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AVID NATIONAL CONFERENCE • DECEMBER 9–11, 2021 • DALLAS, TEXAS ➜  #AVIDNatCon2021

AVID NATIONAL CONFERENCE
DECEMBER 9–11, 2021
DALLAS, TEXAS
#AVIDNatCon2021

Concurrent Sessions

Download the session handouts here.

More than 60 Concurrent Sessions Available

Choose from a variety of sessions focusing on incorporating rigor in the classroom, breaking down barriers, aligning the work, and advocating for students. Each session will provide actionable takeaways for administrators, district leaders, teachers, and counselors.

Concurrent Sessions offered
December 9–11
Find your sessions below

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S-1 | And Yet, They Persisted: How the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework Supports the Two- and Four-Year College Transition
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Senators Lecture Hall
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Senators Lecture Hall
Presenter(s): Dr. Cybele Leverett, Program Specialist, AVID Center

AVID graduates have higher college-going and persistence rates, even in states where they face serious educational barriers as first-generation students, students from low-income families, and students of color. What helps AVID graduates to transition to college and persist when others might not? Participants will learn how the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework supports students as they transition into college so that they are empowered to apply that learning to their own AVID school or classroom using relational capacity and Framework Fridays to create classroom connections.

S-2 | What Is Disciplinary Literacy and Why Does It Matter at the Elementary Level?
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Governors Lecture Hall
Presenter(s): Jessica Taylor, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Tiffany Tahu, Program Manager, AVID Center

What the world needs most are students who analyze problems like engineers, develop hypotheses like scientists, think analytically like mathematicians, recognize the power of individuals like historians, create like artists, and record their thinking about all of the above like authors. Disciplinary literacy is a schoolwide approach to providing students with the tools and strategies for success in every content area. This session will explore what disciplinary literacy is, why it matters at the elementary level, and how to take it schoolwide so that AVID schools and districts are able to close expectation, opportunity, and achievement gaps for all students.

S-3 | Fostering Social and Emotional Learning Across Grade Levels and Content Areas
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Governors Lecture Hall
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Governors Lecture Hall
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Governors Lecture Hall
Presenter(s): Michelle Kay, Learning Designer, AVID Center; Michelle Brummond, Learning Designer, AVID Center

This comprehensive session will work to answer the essential question, How do I implement social and emotional learning (SEL) practices into my daily instruction to create a supportive environment where all students can be successful? Participants will engage in relational capacity activities to encourage a supportive environment for all, explore the five competencies identified by the Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL), and learn about additional SEL resources available to support teachers in building an ideal environment for student success.

S-4 | It’s Fine—I’m Fine—Everything Is Fine... Right?
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coronado D
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coronado D
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • De La Salle
Presenter(s): Heather Alexander, School Counselor, Keller ISD, Texas

For more than a year, students and educators have been put through a roller coaster of events, emotions, expectations, and change. How do educators not only teach but model regular emotional check-ins, as well as identifying and regulating ourselves when we are in the midst of anxiety and strong emotions? How do educators help students return to classrooms after the year of the screen? The goal of this session is to provide and demonstrate various strategies to help students (and each other) not only identify their emotions but also move through them in a healthy way—rather than just stuffing them down and telling everyone they are “fine.”

S-5 | Money, Jobs, Networking: Meaningful Ways to Support Your AVID Students via Community–Educator Partnerships
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coronado C
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coronado C
Presenter(s): Nancy Kail, AVID SUCCESS Coordinator, Greenwich Alliance for Education, Connecticut; Julie Faryniarz, Executive Director, Greenwich Alliance for Education, Connecticut

Community members and organizations can have a big impact on AVID students’ college and career success by collaborating with AVID educators and other strategic partners and by carefully constructing goals and plans. The title of this session indicates some of the specific efforts of the AVID SUCCESS initiative at Greenwich Alliance for Education to do just that. Via its partnerships and programs, AVID SUCCESS helps the district’s AVID students pay for college, bank, and save; get jobs and build professional skills; make connections and network; and practice important life skills. Participants will be asked to consider ideas and solutions they have for effectively supporting AVID students in their district. How can AVID educators and community members identify and address unmet AVID student needs and complement what they already provide to students? How can beneficial partnerships be formed with AVID educators to get the job done? What are the pitfalls to watch out for? This session is for both AVID educators and community members/organizations who want answers to these questions. Participants will work on specifics that they can take home to their AVID communities to get started or to take their AVID College and Career Readiness System to the next level.

S-6 | The AP®, AVID, and Advisory Period Experience for the 21st Century Learner
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Morocco
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Morocco
Presenter(s): Jane Lucas, Principal, Seminole High School, Pinellas County Schools, Florida; Jessica Fisher, Assistant Principal and Chief Academic Officer, Seminole High School, Pinellas County Schools, Florida

The AP, AVID, and Advisory Period Experience for all 21st Century Learners at Seminole High School offers a unique opportunity for all students to have access to Advanced Placement (AP®) coursework, embedded AVID instructional strategies schoolwide, and a within-the-school-day academic resources and social-emotional learning (AR/SEL) advisory period. The personalized learning plans for each student in this large, grades 9–12 public high school create pathways for all levels of learners to engage in rigorous classes, earn industry certifications, and achieve on-time graduation. These foundations, in tandem with the AR/SEL Advisory Period, ensures students’ college, career, and lifelong success.

S-7 | Using Student Voice to Assess the Impact of Adult Behavior
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • De La Salle
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • De La Salle
Presenter(s): Dr. Kristen Wellman, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Dr. Christie McMullen, Associate Area Director, AVID Center

This session will equip educators with practical ways to use student voice to inform and assess the impact of altering adult practices. Looking through the lenses of instruction, systems, leadership, and culture, the session will utilize a continuous improvement process to change adult practice by listening to student voice. Participants will engage in interactive opportunities to brainstorm with other practitioners while analyzing their own district’ or school’s practices. Participants will leave with a gap analysis addressing student perspectives on teacher mindset and an action plan for monitoring efforts to shift adult behavior.

