Phone Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.
1-800-933-ASCD (2723)
Address 1703 North Beauregard St. Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
Complete Customer Service Details
Saturday, March 14 | Sunday, March 15 | Monday, March 16
The featured sessions on this page are highlights from the full Empower20 program, and are listed in order by date and session start time. Visit the Featured Speakers section in the Full Conference Schedule for all featured sessions and information.
Browse more than 400 sessions and Pre-Conference Institutes in the Empower20 Conference Schedule for additional learning opportunities.
More sessions will be added as they become available.
In this session based on their real-world experience in national and international education and their new ASCD book Coherent School Leadership: Forging Clarity from Complexity, authors Michael Fullan and Lyle Kirtman will illustrate how to lead coherence making. This interactive session will explain the realities of nuanced leadership in creating coherence in schools and dealing with the barriers that can derail progress. The session's moderator, Janelle Bradshaw, is superintendent of Public Prep Network in New York City and a former principal (and district administrator) in the Cambridge (Mass.) Public Schools. She is committed to the coherence and leadership work that has resulted in significant improvement in student achievement at Public Prep Network. Participants will walk away with clear actions to take in their own districts and schools.
^Return to top.
Black and Latino males lead the nation in many negative statistical categories. Some educators have grown frustrated with these students—who are suspended, expelled, and incarcerated more than any other group of students—without taking the time to fully understand how to educate, activate, and motivate them. This interactive session will show participants how to support these young men and become the educators they need. Participants will walk away with a deeper understanding of Black and Latino male students and will learn strategies to foster healthier environments in their buildings and districts.
In this session, teachers and leaders will learn precisely where schools should focus their precious time and resources in order to ensure that all students are prepared for the demands of college, careers, and citizenship. They will learn about the three most essential elements of good schooling, and how to implement them on a clear, straightforward model: coherent curriculum, authentic literacy, and soundly structured lessons. Despite their unrivalled power for improving performance in any school, these elements continue to be misunderstood—and grossly underimplemented. For this reason, they should be our first and highest priority. Participants will leave this session knowing both what to do and how to do it, in ways that will yield immediate and significant results.
Born without limbs for no medical reason, Nick Vujicic knew from an early age that he was different. But it wasn't until much later, after overcoming ignorance and discrimination to build what he calls a "ridiculously good" life, that he realized his mission: to use his "disability" to start conversations that change lives. Vujicic has since spoken more than 3,000 times in some 57 countries on topics as varied as bullying, inspiring positive change, persistence and determination, and his own life story. No matter where he goes, he communicates one core message—that no matter your circumstance, you can overcome! Vujicic is the author of several books, including Life Without Limits: Inspiration for a Ridiculously Good Life, Unstoppable: The Incredible Power of Faith in Action, Love Without Limits: A Remarkable Story of True Love Conquering All, and Stand Strong: You Can Overcome Bullying (and Other Stuff That Keeps You Down).
Research on students who overcome adversity to successfully navigate the higher education pipeline has demonstrated that resilience is often actuated by an emotionally relevant educator. In this keynote luncheon, the presenter will emphasize the importance of emotional support from educators in the lives of marginalized students and discuss how we as educators can play a powerful role in guiding students who have been left behind. He will provide examples of practical strategies that work in helping at-promise students succeed in higher education. He will also share some insights from his research on cultural relevance, emotional support, and resilience in order to demonstrate practical strategies for implementing this support in everyday school practices.
Note: This luncheon is not included in registration for ASCD Empower20. You must register separately for this event. Seating is limited.
The price is $99.00 per person. Payment for this luncheon is due at the time of registration. ASCD cannot offer refunds for the luncheon unless the session is canceled by ASCD.
Register for the luncheon
This keynote luncheon will focus on reflecting on one's traditions and values of times past and their importance in our development and growth today. The presenter will emphasize appreciation of diverse cultures and their contributions to today's society. We can "go forward without forgetting" what a rich heritage our cultures offer and apply under-appreciated ethics and values to today's world. The issues of self-esteem and leadership styles will be presented in a context in which the past is melded with the present, and the presenter will offer alternatives we can use in our personal development that will enhance our leadership styles. This approach is especially relevant to professionals working in the 21st century with a renewed spirit to meet new challenges, pursue higher educational opportunities, and cherish the joys of living in today's world.
