Below is the daily schedule for NIET's 2021 Conference:

• 9:00-9:45 a.m. CT: Opening Session
• 9:45-11:15 a.m. CT: Morning Workshop Session
• 1:15-2:45 p.m. CT: Afternoon Workshop Session

During the workshop sessions, educators participated in sessions based on the strands they choose. Each strand was three parts, with one session being offered each day of the conference. Educators who registered for the full conference received access to all recordings. Educators who registered for the partial conference received access to the recordings of the strand they chose.

Strand 1: Maximizing Student Ownership of Learning – Whether In-Person or Virtual

This strand took attendees through three sessions focused on maximizing in-person and virtual instruction to ensure each and every student is engaged and learning. Sessions enhanced principal, teacher leader, and teacher understanding of the NIET Teaching Standards and usage of key strategies that shift learning and doing from the teacher to the students.

• Session 1: Maximizing Student Engagement in the Virtual Environment

• Session 2: Exemplary Teaching and Learning        

• Session 3: Thinking and Problem-Solving: Putting the Student in the Driver's Seat

Strand 2: Planning, Teaching, and Assessing with the Learner in Mind

The pandemic has exacerbated learning loss and gaps in student understanding that won't be solved in one year. This strand moved leaders and teachers toward solutions that included practical tools, resources, and attention to structures that can help students to accelerate their learning. Sessions focused on using data, standards, and curriculum to identify unfinished learning and make decisions about group and individual student needs. Sessions also provided ideas for using collaborative structures and student and family communication to drive student growth.

• Session 1: Communicating and Recovering Unfinished Learning

• Session 2: Using Instructional Leadership Team, Clusters, and PLCs to Address Student Learning Gaps        

• Session 3: Unpacking the Environment Domain as a Key Lever for Creating Student Engagement and Fostering Inclusive Classrooms

Strand 3: Coaching as the Game-Changer

Attendees learned how coaching can be effectively used to drive continuous improvement, reflection, and application of learning. This strand helped principals and teacher leaders improve their skills in pre- and post-conferencing, learning walks, and strength-based coaching. Sessions provided specific strategies to use when coaching – both in-person and virtually – and how to effectively integrate coaching into all aspects of observation and feedback opportunities. 

• Session 1: Pre- and Post-Conferencing Like a Champ

• Session 2: Making Every Play Matter: Using Learning Walks to Improve Feedback 

• Session 3: Using Strengths-Based Coaching to Build a Cohesive Team

Strand 4: Connecting the Dots between Curriculum and Instruction

The evidence is clear: High-quality instruction and curriculum must go hand in hand to maximize student learning. This strand helped district, school, and teacher leaders make stronger connections between the two through the structures and processes they have in place and attention to support at different stages of curriculum implementation. Sessions went deeper into lessons learned as detailed in NIET's Curriculum Implementation paper along with actions district, school, and teacher leaders can take now that translate to in-person and virtual settings.  

• Session 1: Connecting to What to Teach and How to Teach It (Lessons Learned)

• Session 2: Using Learning Walks and Post-Conferencing to Anchor Coaching and Feedback in the Curriculum and Instruction    

• Session 3: Stages of Curriculum Implementation and How to Support at Every Stage

Strand 5: The Leader as the Lead Learner

This strand focused on the work of leaders as defined by NIET's Principal Standards Rubric and how to support leaders in growing into these standards.

• Session 1: The Language of Leading: Exploring the Principal Standards Rubric

• Session 2: Leading ILT So Everyone Grows    

• Session 3: Coaching School Leaders (for Supervisors)

Strand 6: Raising the Bar for Teacher Preparation

Attendees explored evidence-based practices, tools, and resources that ensure teacher preparation is the high-quality foundation we desire for all aspiring teachers. Sessions explored NIET PREP, the new Aspiring Teacher Rubric, and ways to strengthen teacher preparation in courses, clinical placements, and induction.

• Session 1: Using NIET PREP's Tools and Resources

• Session 2: Digging into the Aspiring Teacher Rubric    

• Session 3: Course Mapping for Success

For more information, visit NIET's external conference website. 

For additional questions, email nietconference@niet.org.