S-8 | Five Ways to Create a CHAMPion School Culture
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Wedgwood
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Wedgwood
Presenter(s): Ricky Ramirez, AVID Staff Developer, Texas

School culture can have a direct impact on student learning outcomes as well as the social and emotional well-being of students. Educators can create a positive and connected school culture by being intentional in their daily routines. Five strategies will be covered in this high-energy and engaging session that educators can begin to implement at their campuses immediately. This session will evoke various emotions and lead to deep reflection. The intended audience for this session is campus leadership teams, AVID Coordinators and Elective teachers, and district leadership.

S-9 | ACCESS to Opportunity: Leveraging Community Connections
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coronado C
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coronado C
Presenter(s): Virginia Hunt, AVID District Coordinator, Ector County ISD, Texas; Ravi Shakamuri, Chief Executive Officer, Star Care Health Services, Texas

This session will highlight the power of collaboration as participants explore and engage with ACCESS for Success. ACCESS is a cutting-edge, cloud-based, device-agnostic technology platform designed to answer the question, Why do I need to know this? The platform was developed through community collaboration and aligns with AVID’s mission to close the opportunity gap by building opportunity knowledge. Its focus is on strengthening student engagement via career exploration, connecting intrinsic interest to real-world experience. The search for Future Friday local career experts is over! ACCESS facilitates a student-centric, three-dimensional (student, teacher, and career expert) digital collaboration cycle that propels students confidently into their future.

S-10 | Aligning AVID With District Priorities Through District Goal Support
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Metropolitan
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Metropolitan
Presenter(s): Dr. Kristen Wellman, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Gina Gamnis, Associate Area Director, AVID Center

In this session, site and district leaders will focus on leveraging AVID implementation to maximize progress toward goals for college and career readiness. Participants will have opportunities to examine their role in leading AVID and explore resources that support leveraging AVID for goal attainment. This session includes content similar to the Fall District Director Workshops.

S-11 | AVID and School Improvement: Aligning AVID Resources and Programming
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Peacock Terrace
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Peacock Terrace
Presenter(s): Jon Davidson, AVID District Director, Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska; Mark Larson, Principal, Lincoln High School, Lincoln Public Schools, Nebraska

This session will explore how to marry the processes of implementing AVID and school improvement. The presenters will describe the annual process they conduct to develop a detailed school improvement and action plan, demonstrating their success with quantified student data. Participants will learn how to fold AVID initiatives into this annual process to ensure that AVID is not an additional task but an integral part of school improvement. The session will demonstrate how to take the improvement process in which schools are already engaged and find valuable AVID resources that will accelerate a school’s progress.

S-12 | AVID’s Impact: Making College Readiness, Enrollment, and Persistence More Equitable
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Morocco
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Morocco
Presenter(s): Dr. Dennis Johnston, Senior Director of Research and Chief Research Officer, AVID Center

Adopting the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework reduces or eliminates achievement gaps often associated with issues of equity and opportunity. Historically, male students who are Black, Hispanic or Latino, from a low socioeconomic background, or whose parents did not attend college have been underrepresented in postsecondary education. However, AVID students with these characteristics are not underrepresented. They enroll and persist at rates that often match or exceed national comparators. This session highlights how certain high school opportunities and achievements are associated with greater rates of college success. Audience members will discuss these and other key outcomes that all students should be achieving.

S-13 | Beyond the School Day: Maximizing College and Career Readiness Opportunities
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coronado B
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coronado B
Presenter(s): Gloria Alday, Director of Older Youth Programs, Think Together, California; Mark Bayaua, Director of Program Innovation, Think Together, California; Ben Solomon, Manager, Learning Programs, Products, and Services, AVID Center

This presentation will discuss how the impact of AVID strategies and philosophies can be multiplied by extending them into the extended learning/after-school space. The intended audience for this session is any AVID partners interested in increasing the impact they have for college and career readiness by partnering with other support providers.

S-14 | Building Up Our AVID Students as Digital Citizens
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coral
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Coral
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Coral
Presenter(s): Kande McKay, Senior Learning Designer, AVID Center; Michelle Brummond, Learning Designer, AVID Center

AVID has integrated effective, research-based professional learning strategies and practices with Common Sense Education’s award-winning K–12 Digital Citizenship curriculum. In fall 2020, AVID was awarded the first-ever Common Sense Community Partner digital badge—an esteemed honor AVID continues to celebrate. Participants will walk away from this session with knowledge about the resources provided by Common Sense and understand how this partnership has evolved to provide AVID educators with resources that can encourage students to live, learn, and work in an interconnected digital world. Participants will learn how they can become a recognized Common Sense Educator and achieve designation for their school and district as a Common Sense School and Common Sense District.

S-15 | Growing and Sustaining the AVID System
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Coronado C
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Coronado C
Presenter(s): Liza Ferreira, Senior Manager of Programming and Performance, Charter Schools USA, Florida; Dr. Eddie Ruiz, Florida State Director, Charter Schools USA, Florida

Despite the barriers of the pandemic, Charter Schools USA brought together their schools across three states to engage in a strategic collaborative session focused on growing and sustaining their AVID system and its alignment with the organization’s mission and core values. Participants are invited to bring their teams to learn how strategic planning and thinking across an organization can impact implementation of the AVID system, with the help of resources provided by AVID Center. This session will allow state-, district-, and school-level personnel to better understand their role in the implementation of AVID and to collaboratively engage in action planning for closing the opportunity gap within their own organization and/or site.

