Leadership EDIT 2025

Instructional rounds, using a strength-focused lens, is powerful embedded professional learning and culture-building experience. Join the author of Lead With Instructional Rounds; Creating a Culture of Professional Learning to explore a proven a school-level approach designed to break down the walls of isolation enabling teachers to observe, celebrate, and grow from the strengths of their colleagues. Discover how this process fosters consistency of practice throughout the school and growth of educators as they regularly dialogue on best practice instruction.

Knowing about inequities and trauma-informed practices is one thing—having the courage to act is another. In urban schools, where the stakes are high and the pushback is real, it’s easy to stay in the “awareness” stage. But real change happens when we move past knowing and step into action - we have to be the shift.

This interactive session is designed to help leaders shift their mindset, build confidence, and practice boldly. Through scenario-based practice, collaborative discussions, and problem-solving, participants will explore strategies to create and sustain equity-driven, healing-centered school cultures—even when it's tough. Pulling from trauma-informed leadership, equity-driven education, and transformative school culture, this session will provide tangible tools to move from awareness to action.

Expect real talk, hands-on engagement, and a space to think, process, and practice. Because leadership isn’t just about what you know—it’s about what you do. Be the shift.

Participants will:

- Engage in scenario-based practice to navigate real leadership challenges.
- Explore strategies to lead equity work with courage and purpose.
- Reflect on their role in shifting school culture and taking meaningful action.

Join this interactive session to define and develop your professional identity as a leader. Engage in self-reflection to discover what drives your practice and explore the concept of personal branding to create a professional persona that aligns with your values and goals. Learn practical strategies for expanding your leadership skills, including crafting a mission statement and creating a personalized action plan. Leave with a digital interactive notebook containing actionable steps to strengthen your impact within your school environment! * Attendees of this session will need to bring a laptop with them in order to full engage in learning activities* 

How can we support diverse students through district initiatives without taking neurodiversity into account? 15-20% of the entire population are considered neurodiverse and an underrepresented group is often our Latinx community due to stigma, accessible resources and diagnostic measures.

Listen to narratives from a Latinx and neurodiverse perspective on the impacts of inaction and action to our larger community in terms of developing initiatives to support all students. This will be an opportunity to share your own story, reflect on your DEI initiatives and walk away with some ideas for how to develop neuro-equity en la comunidad.

Join us for a dynamic and insightful presentation that reimagines how schools implement trauma-informed restorative practices through the lens of change management science. Brummer will explore how strategic, multi-year planning, structured training, and coordinated professional development can ensure the sustainability of these vital practices.

Discover why true implementation is an “inside job” that thrives when driven by the voices and contributions of the very community it serves. Drawing from his book, Building a Trauma-Informed Restorative School, Brummer will introduce a powerful cohort training and implementation model that integrates mindfulness, Nonviolent Communication, trauma-informed principles, Collaborative and Proactive Solutions, Restorative Justice, and Equity.

Whether you’re an educator, administrator, or advocate for systemic change, this session will equip you with the knowledge and strategies to create meaningful, lasting transformation in individual schools and districts. Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a movement that brings sustainable, community-driven change to education.

This presentation will examine how educators' pre-existing bias can create systems of inequity for our students, especially those in urban schools. Attendees will learn to recognize their own bias and how to eliminate them in the educational setting. Educators will leave being able to create equitable and fair practices for their schools.

In 2024, a U.S. Department of Justice investigation revealed that Wichita Public Schools in Kansas inappropriately restrained and secluded students with disabilities, often for punitive reasons or non-compliance. The investigation led to a settlement agreement with the district to end the use of seclusion, reform its restraint practices, and improve services to students with disabilities.

This session, “Classroom Crisis: Reducing Restraint and Seclusion Through Proactive Leadership,” will explore the critical importance of addressing these practices and provide school leaders with strategies to reduce and eliminate physical restraint and seclusion.

