Schools should support each student’s unique strengths and weaknesses to help them reach their potential through engaging, active learning that encourages critical thinking and student voice. As a school leader, you’ll want to attend Ignite 2023—NASSP’s National School Leader Conference—July 12–15, in Denver, CO. The conference will offer dozens of sessions that will help you increase student motivation and agency within your school. To get you fired up, we spotlight three sessions here.
Improving Student Engagement By Creating Trauma-Sensitive Classrooms and Leveraging Student Voice
Alicia Dawe, Principal, Stonington High School, Pawcatuck, CT
Prepare your students for the future of work and societal changes in this session focused on engaging and challenging learning experiences. Discover specific strategies used in trauma-sensitive classrooms to improve student engagement and outcomes while decreasing discipline referrals for all students, including those with disabilities, English learners, and BIPOC students. You’ll also learn how to program for social-emotional learning by incorporating students’ voices in designing meaningful lessons on healthy relationships, racism, identity, and self-advocacy. Don’t miss this opportunity to improve your teaching and support your students’ success.
Transforming Your Discipline with Function Based Strategies
Kelly Miller, Boulder Valley School District, Broomfield, CO
In this professional development opportunity, administrators will learn behavior strategies to help prevent and de-escalate difficult situations. Whether responding to a crying and dysregulated student or a teacher requesting help with a behavior issue, attendees will gain evidence-based strategies to reduce the intensity and duration of these incidents, freeing up time for prevention. The session will provide participants with specific tools to respond to these situations, helping administrators to manage challenging behavior more effectively and efficiently.
Foster Agency, Advocacy, and Citizenship through Student Voice and Youth-Adult Partnerships
James Flynn, EdD, Principal, Burlington City High School, Burlington, NJ
Empower your students to be engaged citizens who advocate for positive change in their school and community with the help of effective leadership strategies. Join this session to work directly with students and establish a structure for youth-adult partnerships that prepare students to be active members of a democratic society. Learn from high school principals across the nation who have successfully fostered student voice and overcome challenges such as staff resistance and power dynamics between students and staff. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to promote agency, confidence, and self-esteem in your students, while making a positive impact in your school and community.
Visit ignite.nassp.org for conference details and registration.