special education navigation, he aims to steer Saint Paul Public Schools to act as a vessel for racial justice and social change.
10:15-11:15 a.m.
BREAKOUT #1
Houses 22 & 23
11:15 a.m.-12:15 a.m.
WORKING LUNCH
East Parking LotFood Trucks: Adam’s Gyros, Emconada Food Truck, Samurai Teppanyaki. Thanks to the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, food truck lunches will be provided!
12:15-1:15 p.m.
BREAKOUT #2
Houses 22 & 23
1:15-2 p.m.
COLLABORATE & CONNECT
Great HallChong Yang will conduct a mindfulness session and reflect with attendees on breakout session learnings. There will be time for attendees to connect and collaborate with each other.
STUDENT PROJECT SHOWCASE
Great HallStudent projects will be exhibited in the Great Hall. Come check them out for ideas and inspiration for your own students!
2-3 p.m.
BREAKOUT #3
Houses 22 & 23
BREAKOUT SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
**Breakout sessions will be repeated for all three sessions unless noted otherwiseWISE FEEDBACK: WHERE CRI AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PRACTICE MEET - House 22, Room 2130
Tim Brown, Principal, American Indian Magnet School | Intended audience: school administrators
Dr. Brown will share how he draws on the intersectionality of culturally responsive instruction and trauma-informed pedagogy to foster rigor in the classroom and build trust and community with his staff, parents and students.CIVIC ENGAGED STORYTELLING - House 22, Room 2208B
Paul Creager, Curriculum & Media Arts Coordinator, Gordon Parks High School | Intended audience: all educators
This session focuses on how storytelling projects (photography, audio, filmmaking) can engage learners in scholarly, community-impactful learning journeys. Paul will focus on learning projects built around rigorous and relevant learning partnerships, as well as shifting academic mindsets.PROTOCOLS FOR FACILITATING PSYCHOLOGICALLY SAFE CLASS DISCUSSIONS - House 22, Room 2210
Kara Cisco, TOSA, DAE, Social Studies, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: secondary teachers
This session focuses on facilitating effective small and large group discussions with secondary students to promote student engagement and build community. Kara will share discussion protocols to help students develop productive discussions, think critically about complex topics and collaborate effectively with their peers.MATH TALKS IN THE DLI CLASSROOM - House 22, Room 2220
Jeny Dohrer, WINN Math TOSA, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators, especially DLI teachers
This session will provide valuable insights on the benefits of incorporating math talks into teaching practices. Join Jeny for a discussion on the effectiveness of math talks in the DLI classroom.MULTIMEDIA GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS TO SUPPORT COGNITIVE ROUTINES - House 22, Room 2230
Amanda Madsen, Personalized Learning Specialist, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators
This session will introduce using visuals and audio in graphic organizers to support cognitive routines in learning. Using the app Keynote, Amanda will show how students and teachers can support learning by making connections between and among content. An iPad will be beneficial to experience the tools presented in this session.CULTURALLY LINGUISTIC SUSTAINING PRACTICES IN SUTR - House 22, Room 2240
Wouang Lao, SUTR Supervisor, Graduate Level Pathway | Intended audience: all educators
This session will share how the SUTR program implements high-leverage practices in coursework and in student teaching. Wouang will discuss the merits of recruiting and retaining teachers of color as part of the district’s culturally responsive instruction practice and how culturally responsive instruction is an integral part of educator development.GROWING CRI IN SCHOOLYARD GARDENS - House 22, Room 2250
Josh Leonard, Education Director at Belwin Outdoor Science; Kirsten Saylor, Nutrition Services’ Grow Our Own Program Coordinator | Intended audience: K-12 science teachers, elementary teachers
There are more ways to learn outside in SPPS than ever before! This year, 1,000 SPPS students planted 1,400 tulips at 23 school sites. Another 300 students planted 1,000 plants of 14 different species in 7 pollination station gardens across 7 school sites. Still more teachers were involved in Naturethon, getting their students outside for hours throughout this spring! Join Josh and Kirsten to dig in and learn more about how teaching and learning outside can be a powerful tool in your CRI tool belt!THROUGH THE EYES OF A LANGUAGE LEARNER (MANDARIN CHINESE) - House 22, Room 2730
Yi Li, Kindergarten Teacher, Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy | Intended audience: all educators, non-speakers of Mandarin Chinese
