2026 Summer Symposium: Full Schedule

10:00am CDT

Leading With, Not For: Elevating Student Voice to Strengthen School Communities

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Strong school communities are built when students are not only supported, but genuinely engaged as contributors to their learning environments. This session invites educators to explore what it means to lead with students rather than for them by intentionally elevating student voice, agency, and shared ownership.

Through reflection, discussion, and practical examples, participants will examine how everyday practices can strengthen relationships, deepen engagement, and foster a sense of belonging. Educators will leave with actionable strategies to create classroom and school environments where connection, collaboration, and collective responsibility drive meaningful learning.

Speakers

Kamrin Muhammad

Founder & Chief Empowerment Officer, By Any Dreams Necessary LLC

Kamrin Muhammad is a non-traditional educator, leadership strategist, and founder of By Any Dreams Necessary LLC, a mission-driven consulting firm that partners with schools and community organizations to strengthen youth–adult relationships, belonging, and leadership development... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Ziock Ballroom A

Breakout 1

11:00am CDT

The Power of Connection: Mapping Every Student’s Path to Belonging

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Ziock Ballroom A

At the heart of "The Power of Us" is the profound truth that no student should ever feel invisible; research consistently shows that a single positive connection with a trusted adult can be the turning point for a student’s success. This session explores Relationship Mapping, a strategic process designed to ensure every learner is connected to a staff member, beginning with a clear definition of the framework and its role in fostering equity. We will take a "look under the hood" at our school’s specific implementation journey—from the logistics of staff mapping sessions to the digital tools used for tracking—before discussing the tangible impact this has had on our school culture and student engagement. By shifting from a model of individual care to one of collective responsibility, attendees will learn how to catch at-risk students before they disengage and leave with a practical toolkit to begin elevating their own impact through the power of connection.

Speakers

Kate Hertz

Assistant Principal, Sycamore High School/District 427

As an Assistant Principal focused on Learning and Teaching, Kate knows that the heartbeat of a successful school is its professional community. She has dedicated her career to the idea that we "Elevate Our Impact" when we break down the silos of traditional teaching. At Sycamore High School, Kate leads initiatives that prioritize student supports and... Read More →

Mollie Momenteller

Instructional Coach, Sycamore High School/District 427

Mollie is a dedicated Instructional Coach with a passion for transforming school culture through collective efficacy. With her years of experience in education, she specializes in bridging the gap between innovative pedagogy and classroom practice. Mollie believes that the "Power of Us" lies in th... Read More →

Maryellen Spicer

Social Work Department Chair, Sycamore High School/District 427

As Department Chair, Maryellen oversees the strategic growth and clinical excellence of the Social Work program at Community Unit School District 427 in Sycamore, IL. Throughout her tenure, she has emphasized that the "Power of Us" is found in the intersection of diverse perspectives... Read More →

Kristal Templin

Counseling Department Chair, Sycamore High School/District 427

Kristal serves as the Chair of the Counseling Department at Sycamore High School, where she leads with the conviction that the strongest therapeutic outcomes are built on a foundation of community and connection. With extensive experience in School Counseling and Clinical Mental Health, she has ded... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Ziock Ballroom A

Breakout 2

1:00pm CDT

Unconditional Positive Regard: Leading and Learning Through Relationship

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Ziock Ballroom A

What if supporting students—and one another—wasn’t just about responding to trauma, but about building unwavering, positive relationships? This session explores Unconditional Positive Regard as both a classroom practice and a leadership stance: the commitment to see and value people—students and adults alike—beyond behavior, performance, or productivity.

Participants will shift from a deficit-based focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) toward cultivating Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) and positive adult experiences by prioritizing connection, care, and joy. Educators and leaders don’t need to be clinicians to create healing spaces; therapeutic moments happen when people feel genuinely seen and supported.

Through interactive activities and reflection, we’ll explore how relationship-centered teaching, coaching, and leadership can transform schools into human-centered communities where both students and adults can thrive.

Speakers

Amy Besida

Chief Program Officer, Embarc Chicago

Amy Besida is the Chief Program Officer of Embarc Chicago. She joined the Embarc team in 2016 with over a decade of experience in instructional coaching, teaching, and mentoring. Her journey in education spans from urban classrooms to school leadership positions, where she has consistently... Read More →

Joe Schupbach

Head of Coaching, Embarc Chicago

Joe Schupbach is an educator, writer, and director with 22 years of experience in public education, experimental theatre, and nonprofit administration. Joe is a facilitator and instructional coach and currently serves as Head of Coaching at Embarc. Joe has been a frequent artistic... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Ziock Ballroom A

Breakout 3

2:00pm CDT

Seeing What Students Experience: A Proactive Bullying Tool That Reveals the Hidden Student Reality

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Ziock Ballroom A

Bullying prevention efforts often rely on incident reports, referrals, or anonymous surveys—tools that tell us what happened, but rarely reveal how students are actually experiencing school on a daily basis. This session introduces a proactive, SEL-based bullying prevention tool designed to surface students’ academic phenomenology—their lived emotional, social, and psychological experience of learning environments—before harm escalates.
Developed by Dr. Kierra Pickens, International Psychologist and therapist, and field-tested in school settings by Devon LaRosa, this innovative tool provides educators and student services staff with intentional, actionable insight into students’ sense of safety, belonging, power, and engagement across academic spaces. Rather than waiting for behavior to signal distress, the tool allows schools to listen earlier, intervene thoughtfully, and design learning environments that reduce bullying at the root.
In this session, participants will explore how this proactive approach supports SEL, strengthens prevention efforts, and equips schools with meaningful data that connects student experience to academic outcomes—helping adults respond with clarity, compassion, and precision.

Speakers

Devon LaRosa

Chief of High Schools, Chicago Public Schools

Devon supports high school leaders to ensure that all students receive a world-class education. He believes in taking a student-centered approach to education that focuses on equity and rigorous academic experiences.

Kierra Pickens

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Key Points Counseling

Dr. Kierra Pickens is a counseling private practice owner and international psychologist with over a decade of experience working in the mental health field. Dr. Pickens has a professional background in community mental health, inpatient and residential psychiatric facility mental... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Ziock Ballroom A

Breakout 4

2026 Summer Symposium

From $128.36

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2026 Summer Symposium

10:00am CDT

Kamrin Muhammad

11:00am CDT

Kate Hertz

Mollie Momenteller

Maryellen Spicer

Kristal Templin

1:00pm CDT

Amy Besida

Joe Schupbach

2:00pm CDT

Devon LaRosa

Kierra Pickens

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10:00am CDT

11:00am CDT

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2:00pm CDT

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