S-16 | How AVID Impacts Social and Emotional Outcomes and Health: Results From a Los Angeles Randomized Trial
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • De La Salle
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • De La Salle
Presenter(s): Dr. Rebecca Dudovitz, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, University of California, Los Angeles, California; Guadalupe Arellano, Coordinator, Advanced Learning Options, Los Angeles USD, California

By exposing students to academically engaged peers, facilitating supportive relationships, and building social and emotional skills, we hypothesized that AVID might reduce substance use and other risky health behaviors. We present findings from a randomized controlled trial of AVID at five Los Angeles public high schools with 431 students entering high school. Results showed that, by the end of ninth grade, students randomized to AVID had lower odds of substance use and delinquency and healthier social networks compared to control students. Male AVID students also had lower stress levels and higher self-efficacy, grit, and school engagement than control students. The presenters will facilitate a discussion of the implications of the results they share and how participants can support AVID implementation in their own schools.

S-17 | Ignite Teacher Passion and Enhance Student Learning With Engaging AVID Professional Learning
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Madrid
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Madrid
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Topaz
Presenter(s): Christa Evans, California Region 3 Capital Metropolitan Area AVID Project Specialist, Sacramento County Office of Education, California; Erika Moreno, AVID Project Specialist I, Capital Metro Area AVID, Sacramento County Office of Education, California; Jennifer Wolfe, AVID Project Specialist I, Capital Metro Area AVID, Sacramento County Office of Education, California

The California Region 3 Capital Metro Area (CMA) AVID team insists on rigor, aligning school site work, and developing relationships when creating engaging virtual and face‐to‐face training opportunities. During the 2020–21 school year, CMA AVID hosted 43 virtual workshops serving over 1,600 educators. This presentation offers insight for district leaders, administrators, site coordinators, and teachers on practical strategies and plans to implement professional learning in their educational spaces through the use of AVID Professional Learning Modules (APLMs), teamwork and collaboration for presenters, building a professional learning network (PLN), flexible thinking, and creating and implementing consistent systems.

S-18 | Intentional and Meaningful Culture
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Topaz
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Peacock Terrace
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Peacock Terrace
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Peacock Terrace
Presenter(s): Nicole Costigan, Program Manager, AVID Center; Dr. Robi Cole, Associate Area Director, AVID Center

This session is for educators looking for ideas and ways to create an intentional college- and career-going culture on their campus. The presentation will explain the gap-analysis process to help site leaders determine their perceived as well as true culture on their campus. Strategies shared are embedded in the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework along with examples derived from each Domain of AVID Schoolwide. Outcomes will be shared from a few AVID National Demonstration Schools’ journeys to create intentional and meaningful culture. The session will help site leaders investigate areas of need and make a plan to align the work of preparing students for college and career by creating connections for students and staff.

S-19 | Leveraging AVID to Strengthen Districtwide PLCs and Campus Culture
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Manchester
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Manchester
Presenter(s): Kari Penny, AVID District Director/Project Facilitator for AVID and GATE TK–12, Desert Sands USD, California; Mike Kint, Director of Professional Development, Desert Sands USD, California

Desert Sands will share their experience of leveraging the implementation of AVID schoolwide student planners to effectively strengthen a districtwide professional learning community (PLC) process aligning district initiatives like Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), social and emotional learning (SEL), universal design for learning (UDL), and i-Ready®. Starting with horizontal grade-level common commitments and a common language not only encouraged systemic thinking but also changed the culture on every site. Grade levels then shared artifacts to align vertical articulation and create systems to support all students’ mastery of organizing both time and materials. This schoolwide culture change is intensified using the Coaching and Certification Instrument (CCI) Site Team goals to increase communication and the partnership of parents, students, educators, and administrators—the agenda is not just a box to check on the CCI; it is a vehicle that changes the trajectory of all students. Agendas became the catalyst that sparked a culture of success in all Desert Sands AVID Elementary sites and middle schools striving for AVID Schoolwide.

S-20 | Leveraging Systems to Embrace Change: How Our Title I Campus Achieved Demo Status Despite the Pandemic
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Governors Lecture Hall
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Governors Lecture Hall
Presenter(s): Samantha Villarreal, AVID Teacher and Coordinator, Goodnight Middle School, San Marcos Consolidated ISD, Texas; Dana Linebarger, AVID Instructional Specialist, Goodnight Middle School, San Marcos Consolidated ISD, Texas

This session explores how Owen Goodnight Middle School, a Title I campus, was able to pivot quickly to meet the needs of all students and teachers during the COVID pandemic school year. Two years prior, the campus reimagined instructional time and amplified a schoolwide AVID campus culture by streamlining instructional strategies into a simple yet comprehensive framework. This provided stability for students and teachers as they shifted unexpectedly into the digital space. By utilizing teacher-led professional development, the campus was able to embrace hybrid teaching and learning to continue rigorous coursework and collaboration, allowing the campus to achieve AVID National Demonstration School status.

S-21 | Learning Is a Story: Exploring AVID’s eBinders and Interactive Notebooks
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coral
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • De Soto B
Presenter(s): Kande McKay, Senior Learning Designer, AVID Center; Christina Skeen, Learning Designer, AVID Center

When Mary Catherine Swanson introduced AVID in 1980, she knew students would need to be able to organize their learning materials to be successful in rigorous classes. The AVID binder has become a cornerstone of the AVID College and Career Readiness System. As students began to develop 21st century skills, a need emerged. Teachers and students were challenged when asked to organize digital learning. In this session, participants will focus on organization of time, materials, and thoughts in a digital learning environment through interactive notebooks (INBs) and AVID eBinders.