Participants will learn:
1. The impact of restraint and seclusion on students
2. Trauma-informed alternatives to these practices
3. How to implement systemic changes in their schools

Participants will gain an understanding of trauma-informed, neuroscience-aligned, neurodiversity-affirming, relationship-driven, and collaborative approaches to proactively reduce and eliminate the use of physical restraint and seclusion in their schools and districts.

In this session, attendees will learn how a school effectively uses a neuro-informed, restorative approach to meet the diverse needs of both students and staff. Through the story of one student's success, we will highlight the power of a collaborative, team-based model that draws on individual strengths and promotes a holistic approach to problem-solving. Participants will explore how staff members worked together to identify and implement tailored, strength-based interventions that addressed the unique needs of the student. By the end of the session, attendees will gain practical strategies, actionable resources, and insights on how to apply similar collaborative approaches to their own school settings.

Discover the impactful role school leaders play in shaping the perspectives of their team members and communities, leading to transformative changes for at-risk students. Join this session to explore the story of a police detective who, under the influence of a proactive principal, underwent a mindset shift, sparking a revolutionary approach to mentoring at-risk students. Witness firsthand the ripple effect of leadership in effecting positive change within educational environments.

Exploring and achieving equity in education is a vital and current topic. It requires more than just awareness; it demands intentional action from leaders. In this interactive session, we delve into the practical aspects of fostering equity within your educational environment. We'll utilize the innovative Equity Framework, pioneered by educators from Chicago Public Schools, as a tool to confront and address specific equity challenges unique to your institution. This workshop is not just about theory; it's about action. You'll leave with a tailor-made action plan, imbued with a sense of purpose, ready to be shared and implemented within your school community. Plus, you'll gain access to an array of practical resources to kickstart this critical journey towards lasting change in the realm of educational equity.

Participants will grade their current practices using a rubric assessment that follows the PTA's national standards for family-school partnerships; share and analyze their successes regarding family and community engagement strategies; share and analyze their toughest challenges regarding family and community engagement; and brainstorm ways to address the 6 standards of family-school partnerships: 1) Welcome All Families, 2) Communicate Effectively, 3) Support Student Success, 4) Speak Up for Every Child, 5) Share Power, 6) Collaborate with Community.
The facilitator will present best practices / examples of impactful efforts collected from administrators across the nation and task participants with tweaking and possibly applying these efforts to their own schools and districts.

As school leaders, creating an environment where all students can thrive means recognizing the impact of trauma and implementing strategies that foster resilience. This session will explore how trauma-informed leadership can improve student outcomes by shaping school culture, guiding instructional practices, and supporting staff well-being. Participants will learn how to lead with a trauma-responsive lens, implement policies that prioritize emotional safety, and equip educators with the tools to support students effectively. Through case studies, practical frameworks, and collaborative discussions, school leaders will leave with a roadmap for embedding trauma-informed strategies into their schools—ensuring that every student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.

In this engaging presentation, attendees will explore how school administrators and counselors can collaborate to foster a fun, positive, and inclusive school culture. Learning objectives include identifying strategies for building strong partnerships between admin and counselors, understanding the impact of a vibrant school environment on student well-being, and discovering creative ways to enhance school morale. Through interactive discussions, real-life examples, and group brainstorming sessions, participants will actively contribute their ideas and experiences. The presentation will encourage open dialogue and inspire attendees to share successful practices. To extend learning beyond the summit, we will provide actionable tools and resources for continued collaboration and ongoing support, ensuring that the fun and positive culture thrives long after the event. Participants will leave energized, equipped with practical strategies to implement in their own school communities.

Have you heard of Restorative Practices and believe it is the right path that you want to be on as an educator? Have you talked to colleagues, read a couple articles, maybe read a book...and you still are not sure where to start! Come join my session to learn about three practices you can implement starting tomorrow (and 1 bonus idea) that will get you and your school and/or classroom on the first steps to Restorative Practices being implemented to support all kids and behavior! Oh, and these things will create positive behavior practices in your classroom and school grounded in connection and empathy!