Conference Sessions
Strands
Thursday, February 7
Session A 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Session B 1:15 AM–3:15 PM
Friday, February 8
Session C 9:30–10:45 AM
Session CD 9:30 AM–12:15 PM
Session D 11:00 AM–12:15 PM
Session E 2:15–3:30 PM
Saturday, February 9
Session F 9:30–10:45 AM
Session FG 9:30 AM–12:00 PM
Session G 11:00 AM–12:00 PM
Identity
A3 *additional fee
Nine Phases of Transformation
Alan Blanchard, President, Blanchard
Educational Services & Technologies, CO; Brooke
Harms, Educational Consultant, CA
Converting a large high school into a system of
SLCs is a customized process with each school
possessing unique strengths and challenges. Drs.
Blanchard and Harms, authors of the popular
book *Transforming the High School Experience,
present the nine phases of planning and implementation
of SLC strategies. This session is for
those schools familiar with basic SLC concepts
and preparing for implementation, and for
schools modifying their current SLC practices.
*Each attendee picking this session receives a copy
of the book. Add $50 to your registration fee.
Strands: Identity
B2 *additional fee
Nine Phases of Transformation
Alan Blanchard, President, Blanchard
Educational Services & Technologies, CO;
Brooke Harms, Educational Consultant, CA
Converting a large high school into a system of
SLCs is a customized process with each school
possessing unique strengths and challenges. Drs.
Blanchard and Harms, authors of the popular
book Transforming the High School Experience,
present the nine phases of planning and implementation
of SLC strategies. This session is for
those schools familiar with basic SLC concepts
and preparing for implementation, and for
schools modifying their current SLC practices.
*Each attendee picking this session receives a copy
of the book. Add $50 to your registration fee.
Strands: Identity
C8
Multiple Pathways to Success: Preparing
Students for College and Career
Arlene LaPlante, Director, ConnectEd: The
California Center for College & Career, CA;
Glen Hillegas, Principal, Construction Tech
Academy, Kearny High Educational Complex,
San Diego USD, CA
All students deserve a high school education that actively engages them and prepares them for both career opportunities and post-secondary education or training options—not one or the other. From this session, you will: (1) understand how a multiple pathways approach prepares students for both college and career by blending rigor and relevance, (2) view model programs, and (3) receive tools for implementation at your school or district.
CD9
Building a Community of Schools:
Balancing Autonomy and Flexibility in
SLCs
John Spiegel, Principal, Crawford Education
Complex, IDEA, San Diego USD, CA
In an effort to build a community of schools, the principals of Crawford Educational Complex have organized a series of retreats involving staff from each school. In such retreats, a complex vision has been developed, goals have been identified, norms for collaboration have been established, and cultural/space agreements have been written. Participants in the session will see the struggles, challenges, and issues of having several SLCs in a complex.
Strands: Identity
D8
Everything You Wanted to Know about
4 x 4 Block Scheduling, But Thought It
Was Too Risky to Ask
Albert Castillo, Director, Secondary School
Services, LAUSD Local District 6, CA; Jesus
Angulo, Principal; Patrick Moretta, Principal,
South Gate High School, Los Angeles USD, CA
How can restructuring school schedules support changes in classroom practice? In this workshop, participants will examine how block scheduling can offer more in-depth learning, fewer students per teacher, and more varied teaching approaches, and can be a catalyst for enduring change. Two high school principals will share a unique process they used to take advantage of the reform’s benefits. A question-and-answer period will follow the session.
E9
Alternative Schedules to Support
Increased Student Achievement
Larry Tash, Director, Office of School Redesign,
Los Angeles USD, CA
This is a practical presentation with field-tested materials that will help you, your school, and your district to move toward new ways of using instructional time. Your active participation in this presentation will be a worthwhile learning experience.
E10
Building Support for Reluctant Adopters of
Change
Robin Shrode, Co-founder, American Alliance
for Innovative Schools, TX
This session will share a systemic framework for supporting the Early Adopters,Wait-and-See Adopters, and the Reluctant Adopters through the implementation of new structures and strategies of high school redesign. This session will include those successful strategies used in the initial stages of implementation of SLCs at three large comprehensive high schools, as well as strategies used to sustain the momentum once the vast majority of stakeholders were on board.
Strands: Identity
F8
Developing Young Leaders: Peer
Mentoring/Advisory
Pete Oberg, SLC Coordinator, Center for
Advanced Technologies, Lakewood High School,
FL
This presentation outlines the opportunities to foster relationships with the school community and to develop interpersonal skills to enhance success in a global society. Issues to be addressed are the development, implementation, and suggested curriculum of the advisory period. The presentation will include PowerPoint®, video, handouts, and question/answer time.
Strands: Identity
FG9
Professional Conversations: Guiding a
Staff Through the Process of Change
Albert Castillo, Director, Secondary School
Services; Catherine Armstrong, SLC Advisor,
LAUSD Local District 6, CA; Jesus Angulo,
Principal; Patrick Moretta, Principal, South
Gate High School, Los Angeles USD
In this workshop, participants will examine a process of implementing change at a large comprehensive high school. Two high school principals will share a unique process they used to move their schools to wall-to-wall SLCs with a 4 x 4 block schedule and common conference periods for teacher teams.
Strands: Identity