Loading…

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!

Subject: School Transformation/Systems Change clear filter
Monday, March 30
 

4:30pm PDT

A Way to Shift from Surviving to Thriving
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
In this session geared toward school leaders and teachers, you will experience an innovative peer-coaching practice that has proven to connect educators, address burnout, and turbo-charge communities in schools across the U.S.

In this 90-minute session, educators will experience Forum — a peer-to-peer coaching practice that supports well-being, deepens trust, and empowers educators to proactively address their own needs. Come learn how this coaching practice has transformed an East Coast school’s community, and leave with practical resources to bring back to your own staff.
Speakers
avatar for DDS Dobson-Smith

DDS Dobson-Smith

Associate Head of School: Academics, Ridgefield Academy
avatar for Jeff Snipes

Jeff Snipes

Founder, Millennium School
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
High Tech Middle 116

4:30pm PDT

Activating the Third Teacher to Enhance Learning
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
Physical, temporal, and technological contexts of schooling constitute the "third teacher" in education. Too often, these environments work against our learning goals. Authentic learning doesn’t respect the constraints of classroom walls. Community learning experiences get stymied by bureaucracy. Collaboration collides with regimented teacher and student schedules. Efforts to design active learning within traditional school structures face constraints of time, space, and technology. In this interactive workshop for teachers and school leaders, participants will explore creative strategies to break down these barriers. Drawing on XQ Design Principles and inspired by student testimonials and artifacts of learning, we engage in an intensive design process to uncover opportunities to adapt even the most rigid learning environment. Participants will leave with a plan to create space for innovation in any school.
Speakers
avatar for Ben Hoff

Ben Hoff

Science Teacher, Grand Rapids Public Schools
avatar for Christopher Hanks

Christopher Hanks

POSA- Innovation Design, Grand Rapids Public Schools
avatar for Edward Montalvo

Edward Montalvo

Director of Field Learning, XQ Institute
Edward Montalvo is the Director of the Educator Network at the XQ Institute, overseeing XQ’s Community of Practice and educator engagement strategy. He writes about education and its intersection with AI and authors the XQ Xtra newsletter. He is based in Washington, DC.
TH

Tamika Henry

Principal, Grand Rapids Public Schools
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
High Tech Middle 109

4:30pm PDT

Community Rap Sessions: Fostering Authentic Family & Community Partnership
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm 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

Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
High Tech Middle 101

4:30pm PDT

Ground Control to Major Tom: Modern Leadership
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
In today’s world, what you plan for now may be upended by new forces tomorrow. Educational policies shift quickly, AI is transforming how learning happens, and geopolitical and environmental pressures are adding new layers of complexity. Your school community looks to you to lead through uncertainty with clarity and confidence.
In this interactive workshop, you will have dedicated time, tools, and opportunities for peer collaboration to help you navigate competing challenges with agility and purpose. Through case studies, real-time scenarios, and focused problem-solving conversations, you’ll explore practical frameworks for making high-stakes decisions, communicating clearly with your community, and keeping your school aligned with its mission—even when the road ahead is uncertain.
This highly relevant, active session designed to help future-ready leaders build resilient, responsive, and mission-driven schools in an era of uncertainty.

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 Leigh Fitzgerald

Leigh Fitzgerald

Chief Education Officer, Learnlife
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
High Tech High 148

4:30pm PDT

Human Schools for Inhuman Times
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
What does it mean to meet the human needs of students and educators? What choices can we make—as leaders, teachers, and people—to create deeper learning environments that meet this moment in history with respect for the humanity and intellect of our communities? In 2024, Libby Woodfin and Jal Mehta embarked on a research project to discover, describe, and share the qualities of human schools. Through stories and examples from schools across the U.S. involved in this research, participants will explore the impact that more (or less) human choices have on the experiences of students and adults in schools. Participants will leave with an understanding of the 10 Principles of Human Schools and practical steps they can take to bring these principles to life in their own settings. Note: Jal Mehta will attend and contribute to the session but is not a presenter.
Speakers
avatar for Libby Woodfin

Libby Woodfin

Director of Knowledge Exchange, Deeper Learning Institute
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
High Tech High 158

4:30pm PDT

Mission-Aligned Targets, Deeper Learning Outcomes
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm 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.

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 Laura Flaxman

Laura Flaxman

Author, Educator, Consultant, Asia Pacific International School


avatar for Anna Sea

Anna Sea

Director of Instructions, Asia Pacific International School
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
High Tech Middle 102

4:30pm PDT

System-Level R&D: Conditions for Change
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm 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.