S-22 | Not “One More Thing”: Strategies for Making AVID an Essential Part of Any Campus
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Monet Ballroom
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Monet Ballroom
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Monet Ballroom
Presenter(s): Brett Bowers, Associate Senior Region Director, AVID Center

Too often AVID is perceived as an extra or an add-on to what’s already happening at a school site. It’s the dreaded “one more thing.” This session will provide participants with strategies for weaving AVID into the fabric of a school site so it becomes authentically ingrained in the culture, embedded into instruction, and integrated into campus-wide systems. These approaches make AVID feel necessary, not optional, and certainly not like “one more thing.” A collection of resources and tools will be shared for any school striving to make AVID the foundation for schoolwide transformation and positive change for all students.

S-23 | Show Me the Money: Streamlining Grades 9–12 and Preparing Seniors for Scholarship Opportunities Through Systems and Strategies
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Miro
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Miro
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Topaz
Presenter(s): Elizabeth Brown, AVID Coordinator/Teacher, Staff Developer, and Lead Writer, Richardson High School, Texas

This session will share how Richardson High School prepares their students to earn millions in scholarship money. Participants will have the opportunity to gain knowledge from the school’s decade-long journey as an AVID Coordinator shares internal systems, data, and processes for grades 9–12 that have produced the success they have today. Attendees will walk away with valuable knowledge and resources that will help them streamline the senior AVID class, increase scholarship opportunities for seniors, and prepare underclassmen with opportunities to be more qualified scholarship recipients.

S-24 | Strengthening Your Foundation to Go Further, Faster
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Senators Lecture Hall
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Senators Lecture Hall
Presenter(s): Pam Miller, Director of Teaching and Learning, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District, Minnesota; Nancy Eiynck, Educational Equity Coordinator, Buffalo-Hanover-Montrose School District, Minnesota

While building the foundation of a home is not the exciting part, it is arguably the most important part. The lack of a strong foundation will show up in ways you would not imagine. The same is true in our school systems. In this session the presenters will share how their district’s experience in taking AVID districtwide has resulted in a strengthening of their foundation and the development of a collective vision, while balancing site autonomy and creativity. Because they’ve created a unified effort toward college and career readiness for all students, this school team is off to the races in pursuit of continued growth.

S-25 | Maximizing AVID Elementary Weekly and AVID Weekly in the Classroom
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • De Soto A
Presenter(s): Dr. Dorthery West, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Jessica Taylor, Program Specialist, AVID Center

AVID Weekly® and AVID Elementary Weekly lessons bring WICOR® (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) strategies to life, providing opportunities for students to engage in writing, inquiry, collaboration, organization, and reading with engaging texts. This session will explore how to maximize the use of AVID Elementary Weekly and AVID Weekly as a powerful tool in every classroom and content area for integrating disciplinary literacy and innovative instructional practices from AVID’s most current curriculum resources.

S-27 | The AVID College and Career Readiness Framework: Collective Educator Agency and Other Exciting Updates
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Metropolitan
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Metropolitan
Presenter(s): Eileen Friou, Senior Director of Learning Programs, Products, and Services, AVID Center; Dr. Dennis Johnston, Senior Director of Research and Chief Research Officer, AVID Center

In this session, participants will get a first look at new additions to the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework and an introduction to the notion of collective educator agency: Educators on a campus take intentional actions based on shared beliefs and trust that, together, they can increase opportunity and measurable success for all students and each other. Participants will also be provided the opportunity to hear from school administrators and AVID Site Coordinators as they reflect on AVID’s impact on their campus through the lens of the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework.

S-28 | Under the Umbrella: Our Framework for Success
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coronado D
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coronado D
Presenter(s): Jennifer Johns, Teaching and Learning Coach, Jackson Elementary School, Colorado Springs School District 11, Colorado; Sara Miller, Principal, Jackson Elementary School, Colorado Springs School District 11, Colorado

The presenters will take participants through one Title I elementary school’s journey to success under the “AVID umbrella” using the AVID Schoolwide framework. By shifting their culture to a student-centered approach, focusing on equitable learning, and closing the opportunity gap, this school went from years of “Improvement” status to “Performance” and to becoming an AVID Showcase school. Each participant will identify their school’s current state in education, reflect on desired states, and create action steps for success.

S-29 | “We’re Levitating!”: How to Levitate AVID From “Pockets of Success” to Districtwide Impact Through Strategic Alignment and Meaningful Collaboration
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Metropolitan
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Metropolitan
Presenter(s): Susan Jackson, Deputy Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction, Goose Creek Consolidated ISD, Texas; Matt Bolinger, Executive Director of Strategic Planning and Innovation, Goose Creek Consolidated ISD, Texas

How can AVID serve as a primary driver for key initiatives? This presentation provides specific strategies and ideas for district leaders as they consider how AVID can be streamlined throughout the district to strengthen student achievement, culture, equitable practices, and professional learning. This session will discuss the importance of shared accountability and ownership as it relates to AVID at the district level.

S-30 | AVID Implementation for School Principals: Best Approach
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Madrid
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Madrid
Presenter(s): Dr. Sheka Houston, Director of Secondary Interventions, Chester County School District, South Carolina; Tammy Taylor, Principal, Chester County School District, South Carolina

This session will provide strategies to leaders who are new to implementing AVID or seeking the commitment that is needed to ensure success. Dr. Sheka Houston will share how, as a principal, she empowered her team to use AVID strategies and methodologies to improve her school’s performance by creating a manual that provided alignment of AVID strategies to her school’s instructional goals. The school’s strategic efforts to directly align AVID strategies to school improvement goals resulted in an increase of two state report card levels in one year. Dr. Houston is now the MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) coordinator for her district as well as the AVID District Director. Tammy Taylor, elementary principal, will also share how she is implementing a similar strategy with her teachers. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in collaborative conversations, explore the instructional manual, and leave with a refined lens for developing protocols and policy designed to improve communication, accountability, and support for successful implementation.