Burnout and teacher turnover are prevalent and pervasive across the United States. As school leaders seek to fill vacant positions and retain qualified staff, there are also a set of daily habits that educators can cultivate that will boost their resilience. These habits are tried and tested and can be incorporated into staff professional development. In this keynote based on the author's most recent book, Onward: Cultivating Resilience in Educators, the presenter will provide practical strategies for improving resilience as well as a compelling case for why school leaders should focus on resilience.
Remember when you wanted to become a school leader? How excited you were? How you were going to inspire others to be great? Do you still have that same fire? If not, why not? What happened? Well, you all get a pass because you are doing the best you can, but we all can do better when we have a better understanding of the skills we need to develop to become more effective. In this session, the presenter—a 22-year veteran principal and best-selling author of Culturize: Every Student. Every Day. Whatever It Takes.—will share his shortcomings and the crucial truths that he learned the hard way on his path to becoming a state and national award-winning principal.
Carol Dweck's work has focused on the ideas of "fixed" and "growth" mindsets, yet educators will need to go a step further with these notions to create the learning opportunities and that our students and schools deserve. We need to focus not only what we know, but what we do with what we know. In this session, the presenter will discuss the idea and characteristics of "The Innovator's Mindset" (as discussed in the book of the same title), and share powerful examples on why this is so crucial for all educators. His presentations are known to be emotional and humorous while pushing your thinking, and he will definitely connect to your heart first in a way that will last with you long after this session.
Kimberly Bryant, the founder of the Black Girls CODE social movement, will share her journey as what she calls an "accidental social entrepreneur" and the lessons she learned as she shaped a new paradigm for women and girls of color in the technology industry. She will explore how recognizing our innate power to become change agents in our own lives and the lives of others by pushing through traditional boundaries and perceived limitations can help us drive change in our world.
Are you color-blind or color-brave? A color-blind mindset negatively affects the academic success and outcomes of students of color in our schools. When we embrace diversity; acknowledge our own implicit biases; and learn to view language, color, race, and culture as assets in our school communities, our students thrive. Implementing strategies that foster a color-brave culture empowers and uplifts all students. Attend this keynote luncheon to understand how a color-blind mindset affects school culture and students' academic success; learn how embracing diversity and acknowledging implicit bias counters the color-blind narrative; and explore strategies that foster color-brave mindsets and value diversity as a strength in our school communities.
This keynote luncheon has been canceled.
Communicating and truly connecting with students is a teacher's dream. Discover how your actions can bring a voice to even the most reclusive of students. William Martinez will shake your world as he engages you with story, song, and American Sign Language to reconfirm the massive influence you have on every child's life. Walk away reenergized, inspired, and loaded with tools to create a safe and inclusive classroom full of learning and belonging for all students.
In this interactive session, the 2019 National Teacher of the Year will use his experiences and the lessons he learned working inside Richmond Juvenile Detention Center to explain the school-to-prison pipeline. He will also propose and examine solutions that can disrupt the pipeline.
When LeVar Burton performed the role of "Kunta Kinte" in Roots, the world received a lesson in courage and dignity. The host and executive producer of Reading Rainbow and member of the cast of Star Trek: The Next Generation will share the powerful influence that his storytelling mentors have had on his life. Hear how each helped shape his incredible life's work as a performer who taught us worth, joy, and the power of the written word.
The ongoing political debate over immigration policy has created a hostile climate in many communities for immigrant youth and their families. Increasingly, educators are finding themselves at the center of this debate, and many are uncertain about what they can do to effectively educate and support immigrant youth. This session will address the present political climate and describe what educators can do to ensure that immigrant youth receive the education they need and deserve. Drawing upon research and best practices from schools throughout the United States, the presenter will show what schools can do to meet the needs of immigrant youth.
This session will discuss the latest findings from the sciences of learning and development and their implications for school practice, providing examples of school and classroom strategies that can transform opportunities and outcomes for diverse learners.
Emmy Award–winning actor, director, and producer Henry Winkler made TV history as the iconic "Fonzie" on Happy Days for 10 seasons. However, few know of his lifelong battle with dyslexia. In 2003, he began writing the "Hank Zipzer" children's books about a challenged learner whose innate brightness leads to rich adventures. His latest children's book series is called "Alien Superstar." Henry Winkler currently costars as acting teacher Gene Cousineau on the hit HBO dark comedy Barry, for which he has won an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy.