WSSDA 2024 Annual Conference: Full Schedule

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10:45am PST

6001. Elevating Indigenous Student and Community Voices

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

Representatives from WSSDA's Government to Government (G2G) Task Force, the Washington State Native American Education Advisory Committee (WSNAEAC), and the Office of Native Education (ONE) will share highlights of areas of work that support Indigenous students in K-12 and Higher Education.

Speakers

Anna Armstrong

Director & Government-to-Government Task Force Chair, Cusick School District & WSSDA

Henry Strom

Executive Director Office of Native Education, OSPI

Maxine Alex

Tribal Consultation Program Supervisor, Office of Native Education, OSPI

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
206 C, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6002. Empower Educators to Lead Change

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

205, Spokane Convention Center

In this interactive session, we will explore the vital role educators play in driving meaningful change. Participants will engage in collaborative discussions and hands-on activities aimed at identifying challenges and opportunities in educational leadership. We will share innovative strategies for empowering educators and explore barriers that sometimes arise. This session will emphasize the importance of district leaders and educators banding together to make lasting impacts for the communities we serve.

Speakers

Blaire Penry

Washington State Teacher of the Year, Auburn School District

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
205, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6003. How Does Our Governance Perspective Impact Student Outcomes?

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

202 ABC, Spokane Convention Center

Various perspectives affect school boards, positively and negatively. Learn how to create and sustain a "governance mindset" toward the board’s role and its relationship with management/instructional roles. Learn how to create and sustain the board’s approach to its work and how that approach can lead to student success.

Speakers

Rick Maloney, Ed.D.

Director, University Place Sd #83

Rick Maloney is a 24 year veteran of school board service at University Place School District, serving 10 terms as President. He has served WSSDA on the Diversity-Multicultural Advocacy Team, the Resolutions Committee, and the WSSDA Board, representing members of Pierce County districts... Read More →

Doug Benjamin

Director, Bellingham Public Schools

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
202 ABC, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6004. Incorporating Generative AI: Three district perspectives

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

206 D, Spokane Convention Center

The explosion of generative AI technology over the past two years has required school districts to consider the learning and ethical impacts of these now near-ubiquitous tools. In this panel session, three districts will share their approaches to understanding, addressing, and incorporating generative AI in their policies and practices.

Speakers

Sara Betnel

Director, Shoreline Public Schools

Natalie Wimberley

Director, Peninsula School District

Ruth Ladderud

Director, Walla Walla Public Schools

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
206 D, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6005. Leading In Turbulent Times

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

206 A, Spokane Convention Center

You are serving on your school board to make a difference for kids. But what is the best way to be a change maker during these turbulent times? Learn what research and best practices tell us about how to be an effective leader, even when facing head winds.

Speakers

Amy Cast

Director & WSSDA Leadership Consultant, Northshore School District & WSSDA

Amy Cast brings a wide variety of school board and marketing management experience. As a director on the Northshore School Board, Amy has served in every officer position, including Audit Chair, Legislative Chair, Vice President and President. As President, she oversaw a community-wide... Read More →

Mary Fertakis

WSSDA Leadership Consultant, M Fertakis Consulting, LLC

Mary Fertakis served on the Tukwila School Board from 1995-2017, was the 2012 WSSDA President, served two terms on the WSSDA Board, one term on the Legislative Committee, and is a Leadership WSSDA graduate. She served on WSSDA’s Closing the Achievement Gap Task Force, Urban Issues... Read More →

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
206 A, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6006. School Levies and Bonds: Strategies on how to communicate basics, data, trends and facts with your community

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

111 C, Spokane Convention Center

This session will provide an overview of educational programs and operations levies, capital projects/technology levies, and school construction bonds. This presentation will include facts and data regarding tax rates and assessed valuation changes, recent election trends, and best practices for communicating this information with your local community.

Speakers

Cory Plager

Managing Director, Public Finance, D.A. Davidson

Proudly serving Washington public school districts with bond and levy planning.

Monique Dugaw

Executive Director of Communications, ESD 112

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
111 C, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6007. Understanding Your School District's Business Office

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

206 B, Spokane Convention Center

A district's business office has many parts that work behind the scenes to support the district's mission. Come and learn about these parts, what constraints they operate under, and what your responsibilities are as board members.

Speakers

Daniel Lunghofer

Accounting Analyst, WSSDA

I have experience as a district business manager and many years of experience with school accounting. Feel free to ask finance/accounting questions!

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
206 B, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6008. Unlocking the Power of Student Agency to Drive District Improvement

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

202 ABC, Spokane Convention Center

Learn how to guarantee authentic student voice that creates systemic improvements. Explore structures that empowered students to author and pass a district equity policy and draft a first in the nation comprehensive student voice policy. Student co-presenters will share how they were involved in a process that can deepen your board relationships and improve student outcomes.