Experience an elementary content lesson in Mandarin Chinese through the eyes of a language learner. Yi will share strategies and techniques to help with comprehension and language development.CRITICAL ETHNIC STUDIES: BUILDING AND BEING IN COMMUNITY - House 23, Room 2720 (session #3 only)
Mouakong Vue, Critical Ethnic Studies Coordinator; Xue Xiong, Ethnic Studies Specialist, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators
Mouakong and Xue will share the overview and framework of the Critical Ethnic Studies course and immerse attendees in the ethnic studies implementation journey within and beyond SPPS. They will share stories of success, challenges and limitations to transformational change and how to cultivate students’ knowledge and develop their critical thinking skills to be agents of positive change.TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE IN THE DLI CLASSROOM - House 23, Room 2320
Rachel Hoheisel, Spanish Immersion Social Studies Teacher, Highland Park Middle School | Intended audience: all educators, especially DLI teachers
Rachel will share ways to incorporate the Total Physical Response (TPR) strategy into Social Studies lessons to boost understanding of concepts by fully engaging K-12 learners of all linguistic backgrounds. This session is geared towards participants who have a slight working knowledge of Spanish and will be covering grade 6 Social Studies concepts.THE BILINGUAL SEALS PROGRAM: MULTILINGUAL STUDENTS AT WORK - House 23, Room 2330
Christi Schmitt, Indigenous and World Languages Program Manager, Office of Teaching & Learning | Intended audience: secondary teachers; Workforce Readiness Coordinators; secondary counselors; Immersion, Indigenous & World Language teachers; EL teachers
Learn how the Bilingual Seals decrease achievement disparities and increase opportunities for multilingual students. Christi will facilitate a student panel discussion with members of the 2023 student cohort. Student panelists will share their perspectives on creating inclusive school and district cultures and what motivates them to develop and apply their multilingual skills in the classroom.CLASSROOM CULTURE SHIFTS USING SAVVAS LEARNING: ENVISION MATHEMATICS - House 23, Room 2350
Steve Vaerst, High School Mathematics Specialist; Kali Mayamba, Middle School Math Specialist, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: 6-12 math educators and administrators
Steve and Kali will incorporate math tasks from Savvas Learning: enVision Mathematics to introduce and practice with NCSM's (National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics) continuum of culturally responsive tasks. They will share ideas for building a community of learners, getting to know students and transforming rich math tasks.THROUGH THE EYES OF A LANGUAGE LEARNER (FRENCH) - House 23, Room 2750
Lisa Showers, French Language TOSA, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators, non-speakers of French
Experience an elementary content lesson in French through the eyes of a language learner. Lisa will share strategies and techniques to help with comprehension and language development.
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9-9:30 a.m.
SMUDGING WITH JULIE HUTCHESON-DOWNWIND
Great Hall
Julie Hutcheson-Downwind is an Indigenous Curriculum TOSA in the Office of Teaching & Learning and previous educator at American Indian Magnet School. She is Ojibwe and an enrolled member of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Baraga, Michigan. As an Indigenous Curriculum TOSA, Hutcheson-Downwind creates Indigenous Integration lessons and resources across grade bands and content areas to meet Minnesota State Standards that specifically mention Anishinabe and Dakota people.
9:30-10:30 a.m.
KEYNOTE: DR. ARTIKA TYNER
Great Hall
Dr. Artika Tyner is committed to creating a world of inclusive leaders who will meet the pressing needs of today and work towards a better future where racial justice and economic justice reign supreme. As a motivational speaker, author and educator, Dr. Tyner helps people of all ages connect with their gifts and develop tangible tools for bringing forth sustainable, durable change in the family, workplace, community or school. She is well-known as a thought leader, author and designer of high-profile programs to drive organizational DEI initiatives and create inclusive leaders.
10:45-11:45 a.m.
BREAKOUT #1
Houses 22 & 23
11:45 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
WORKING LUNCH
East Parking LotFood Trucks: Adam’s Gyros, Emconada Food Truck, D&D Goodies Food Truck. Thanks to the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, food truck lunches will be provided!
STUDENT PROJECT SHOWCASE
Great HallStudent projects will be exhibited in the Great Hall. Come check them out for ideas and inspiration for your own students!
12:45-1:45 p.m.
BREAKOUT #2
Houses 22 & 23
2-3 p.m.
