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Welcome Deeper Learners!

This digital program is for all things DL2026! Session selection is LIVEOnly registered attendees will be able to select sessions starting March 3rd. Click this link to REGISTER.

You will need to select one Workshop Round 1 or Den Talk [for Day 1], one Deep Dive session [for Day 2], and one Workshop Round 2 or Den Talk [for Day 3]. These sessions have capacity limits and will fill up.

For an overview of the event and session types, campus map and frequently asked questions, check out the event info page here.

We can’t wait to see you!

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Wednesday, April 1
 

8:00am PDT

Breakfast and Marketplace
Wednesday April 1, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am PDT
BREAKFAST MENU
Bagel Bar + Smoked Salmon (Vegan Friendly)
Tomatoes / Red Onions / Cucumbers / Capers / Lemon Wedges
Cream Cheese / Jams / Butter
Assorted Fresh-Baked Mini Pastries (Croissants, Muffins, Scones, Danishes)
Oatmeal Bar (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Raisins / Cinnamon / Honey, Agave / Brown Sugar / Chocolate Chips / Milks, Non-Dairy Milks
Fresh Cut Fruit

MARKETPLACE
Check out the DL Marketplace, where you can purchase Deeper Learning merch from our student-run print shop, or purchase books by some of the Deeper Learning and National Summit on Improvement in Education presenters! In addition to a "self-serve" bookstore, Myers Education Press, the leading publisher of Continuous Improvement books, digital content, and support products for a variety of improvement communities, will also be at the Marketplace!
Wednesday April 1, 2026 8:00am - 8:30am PDT
High Tech Elementary Gym

8:30am PDT

Community Advisory: Set Up and Prep for Exhibition
Wednesday April 1, 2026 8:30am - 8:45am PDT
To find your Community Advisory location, check Sched for the classroom location for your deep dive session. That is where you will meet for the four Community Advisory sessions (and your deep dive)!

This session will be focused on final set up and preparation for the Exhibition of Learning which will take place the morning of April 1st. During this time you will be grouped with participants from different Deep Dives, and you will have a chance to share your Deep Dive reflection with others. This reflection will continue to build relationships and process experiences with new Deeper Learning friends from around the world.


Wednesday April 1, 2026 8:30am - 8:45am PDT
Your Deep Dive Session Room

8:55am PDT

Exhibition of Learning
Wednesday April 1, 2026 8:55am - 9:45am PDT
In this Exhibition of Learning, participants will have an opportunity to reflect in small groups on their learning and share it with others. Participants will be grouped with Deeper Learners from different Deep Dives. In addition to individuals presenting, they will also have an opportunity to be an audience member to learn from other deep divers. This will take place in the building where the Deep Dives were located.
Wednesday April 1, 2026 8:55am - 9:45am PDT
Your Deep Dive Session Room

10:00am PDT

Prescribing Agency: Two Docs, One Mission: Centering Youth Voice for Transformative Learning
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
Join Dr. Mendoza and Dr. Goodman as they share how educators can move beyond compliance, embrace the Center for Love & Justice's equity stances, and truly center youth voice in daily practice. In this session, they will have honest dialogue around strategies for fostering student agency, pushing past the barriers, and doing the work that innovation demands for our young people, without taking “no” for an answer. Participants will walk away with methods, mindsets, and moves that help young people lead their learning.

About the Den Speakers:

Dr. Jesse Mendoza is a dedicated educator, community advocate, and public servant from Bell Gardens, California. He graduated from Bell Gardens High School before earning a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, Long Beach, and an M.A. in UOP. In May 2025, he completed his Doctorate in Education, strengthening his commitment to academic excellence and community leadership.
At Bell Gardens Intermediate School, Dr. Mendoza has developed impactful dance and performing arts programs that promote self-esteem, creative expression, wellness, and strong ethical values among students. His work has elevated the arts and expanded performance opportunities across the district. In addition to his contributions in education, Dr. Mendoza has served as Mayor of Bell Gardens, focusing on youth empowerment, public service, and community engagement.

Dr. Eric Goodman is an innovative educational leader and Site Director of YELLOWHAB, a 5th-9th grade microschool at Norfolk State University, launching its high school model with Advisory and Internship programs connecting learning to real life. YELLOWHAB's curriculum utilizes the UN Sustainable Development Goals, emphasizing PBL, equity, and belonging through the Center for Love and Justice. With 21 years experience, Dr. Goodman opened the newly built Richard Bowling Elementary in his childhood neighborhood, prioritizing wraparound services and community partnerships. He is a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran and is the current President of the Virginia Elementary Principals Association, which serves 1000+ leaders. Inspired by Shirley Chisholm’s words: “If they don’t give you a seat at the table, bring a folding chair,” he ensures life-changing education for every scholar under his leadership happens.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jesse Mendoza

