The Challenge Success 2024 Fall Conference at Bentley University: Full Schedule

Join us this fall to learn research-based, equity-centered strategies to increase well-being, enhance belonging, and deepen engagement for students in your community. Don’t miss this professional development conference for K-12 educators and school partner teams. You will connect with fellow educators, experts, and thought leaders who are transforming the student experience in K-12 schools across the country, deepen your professional learning, and leave inspired and empowered with concrete strategies for your K-12 school community.

Workshops marked with a ⭐ are student-friendly.

9:45am EDT

Student-Driven Learning: A Future-Focused Approach to Teaching and Learning ⭐

Saturday September 28, 2024 9:45am - 11:00am EDT

Jennison 310

In times of generative AI, machine learning, and easy access to knowledge, how can students be in the driver’s seat of their learning experience? In our school, student-directed projects are at the core of our approach. Students are active explorers driven to answer an essential question they’ve created. As they design their learning experience, they become problem-solvers and critical thinkers, content experts, and collaborators. Hear about how our school’s journey to enact this change fundamentally shifted the perception of what school could be.

Presenters

Kader Adjout

Director of Teaching, Learning, and Innovation, Beaver Country Day School

https://bcdschool.org/contact/kader-adjout/

Saturday September 28, 2024 9:45am - 11:00am EDT
Jennison 310

11:15am EDT

Reflection and Meaning-Making Practicum: Tools for Metabolizing Experiences with Students ⭐

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT

Jennison 310

Reflection has the power to transform both negative and positive experiences. Everyone needs reflective practices to learn from their experiences, fully process what has occurred, and make informed changes or decisions in the future. This is especially crucial for young people who encounter trauma, adversity, or new experiences. This session aims to equip educators with effective reflection practices to facilitate meaning-making. Join us for a highly interactive session to explore the role of reflection in cognitive and emotional development, understand how it contributes to resilience, and practice various reflective activities.

Presenters

Amy Besida

Chief Programming Officer, Embarc

Amy Besida is the Chief Programming officer of Embarc. She joined the Embarc team 8 years ago with over a decade of experience in instructional coaching, teaching, and mentoring. Her journey in education spans from urban classrooms to school leadership positions, where she has consistently... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 11:15am - 12:30pm EDT
Jennison 310

1:30pm EDT

All it Takes is One: Leveraging Advisory to Forge Strong Student-Teacher Connections

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:05pm EDT

Jennison 310

A key metric in the Challenge Success survey is the percentage of students who report that they have an adult to go to at school with a personal problem. In response to learning that some of our students did not have “One Trusted Adult” (Raney, 2019), we revamped our advisory program to foster more frequent and meaningful staff/student interactions without an academic agenda. In this session, we will share our journey to re-design advisory to ensure every student connects with at least one trusted adult at school, along with strategies and tips for staff and students to enhance these connections.

Presenters

Beth Blair, MA, LPC-S

Lead Counselor, The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering

Beth Blair attended The University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees. She graduated with her master's in counseling in 2002. She has 20+ years of experience in the field of mental health/counseling and has worked in a variety of settings including... Read More →

Michelle Cundiff, M.Ed.

Director of Residence Life, The Alabama School of Cyber Technology and Engineering

Michelle Cundiff is a student affairs professional with over a decade of experience with a focus on residential life. She has managed staff and students and supported parents/guardians in the residential and day student population. She has a master's degree in higher education administration... Read More →

Saturday September 28, 2024 1:30pm - 2:05pm EDT
Jennison 310