Agenda and Session Descriptions

SCHEDULE AT A GLANCE

  • 7:30-8:30 - Coffee and Conversation

  • 8:30-10:00 - Keynote and Critical Friends

  • 10:00-10:15 - Break

  • 10:15-11:30 - Morning Breakout Sessions

  • 11:30-12:30 - Lunch

  • 12:30-1:45 - Afternoon Breakout Sessions

  • 1:45-2:00 - Break

  • 2:00-3:30 - Team Time

AGENDA

KEYNOTES

WEDNESDAY MORNING: Handle with Care: Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect
Jimmy Casas

In schools across the country, educators at every level are faced with delicate, challenging situations that require leadership skills and insights in order to produce favorable outcomes for students and staff. In this presentation, Jimmy Casas examines a variety of difficult school-related situations, both in and out of the classroom, and provides strategies, tools, and techniques to address a variety of difficult-to-handle situations and scenarios in order to help students and staff emerge from missteps more self-aware, feeling valued, and able to move forward.

WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON: “Culture of Belonging” and the Journey of Visible Learning
John Hattie

We can have the best evidence about teaching, leading, and learning but if the culture of the school or classroom is not inviting to all, then the impact on students is most diluted. This session introduces 10 mindframes for culture, identity, and belonging and while worthwhile in themselves, also shows how such a climate is critical to successful implementation of programs in classes and schools.

THURSDAY MORNING: Addressing Systemic Trauma
Jimmy Casas

Do you leave work every night exhausted from putting out fires all day long? Are you frustrated because you find yourself dealing with the same issues time and time again? Do you find yourself hesitating and blaming others or the system because you are not getting the results you hoped to get? In this session, Jimmy Casas, twenty two-year veteran principal and best-selling author of Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes., breaks down the systemic issues that are affecting school campuses today and provides a more effective framework that will allow you to get back the necessary time to work on the things that matter most and help elevate your school/district to the next level?

FRIDAY MORNING: Leading the Learning: The Critical Role of the Five Essential Questions
Tammy Van Wyhe

School and district administrators are responsible for too many things to count in the course of any given school day. As a result of the daily deluge, diving into deep academic leadership can feel overwhelming and is sometimes forced to take a seat until there is “time” to focus. Alaska’s Education Challenge established all students reading at grade level by the end of Grade 3 as a top priority for our state, and new legislation related to early reading is on Alaska’s horizon. This keynote will take time to review the critical role of leadership in successful district and school literacy improvement initiatives, and will introduce leaders to a framework that provides clarity on some of the most important questions for a literacy leader.

2022 ASLI Schedule at a Glance

BREAKOUT SESSIONS - WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Rethinking Readiness with a Cultural Strength-Based Perspective
Janelle Vanasse
King Salmon Room
REPEATED THURSDAY PM

Join us in rethinking the post-secondary readiness model to be more culturally responsive. Alaska has a target to have 65% of our Adults with a credential by 2025. Despite gains, we have been stagnant for too long in successfully transitioning our Alaska Native students into college and post-secondary programs and even less successfully in their persistence. Transplanting outside models into our local communities has been tried with minimal results. How might we reconsider the challenge from a cultural strength-based perspective? Come learn about relevant research and a process to use in schools to pivot the readiness model. Participants will leave with a big picture of how to shift, but also concrete ideas to implement immediately.

Relationships Win: Connections That Build Community
Maria Lewis Ramadane
Iliamna Room

Research confirms what we already know, relationships matter. We are naturally wired for connection. As students and staff are rebounding from the remnants of school closures, isolation, and quarantine, the importance of intentionally cultivating relationships is essential to creating and sustaining a positive school culture. This session focuses on building relationships while working through adversity to strengthen the community.

Building Leadership Capacity
Jimmy Casas
Aleutian Room

The distribution of leadership within a school is essential to ensure positive change and should not be left to chance. Every staff member has the capacity to lead and shape successful and sustainable reform. Jimmy draws from his expertise as an award-winning principal to identify strategies for developing and growing your teachers. Learn how to build teacher leaders across your organization. Jimmy shares how to set the vision and give the support and training it takes to build a community of leaders.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS - THURSDAY

THURSDAY MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Leading the Instructional Core: Every Student. Every Day.
Maria Lewis Ramadane
liamna Room

As schools continue to recover post pandemic, work surrounding the instructional core must take center stage! The principal is the instructional leader and impacts student performance. This session focuses on the use of Instructional Rounds as a professional learning opportunity that strengthens teacher practice and promotes schoolwide collaboration.