BREAKOUT #3
Houses 22 & 23
BREAKOUT SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
**Breakout sessions will be repeated for all three sessions unless noted otherwiseKEYNOTE SPEAKER DEEP DIVE - Great Hall
Dr. Artika Tyner | Intended audience: all educators
Dr. Artika R. Tyner is a passionate educator, author, sought-after speaker, and advocate for justice. Tyner is the CEO of Planting People Growing Justice Press and Bookstore (PPGJ). PPGJ publishes and promotes books that encourage and empower children to find joy in reading. In recognition of her leadership and service, she is the recipient of more than two dozen awards that include: Women in Business, American Small Business Champion, International Educator Citizen, Attorney of the Year, and American Bar Association Difference Makers.MULTIPLE PERSPECTIVES: TEACHING LEARNERS HOW TO SPEAK AND LISTEN TO DIVERSE OPINIONS - House 21, Room 2130
Karen Christenson, Elementary ESL Teacher, Crossroads Science | Intended audience: 3-12 educators, Social Studies teachers; ELA and ESL teachers
In this interactive session, Karen will demonstrate ways to hold space for multiple perspectives. She will share structured ways of teaching students to consider various issues through their own cultural lens and experiences. Participants will have opportunities to think, listen, speak and process using an exercise called "Viewpoints on the Line."CRITICAL LITERACY - House 22, Room 2208B
Amany Elaraby, Learning Lead, Global Arts Plus Lower | Intended audience: K-12 Social Studies, ELA, Literacy and elementary classroom teachers
How does literature create stereotypes? How can we foster different perspectives in our classroom? Amany will share critical literacy tools to guide and inform teaching practices, in order to include other perspectives. Educators will develop practices that encourage students to critically reflect on literature.TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE IN THE DLI CLASSROOM - House 22, Room 2230
Rachel Hoheisel, Spanish Immersion Social Studies Teacher, Highland Park Middle School | Intended audience: all educators, especially DLI teachers
Rachel will share ways to incorporate the Total Physical Response (TPR) strategy into Social Studies lessons to boost understanding of concepts by fully engaging K-12 learners of all linguistic backgrounds. This session is geared towards participants who have a slight working knowledge of Spanish and will be covering grade 6 Social Studies concepts.SPPS: WE SMUDGE HERE - House 22, Room 2240
Julie Hutcheson-Downwind, Indigenous Curriculum TOSA, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators
Participants will be introduced to the SPPS smudging policy. Julie will provide slides for educators to use with students to increase knowledge of smudging. Attendees will be able to brainstorm smudging plans for their school sites.EXAMINING UNCONSCIOUS BIAS - House 22, Room 2250
Wouang Lao, SUTR Supervisor, Graduate Level Pathway | Intended audience: all educators
Everyone has bias. Wouang will provide an overview of what unconscious bias is and how it impacts the workspace, as well as how to be aware of unconscious bias in order to foster an open and inclusive work culture.LEADING HANDS-ON LEARNING (WITH IPAD) - Horseshoe, Room 2730
Andy Leiser, Apple Professional Learning Specialist, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: educators, administrators, anyone with an iPad
The iPad can be an effective tool to foster student engagement and authentic learning. It can provide academic resources that reduce students’ cognitive load. Andy will share ways to empower students using the iPad to make learning personal, relevant and authentic. An iPad will be beneficial to experience the tools presented in this session.STORYTELLING IN ORAL TRADITION - Horseshoe, Room 2750
Bounthavy Kiatoukaysy, Performance Arts Teacher, Phalen Lake Elementary | Intended audience: all educators
Storytelling engages students from all cultures and backgrounds. Bounthavy will demonstrate how to use storytelling to develop language skills and discuss why storytelling is and continues to be an effective culturally responsive practice.THROUGH THE EYES OF A LANGUAGE LEARNER (MANDARIN CHINESE) - House 23, Room 2320
Yi Li, Kindergarten Teacher, Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion Academy | Intended audience: all educators, non-speakers of Mandarin Chinese
Experience an elementary content lesson in Mandarin Chinese through the eyes of a language learner. Yi will share strategies and techniques to help with comprehension and language development.ENGAGING STUDENTS AND STAFF TO PROMOTE A SENSE OF BELONGING - House 23, Room 2330
Nicole Napierala, Principal, Bruce Vento Elementary | Intended audience: all educators, administrators
Principal Napierala will lead a discussion on ways staff can reflect and create an action plan to address staff and students’ sense of belonging. Principal Napierala will also highlight ways to include student voice and interrupt inequities.WHAT IS CRITICAL ETHNIC STUDIES? - House 23, Room 2340 (session #3 only)
Cassandra Sheppard, Critical Ethnic Studies Teacher, Johnson High School | Intended audience: all educators, especially Multilingual Learner and Special Education teachers
Cassandra will provide an overview of the Critical Ethnic Studies course, its framework and how educators can support students, especially SpEd and MLL, in the course.THROUGH THE EYES OF A LANGUAGE LEARNER (FRENCH) - House 23, Room 2350
Lisa Showers, French Language TOSA, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators, non-speakers of French
Experience an elementary content lesson in French through the eyes of a language learner. Lisa will share strategies and techniques to help with comprehension and language development.BLENDED LEARNING STRATEGIES TO PROMOTE INDEPENDENT AND COLLECTIVE LEARNING - House 23, Room 2373
Karen Vidlock, Personalized Learning Specialist, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: 6-12 educators
Karen will highlight culturally responsive strategies for blended learning and address individual and collective methods of learning. There will be time for teachers to apply content and resources and build lessons.
