Agenda - NewSchools Venture Fund

>> OUR AGENDA

Wednesday, May 14

Schedule subject to change. Please check back regularly for updates. All times are in Pacific Time.

Time	Activity	Description
6:00 PM-8:00 PM	Opening Reception
7:00 PM-9:00 PM	Leadership Journeys with Big Picture Learning	A DJ-fueled, multi-media celebration where proximate leaders in education drop their guard, turn up the honesty, and share the raw stories behind their leadership. Set to a live DJ soundtrack, this experience is about beats, wisdom, and real talk—because leadership isn’t just about the wins, it’s about the journey.

THURSDAY, May 15

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Time	Activity	Description
7:30 AM-9:00 AM	Breakfast
9:00 AM-9:05 AM	Welcome
9:05 AM-9:20 AM	Special Performance
9:20 AM-9:35 AM	CEO Address	Frances Messano, CEO, NewSchools Venture Fund
9:35 AM-10:30 AM	Opening Plenary	Leading with Courage in Uncertain Times What does it mean to lead with courage when the stakes are high and the path forward is anything but clear? Hear from leaders who are navigating deep tensions and making hard choices — all while staying rooted in their values and accountable to the communities they serve. Together, they confront a question many are quietly asking: Who would choose to lead right now? – and make the case for why it’s more important than ever that they do.
10:30 AM-10:45 AM	Break
10:45 AM-11:45 AM	Breakout Sessions: Round 1
11:45 AM-1:00 PM	Lunch + Book Talks
1:00 PM-2:00 PM	Breakout Sessions: Round 2
2:00 PM-2:15 PM	Break
2:15 PM-3:15 PM	Breakout Sessions: Round 3
3:15 PM-3:30 PM	Break
3:30 PM-3:40 PM	Activate Talks
3:40 PM-4:30 PM	Afternoon Plenary	Can States Save Public Education? With growing uncertainty in Washington, state leaders can’t afford to wait. The future of public education — and trust in our institutions — may depend on what they do next. In this conversation, federal and state leaders explore how to lead with courage, stay accountable to communities, and focus on what works for students who are furthest from opportunity.
4:30 PM-4:35 PM	Final Remarks
4:35PM-5:20 PM	Performance
5:30 PM-7:30 PM	Closing Reception

BREAKOUT SESSIONS

Please check back regularly for updates.

