Actionable Measures of Rigor, Relevance, and Relationships
Thursday, Feb. 14 | 10:15 AM | Room 511B
2019 AASA National Conference on Education
February 14th – 16th | Los Angeles, CA
Dr. Regina Speaker Palubinsky – Superintendent, Great Valley SD
Dr. Jennifer Bethman – Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Schools, Bethel SD 403
Dr. Karen Hickman – Deputy Superintendent, Pasadena ISD
Dr. Steven Fleming – Principal, Kirk Lewis Career and Technical HS, Pasadena ISD
Jimmy Simpson, Jr. – Partnerships, YouthTruth
About the session:
Studies have shown again and again that rigor, relevance, and relationships are key levers for increasing achievement and closing the gap for vulnerable students. While most districts have a school climate survey, often that feedback is collected and put on a shelf. Transformative education leaders lead through listening, and actually use feedback to inform policy and guide practice. You’ll hear from four leaders who have incorporated student perception data to increase academic rigor, enhance relevance, and build strong relationships between students and teachers. In this interactive session, leaders from Pennsylvania, Texas, and Washington will share actionable next steps for using student survey data to prioritize equity and serve every learner. You will hear about their experience integrating student voice, and share your own perspectives, challenges, and victories. Together we will compile best practices for gathering and using student feedback to drive student achievement.
About the speakers
Dr. Regina Speaker Palubinsky
Regina Palubinsky serves as the Superintendent of Schools in the Great Valley School District in Pennsylvania. Palubinsky has served as the assistant superintendent for Phoenixville Area School District since 2010. Prior to joining Chester County’s public school system, she worked at the state level as the special assistant to the Pennsylvania Secretary of Education. She began her career as a high school science teacher in Shenandoah Valley School District in 1986, and has expansive classroom experience at various grade levels in both regular and special education.
Dr. Jennifer Bethman
Karen Bethman serves as the Assistant Superintendent of Secondary Schools at Bethel School District in Washington State. She began her tenure with Bethel School District as the principal of Bethel Junior High School from 2001 to 2004, thereafter serving as the principal of Graham-Kapowsin High School from 2004 until 2011. She has been in her current roll since 2011.
Dr. Karen Hickman
Karen Hickman serves as Deputy Superintendent for the Pasadena Independent School District in Pasadena, Texas.
Dr. Steven Fleming
Steven Fleming serves as the principal of Career and Technical High School in Pasadena Independent School District.
Jimmy Simpson, Jr.
Jimmy Simpson, Jr.’s passion for education, advocacy and public speaking has allowed him to reach thousands of people all across the country. He has presented on topics ranging from the restoration of marshes in southern Iraq to the implementation of the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS). Before joining YouthTruth, Jimmy brought environmental education to San Francisco’s public schools as an outdoor science teacher where he taught Kindergarten through 5th grade and helped create an NGSS-aligned science curriculum. After teaching, Jimmy provided coaching and professional development to science teachers throughout the Bay Area. He has also served as an AmeriCorps and FEMA team manager to provide disaster relief services in New York, Maryland, and Missouri. Jimmy is a graduate of the University of Nebraska at Lincoln with a BA in Environmental Studies and Anthropology. As a Partnerships Lead, Jimmy’s teaching, curriculum development, and facilitation skills are put to good use as he supports school and district leadership in using student and family feedback data to create change.