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 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 →
Monday March 30, 2026 4:30pm - 6:00pm PDT
High Tech High 106
 
Tuesday, March 31
 

9:30am PDT

A Box Sent Back from the Future
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
Step into the year 2051. In this immersive Deep Dive, you’ll open a “Box from the Future” filled with strange ephemera—protest flyers, redacted curricula, AI classroom reviews—and work with peers to collaboratively imagine the story of how education might evolve over time. Drawing from the discipline of experience design, you will experience this participatory world- building process, but also design your own speculative artifacts and learning experiences. You’ll practice using world-building as a tool for deeper learning across disciplines, helping students critically analyze systems, see agency in the present, and connect learning to real-world issues. You’ll leave with adaptable strategies, artifact templates, and a prototype of your own, all ready to use with students in any subject.

This session is for teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders who want a highly engaging, equity-focused practice rooted in the principles of experience design.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)  
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)  
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)  
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing  
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)  
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava
Speakers
avatar for Marc Chun

Marc Chun

Designer, Independent
Marc Chun, PhD, brings to his design work past experiences as an educator, researcher, facilitator, and playwright. He founded the Positive Deviance Project at the Stanford University d.school.  Based on his academic training in the sociology of knowledge, he explores how our understandings... Read More →
avatar for Tara Odorizzi

Tara Odorizzi

Independent Designer, Mixpanel


Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech Middle 101

9:30am PDT

Are Your Structures Sabotaging Your Mission?
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
What inherited structures does your school have in place? Are they serving the vision of your school or district?  Are your various structures competing with one another? “Form should follow function” is a valuable adage that can be taken one step further so that your forms are transformed to shape their functions in effective and positive ways. In this Deep Dive, you’ll assess your current structures to determine the ones that are serving you and the ones that you are serving. You’ll learn from examples of how schools and districts all over the world changed structures including master schedules, assessments, grading, lesson planning templates, staff meetings, and more, to transform their schools. You will leave with a plan for a structural change that you can implement at your own site.

Lunch is included in the deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava
Speakers
AP

Aziza Purser

student, Asia Pacific International School
avatar for Laura Flaxman

Laura Flaxman

Author, Educator, Consultant, Asia Pacific International School



Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech Middle 102

9:30am PDT

Leading PBL Through Workforce Transformation
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
School and district leaders today are navigating constant change—staff turnover, shifting roles, and a multigenerational workforce. Sustaining high-quality Project Based Learning requires systems that support the work regardless of who comes and goes.  This session is for leaders who want to build durable PBL systems that create stability in changing environments. Participants will explore strategies for building shared vision, designing effective onboarding and just-in-time supports, and leveraging the strengths of the adults in their system. Participants will leave with concrete action steps and greater confidence to lead PBL through change.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava


Speakers
avatar for James Campbell

James Campbell

Director of District & School Leadership, PBLWorks

TT

Taya Tselolikhina

Sr. Director of District Sales & Partnerships, PBLWorks

TT

Taya Tselolikhina

Director of District & School Leadership, PBLWorks

Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech Middle 117

9:30am PDT

Let's Build a Space Habitat! A PBL & Design Thinking Slice
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
Experience Deeper Learning through the power of Project Based Learning & Design Thinking as we collaborate in groups to design & build models of sustainable habitats for living on another planet. This will be a fun and creative session aimed at teachers & administrators interested in experiencing best practices for designing & managing projects in the classroom and understanding how PBL and Design Thinking can create awesome, meaningful learning experiences in any context! This session has appeared at Deeper Learning before and is based on a project run by the facilitator multiple times at High Tech High with 11th graders. Our agenda includes a condensed version of the project (a "slice") as well as opportunities to take intentional pauses in order to step back and use our lens as educators to note and discuss the pedagogical practices undergirding the project while experiencing them in action.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava
Speakers
avatar for Russell Walker

Russell Walker

Teacher, San Diego Unified School District
I am a PBL teacher, trainer, and overall enthusiast. I’ve co-designed projects with students centered on photography, engineering, poetry, AI, designing habitats for other planets, publishing our own comic books, “50 Shades of Decay”, and so much more! I also provide PD for... Read More →
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech High 150

9:30am PDT

Let's Design Tomorrow’s Schools: AI, Equity, and Collaboration
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
This full-day session invites educators and school leaders to collaboratively reimagine what equitable and future-ready schools can be in an age shaped by AI. Through dialogue and collaboration, we will disuss the possibilities and tensions of AI in education. We will also design individual action plans to bring back to your schools to make equitable use of AI in your schools. This session is ideal for teacher leaders, instructional coaches, and school or district leaders who are thinking strategically about how to engage teams and communities in shaping responsible and human-centered uses of AI.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava



Speakers
AC

Alejandro Contreras

Head of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Colegio Los Nogales
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech Middle 106

9:30am PDT

Negotiation for Education Leaders
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
Negotiation is the process through which people come together to make sense of problems and build sustainable solutions. In that sense, we as educators are negotiating all day, every day. We are negotiating with students, colleagues, caregivers, community members, and political leaders. Some of our negotiations are formal - such as a contract negotiation. But most of our negotiations are informal, such as when we deliberate on how to address a pressing challenge or resolve a conflict within our school or community. In this session, we will explore foundational negotiation principles and strategies through experiential learning, giving us the opportunity to experience the Deeper Learning competencies firsthand. In doing so, we’ll pursue two main goals: 1) learn more about the theory and practice of negotiation, and 2) explore how to design and facilitate high-impact experiential learning experiences that are rich in the Deeper Learning competencies.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava
Speakers
avatar for Zachary Herrmann

Zachary Herrmann

Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education
Dr. Zachary Herrmann designs, leads, and researches interdisciplinary teams committed to tackling some of the world’s toughest challenges, including climate change, complex negotiations, and collaborative problem-solving across disciplinary, political, and geographical boundaries... Read More →
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech High 158

9:30am PDT

Rooted in Vision: Leading to Accelerate Emergence and Coherence
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
How can we build momentum for change in a way that enables shared direction but doesn’t impose standardization? How can we get the boats rowing in the same direction but still foster innovation? In this session we will explore the complimentary ideas of coherence and emergence and how together they can accelerate transformation. Building coherence requires relentless focus and constant vigilance. Participants will first examine their vision, ensuring it is specific, clear and identify where elements of your vision already exist within your system. Then leaders will play The Coherence Game; an activity we have created to help system leaders see where in their own system they have strong coherence and where coherence needs to be built. Lastly, participants will connect their coherence work with the critical strategies that enable emergence to happen in their organization.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava
Speakers
avatar for Alisa Berger

Alisa Berger

ED, Deeper Learning Institute - Harvard Graduate School of Education
Alisa has over 25 years of experience as an educator, principal, and school leadership coach. She works with schools, districts and networks to support deeper and more engaging instruction for all students.Alisa is Executive Director of the Deeper Learning Dozen, a project out of... Read More →
avatar for Jal Mehta

Jal Mehta

Professor of Education, Faculty Co-Chair, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Jal Mehta is a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. His research explores the role of different forms of knowledge in tackling major social and political problems, particularly problems of human improvement. He has also written extensively on what it would take... Read More →
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech Middle 114

9:30am PDT

Students Are the Curriculum and the Community Is the School
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
This Deep Dives experience includes visiting a local student at their internship to witness learning in action, while mentors reflect on the power of guidance and community experts share how they strengthen neighborhoods. Learners will engage directly with young people as they pursue passions, build mentor relationships, and take on impactful work. Participants will also explore a local organization doing meaningful community work. These authentic encounters highlight what’s possible when education extends beyond classroom walls. Afterward, participants engage in hands-on workshops to explore tools and strategies for building thriving real-world learning programs. They will leave not only inspired but also equipped with a practical plan to design infrastructure, systems, and supports that bring this vision to life in their own contexts.

Lunch is included in each deep dive.
LUNCH MENU
Greek Salad (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Cannelini Bean & Pasta Salad (Vegan)
Lemon Basmati Rice (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Mediterranean Spiced Chicken (Gluten-Free)
Tahini Dressing
Falafel (Vegan, Gluten-Free)
Roasted Vegetables   Lemon Bars & Baklava
Speakers
avatar for Anthonette Peña

Anthonette Peña

Director, B-Unbound, Big Picture Learning
Anthonette is currently the Director of B-Unbound, Big Picture Learning’s initiative to establish real world learning programs in communities. She is a National Board Certified Teacher in Early Adolescence Science and an Albert Einstein Distinguished Educator Fellow. Her experiences... Read More →
DS

Dr. Sonn Sam

National Director of Partnerships, Big Picture Learning
Tuesday March 31, 2026 9:30am - 2:45pm PDT
High Tech High 164
 
Wednesday, April 1
 

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 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

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

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
 

Share Modal

Share this link via

Or copy link

Filter sessions
Apply filters to sessions.