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9-9:15 a.m.
WELCOME
Great Hall
9:15-10:15 a.m.
KEYNOTE: CYDI YANG
Great Hall
Cydi Yang is a spoken word artist, musician, and dancer. At the CRI Expo, she will perform their new work for the 2022-2023 Cedar Commissions, "Soul Call". This performance is a modern interpretation of the traditional Hmong hu plig ceremony. In this ceremony, a soul is called back to the body after experiences of darkness create a disconnect. The performance includes music, theatrics, dancing and visuals. "This is a story of healing and connecting both my worlds. It’s my story of reclaiming parts of me through connecting with the Soul Calling ceremony in the Hmong culture," says Yang.
10:30-11:30 a.m.
BREAKOUT #1
Houses 22 & 23
11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
WORKING LUNCH
East Parking LotFood Trucks: Adam’s Gyros, Emconada Food Truck, D&D Goodies Food Truck. Thanks to the Saint Paul and Minnesota Foundation, food truck lunches will be provided!
STUDENT PROJECT SHOWCASE
Great HallStudent projects will be exhibited in the Great Hall. Come check them out for ideas and inspiration for your own students!
12:30-1:30 p.m.
BREAKOUT #2
Houses 22 & 23
1:40-2:40 p.m.
BREAKOUT #3
Houses 22 & 23
2:50-3 p.m.
COLLABORATE & CONNECT / CLOSING
Great HallChong Yang will reflect with attendees on breakout session learnings and provide an optimistic closing.
BREAKOUT SESSION DESCRIPTIONS
**Breakout sessions will be repeated for all three sessions unless noted otherwiseKEYNOTE SPEAKER DEEP DIVE - Great Hall (session #1 only)
Cydi Yang | Intended audience: all educators
Cydi Yang sees themselves as fluid, an artist, creator, and healer. Well-versed in different art mediums (writing, spoken word, music, various performative arts). Cydi engages and holds conversations, shares and performs creative works in hopes of promoting more love, peace and healing. Cydi has performed spoken word and poetry since 2014. In 2020, they began writing songs and is a part of the Cedar Commissions in 2022-2023. Cydi continues to hold space for sharing personal experiences and creativity to help others heal and expand their awareness of socio-political issues relating to culture and LGBTQ communities.DAILY CRI IN K-5 SCIENCE - House 21, Room 2130
Sarah Bosch, K-5 Science, Horace Mann Elementary | Intended audience: all educators, especially elementary science
Sarah will share daily strategies she uses in her K-5 science classroom to create a culturally responsive classroom. This includes using community builders connected to content to keep the lesson moving, finding ways to encourage students to show up as themselves and providing students with authentic and rigorous learning experiences and discourse to process ideas together.CLASSROOM CULTURE SHIFTS USING HMH INTO MATH - House 22, 2208B
Patti Busta, District Math Coordinator, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: K-5 educators and administrators
This session will provide a variety of ideas to build a community of learners, help educators get to know their students and be able to transform rich math tasks. Patti will incorporate math tasks from the new HMH Into Math curriculum to introduce and practice with NCSM's (National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics) continuum of culturally responsive tasks.SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING IS CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INSTRUCTION - House 22, Room 2210
Angel Thomas, Supervisor/Social Emotional Learning Lead, Office of School Support | Intended audience: all educators
Zaretta Hammond states that being a culturally responsive educator begins with being responsive to students’ needs. In this session, Angel will provide an overview of CASEL and the five SEL Competencies. Attendees will complete an SEL self-reflection and learn about SEL resources to support SEL development and growth for yourself, students and school communities.TELLING YOUR STORY WITH GARAGEBAND - House 22, Room 2220
Chris Turnbull, Innovation Development & Computer Science Program Manager, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators
Attendees will learn how to use GarageBand to turn the iPad into a recording studio that can capture and share family stories, experiences and cultural lenses. An iPad will be beneficial to experience the tools presented in this session.TRAUMA AND RESILIENCY PERSONAL NARRATIVES AMONG THE EL POPULATION IN SPPS - House 22, Room 2230
Jeff Caulum, ELL and ELA teacher, Como Park High School | Intended audience: ELA teachers, EL teachers, administrators
