Jon Fortt, Co-Anchor, Journalist, CNBC; Dr. Miguel Cardona, U.S. Secretary of Education; and U.S. Secretary of Labor, Marty Walsh
Summer learning opportunities are more important than ever. As evidenced, the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA) hosted its National Conference: Summer Changes Everything, October 24-26, in Washington, DC, where approximately 1,000 participants gathered for a rich learning experience. I participated in support of the State Summer Learning Network collaborative engaged in continuing efforts to develop and execute long-term strategies to transform how states leverage summer programing to improve learning for all students academically, socially, and emotionally.
The conference participants included a litany of dynamic speakers to include authors, national leaders, youth employment organizers, housing advocates, summer learning practitioners, parks and recreation administrators, librarians, researchers and evaluators, and educators from all levels. The common thread for everyone in attendance was to promote equity, create opportunity, and build community.
Kudos to the NSLA conference organizers for their intentional and recurring powerful interactions that included youth presenters/co-presenters who were able to share their summer learning experiences firsthand in authentic ways throughout the convening. This gave rise to student voice, strengthened skills and confidence, and ultimately helped to put a face on the importance of our collective work which can sometimes seem nebulous.
In support of the Oklahoma State Department of Education, I was in Austin, TX at the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Annual Policy Forum, November 2-4. The mission of CCSSO aspires through leadership, advocacy, and services, to assist chief state school officers and their organizations in achieving the vision of an American education system to enable all children to succeed in school, work, and life. The convening focused on how states are implementing innovative practices using their federal relief funds, evaluating impact and outcomes, and sustaining critical partnerships in key policy areas to ensure every student graduates from high school ready for college, career, and success in life.
At the CCSSO convening, we heard from national experts and state chiefs regarding successful initiatives and programs about summer learning, high-quality instructional materials and aligned professional learning, high dosage tutoring, and the impact of State ESSER investments among others. One exciting resource shared was the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction’s Promising Practices Clearinghouse where the department researches, compiles, disseminates, and promotes practices for educators and education advocates in several strands: Learning Recovery, District and School Transformation, Reforming Accountability and Testing, Strengthening Literacy, Student Support Services, and Human Capital. Promising Practices Clearinghouse | NC DPI
Another highlight was hearing from Kurt Russell, the 2022 National Teacher of the Year who is a 25-year veteran history teacher from Oberlin High School in Oberlin, OH, where he was also born and raised. His inspiring remarks resonated on so many levels as he spoke about the power of personal connections with his students, the importance of hope through being present, continuously learning from others, and through struggle. His honest reflection of losing and regaining hope during the pandemic and the difficulty of virtual teaching and learning challenges added to his creditability. His students describe him as motivating, caring, and an “amazing role model” – well done Mr. Russell and congratulations.
“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence” – Abigail Adams.