Culturize: Cultivating a Culture of Excellence
Jimmy Casas
Aleutian Room

In this session, school leaders will gain practical application strategies to build a school community where everyone has the opportunity to leave their legacy. Hear first-hand and learn by example how establishing meaningful relationships with all members of the school community is an essential component to making a positive impact on the culture of a school and creating an environment where all students and staff can be a part of something great

Resilient Leaders: Why We Need to Be Champions for All Students
Sarah Johnson
King Salmon Room
REPEATS FRIDAY PM

We all have personal stories that ink the pages of our lives and develop the plotline for how we came to be in our profession. Sarah shares personal stories that illustrate how even childhoods that paint an unlikely picture for success can transform into dynamic leaders in adulthood. This session highlights how kids who grow up in homes with abuse and neglect can become resilient leaders. The session weaves personal story, relationship building tips, research, culturally responsive practices, and bold acts of caring encouragement. Attendees will walk away inspired to champion for their students to become future resilient leaders

NISS Group Meeting
Sean Dusek
Prince William Boardroom


THURSDAY AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Rethinking Readiness with a Cultural Strength-Based Perspective-
Janelle Vanasse
Iliamna Room
REPEATED SESSION

Join us in rethinking the post-secondary readiness model to be more culturally responsive. Alaska has a target to have 65% of our Adults with a credential by 2025. Despite gains, we have been stagnant for too long in successfully transitioning our Alaska Native students into college and post-secondary programs and even less successfully in their persistence. Transplanting outside models into our local communities has been tried with minimal results. How might we reconsider the challenge from a cultural strength-based perspective? Come learn about relevant research and a process to use in schools to pivot the readiness model. Participants will leave with a big picture of how to shift, but also concrete ideas to implement immediately

Leading with F.A.I.T.H. Over Fear
Sarah Johnson
King Salmon Room
REPEATS FRIDAY AM

In order to lead in courageous ways, it is critical to develop characteristics that keep us from leading out of the depths from the pit of fear. In this session, we explore and unpack this concept through the acronym F.A.I.T.H. Free to be yourself, Affirmed in core values and mission, Intentionally goal oriented, Transcending titles and leading through service, and leading with Heart, growing our emotional intelligence. Leave ready to lead more courageously with strategies to avoid the fear pit trap and lead with more faith today!

Managing Difficult Situations in Schools with Dignity and Respect
Jimmy Casas
Aleutian Room

Join us for a deeper dive into managing difficult situations. In schools across the country, educators at every level are faced with delicate, challenging situations that require leadership skills and insights in order to produce favorable outcomes for students and staff. In this presentation, Jimmy Casas examines a variety of difficult school-related situations, both in and out of the classroom, and provides strategies, tools, and techniques to address a variety of difficult-to-handle situations and scenarios in order to help students and staff emerge from missteps more self-aware, feeling valued, and able to move forward.

NISS Group Meeting
Sean Dusek
Prince William Boardroom

BREAKOUT SESSIONS - FRIDAY

REPEATED - FRIDAY MORNING AND AFTERNOON SESSIONS
Make Every Moment Count: Planning for Literacy Success in the 2022-2023 School Year
Tammy Van Wyhe
Aleutian Room

There is no “tired” like end-of-the-year school leader tired, yet this is the best time to plan your strategy for success in the coming school year. This workshop-style breakout session will walk leaders through goal setting, in-service planning, and a strategy for the first 90 days of the school year -- all with literacy as a primary focus. Consider your hopes and dreams for next school year, and spend time planning intentionally for the #BestYearEver. Templates, tools, and tips galore will be provided, as well as meaningful work time to craft the beginnings of an amazing August kick-off for your staff and students.

FRIDAY MORNING BREAKOUT SESSION
Leading with F.A.I.T.H. Over Fear
Sarah Johnson
King Salmon Room
REPEATED

In order to lead in courageous ways, it is critical to develop characteristics that keep us from leading out of the depths from the pit of fear. In this session, we explore and unpack this concept through the acronym F.A.I.T.H. Free to be yourself, Affirmed in core values and mission, Intentionally goal oriented, Transcending titles and leading through service, and leading with Heart, growing our emotional intelligence. Leave ready to lead more courageously with strategies to avoid the fear pit trap and lead with more faith today!

FRIDAY AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSION
Resilient Leaders: Why We Need to Be Champions for All Students
Sarah Johnson
King Salmon Room
REPEATED

We all have personal stories that ink the pages of our lives and develop the plotline for how we came to be in our profession. Sarah shares personal stories that illustrate how even childhoods that paint an unlikely picture for success can transform into dynamic leaders in adulthood. This session highlights how kids who grow up in homes with abuse and neglect can become resilient leaders. The session weaves personal story, relationship building tips, research, culturally responsive practices, and bold acts of caring encouragement. Attendees will walk away inspired to champion for their students to become future resilient leaders