Dr. Jesse Mendoza

Teacher, Montebello Unified School District
Dr. Jesse Mendoza is a dedicated educator, community advocate, and public servant from Bell Gardens, California. He graduated from Bell Gardens High School before earning a B.A. in Liberal Studies from California State University, Long Beach, and an M.A. in UOP. In May 2025, he completed... Read More →
avatar for Dr. Eric Goodman

Dr. Eric Goodman

YELLOWHAB, Site Director
Dr. Eric Goodman is an innovative educational leader and Site Director of YELLOWHAB, a 5th-9th grade microschool at Norfolk State University, launching its high school model with Advisory and Internship programs connecting learning to real life. YELLOWHAB's curriculum utilizes the... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
High Tech Middle Commons

10:00am PDT

What Can the Deeper Learning and High Quality Instructional Materials Communities Learn from Each Other?
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
In recent years, many schools and districts have selected instructional materials that meet external and internal designations of “high-quality” (HQIM). How does the learning from the field of Deeper Learning figure into those HQIM selection processes? And what might the Deeper Learning community learn from the momentum in the HQIM world? Join Kiran Purohit, VP of Curriculum & Instruction at New Visions for Public Schools, and Elizabeth Chu of Columbia Center for Public Research and Leadership, as they reflect on their experiences at the intersection of Deeper Learning and High-Quality Instructional Materials in NYC and across the country. Attendees will walk away with a deeper understanding of the ways these bodies of work speak to each other, inspired to ensure that all young people experience intellectually demanding, well-designed instruction.

About the Den Speakers:

Kiran joined New Visions for Public Schools in 2012 and currently leads the curriculum and instruction team. Prior to working at New Visions, she collaborated with schools to develop coherent secondary science and math curricula and taught science and math in middle schools in New York City. She holds Master’s degrees from Teachers College and New York University, and an Ed.D in curriculum studies from Columbia University, Teachers College.

Liz is the Executive Director of CPRL and a lecturer of law at Columbia Law School. Before joining CPRL, Elizabeth was an Assistant Professor of Practice at Relay Graduate School of Education, began her work in education as a middle and high school English teacher in the South Bronx.

Note: This DL session also invites attendees from the National Summit on Improvement in Education to participate. Summit is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
avatar for Kiran Purohit

Kiran Purohit

VP of Curriculum & Instruction, New Visions for Public Schools
Kiran joined New Visions for Public Schools in 2012 and currently leads the curriculum and instruction team. Prior to working at New Visions, she collaborated with schools to develop coherent secondary science and math curricula and taught science and math in middle schools in New... Read More →
avatar for Elizabeth Chu

Elizabeth Chu

Executive Director, Center for Public Research and Leadership
Liz is the Executive Director of CPRL and a lecturer of law at Columbia Law School. Before joining CPRL, Elizabeth was an Assistant Professor of Practice at Relay Graduate School of Education, began her work in education as a middle and high school English teacher in the South Br... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am PDT
High Tech High Commons

10:00am PDT

Becoming a DL Teacher: Feedback That Matters
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
What does it mean to be a deeper learning teacher—and how can we support each other in that journey? Participants will use our Deeper Learning Teaching & Classroom Framework—anchored in the domains of Conditions, Connection, and Pedagogy, along with the Growth Arcs (Sprouting → Rooted → Thriving)—to practice giving and receiving feedback that deepens practice rather than merely checking boxes.
Participants will analyze what deeper learning looks like across contexts and practice structured protocols for feedback. Whether newer to deeper learning or more advanced, participants will have differentiated entry points to explore and calibrate.
Takeaways include:
A set of feedback stems aligned to the framework.
An adaptable observation lens using Growth Arcs.
A feedback protocol to apply in their own school.

Our Framework draws on research and practitioners including Hammond, Immordino-Yang, Bransford, Hewlett Foundation, Ritchart, Berger, McTigue/Wiggins.
Speakers
avatar for Kaile Berlenbach

Kaile Berlenbach

Program Manager, Kupu Hou Academy @ Mid-Pacific Institute
avatar for Mark Hines

Mark Hines

Director, Kupu Hou Academy @ Mid-Pacific Institute
On the professional side, topics around school change and transformation, math, science, and STEM education on authentic work and modeling, and building communities of practice are sure fire ways to get me started talking! On the personal side I have a love of space science and astronomy... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 158

10:00am PDT

Beyond the One-and-Done: Adult Learning for Impact
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
This is for leaders who want to design adult learning experiences that are authentic and rigorous. Just as we strive to design student learning that is engaging and purposeful, we must approach adult learning with the same intentionality - ensuring it is active, relevant, and connected to real-world practice. Professional learning shouldn’t be a one-time event. It should be a strategic process that fosters growth. In this workshop, leaders will explore how to meet the diverse needs of adults in their organizations. Through the study of an exemplar, participants will design a cohesive arc of learning that drives long-term impact. Leaders will then zoom in to a single day of adult learning grounded in cognitive neuroscience. With planning time, peer collaboration, reflection, and practical tools, participants will leave with a plan for structuring adult learning experiences that move beyond the one-and-done model and fosters deep, sustained growth.

