This dynamic mother/son duo of educators will share generational tenets that positively impact educators in urban school settings. While much has changed, much remains the same. Perspectives and truths from education past and present will be shared that will enable new teachers and veteran educators to channel their passion while remaining vigilant in the pursuit of creating inclusive and empowering environments for students and staff. This will be an interactive session that challenges thinking that leads to change.

When you look around your school community, have you had questions on how to become a better educator as it relates to cultural competence, but you may not know where to start? In this interactive session, participants will learn more about what it means to be culturally competent and will go through a simulated activity (as a student and as an adult working in a school) to prove the importance of this work.

Who are Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) educators and students? What challenges do they face? Participants will explore and learn strategies, tools, and resources on how to create learning spaces for AAPI students and educators. Using the leadership competencies as a framework, participants will explore how they can lead on these issues and create an action plan to validate and empower AAPI students and educators so they know they are seen and heard in their schools.

Empower your school community by navigating uncomfortable but crucial conversations on racism, bias, and other sensitive topics. Join us in exploring practical strategies for fostering respectful dialogue, addressing micro/macro-aggressions, and promoting inclusivity in formal and informal interactions. Learn to model a non-racist, non-biased future for diverse students, transcending discomfort to create lasting change. Equip yourself with tools for immediate, compassionate responses, ensuring constructive communication and de-escalating tensions. Move beyond diversity committees to transform day-to-day interactions into catalysts for an unbiased future.

This presentation is geared towards new educators to help set themselves up for long-term financial success.  We will explore financial myths, discuss disparities across different marginalized communities when it comes to financial literacy and wealth building, and discuss our own personal experiences with finances.  Educators will leave with resources that they can use for their own financial journey and for those in the communities that they serve.

“The Hill We Climb: Fostering Excellence in Education: Moving Forward by Looking Back” is a lecture-style presentation. This session provides a cross-disciplinary forum wherein educators will explore a qualitative research study on the Twentieth Century Black segregated education experience in rural Southampton County, Virginia from 1950 to 1970. Participants will experience 16 narrative portraits that each tell a story and testify of a learning experience from a different era but one that is relative to education today.

What do you do when the contract has been signed and you are standing in an empty classroom? Where do you begin? We will discuss the steps to building an inclusive classroom for all. We will address classroom management and arrangement, building a diverse library, and how to foster relationships with parents and staff. We will participate in discussions, hands on activities and more! You will leave with a toolbox full of resources.

This workshop is designed to address the unique challenges that face BIPOC teachers who are the only POC in their building. Activities will be designed to address the 3 C’s: Conversation, Culture, and Curriculum.

The workshop will be interactive in nature focusing on the wealth of programs (Honors College & STEM Majors) to target potential teacher candidates. In addition, having a skilled and enthusiastic leader to help get across that the teaching profession is a viable option for students who did not consider education as a career choice.

Attendees will learn the current status of NBCTs in Virginia, the requirements for board certification, and the benefits for ALL. As an affiliate network of NBPTS, the VEA provides support and professional learning for NBCTs and candidates pursuing certification. The VEA also uses its voice as a union at the local and state level to increase awareness among policymakers and other stakeholders about the positive impacts of National Board certification on teaching quality and student learning outcomes.

By promoting open discussions and creating a safe space for students to share their perspectives, educators can challenge existing biases and promote understanding among diverse groups. Additionally, incorporating multicultural literature and diverse learning materials into the curriculum can expose students to different cultures and perspectives, fostering empathy and appreciation for diversity.

This workshop will focus on the following areas of urban students: Building Relationships that impact family involvement, self-efficacy, academic supports and interventions. Each of these areas will highlight how educators can support and navigate students of color but most importantly those in urban school settings.

Participants will receive relevant information, hear from urban school students (who the presenter has impacted) to build upon current practices. Presentation will be facilitator led with participation input feedback and potential role playing.

Discover the transformative power of mentorship for teachers of color in the first year of teaching as we delve into compelling personal stories and analyze data from the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE). This presentation emphasizes how mentorship empowers and encourages new teachers and significantly contributes to retention, stability, and overall support, fostering a conducive environment for educators of color to thrive. Gain valuable insights into implementing an effective mentoring program within your district or school through our presenter’s shared feedback and experiences.