STLinATL

Cancel your registration for the Trauma Trade Show Conference.  Learning how poor kids learn can wait. The most significant trauma in education has been perpetrated on educators. You’re confused right now, so you need my coaching. During this keynote, based on my upcoming book, I’ll stand you in front of a mirror and hold you there until you see who I see. I will whisper to your soul and show you who you are.

How do we learn about our various group identities like female, African American, Buddhist, gay, middle class, etc.? Why do some people develop proud and healthy self identity and others experience own-group shame and hatred? How do identity dynamics show up in the classroom? Learn how we can, in age appropriate ways, support positive self identity in our students and teach them to be positive influences on others' identities. Together, we can co-create inclusive communities that work toward success for all.

Cognitive science has provided solid evidence for strategies like retrieval practice–but those strategies only work if they’re applied to substantive content or transferable skills. Too often, literacy instruction emphasizes isolated skills, such as “making inferences,” which do not easily transfer across subjects. The overwhelming focus on such skills at lower grade levels, combined with a failure to recognize the heavy cognitive load imposed by reading and especially writing, leaves many students without the knowledge and skills assumed by the curriculum later on. Even in the age of AI, it’s crucial to have that knowledge and those skills stored in long-term memory. To unlock every student’s potential, we must dismantle the artificial barriers between reading, writing, and learning—both in research and in the classroom.

As a nation, we are both challenging and being challenged by long-standing structures, beliefs, and assumptions about how we work, live, and connect—with each other and with our planet. What does this mean for the future of how teachers grade–one of the oldest structures in our schools and the incarnation of our beliefs about teacher expertise, what it means to be educated, and how we determine who wins and who loses in a meritocracy? How might equitable grading help us to let go of outdated and unhelpful limitations in the most influential element of our schools, and inspire improvements throughout our teaching and learning?

Join me for an interactive workshop designed to inspire students to step outside their comfort zones and embrace the power of risk-taking and vulnerability in their learning journey. "Leap of Learning" will guide participants through an engaging discussion that highlights the benefits of “failing forward.” Discover strategies to help students overcome fear, foster creativity, and enhance problem-solving skills—all while creating a supportive classroom environment. Whether it's tackling challenging projects or asking questions freely, this talk empowers students to view risks as opportunities for growth and innovation. Take the leap with me and redefine your approach and purpose to teaching and learning!

In a world where AI can automate tasks, generate ideas, and perform analysis at unprecedented speeds, what is the role of human thinking? This keynote explores the learnings from AI's rapid adoption and asks a provocative question: What work is worth our cognitive load? Together, we’ll examine research on meaningful work, unpack what makes tasks worth doing, and reimagine the future of human cognition in an AI-driven world. Leave inspired and ready to focus your energy on the work that truly matters.

3 Takeaways:

1. Understand AI’s Strengths and Trajectory: Gain insight into what AI is currently capable of, where it’s headed, and how to navigate its growing role in the workplace.
2. Define Meaningful Work: Explore frameworks and research on what makes work valuable, fulfilling, and uniquely human in a technology-driven era.
3. Become an AI Leader: Learn the essential skills, mindsets, and dispositions to lead and thrive in a future where AI is ubiquitous.