S-31 | AVID and IB®: A Match Made in Heaven
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Peacock Terrace
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Peacock Terrace
Presenter(s): Jessica Olamit, IB Coordinator and AVID Elective Teacher, Del Mar High School, Campbell Union High School District, California; Dr. Holly Royaltey, IB History of the Americas Teacher and AVID Elective Teacher, Del Mar High School, Campbell Union High School District, California

This session is designed for educators whose schools offer an AVID and an IB® program who would like to learn how these two programs seamlessly complement one another. The session will provide strategies to increase equity and access in IB through the support of the AVID program. The presenters will also share practices that allow AVID students to thrive in the rigors of the IB program.

S-32 | AVID Educators Empower Student-Led Change
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Miro
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Miro
Presenter(s): Liz Barcheck, Assistant Principal, Southern Hills Middle School, Boulder Valley School District, Colorado; Charla Agnoletti, Public Achievement Program Director, CU Engage (Center for Community Based Learning and Research), University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado

This session provides the opportunity to learn about a powerful partnership between the AVID programs of Boulder Valley School District and the Public Achievement program at the University of Colorado Boulder. Together, these programs create space for youth-led civic engagement projects that promote student voice and lasting change for individuals, schools, and communities. AVID educators who attend this session will take away key frameworks and curricular tools that support AVID students in understanding barriers from a culturally relevant perspective while equipping them with skills for self-advocacy and community engagement.

S-33 | AVID Excel: Accelerating Academic Success for Long-Term English Learners
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Coronado B
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Coronado B
Presenter(s): Dr. Sacha Bennett, Program Specialist, AVID Center

This interactive presentation will provide participants with current research about the academic needs of long-term English language learners and outline essential instructional routines for academic success and access to rigorous coursework. In addition, participants will learn how our organization is specifically addressing these needs through AVID Excel®, a middle school course offering for long-term English learners that uses a strategically designed curriculum, professional learning, family connections, and promotion of biliteracy. AVID Excel accelerates academic language acquisition and places emergent multilingual scholars on the path to high school AVID and college-preparatory coursework.

S-34 | Breaking Down Barriers for All Students Through School Culture, Effective Systems, and Relationships at Two Demo Schools
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Miro
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Miro
Presenter(s): Dr. Matthew Fraijo, Director of Assessment and Accountability, Whittier Union High School District, California; Craig Campbell, Principal, Whittier Union High School District, California; Lilia Bozigian, Administrator, Pioneer High School, Whittier Union High School District, CA

This enlightening session, presented by school/district administrators of AVID National Demonstration Schools with high percentages of students of color and high poverty rates, will share two unique “game-changer” tools to break down barriers for all students. First, the session will focus on critical systems that empower school staff to support all students. Second, the presenters will discuss how to strengthen relationships and trust between all stakeholders so these critical systems can function effectively. Participants will gain practical strategies that can be implemented immediately and will lay a foundation for future systems at their sites. AVID Coordinators, site and district administrators, and district data personnel are invited to attend this session.

S-35 | Breaking the Implicit-Bias Barriers
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Monet Ballroom
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Monet Ballroom
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • De Soto B
Presenter(s): Denise Rupert, Area Director, AVID Center

During this session, participants will engage in a conversation about implicit bias. This highly interactive session will introduce attendees to bias we all have and address ways to reduce its impact. This self-reflective walk into our biases is designed to alert each of us of the opportunities to improve our actions. By acknowledging our bias, we can foster an environment in our educational settings to be more inclusive of students, families, staff, and other stakeholders. Strategies will be introduced to encourage all to embrace differences and expand the way we support the educational setting.

S-36 | Building a College-Going Community Through AVID
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • De La Salle
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • De La Salle
Presenter(s): Christal Buckley, AVID District Director and Teaching and Learning Coordinator, Yuma Union High School District 70, Arizona; Duane Sheppard, Associate Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction, Yuma Elementary District 1, Arizona

How do you leverage the power of AVID to build a community that supports a college-going culture in kindergarten through higher education? Presenters from one of the few K–20 AVID communities in the U.S. will share the story of their efforts to align AVID across institutions at four different levels in one community. They will lead participants to reflect on their own needs and strengths to build bridges across institutions and energize AVID programs K–20.

S-39 | From Rebels to Redhawks: Finding Our Wings
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Coronado D
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Coronado D
Presenter(s): Angela Spencer, AVID Coordinator and Instructional Coach, Greater Albany Public Schools, Oregon; Amanda GaVette, AVID Coordinator and Instructional Coach, Greater Albany Public Schools, Oregon

This session offers a candid conversation with the staff of South Albany about how the AVID system helped transform an underachieving, high-poverty high school into the first AVID National Demonstration High School in the state of Oregon in five years through the development of strong systems, shared leadership, rigorous instruction, and a transformative culture. The presenters will highlight the data they’ve collected to show how AVID has completely changed their school culture, including how their graduation rate for Latino students went from 58% to 92% in just four years. From underdogs to all stars, this school utilized the AVID system to help every kid soar.

S-40 | Helping All Students Succeed: What Culturally Relevant Educators Do
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Wedgwood
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Wedgwood
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Wedgwood
Presenter(s): Patrick Briggs, Area Director, AVID Center

Are educators providing all students with what they need to be successful? These culturally relevant teaching practices will help participants address the opportunity and expectation gaps that negatively affect so many young people. Culturally relevant teaching is not about changing what you are doing as an educator but changing how you are doing it—the delivery, the scaffolding, and the relationship building. The strategies shared in this session can be implemented immediately to increase the level of success for all students. This session will help educators reflect on their practices, learn new ones, and ask the question “Does all mean all?” when it comes to meeting the needs of learners in their classrooms.