Note: This DL session also invites attendees from the National Summit on Improvement in Education to participate. Summit is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
avatar for Christina Aries

Christina Aries

Director of Adult Development, Citizens of the World Charter Schools
Christina is the director of adult development at Citizens of the World Schools. Previously, Christina served as a middle school leader at Citizens of the World Silver Lake where she focused on equitable outcomes for all students through the implementation of constructivist learning... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 150

10:00am PDT

Bridging the Gap: Partnering for Equitable Access to Futures in STEM
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Our workshop gives a window into an innovative tri-party collaboration between a school district, university and nonprofit designed to address gaps in access for kids to game-changing opportunities to learn, love and consider futures in STEM fields. The program, called Beyond Possible, is an afterschool community-based dual enrollment program for high school students designed to develop STEM and durable skills and position young people to enter in-demand careers leading to economic mobility.

In this session, participants will walk through the development journey of this partnership, examine data sets to pinpoint crucial issues of equity, engage in community asset mapping to identify strong values-driven collaborations and gain perspective from lessons learned by the partners as they built and adjusted the innovative partnership.  Through the process, participants will have the opportunity to engage with others, apply the thinking protocols to their own challenges and bring curiosity and planning focus to dilemmas of equity in their own contexts.

Speakers
avatar for Megan Reed

Megan Reed

Executive Director of Strategy and Operations, Office of Secondary Schools, Boston Public Schools
Megan Reed is the Executive Director of Strategy and Operations in the Office of College, Career and Life Readiness in Boston Public Schools.  In this capacity, she facilitates the teams’ execution of their strategic plan by fostering purposeful collaboration within and between... Read More →
avatar for Joanna Sanborn

Joanna Sanborn

Vice President, Postsecondary Pathways, The Possible Zone
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 114

10:00am PDT

Building Ecosystems of Mattering in Schools
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
What does it take for every student to feel they truly matter? In this interactive session, inspired by the Odyssey Leadership Academy model, participants will engage in hands-on activities, reflective dialogue, and collaborative design to explore how belonging drives deeper learning. Together we’ll practice strategies for centering student voice, amplifying agency, and embedding equity into everyday learning. Through playful community-building and guided reflection, participants will experience the practices that foster mattering—connection, visibility, and care. By the end, you’ll leave with practical tools to cultivate classrooms and schools where belonging is not a byproduct, but the foundation of flourishing.

This session is for teachers, school leaders, and district teams seeking concrete, equity-centered strategies to create joyful, inclusive ecosystems of learning where every student is seen, valued, and essential.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Scott Martin

Dr. Scott Martin

Executive Director, Odyssey Leadership Academy
Dr. Scott Martin is a hall of fame educator and internationally recognized thought leader with a PhD in school leadership and moral education who is passionate about seeing schools reimagined for human and communal flourishing. He is the Head of Odyssey Leadership Academy, an award... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 113

10:00am PDT

Building Student Centered Culture by Developing Teacher Leaders
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Moving beyond the rhetoric of "student-centered learning," this interactive workshop provides participants with concrete strategies and frameworks for building sustainable teacher leadership systems that genuinely transform classroom instruction. Through a combination of collaborative reflection, authentic teacher testimonials, School District of South Milwaukee Principal led practical planning sessions, and expert consultation from Brian Delgado of Blue Dot Education, attendees will leave with actionable steps to create learning environments where students consistently engage in problem-solving, collaboration, and communication while mastering both academic and social-emotional learning competencies.

Note: This DL session also invites attendees from the National Summit on Improvement in Education to participate. Summit is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
avatar for Brian Delgado

Brian Delgado

Community Based Learning Coach, Blue Dot Education; Center for Love & Justice
Social & Environmental Justice
Equity in Education
PBL
Learn by doing

avatar for Deidre Roemer

Deidre Roemer

Superintendent, School District of South Milwaukee
Deidre Roemer is the Superintendent for the School District of South Milwaukee.   Prior to that role she served as the Assistant Superintendent, Director of Leadership and Learning, Coordinator of Special Education, instructional coach, and  classroom teacher.  Her philosophy of... Read More →
avatar for Julie Weber

Julie Weber

Reading Specialist / Coach, School District of South Milwaukee
avatar for Lee Waechter

Lee Waechter

Principal, School District of South Milwaukee
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 148

10:00am PDT

Community Rap Sessions: Fostering Authentic Family & Community Partnership
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Learning environments are often designed without the voices of our most important stakeholders: the people we are meant to serve. Imagine instead working together with families to identify needs, co-create solutions, and celebrate growth. If you’re a school leader seeking to foster these genuine connections, join us to experience community rap sessions, a culturally responsive practice that creates space for every voice to be heard. This session begins engaging educators as learners in an immersive experience, then shifts to the structures and planning needed to implement community rap sessions in your own school. Together, we will examine how these practices can become a routine way to engage families and community members meaningfully. As a Deeper Learning by Doing® experience, leave with concrete tools and strategies, personal action steps, contacts for follow-up coaching, and greater confidence to authentically partner with families and communities.
Speakers
avatar for Clare McKenna

Clare McKenna

Associate Director of Learning, Henry Ford Learning Institute
avatar for Deborah Parizek

Deborah Parizek

Executive Director, Henry Ford Learning Institute
I am excited to return to Deeper Learning this year (my 19th year!) with a new workshop, Community Rap Sessions: Building Authentic Family and Community Partnerships. Engaging meaningfully with others who are invested in deeper learning opportunities for young people and educators... Read More →
avatar for Theo Kozerski

Theo Kozerski

Associate Director of Social Innovation, Henry Ford Learning Institute

Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 101

10:00am PDT

Design for Deeper Learning with the AI Kaleidoscope
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High GSE’s Kaleidoscope framework supports educators in designing transformative learning experiences. However, designing for and with learners takes a lot of time and creative energy. This workshop introduces collaborative protocols for community-oriented projects and strategies for using the AI-companion to High Tech High’s Kaleidoscope Framework as a resource for lifting some of the cognitive weight of design.
Speakers
avatar for Rosemarie Biocarles-Rydeen

Rosemarie Biocarles-Rydeen

Professional Learning Designer, High Tech High Graduate School of Education
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 107

10:00am PDT

Developing Authentic Audiences for PBL
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
This workshop explores the question “How can an authentic audience make projects more meaningful and impactful for students?” Participants will examine how connecting student work to real audiences can deepen engagement, improve language development, and strengthen the purpose behind project-based learning. In addition to authentic audience, participants will also consider authenticity in general, discussing real-world tasks, inquiry and disciplinary thinking. After collaboratively analyzing a sample project, participants will reflect on their own project plans and consider ways to more intentionally design for authentic purposes and audiences.
Speakers
avatar for Dolan Morgan

Dolan Morgan

Senior Director of Programs, Internationals Network
avatar for Sevana Sammis

Sevana Sammis

Manager of Professional Development, Internationals Network
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 146

10:00am PDT

How to Craft Movement Stories
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Build a values-first story kit students will join: a clear story, tagline, and simple visual. Works for classroom projects, school culture efforts, or community partnerships. Learn a step-by-step process you can teach tomorrow to help students and staff communicate for impact. Leave with a completed workbook kit plus an elementary/middle/high adaptation guide.

In this hands-on workshop, educators and school leaders experience the Movement Communications Design Framework (MCDF) using a printed workbook and a simple peer-feedback protocol. You will move through four short sprints—Values, Storyboard, Visual Motif, and Tagline—then assemble your mini communications kit.

Bring a real initiative (class project, student-led effort, school-wide priority, or community campaign), or choose a ready-to-use prompt if you are starting from scratch.
Speakers
avatar for Luke Piedad

Luke Piedad

Chief Operating Officer, Hundred Hands Learning Lab
Luke Piedad is the COO of Hundred Hands Learning Lab (H2L2), a San Diego–based creative design studio that partners with educators, organizers, and changemakers to build accessible, equity-centered systems. Luke brings a unique blend of technical expertise, organizational design... Read More →
avatar for Patrick Yurick

Patrick Yurick

Chief Executive Officer, Hundred Hands Learning Lab
Patrick Yurick is the Chief Executive Officer of Hundred Hands Learning Lab (H2L2), a San Diego-based studio that treats design as a way to build movements, not just materials. He leads teams that help educators, organizers, and nonprofits turn complex ideas into visual stories, brands... Read More →
avatar for Victor Flores

Victor Flores

Chief Technology Officer, Hundred Hands Learning Lab
Victor Flores is the Chief Technology Officer at H2L2, where he oversees technical strategy, architecture, and execution across client engagements. He focuses on building systems that are clear in purpose, adaptable in design, and aligned directly to business and mission-driven g... Read More →

Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 116

10:00am PDT

Leveling Up: How Play Builds SEL Muscles in Adolescents
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Are you ready to play? This session invites participants to reconsider the crucial role that play has in learning—not just in early childhood, but throughout adolescence. Together we will explore the research on adolescent learners, examine the impact of play on their engagement, creativity, and social-emotional development, and identify ways play can be meaningfully woven into middle school practice. Designed for teachers and school leaders, this session is both hands-on and practical, ensuring participants walk away empowered to play—with adolescents in mind!
Speakers
avatar for Aaryn Drapiza

Aaryn Drapiza

Lead Middle School Educator, The Village School
Hello everyone! I am a middle school guide (educator) at The Village School, a learner-centered micro school in Arlington, VA, where I work with learners in grades 6–8. I began my education journey with elementary learners in grades 1–5, and the insights I gained from those foundational... Read More →
avatar for Bridget Yoko

Bridget Yoko

Head of Counseling, The Village School
Learning and education are my passion! I have been in education since 2006 when I started as a volunteer in my local public school district. I have taught third grade, fifth grade, advanced academics, and currently, I am teaching (or as we call it at The Village School, guiding... Read More →

Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 144

10:00am PDT

Mission-Aligned Targets, Deeper Learning Outcomes
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
This workshop explores how to create clear, standards-based learning targets that strengthen project-based learning and reflect a school’s mission. As a new administrator in a PBL-focused school, I quickly recognized the need to strengthen how learning connects meaningfully to both academic standards and the school’s mission. By intentionally aligning learning targets with the mission, we move beyond a statement posted on the wall to a living guide for instruction, assessment, and student growth. Participants will see how this approach deepens the impact of project-based learning, strengthens coherence across school practices, and solidifies the school’s identity as a mission-driven, PBL-centered community. In addition, I will co-present with a consultant who has been working with me to make this change at our school.  She will share an external perspective on how this process supports instructional alignment, as well as the challenges and opportunities it presents for schools and educators.
Speakers
avatar for Laura Flaxman

Laura Flaxman

Author, Educator, Consultant, Asia Pacific International School


avatar for Anna Sea

Anna Sea

Director of Instructions, Asia Pacific International School
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 102

10:00am PDT

Ordinary Streets, Extraordinary Learning
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
What if your block was the best classroom you’ve never used? Drawn from the WPS Institute’s partnerships with urban schools in Massachusetts, this session introduces Neighborhood Walks as a powerful entry point into community-connected, place-based learning.

We’ll begin by engaging with student voices from Salem and Boston that highlight the learning, connection, and engagement that emerge when young people step outside the classroom. Participants will then experience a Neighborhood Walk near the conference site, guided by lenses such as Making a Living or Being in Community. Along the way, they will practice slow observation, photo documentation, and reflection protocols that scaffold student confidence for learning in the wider world. Together, we will identify the skills and mindsets students develop through these immersions and leave with tools to design neighborhood walks for their own schools and communities.

Note: This DL session also invites attendees from the National Summit on Improvement in Education to participate. Summit is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
AL

Anna Leonhard Lacerda

Managing Director, WPS Institute
avatar for Carrie Wihbey

Carrie Wihbey

Director of Strategy and Innovation, WPS Institute
I work on learning design and youth development, with a focus on project-based and career-connected learning. Lately, I’ve been exploring how AI can support deeper learning without losing the human side of teaching and learning. I love talking about what actually works with adolescents... Read More →
avatar for Kateshia McAfee

Kateshia McAfee

Youth Experience and Community Lead, WPS Institute
avatar for Laura Tavares

Laura Tavares

Executive Director, WPS Institute
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 106

10:00am PDT

Social Emotional Leadership Tools for Students
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
In this workshop, you won’t just learn about social and emotional leadership skills—you’ll practice how to teach them. You’ll take part in activities that model strategies for helping students develop self-leadership skills like self-awareness, accountability, resilience, and integrity. Through focused protocols and collaborative exercises, you’ll experience how to guide students in building the skills for leading with others, including collaboration, communication, active listening, respect, and consideration. You’ll also design and test out lesson activities that encourage students to expand their leadership impact by cultivating visionary thinking, motivation, encouragement, and confidence. By the end of the session, you’ll leave with practical tools, ready-to-use strategies, and hands-on experience to bring back to your classroom.
Speakers
avatar for Sandra Mings Lamar

Sandra Mings Lamar

Director, Adult Education, St. Johnsbury Academy
My work in Deeper Learning began as a Peace Corps volunteer, teaching in a small village in Botswana. After completing my MA on a Peace Corps Fellowship at San Francisco State University, I served as founding teacher and administrator at New Technology High School, the founding school... Read More →
TS

Terha Steen

Academic Dean, Lyndon Institute
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 117

10:00am PDT

Student Voice Data: Building Safer Schools
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
What do students tell us about creating schools with cultures of belonging and respect? How can we use their insights to reduce bullying? In this experiential workshop, we'll explore YouthTruth's Anti-Bullying Report, which reveals a consistent pattern across schools: when students feel a sense of belonging and see adults modeling respect across differences, bullying decreases significantly. Together, we'll examine data from over 200,000 students nationwide to understand how school culture directly impacts student safety. We'll utilize tested improvement science tools to transform these insights into actionable change within schools and systems. Participants will leave with a deep understanding of national anti-bullying trends, practical tools for culture change, and concrete strategies for engaging students as partners in creating safer, more inclusive learning environments where every student can thrive.

Note: This DL session also invites attendees from the National Summit on Improvement in Education to participate. Summit is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
avatar for Sarah Lundy

Sarah Lundy

Director of Partnerships, Youth Truth


Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 108

10:00am PDT

Student-Led Workshop: The Power of Play
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
The Power of Play for Pupils is a workshop where we discuss, play games, and learn about the importance of how the developing mind reacts to play in classrooms. Together, we will learn why play it’s important to adolescent development and why play is important in school. This workshop is intended for all teachers, school leaders, and empowered students who are open to sharing with a group.
Speakers
AK

Asher Kalisuch

K-12 Student, High Tech High
avatar for Cole D'Agostino

Cole D'Agostino

K-12 Student, High Tech High
Hi, I'm Cole! Nice to meet you! I'm a passionate sophomore who loves music, math, and anything else I love...which is a lot. I'd describe myself as fun, chaotic, and occasionally a little clumsy(usually unintentionally). I love talking about music, theater, math, and anything! Anything... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 117

10:00am PDT

Summit Crossover Session: Climb with Clarity: Using the Ladder of Inference to Transform Data into Collective Action
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Note: This is a Crossover Session that is featured at the National Summit on Improvement in Education. Attendees from both conferences can attend this session, so there will be a mix of participants from Deeper Learning and from Summit.

“Data is like a mirror—it reflects reality, but it’s up to us to interpret and act.” Schools and districts sometimes begin their improvement journey with limited data systems and strategies, or they may experience significant changes along the way. In this session, learn how New Tech Network developed effective practices for co-designing college access data measurement systems and coaching teams to use data for improvement. We will lift the voices of a case study school and leverage the ladder of influence to turn individual thinking into shared accountability, even with little or no data. Reflect on and share your experiences, and engage in a data analysis protocol that you can bring back to your network.

About the National Summit on Improvement in Education:
The National Summit on Improvement in Education is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
EA

Elda Armendariz

Continuous Improvement & College Access Coach, New Tech Network
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Elementary 113

10:00am PDT

Summit Crossover Session: Designing Expected Outcomes to Unlock Literacy Potential: EmPOWERing Schools to Accelerate Proficiency.
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Note: This is a Crossover Session that is featured at the National Summit on Improvement in Education. Attendees from both conferences can attend this session, so there will be a mix of participants from Deeper Learning and from Summit.

Join us on a powerful journey to discover how schools and communities can join forces to transform literacy outcomes for all students.
In this session, we will share how structured literacy training, strategic leadership support, and a gradual-release coaching model can dramatically improve student achievement. You will experience ways students can take ownership of their learning through goal setting based on diagnostic data.
Drawing on decades of research and recommendations from the Education Advisory Board (2019), we’ll address systemic barriers to reading success and provide practical, data-driven strategies for lasting improvement.

Participants will gain practical tools and strategies which they can apply immediately to their own improvement efforts. Specifically, we will introduce the Change Matrix process tool, which participants can use to identify and overcome barriers and to fuel their literacy continuous improvement journey.

About the National Summit on Improvement in Education:
The National Summit on Improvement in Education is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
AO

Alisha O'Connor

Educational Recovery Leader, Kentucky Department of Education
JB

Joyce Beasley

Speech Pathologist, Heartland Whole Brain Learning, LLC
MB

Manya Bouteneff

Executive Director, Better Outcomes Research
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High International 222

10:00am PDT

Summit Crossover Session: Family Engagement as a Strategic Tool for School Improvement
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Note: This is a Crossover Session that is featured at the National Summit on Improvement in Education. Attendees from both conferences can attend this session, so there will be a mix of participants from Deeper Learning and from Summit.

This dynamic session invites educators, leaders, and policymakers to explore how family engagement can be a powerful driver of school improvement. Participants will experience a blend of research-based insights, policy analysis, and real-world strategies that highlight the impact of meaningful family partnerships. Through interactive activities, including policy mapping, peer collaboration, and strategic planning, attendees will engage deeply with their own contexts and leave with actionable tools to strengthen family engagement in school improvement plans. Whether you're just beginning or refining your approach, this session offers practical guidance and inspiration for leveraging families as essential partners in student success.

About the National Summit on Improvement in Education:
The National Summit on Improvement in Education is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
RP

Rita Perez

Senior Education Equity Specialist, MAEC, Inc.
KR

Karmen Rouland

President, MAEC, Inc.
KB

Kailanya Brailey

Project Director, CEFAM, MAEC, Inc.
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Elementary 115

10:00am PDT

Summit Crossover Session: From Hidden to Found: Using Improvement Science to Drive Compelling Results for LTMLLs
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Note: This is a Crossover Session that is featured at the National Summit on Improvement in Education. Attendees from both conferences can attend this session, so there will be a mix of participants from Deeper Learning and from Summit. .

Discover how the Denver Public Schools' College Ready on Track (CRoT) team achieved “thrilling results” for Long-Term Multilingual Learners (LTMLL) in our network schools. We will uncover the story of “Diego,” an LTMLL whose journey reveals the powerful process of our hub team building a Networked Improvement Community that boosted outcomes and shifted academic trajectories. You will experience how we leveraged data to uncover inequity and fuel stakeholder engagement, and explore the PDSA notebook template our educators used to gauge and monitor the language development of their LTMLL students. Finally, we will share the emerging strategies for sustaining our momentum since our grant funding ended, and participants will apply these core learnings to their own context, ensuring they leave equipped to strengthen and accelerate meaningful, sustained improvement.

About the National Summit on Improvement in Education:
The National Summit on Improvement in Education is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
CO

Caitlin Osugi

Senior Team Lead, Math, Denver Public Schools
MS

Marc Stein

Executive Director, CoLaboratory, Improving Education
JM

Jeremy M Cooper

Program Manager, Improvement Networks, Denver Public Schools
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Elementary 221

10:00am PDT

Summit Crossover Session: From Words to Action: Design-Thinking Tools for Coherent Improvement
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Note: This is a Crossover Session that is featured at the National Summit on Improvement in Education. Attendees from both conferences can attend this session, so there will be a mix of participants from Deeper Learning and from Summit.

Tired of the same old visioning activities that produce lofty statements but little change? This workshop takes vision-setting beyond posters and slogans by introducing design-thinking approaches leaders can use to co-create vision with their teams and communities.

In this workshop, participants will engage with interactive visioning protocols that surface shared values, student experiences, and instructional priorities—and learn how to facilitate them back in their own districts. They’ll see how Harlem District 5 paired a literacy mandate with aligned adult learning to boost ELA outcomes and how Burlington School District co-created an instructional framework with educators, leaders, and students to build coherence rooted in local context.

Using design thinking tools, participants will experience models of evidence-based visioning processes they can replicate in their contexts to inspire their teams, garner alignment, and build for accelerated improvement.

About the National Summit on Improvement in Education:
The National Summit on Improvement in Education is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.

Speakers
JJ

Jessica Jenkins

Director, System Strategy, Leading Educators
TM

Tanisha Myles

Senior Director, System Strategy, Leading Educators
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High International 215

10:00am PDT

Summit Crossover Session: Youth Voice in Action: Turning Student Insights into Policy and Practice
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
Note: This is a Crossover Session that is featured at the National Summit on Improvement in Education. Attendees from both conferences can attend this session, so there will be a mix of participants from Deeper Learning and from Summit.

Schools and districts often collect climate and culture data but struggle to turn results into action. Too often, adults adjust practices without youth input, limiting impact and reinforcing inequities. This interactive workshop equips leaders with routines that move from listening to acting alongside students. Participants will practice two steps: (1) surfacing and reframing adult assumptions about student data, and (2) translating student perspectives into concrete recommendations for practice and policy. Together, these steps create a repeatable approach leaders can adapt in their own systems to bridge the gap between data, youth experience, and decision-making. Drawing on case studies of student–adult design teams addressing cellphone use, attendance, and belonging, participants will leave with tools and templates to embed youth partnership in their own work and ensure student voice drives equitable, sustainable improvement.

About the National Summit on Improvement in Education:
The National Summit on Improvement in Education is a gathering and rallying point for a vibrant and diverse community of improvers who are working to create educational systems where all young people learn and thrive. In 2026, we're bringing together the powerful Deeper Learning and Improvement communities through select crossover sessions, culminating in a joint closing keynote. You are invited to dive deeper and make new connections at DL26. Check out our Summit and DL26 comparison to learn more.
Speakers
JS

Julie Smith

Co-Founder, Community Design Partners
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Elementary 114

10:00am PDT

System-Level R&D: Conditions for Change
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
What if school systems were engines of continuous research and design, learning alongside students and educators to create equitable futures? In this hands-on session, Dr. Devin Vodicka and Dr. Katie Martin—co-founders and co-CEOs of Learner-Centered Collaborative—will invite participants to explore what an embedded R&D strategy looks like at scale. Through interactive dialogue, case studies of learner-centered innovations, and collaborative design activities, participants will identify conditions that allow change to spread: shared vision, leadership, and a culture grounded in learner voice. Together, we’ll surface bright spots, co-create strategies for scaling innovation, and leave with renewed joy and practical tools to drive sustainable, equitable change.
Speakers
avatar for Devin Vodicka

Devin Vodicka

Co-CEO, Learner-Centered Collaborative
Devin Vodicka is the CEO of Learner-Centered Collaborative and the author of Learner-Centered Leadership. He is also three-time California superintendent of the year (2016 AASA, 2015 ACSA, 2015 Pepperdine), Innovative Superintendent of the Year (2014 Classroom of the Future Foundation... Read More →
avatar for Katie Martin

Katie Martin

Co-CEO, Learner-Centered Collaborative
Dr. Katie Martin is the CIO of Learner-Centered Collaborative, the author of Learner-Centered Innovation, and Evolving Education, and an internationally recognized educator and coach for her approach to educator and student learning. She has worked directly with thousands of teachers... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 106

10:00am PDT

The Power of Ritual in Building Team Culture
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
This session is for school and district leaders who want to build culture with intention through well-designed rituals and experiences for staff and their teams. Building culture is a continuous process of sending signals that build safety, share vulnerability, and establish purpose. Drawing on the work of Daniel Coyle (author of The Culture Code), this session will explore multiple methods for growing a culture committed to bringing out the best in everyone. Participants will learn through storytelling and prototyping their own rituals or cultural moments.
Speakers
avatar for David Williams

David Williams

CEO/Superintendent, Village Tech Schools
I am the Superintendent/CEO of Village Tech Schools and one of the founding team members. The mission of VT is to forge students who are character-driven, challenge-ready and community-focused. Talk to me about education, books, hiking, travel, Labradoodles, or yourself. I enjoy meeting... Read More →
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech High 105

10:00am PDT

Tune In to Sound, Speak Out as Practice
Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
In this Workshop, educators become listeners, then learners, then makers. Drawing on a student-produced album as a primary text and hip hop’s own pedagogical traditions—sampling, the cipher, call and response, and storytelling as testimony—participants design lesson-ready structures for inviting their own students into authentic, safe, and culturally grounded conversations about mental health and wellbeing.  Hip hop has always been a technology for processing pain, building community, and speaking difficult truths out loud. This workshop asks: what if we let students show us how it’s done? No prior music production experience is needed. The only prerequisite is a willingness to listen.


* Tune In Speak Out is a student-produced album released through Another Level Records, the student-run label at the High School for Recording Arts (HSRA) in St. Paul, MN. Written, recorded, and produced by young people, the album documents the mental health realities facing their generation with candor, artistry, and care. It is not a curriculum about young people—it is a curriculum by them. 


Speakers
avatar for Tony Simmons

Tony Simmons

Co-Founding Director, 4 Learning

Wednesday April 1, 2026 10:00am - 11:30am PDT
High Tech Middle 109

11:45am PDT

Keynote & Closing
Wednesday April 1, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm PDT
Marvel and DC comics, East Coast and West Coast hip hop, Marmite and vegemite yeast extracts… All historic rivalries between titans who are, in truth, united by so much more than what divides them. 

Now you can add the National Summit on Improvement in Education and the Deeper Learning Conference to that list. Two iconic education conferences, both hosted by the High Tech High Graduate School of Education at the same time, both culminating in a closing keynote that will bring BOTH CONFERENCES TOGETHER.

Who, you ask, could command such an audience?

It could only be Ron Berger. 

Ron taught at Shutesbury Elementary School in Shutesbury, Massachusetts, for 28 years, from 1975 to 2003. Shutesbury has a population of fewer than 2000 people, which means that Ron has taught a significant portion of them. At that school, he developed an approach to learning in which students tackled serious, intellectually knotty challenges together and  created beautiful, professional-quality work over the course of multiple drafts. To give just one example, his elementary-school students conducted Shutesbury’s first-ever comprehensive water quality study. 

This work inspired Ron to write An Ethic of Excellence, a 156-page book that has not only inspired countless educators, it has inspired countless people to become teachers. It’s also one of the few education books that routinely reduces readers to tears (in a good way). 

Since then, as Chief Academic Officer of EL Education, Ron co-authored  A Culture of Quality, Leaders of Their Own Learning, Transformational Literacy, Management in the Active Classroom, Learning that Lasts, and We Are Crew: A Teamwork Approach to School Culture. He was a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he did his graduate work. He founded and directs the website Models of Excellence: The Center for High-Quality Student Work, which holds the world’s largest collection of beautiful K-12 student work. 

Ron is now EL Education’s Senior Advisor on Teaching and Learning. In his closing keynote, he’ll be talking about how Deeper Learning and Continuous Improvement inspire remarkable student work and thinking around the world.
Wednesday April 1, 2026 11:45am - 1:00pm PDT
High Tech High Graduate School of Education Forum

1:00pm PDT

Lunch and Marketplace
Wednesday April 1, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Grab and Go Boxed Lunches will be available starting at 11:30 in the HTe Gym to accommodate folks' travel schedules.

MENU
SANDWICH AND SALAD OPTIONS
Turkey & Swiss, Tomato, Basil Mayo On Sourdough   
Chicken Salad On Croissant  
Caprese, Tomato, Mozzarella, Pesto On Ciabatta (Vegetarian)   
Vegan Option: Cobb Salad Romaine, Corn, Chickpeas, Radish, Red Onions, Vegan Ranch Dressing      
Pasta Salad, Cherry Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Kalamata, Feta Cheese, Lemon Dressing (Vegetarian)   
Harvest Blend: Assorted Toppings, Assorted Dressings (Vegan)   
Caesar Salad, Cherry Tomatoes, Croutons, Side Parmesan (Vegan-Friendly)   
Cookies / Chips / Whole Fruit

MARKETPLACE
Check out the DL Marketplace, where you can purchase Deeper Learning merch from our student-run print shop, or purchase books by some of the Deeper Learning and National Summit on Improvement in Education presenters! In addition to a "self-serve" bookstore, Myers Education Press, the leading publisher of Continuous Improvement books, digital content, and support products for a variety of improvement communities, will also be at the Marketplace!
Wednesday April 1, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
High Tech Elementary Gym
 

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