Over the years, Jeff has developed a project for the ELA personal narrative unit that centers on trauma and resiliency. This presentation is a window into the life experiences EL students bring into the classroom; it is a reminder that they do not always show their trauma through behaviors.THE LEARNING PARTNERSHIP: CONNECTION TO ASSESSMENT, GRADING AND WAYS TO CREATE A FEEDBACK COMMUNITY - House 22, Room 2240
Robyn Asher, TOSA - High School Changes/7-12 Life Science; Steve Vaerst, Secondary Math Specialist; Alex Ward, Secondary Literacy Supervisor; Chong Xiong, Social Studies Content Supervisor; Shane O'Reilly, Secondary Literacy Specialist, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: secondary educators
This presentation will focus on using fair and equitable assessment and grading practices to strengthen learning partnerships. The group will share what this looks like in different content areas and discuss ways to provide feedback.INTEGRATING XELLO INTO THE CLASSROOM TO CENTER STUDENT VOICE AND AGENCY - House 22, Room 2250
Katie Gardner, Program Manager, Office of College and Career Readiness | Intended audience: K-12 educators
This session will provide an overview of Xello, the online platform that students use to build their Personal Learning Plans. Katie will share strategies on how to support students in connecting their interests, strengths and values to their future aspirations.IPAD ACCESSIBILITY - Horseshoe, Room 2730
Kelly Jenson, Content TOSA, SPPS Online Elementary School | Intended audience: classroom teachers, Special Ed teachers, EAs
This session introduces different accessibility features built into the iPad to ensure all learners have access to content either through their LMS or online. An iPad will be beneficial to experience the tools presented in this session.CO-TEACHING TO BUILD A LEARNING COMMUNITY - Horseshoe, Room 2750 (session #3 only)
Cassandra Sheppard, Critical Ethnic Studies Teacher; Ehtalow Zar, EL Teacher, Johnson High School | Intended audience: teachers, EAs and TAs
Cassandra and Ehtalow will share how they use classroom routines and procedures to create a learning environment that encourages collaboration and community building. They will also provide ideas on how to foster an effective co-teaching relationship that positively impacts students.TOTAL PHYSICAL RESPONSE IN THE DLI CLASSROOM - House 23, Room 2320
Rachel Hoheisel, Spanish Immersion Social Studies Teacher, Highland Park Middle School | Intended audience: all educators, especially DLI teachers
Rachel will share ways to incorporate the Total Physical Response (TPR) strategy into Social Studies lessons to boost understanding of concepts by fully engaging K-12 learners of all linguistic backgrounds. This session is geared towards participants who have a slight working knowledge of Spanish and will be covering grade 6 Social Studies concepts.BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS THROUGH THE PERSONAL LEARNING PLAN - House 23, Room 2330
Juli Montgomery-Riess, John Eschenbacher and Sue Arvidson, Lead Counselors, Office of College and Career Readiness | Intended audience: K-12 educators, especially foundations & advisory teachers
A Personal Learning Plan (PLP) in Xello can be used as a tool to deepen relationships and understanding with each student. Attendees will participate in PLP activities, learn its scope and sequence and better understand how learning environments that utilize PLPs can encourage students to develop their skills and take steps toward future goals.CREW: COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS AT OWL - House 23, Room 2350
Rebekah Rentzel, Theatre and Critical Ethnic Studies Teacher, 6-12, Open World Learning Community | Intended audience: educators, advisory teachers
This presentation will describe how OWL uses Advisory, or Crew, to build connections with students across age and grade levels. Crew is for students in grades 6-12 to connect daily, and students stay with the same cohort their entire time at OWL. In this presentation, Rebekah will review the structures and systems used to make this possible.THROUGH THE EYES OF A LANGUAGE LEARNER (FRENCH) - House 23, Room 2373
Lisa Showers, French Language TOSA, Office of Teaching and Learning | Intended audience: all educators, non-speakers of French
Experience an elementary content lesson in French through the eyes of a language learner. Lisa will share strategies and techniques to help with comprehension and language development.