S-41 | Keep It 100%: The Road to 100% College Acceptance
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Madrid
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Madrid
Presenter(s): Laurie Paige, AVID Coordinator and AVID Elective Teacher, Chatham Central High School, North Carolina; Sandra Young, Counselor, Chatham Central High School, North Carolina; Dr. Karla Eanes, Principal, Chatham Central High School; Brooklyn Douglas, Teacher, Chatham Central High School; Heather Brooks, Teacher, Chatham Central High School; Eric Paton, Teacher, Chatham Central High School

This session invites participants to take a journey through Chatham Central High School’s process of getting to a 100% four-year college acceptance rate for AVID Elective students annually for 14 years running! The presenters will demonstrate the systems used, from freshman year to senior year, to get all students ready to apply to college, accepted into college, and equipped with strategies for success once they get to college.

S-42 | Mind The Gaps! Three Data-Based Structures to Support Your AVID Schoolwide Journey
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coronado B
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coronado B
Presenter(s): Robin Stone, Literacy and MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) Coordinator and Teacher, Angevine Middle School, Boulder Valley School District, Colorado; Sarah Bryan, Assessment and ELD (English Language Development) Coordinator, Angevine Middle School, Boulder Valley School District, Colorado

This session will share one middle school’s experience in shifting “all of the work” public educators face toward an AVID Schoolwide model. Participants will learn the key data structures that have mattered most in this school’s journey so far to close the expectation and opportunity gaps and leave the session with easy-to-replicate ideas for their own implementation.

S-43 | Silver Linings: Asset-Based Mentality
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Manchester
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Manchester
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Morocco
Presenter(s): Keiko Hasebe-Dilbeck, Principal, Kino Junior High, Mesa Public Schools, Arizona; Shauna Kinghorn, Title I School Improvement Specialist, Kino Junior High, Mesa Public Schools, Arizona

This session will explore how to rehabilitate perceived deficits into assets at your school through purposeful mindsets. Small adjustments that can make a big change. The presenters will share what they have implemented, what worked, what didn’t work, and how they have seen growth in students and teachers by leveraging an asset-based mindset to become an AVID National Demonstration School.

S-44 | Where Are You Going? Long-Term Planning With AVID
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Topaz
Presenter(s): Marybeth Hines, Partner Engagement Manager, AVID Center; Sara Peters, Partner Engagement Manager, AVID Center

When considering funding use, whether it be ESSER, Title funding, or the general budget, effective long-term planning is a must, now more than ever. A panel discussion including superintendents, AVID District Directors, and principals from small, medium, and large districts will provide concrete examples and ideas of how a district can ensure implementation, future-focused planning, and sustainability in order to close the opportunity gap for all students.

S-46 | AVID Elementary: Going Further Together to Meet the Needs of All Learners
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Monet Ballroom
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Monet Ballroom
Presenter(s): Traci Grove, Associate Area Director, AVID Center; Tracy Brown, Learning Designer, AVID Center

AVID Elementary educators will engage in an experience to intentionally connect WICOR® (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) strategies to focused note-taking in their classrooms and at their sites. Participants are invited to bring their experience and a mindset for learning to this engaging session.

S-47 | Blended Learning: Continuing the Momentum to Go Further Together
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Emerald
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Emerald
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Sapphire
Presenter(s): Tracy Brown, Learning Designer, AVID Center; Dr. Claudie Massicotte, Learning Designer, AVID Center

This session is intended for all AVID educators who are ready to build on the momentum from the acceleration of digital learning opportunities and want to learn how to intentionally incorporate blended learning for all students. Educators will experience multiple WICOR® (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) strategies to jump-start a blended learning environment. This experience will equip educators with the resources to build student agency, develop critical thinking skills, practice in a safe environment, learn from and build on missteps, and create technology routines.

S-48 | Going Further With AVID Excel Recursive Routines and Blended Learning
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Sapphire
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Sapphire
Presenter(s): Steve Elia, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Tracy Brown, Learning Designer, AVID Center

This session will model blended learning possibilities that can be used to extend beyond engagement with technology for inquiry-based problem-solving and rigorous coursework to focus on key AVID Excel® language building routines in order to accelerate language acquisition. The recursive routines that will be a focus of this session are essential instructional practices that are introduced and revisited throughout each unit of the AVID Excel curriculum. This session is designed for AVID Excel educators and those interested in learning more about instruction in AVID Excel. Participants are invited to bring a device and a mindset for learning to this engaging session.

S-49 | Bringing Focused Notes to Life! AVID’s Focused Note-Taking Process Revealed
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Morocco
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Morocco
Presenter(s): Lisa Faith, Program Manager, AVID Center; Andy Wait, Program Manager, AVID Center

This session is intended for all teachers, administrators, and support staff looking to engage students in the AVID Focused Note-Taking Process and incorporate more literacy across content areas, as well as more student interaction with content. The phases of this process can increase rigor and retention of information in any content area.

S-50 | Digital Badges for AVID Elective Students in Grades 9–11
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Senators Lecture Hall
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Senators Lecture Hall
Presenter(s): Dr. Cybele Leverett, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Kelley Zulueta, Program Specialist, AVID Center

AVID recognizes that today’s digital landscape allows students and educators to acquire and demonstrate their learning online. In order to diversify digital opportunities for students to gain knowledge and display their learning, AVID is expanding a system of digital badges for students in the high school AVID Elective classes. Session attendees will learn the process for student eligibility, what each badge represents, and how digital badging helps AVID students create a professional digital identity.

