Day Two

We Failed, We Listened, We Changed: Relational Parent Engagement Strategies that Reached Over 2,500 Families - Dr. Suzie White - Room 240

Parent engagement is critical to student success, yet many schools struggle to connect with families in meaningful ways. Drawing from our early failures and eventual success in engaging more than 2,500 families, this session explores why involvement is not the same as engagement, why some parents remain disconnected, and which parent behaviors are most closely linked to student outcomes. Participants will leave with research-based and field-tested strategies, powerful stories, and actionable tools to build trust and connection with every parent in their school community.

Navigating Difficult Conversations with Stakeholders - Paula Kerezsi and Anna Bryan - Room 245

Conflict—and the sometimes-dicult stakeholder conversations that come with it—are inevitable components of a principal’s role. Whether you’re delivering news that’s hard to hear, responding to concerns, or implementing changes about which feelings are mixed (possibly including your own), every conversation has the potential to be difficult. Build tools to transform the nature of these interactions in this session offered by members of UC’s Office of the University Ombuds. Participants will have the opportunity to practice a selection of conflict navigation tools through individual reflection, pair work, and small group practice. Session goals include increased ability to identify options, make strategic choices, employ constructive skills, and engage with confidence in difficult conversations..

Realidades/Realities: Supporting Bilingual and Immigrant Students - Dr. Juan Manuel Gerardo Tapia, Natalie Seybold, and Dana Dahleh - Room 235

With the current federal and state political climate in mind, what are ways to support bilingual and immigrant students attending Cincinnati Public School District schools. We believe the approach must be holistic and address the whole child / family / and community. We seek to leverage the experiences from administrators / principals (our audience members), as well as two veteran teachers and engage in a dialogue to share insight regarding ways to support bilingual and immigrant students. We will also share some recommendations from the research literature to complement the professional wisdom shared during the session. 

Planting the Seeds: College, Career, and Postsecondary Awareness in the Elementary Years  - Michael Turner and Emily Moroney - Room 230

This session will support K-6 principals in understanding how early learning, exposure, and student identity development connect to long-term college, career, and postsecondary readiness. Participants will receive a focused overview of the district programs and supports that students encounter as they progress toward middle school, high school, and postsecondary options. The session will emphasize the elementary leader’s role in building awareness, strengthening foundational skills, creating early exposure to future possibilities, and helping students see themselves as learners with meaningful options beyond graduation. Participants will reflect on what may be missing, where stronger connections can be built, and how K-6 schools can help students begin moving toward future pathways.

Finding a Path for Every Senior: Innovative Strategies for Increasing Graduation Outcomes in Urban High Schools - Dr. Jennifer Williams - Room 240

Every student deserves a pathway to graduation and a future of opportunity. In this session, Dr. Williams will share proven strategies for supporting academically at-risk and high-needs students, including foster youth, students in residential placements, justice-involved youth, and those with interrupted educational histories. Participants will explore practical approaches to credit recovery, graduation requirement monitoring, alternative pathways, individualized senior success planning, restorative practices, and community partnerships. Learn how Hughes STEM leverages CTE, CCP, AP coursework, industry credentials, and targeted interventions to keep students engaged and on track for postsecondary success.

From Research to Practice: An Equity Toolkit for African American Male Student Success  - Dr. Mark Gumm - Room 245

This dissertation explored consciousness, identity, masculinity, and self-concept among African American college men and examined how mentorship, school experiences, family dynamics, and culturally affirming environments shaped their development and future success. Using surveys, interviews, and video ethnography, the study highlighted the critical role of mentorship, leadership opportunities, and identity-affirming educational spaces in supporting African American male achievement.These findings serve as the foundation for a school improvement toolkit designed for principals and school leaders to strengthen equity-centered practices, student belonging, mentorship, leadership development, and academic success for African American male students. The toolkit also engages school leaders in video ethnography as a reflective practice to better understand student voice, identity, and school culture through authentic lived experiences.

The Riple Effect: Small Actions, Big Impact - Antwan Lewis - Room 235

As educators, we often focus on the big initiatives that move a school forward. However, school culture is often shaped by the small actions we take every day. In this session, participants will explore how simple practices such as greeting students by name, building positive relationships, showing empathy, celebrating successes, and maintaining high expectations can have a lasting impact on students, staff, and the overall school community.

Through reflection and discussion, we will examine how creating a sense of belonging helps people feel seen, valued, and connected. Participants will leave with practical strategies that can be implemented immediately to strengthen relationships, improve school culture, and support student success.

Vision to Action: Transforming School Initiatives into Reality - Kieli Ferguson, Mike McGowan and Brandon Kingman - Room 230

This presentation outlines a strategic blueprint to transform the reading and math instruction into a reality by directly addressing critical instructional challenges. It explicitly identifies the primary barriers to success, including multi-grade classroom complexities, strategically planning walkthroughs in classrooms, and providing intentional feedback to ensure standards aligned outcomes. Ultimately, the plan establishes a structured roadmap focused on protecting instructional minutes, redesigning PLCs into instructional hubs, and leveraging high-quality materials to accelerate student growth.

Wired for Connection: The Neuroscience Behind Student Belonging and Actionable Strategies for Schools - Dr. Suzie White - Room 245

Social connection is one of the strongest predictors of a student's well-being and success. This session builds on last year’s “Wired for Connection” session and explores the science of connection, drawing from neuroscience, psychology, and education research to examine its impact on student belonging, well-being, and academic achievement. We will look at research-based practices schools can use to strengthen student connections with trusted adults, creating school environments where every student feels seen, supported, and valued. This follow-up session will briefly revisit key concepts from last year while introducing new research, practical tools, and actionable strategies schools can implement immediately.

From Structure to Liberation: Reimagining Classrooms and Learning for Black Middle Grades Students  - Dr. Elsheika Pennerman - Room 235

What happens when classrooms become spaces where Black students can imagine, resist, and redefine their identities as learners? This session invites school leaders to explore the power of Black placemaking and radical imagination in middle grades.

Drawing on research from a sixth-grade classroom, session attendees will examine how students navigated a highly structured environment while still expressing agency, resistance, and vision for their learning. Through examples of digital tools and storytelling, leaders will see how students created new possibilities for themselves within and beyond the classroom.

This session challenges leaders to rethink traditional instruction and consider how classrooms can better honor students’ identities, amplify their voices, and foster authentic engagement—supporting more liberatory, student-centered classroom experiences.

Financial Success for School Leaders: Planning, Execution, and Communication  - Mike Gustin and Liz Martin - Room 230

This session will provide hand-on skills for successfully managing school budgets and spending from the budget building process through the end of the school year.  Using proven processes and methods, participants will learn ways to more effectively manage their financial resources, maintain compliance, and improve stakeholder satisfaction.