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Title	Description	Speakers
The Opportunity Makers: Lessons from Trajectory-Changing Schools	How do schools turbocharge the futures of students who are academically behind, even with shrinking budgets, shifting policies, and the pressure of falling test scores? This conversation reveals the powerful practices of trajectory-changing schools that help students catch up and make more than a year’s worth of progress each year. Learn how these schools lay a strong academic foundation and navigate tough conditions to prepare students for success in school and in life.	Victoria Barajas, Principal, Tucson Unified Schools Renee Nicothodes, Chief Academic Officer, JeffCo Public Schools Alexa Sorden, Founding Principal, Leaders of Excellence, Advocacy, and Discovery Kristin Walker Burt, Partner, TNTP Mia Howard, Managing Partner, NewSchools
AI is Here. How Do We Get Schools Ready?	As GenAI reshapes industries, its potential in education remains largely untapped, with few school systems fully embracing its capabilities. What does it take to overcome barriers to adoption in K-12 schools? In this session, AI experts and education leaders share what's happening on the ground and what's needed for schools to confidently integrate AI to enhance teaching, learning, and operations.	Bree Dusseault, Principal and Managing Director, Center on Reinventing Public Education Oliver Sicat, CEO, Ednovate Angel Rivera, Superintendent, Mesquite Independent School District Aaron Cuny, Founder and CEO, Alliance of Equity for ALL
Inside Louisiana’s Winning Strategy for Students with Disabilities	Academic outcomes for students with disabilities have been declining for years, but Louisiana is turning that around. What’s behind the state’s recent gains on NAEP? Hear directly from the leaders who made it happen, learn what they did differently, and leave knowing how to better support students with learning differences, while improving outcomes for all students.	Kristi-Jo Preston, Managing Director, Watershed Meredith Jordan, Executive Director of Diverse Learners, Louisiana Department of Education Dana Talley, former Chief Academic Officer, Lincoln Parish School District, now Managing Director, Watershed Advisors
Opening New Public Schools: Is This Still the Right Move?	With student enrollment declining in many areas, opening new schools might seem counterintuitive. But demand for high-quality education hasn’t disappeared — if anything, it’s growing. So how do we strike the right balance? This conversation explores the tension between new school creation and school closure, challenges assumptions about where new schools are needed, and unpacks how education leaders can ensure more students gain access to excellent schools, even in a time of contraction.	Robbyn Wahby, Executive Director, Missouri Charter Public School Commission Lydia Hoffman, CEO, Colorado Schools Fund
Gen Z Educators Speak: What Schools Must Do Differently	Gen Z educators are entering the workforce with new expectations about what makes teaching a sustainable and rewarding profession. Are schools ready to adapt? Hear fresh insights from a new survey of Gen Z educators and firsthand accounts of what must change to attract, retain, and empower the next generation of educators.	Evan Stone, CEO, Educators for Excellence Jada Watson, Teacher, Chicago Public Schools Marsela Rashidy, Teacher, New Haven Public Schools
Reading Scores Are Falling. These Solutions Deliver.	Students are falling further behind in reading, but research-driven solutions are bucking the trend. Come hear from leaders advancing evidence-based innovations that are helping students build strong foundational skills and become confident readers. We’ll explore how these teams are achieving breakthrough results and scaling what works.	Rebecca Kockler, Founder and CEO, Magpie Learning Michelle Brown, Founder and CEO, CommonLit Rahul Kalita, Co-Founder, Tutored by Teachers Cameron White, Senior Partner, NewSchools
The First Year Playbook: What Successful Charter Schools Get Right	A school’s first year can make or break its future. So what separates those that thrive from those that struggle? In this session, charter school leaders share hard-earned lessons from an extraordinary first year — what worked, what they’d do differently, and the strategies that set them on the path to success.	Dermoth Mattison, Founder, South Shore Charter School Natalie Smith, Founder, Global Citizens
A Better Way to Teach Math. No More Guesswork.	The science of reading has sparked widespread alignment on effective policies and teaching strategies. But when it comes to math, there’s less consensus on how to teach essential skills. What if we applied the same research-driven, evidence-based approach that has reshaped literacy to math? A panel of math experts share their views on what’s working, what’s not, and how we can finally equip students with the math skills they need to succeed.	Arun Ramanathan, CEO, PowerMyLearning Latrenda Knighten, President, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Strategic Collaboration: When Mergers Make Sense	Mergers and acquisitions in education nonprofits and schools are often seen as a sign of struggle — but what if, in the right situations, they were recognized as bold strategies for greater impact? We will explore how strategic collaboration can strengthen missions, build enduring organizations, and support lasting transformation.	Rebecca Gifford Goldberg, Managing Partner, Bellwether Dominique Lee, CEO, BRICK Network Lacey Robinson, President and CEO, UnboundED Nicola Fleischer James, Co-Founder and Board Member, edwell

>> LOGISTICS

Registration Support

Email: info@newschoolssummit.org
Local: 415-446-7736
Toll-Free: 800-719-3416
Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM PDT

Hotel Information

You can book your hotel room at the Hilton San Francisco at the discounted group rate of $239 per night when you register. Space is limited and reservations are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Photography Policy

By registering for NewSchools Summit please be aware that NewSchools Venture Fund (NewSchools) intends to photograph, audio record, and/or visually record some of the event and other activities. NewSchools may make use of such photographs and recording for purposes including creating, distributing, and transmitting copies of them, and/or promotional or advertising uses, without restriction of media.

If you do not wish to be photographed, audio recorded, and/or audio visually recorded, please feel free to excuse yourself from any potential photographs and recordings during the event.