S-51 | Experiencing AVID Summer Bridge Programs
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Madrid
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Madrid
Presenter(s): Angie Hall, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Dr. Sacha Bennett, Program Specialist, AVID Center

AVID’s Summer Bridge programs offer high-engagement content designed to accelerate learning. This session will offer participants an opportunity to learn about AVID’s math, science, and English language development summer offerings through an interactive, informational presentation. AVID’s math and science Summer Bridge programs enhance students’ critical thinking, reasoning, and problem-solving skills through interactive and collaborative lessons and activities. AVID’s English language development Summer Bridge supports middle and high school English language learners with academic language acquisition through community building and a focus on college and career readiness skills.

S-52 | Igniting a Love of Math Discourse (Elementary)
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Coral
Presenter(s): Angie Hall, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Marc Dembowski, Senior Learning Designer, AVID Center

This professional learning experience is designed for elementary educators, instructional coaches, and site leaders to develop mathematicians through cultivating a rigorous, discourse-rich mathematics learning environment. Participants will explore teacher actions that are necessary to empower students to engage deeply in mathematics, communicate their ideas, and connect their thinking to others. This collaborative experience will engage participants in strategies that they can immediately implement to begin building rich discourse among students.

S-53 | Igniting a Love of Math Discourse (Secondary)
Thursday, December 9 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Coronado D
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Coral
Presenter(s): Marc Dembowski, Senior Learning Designer, AVID Center; Angie Hall, Program Specialist, AVID Center

This professional learning experience is designed for secondary educators, counselors, instructional coaches, and site leaders to develop mathematicians through cultivating a rigorous, discourse-rich mathematics learning environment. Participants will explore teacher actions that are necessary to empower students to engage deeply in mathematics, communicate their ideas, and connect their thinking to others. This collaborative experience will engage participants in strategies that they can immediately implement to begin building rich discourse among students.

S-54 | Let’s Go Further Together by Raising the Bar of Your AVID Weekly® Lessons Using the 4 A’s®
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Sapphire
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Sapphire
Presenter(s): Michelle Brummond, Learning Designer, AVID Center; Dr. Dorthery West, Program Specialist, AVID Center

In this engaging session, the presenters and participants will work together to answer the essential question, How do I increase engagement, accessibility, and interaction with my AVID Weekly or AVID Elementary Weekly lessons so that all students can be successful? Participants will learn about AVID Digital Learning: The 4 A’s (Adopt, Adapt, Accelerate, Advocate®) and how to maximize the Teacher Resources and Blended Learning Toolkit that accompany the lessons and articles. The presenters will discuss what this looks like in classrooms today and the impact on educator agency.

S-55 | Leveraging Vocabulary Acquisition Strategies to Ensure Rigorous Academic Preparedness
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • De Soto A
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Metropolitan
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Metropolitan
Presenter(s): Andrea McMahan, Program Manager, AVID Center

Vocabulary acquisition is a key element in students’ development as critical readers. This session provides the opportunity for educators in all content areas, K–12, to gain an understanding of the 3 Tiers of Vocabulary and the 6-Step Process for Vocabulary Instruction and engage in scaffolded vocabulary acquisition strategies.

S-56 | Leveraging WICOR® with Technology to Raise Rigor in the Classroom
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Coral
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Coral
Presenter(s): Janice Houston, Assistant Principal, Irving ISD, Texas; Courtney Putman, Curriculum Writer, Irving ISD, Texas

Technology integration plays a vital role in all classrooms. As we see a greater infusion of digital tools, participants will learn how to navigate the digital landscape to ensure academic success. This session will go beyond the “how to” of using a particular resource and focus on the pedagogy of digital teaching and learning with an emphasis on how to integrate WICOR (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) strategies into blended classrooms using both synchronous and asynchronous platforms.

S-57 | WICORizing Digital Feedback Using the 4 A’s® to Promote Educator and Student Agency
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Emerald
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Emerald
Presenter(s): Liz Buffington, Lecturer, San Diego State University College of Education, and Senior Subject Matter Expert/Senior Content Developer, AVID Center; Dr. Claudie Massicotte, Learning Designer, AVID Center

Whoever is doing the talking is doing the learning. Participants will evaluate how intentional use of the 4 A’s (Adopt, Adapt, Accelerate, Advocate®) develops student agency, preparing students for college and careers. This session is designed to support educators and leaders as they evaluate the feedback structures of learner to learner, teacher to learner, and learner to teacher as a way to propel WICORized learning opportunities, aligned with AVID’s Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading (WICOR®) instructional strategies. Educators will also conceptualize how intentional collaboration in learning promotes their own agency and empowers personal practice.

S-58 | Rigor and the AVID Elective: The Dynamic Duo
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • De Soto A
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • De Soto A
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • De Soto A
Presenter(s): Sally Wagner, Program Manager, AVID Center; Joe Miske, Program Manager, AVID Center

Insisting on Rigor is a critical part of the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework; however, we are seeing less and less rigor happening in AVID Elective classes. AVID students may struggle in their advanced courses if they do not have the skills necessary to be successful. This session will be a reminder to AVID Elective teachers, AVID District Directors, and administrators of how important rigor in the AVID Elective class is, what it looks like, and how WICOR® (Writing, Inquiry, Collaboration, Organization, and Reading) instructional strategies support rigor.

S-59 | Voice and Choice for Promoting Student Agency Through the AVID Digital Learning Framework
Thursday, December 9 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Sapphire
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Emerald
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Emerald
Presenter(s): Ashley Callahan, Learning Designer, AVID Center; Liz Buffington, Lecturer, San Diego State University College of Education, and Senior Subject Matter Expert/Senior Content Developer, AVID Center

By optimizing choice and customized learning while nurturing classroom collaboration, educators empower students to take ownership of their learning. The framework of AVID Digital Learning: The 4 A's® (Adopt, Adapt, Accelerate, Advocate®) provides students with voice and choice to explore rigorous content that allows them to exercise their academic, social, and emotional learning. This professional learning experience is designed for K–12 educators, instructional coaches, and site leaders to make connections between the why, what, and how of learning using the AVID Digital Learning framework. Participants will learn how to maximize instructional decisions that best support students in the classroom to persist through obstacles and challenges, gain a deeper awareness of personal potential, and build relationships to prepare them for success in the global society.