Speakers

Marcello Sgambelluri

Associate Director Of Systems Design, Educational Service District 105

In my role I support the ESD and its districts in developing more effective, collaborative, equitable, and community centered systems. Ensuring we serve all students, operate in cohesive and aligned ways within our organizations, and empower our communities to produce better outcomes... Read More →

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
202 ABC, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6009. Using Parliamentary Procedures to Run an Effective and Efficient Board Meeting

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

201 ABC, Spokane Convention Center

Don't let parliamentary procedures unnerve you; they are your friend. Maximize meeting efficiency and audience engagement using this powerful tool.

Speakers

Patty Wood

Member & Leadership Consultant, State Board Of Education & WSSDA

Patty has gained her board governance experience through two decades of diverse board service. She began her 14-year tenure on Kelso’s school board in 2003. Her membership in WSSDA found her serving in multiple leadership roles from WSSDA board, legislative committee and FRN... Read More →

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
201 ABC, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

10:45am PST

6010. Washington State's Regressive Funding System & Why It Matters

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST

207, Spokane Convention Center

Discover how Washington's K-12 education funding system is not equitable and how to fix it.

Speakers

Dave Larson

Director, Tukwila School District

Director Larson has lived in Tukwila for over 40 years. He’s a product of public education and believes “public education is the key to a successful country. I love to see students discover their passions.” For a decade and a half, he has volunteered in classrooms at Cascade... Read More →

David Knight, Phd

Associate Professor, College of Education, University of Washington

Dr. David Knight is Associate Professor of Education Finance and Policy and co-Director of the Education Policy Analytics Lab at the University of Washington College of Education. He serves as Principal Investigator (PI) of a three-year research project funded by the National Science... Read More →

Alex Brewster

Student Representative, Tukwila School District

Saturday November 23, 2024 10:45am - 12:00pm PST
207, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

12:45pm PST

7001. Being an Effective Bridge: The role of school board members in community engagement

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST

205, Spokane Convention Center

School board members act as a vital bridge between the communities who elected them and the school districts they oversee. Developing effective community outreach efforts, especially to hear from our most underrepresented communities, allows board members to gain insights that will inform the decisions they make on the dais.

Speakers

Megan Sweet

Trustee, Your 3 Eyes

Megan Sweet is a systems-thinker who has been in education for more than 25 years. She's been a teacher, school administrator, and school district leader. Megan also has a Doctoral degree in Educational Leadership and her academic and professional interests rest mainly with how to... Read More →

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST
205, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

12:45pm PST

7002. Collaborative Family Engagement: Partnerships supporting positive student experiences & outcomes

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST

207, Spokane Convention Center

Learn from districts that have formed creative partnerships with families how to go beyond standard parent nights and instead to create authentic and collaborative relationships with families and your community that lift up and support positive outcomes for ALL students.

Speakers

Mary Fertakis

WSSDA Leadership Consultant, M Fertakis Consulting, LLC

Cindy McMullen

Director & Leadership Consultant, Central Valley School District & WSSDA

Cindy McMullen is a recycled school director, having served on the Central Valley School Board in Spokane from 1987-2011, then serving four years on the State Board of Education, and being re-elected to the Central Valley Board in 2015. She has been active in WSSDA, graduating from... Read More →

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST
207, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

12:45pm PST

7003. From Chaos to Clarity: What we did wrong & how we made it right

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST

206 A, Spokane Convention Center

Discover the inspiring journey of a school district that overcame significant challenges, including a teacher strike, superintendent troubles, constant bus cancellations, and community outrage threatening a levy failure. Through a dedicated community-building process, the district united stakeholders, refocused on common goals, and successfully passed a crucial levy with overwhelming support.

Speakers

Jay Brower

Superintendent, Eatonville School District

Ronda Litzenberger

Director, Eatonville School District

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST
206 A, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

12:45pm PST

7004. Promoting a District Culture of Belonging for Trans & Gender Expansive People

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST

206 D, Spokane Convention Center

Belonging is a foundational component of supporting positive outcomes, yet for individuals who identify as transgender or non-binary it can be difficult to feel. The language that we use, the way data is presented and analyzed, how our environments are set up, can all impact student and staff feeling seen, known and valued. As a board member, we have a key role to play in modeling gender inclusive practices and advocating for gender equity. In this session we will explore some subtle and not so subtle ways that binary gender values are reinforced and discuss strategies that help us honor the dignity of all people within our school community. Regardless of where you are on the journey of understanding gender diversity, this session is for you!

Speakers

Carlee Hoover (they/them)

Director, Tukwila School District

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST
206 D, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session

12:45pm PST

7005. Trust Me, I’m a Reporter: How to nurture a positive relationship with your local news media

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST

206 B, Spokane Convention Center

Overcome your aversion to news coverage by nurturing a positive relationship with local news media that can provide more opportunities to tell the story of great things happening in your schools. Learn simple techniques for preparing for meaningful interviews, and why it's never necessary - or wise - to say "no comment."

Speakers

Dan Hansen

Director, West Valley School District (Spokane)

Saturday November 23, 2024 12:45pm - 1:45pm PST
206 B, Spokane Convention Center

Breakout Session