S-60 | Becoming an AVID Site During the Pandemic – Your Burning Questions Answered
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Manchester
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Manchester
Presenter(s): Martay Monroe, AVID District Director/Coordinator, Richland School District One, South Carolina; Callie McGill-Thomas, AVID Site Coordinator/Elective Teacher, St. Andrews Middle School, Richland County School District One, South Carolina

For sites that began implementing AVID during the COVID pandemic, their teachers and leaders may have many questions such as, Where do we begin? What does AVID implementation look like in the classroom? What should our Site Team do? This session will help to answer these burning questions while exploring how to leverage participants’ virtual professional learning and implement AVID with fidelity in face-to-face, virtual, and/or hybrid learning environments.

S-61 | AVID’s Hidden Gem – Math and Science Summer Bridge: One District’s Journey
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Manchester
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Manchester
Presenter(s): Kari Penny, AVID District Director and Project Facilitator, AVID/GATE TK–12, Desert Sands USD, California; Kevin Bibo, Director of CTE and College and Career Readiness, Desert Sands USD, California

Desert Sands United School District educators will share their journey of implementing the AVID Math and Science Summer Bridge curriculum over the past four years. From recruitment lessons learned to teacher training mastery, educators will hear how one district successfully expanded the program from one site of 180 students. The session will explore the barriers and hurdles experienced and how the success of the Summer Bridge program during the COVID pandemic provided a opportunity for teachers to connect with students, even on a digital platform. This past summer, all middle school principals in the district were excited to implement AVID Summer Bridge, and they successfully served more than 900 students in 2021.

S-62 | Best of Both Worlds: Blending Hands-On and Digital STEM Investigations for Increased Student Engagement
Saturday, December 11 • 9:45–11:00 AM • Emerald
Saturday, December 11 • 11:15 AM–12:30 PM • Emerald
Presenter(s): Dr. Mark Meszaros, Vice President of Core Product Management and Innovation, Carolina Biological Supply Company, North Carolina; Bruce Wilcox, Vice President, Carolina Science Online, North Carolina

The COVID-19 pandemic caused secondary STEM classrooms to lose opportunities for the impactful hands-on investigations that result in content mastery and skills acquisition. Carolina Biological met this challenge with an innovative blend of their popular hands-on classroom STEM kits with digital versions of those same investigations, some of which are featured in the AVID Open Access™ collection of quality STEM materials. This session will discuss how students can remain engaged in STEM learning and continue to build the data analysis, interpretation, and communication skills essential to success in STEM careers.

S-63 | Designing Engaging Project-Based Learning Experiences for Connecting Students to STEM Career Pathways
Friday, December 10 • 8:30–9:45 AM • Sapphire
Friday, December 10 • 10:00–11:15 AM • Sapphire
Presenter(s): Dr. Elaine Klein, STEM Team Manager, Educurious Partners, Washington

Project-based learning (PBL) engages students in rigorous STEM experiences by grounding their learning in contemporary issues and opportunities for student agency. Leveraging PBL in STEM classrooms (and beyond!) empowers students as scientists, engineers, and problem solvers as they collaboratively pursue a driving question through project work. In this session, participants will learn how key PBL practices align with the AVID College and Career Readiness Framework and how high-quality PBL fosters equitable learning environments by supporting students’ identification with STEM careers. Participants will come away with tools and engaging open-access PBL units to transform classrooms into incubators for students’ ideas and connections to future STEM pathways.

S-64 | What Is Disciplinary Literacy and Why Does It Matter?
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Governors Lecture Hall
Presenter(s): Jessica Taylor, Program Specialist, AVID Center; Tiffany Tahu, Program Manager, AVID Center

What the world needs most are students who analyze problems like engineers, develop hypotheses like scientists, think analytically like mathematicians, recognize the power of individuals like historians, create like artists, and record their thinking about all of the above like authors. Disciplinary literacy is a schoolwide approach to providing students with the tools and strategies for success in every content area. This session will explore what disciplinary literacy is, why it matters, and how to take it schoolwide so that AVID schools and districts are able to close expectation, opportunity, and achievement gaps for all students.

S-65 | Districtwide Implementation: Realizing Student Success for All
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Miro
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Miro
Presenter(s): Denise Wren, Director, Professional Learning and Leadership, AVID Center; Jessica Thayer, Manager, Professional Learning and Leadership, AVID Center

This session provides participants with the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of how to strategically lead Districtwide AVID in order to realize student agency, opportunity knowledge, and rigorous academic preparedness for all students. The learning will be enhanced through sharing ideas and best practices with district leaders from across the country.

S-67 | District Director and Principal Roundtable – Central Region Hosts
Friday, December 10 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Topaz
Friday, December 10 • 3:45–5:00 PM • Topaz
Presenter(s): Barbara Copeland, Area Director, AVID Center; Rachel Henley, Area Director, AVID Center; Valeri Angus, Area Director, AVID Center

Interactive conversations will focus on knowledge-sharing and problem-solving around the implementation challenges of AVID Schoolwide and the AVID College and Career Readiness System. The discussion will allow networking between AVID District Directors and principals from across the country.

S-68 | Superintendent Panel – Central Region Hosts
Thursday, December 9 • 2:15–3:30 PM • Topaz
Presenter(s): Dr. Wendell Brown, Senior Region Director, AVID Center

This panel comprises superintendents with comprehensive AVID implementations within their district. The panelists will respond to a variety of questions regarding the district perspectives of AVID's impact on their communities. They will also impart insights into their journeys of successful implementations that elevate college and career readiness and equity.

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