ABOUT THE CONFERENCE
An all-day event with keynote speakers and breakout sessions providing attendees an opportunity to learn about the latest in transformational learning, network with others, and engage in discussions.
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Jonathan Haidt
Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University—Stern School of Business and Author of New York Times Best Seller The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion
Jonathan Haidt is a social psychologist who is widely considered to be one of the world’s leading experts on the psychology of morality. His early research radically transformed the field, pulling it away from its earlier focus on moral reasoning. Haidt showed that moral intuitions and emotions come first—flashes of gut feelings that people then strive to justify, after the fact. This explains why it is so difficult to win a moral argument with good reasoning. Haidt’s research has helped people to understand those who differ from them morally—not just across nations, but across the political divide within each nation (see www.CivilPolitics.org). In his latest work, he is applying his research on moral psychology to the study of business ethics. He is developing tools and techniques that leaders can use to improve the ethical functioning, trust and ultimately profitability of their companies (see www.EthicalSystems.org).
Haidt earned his Bachelor of Arts degree from Yale University in 1985 and his Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Pennsylvania in 1992. He then did postdoctoral research at the University of Chicago and in Orissa, India. He was a professor in the department of Psychology at the University of Virginia from 1995 until 2011, when he joined the NYU Stern School of Business.
Haidt has excelled as a teacher and public speaker. He won three teaching awards from the University of Virginia, and one from the governor of Virginia. His four TED talks have been viewed more than 3 million times. He has presented his work at the World Economic Forum, the Aspen Ideas Festival, the British Academy, and the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Arts. He was named a “Top 100 Global Thinker” by Foreign Policy magazine in 2012, and one of the 65 “World Thinkers of 2013” by Prospect magazine. Haidt is the author of more than 90 academic articles and four books.
Haidt is the author of The Righteous Mind, The Happiness Hypothesis: Finding Modern Truth in Ancient Wisdom, Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived, and The Coddling of the American Mind: How Good Intentions and Bad Ideas Are Setting Up a Generation for Failure. about which The Guardian (UK) wrote: “A marvelous book... I don’t think I’ve ever read a book that laid out the contemporary understanding of the human condition with such simple clarity and sense.”
Juliette Kayyem
Harvard Professor, CNN National Security Analyst, Former Assistant Secretary at DHS, Author & Consultant
Professor Juliette Kayyem is currently the faculty chair of the Homeland Security and Security and Global Health Projects at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government. She also serves as CNN Senior National Security Analyst for CNN where she has been described as CNN’s “go to” for disasters. A contributing writer to The Atlantic, she has a weekly security segment on NPR’s Boston station WGBH. Her most recent book, The Devil Never Sleeps: Learning to Live in an Age of Disasters, was described in a New Yorker profile of her as an “engagingly urgent blueprint for rethinking our approach to disaster preparedness and response.”
In government, she most recently served as President Obama’s Assistant Secretary for Intergovernmental Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. Previously, she was Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick’s Homeland Security Advisor. She is the recipient of many government honors, including the Distinguished Public Service Award, the Coast Guard’s highest medal awarded to a civilian.
Professor Kayyem is the author or editor of six books including the best-selling book Security Mom in 2016, a memoir that explores the intersection, and commonalities, of her life in homeland security and her life as a mother. In 2013, she was named the Pulitzer Prize finalist for editorial columns in the Boston Globe focused on ending the Pentagon’s combat exclusion rule against women, a policy that was changed that year. She won the Telly Award in 2021 for “excellence in a digital series” for her online documentaries on climate change with MyRadar.com.
She is a frequent speaker and advisor to major corporations and associations on national and homeland security, planning for a crisis, cybersecurity and resiliency efforts. From 2020-2022, she served as faculty for a joint effort with Bloomberg Philanthropies and Harvard University to train mayors and city leaders for pandemic planning. She is a Senior Advisor to Teneo, the global consulting firm, and also serves as a security advisor and consultant to several Fortune 500 companies and startups. She was named Inc. Magazine’s top 100 Female Founders in 2019 and received the Lifetime Achievement Pinnacle Award from the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce in 2023.
A graduate of Harvard College and Harvard Law School, and the mother of three children, she is married to First Circuit Court of Appeals Chief Judge David Barron.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
view/download schedule of events
7:30AM - 8:15AM — REGISTRATION • BREAKFAST • EXHIBITS
Event Center - Pre-Function • Century Ballroom
8:15AM — WELCOME
Event Center - Century Ballroom
Maureen Brummet, Ed.D. CAPSS President
Fran Rabinowitz, CAPSS Executive Director
Honorable Ned Lamont, Governor
Charlene M. Russell-Tucker, Commissioner of Education
8:45AM — KEYNOTE ADDRESS by Jonathan Haidt
Event Center - Century Ballroom
The Anxious Generation: How We Rewired Childhood and Launched an Epidemic of Mental Illness
Jonathan Haidt, Ph.D.
Professor of Ethical Leadership, New York University—Stern School of Business and Author of New York Times Best Seller The Righteous Mind: Why Good People are Divided by Politics and Religion
Jonathan Haidt examines the sharp decline in teen mental health starting in the early 2010s, seen across much of the developed world. He attributes this crisis to two key shifts: the loss of a “play-based childhood” (1990s–2010) due to overprotective parenting, and the rise of a “phone-based childhood” (2010–2015), where smartphones and social media replaced real-world activities. Haidt argues these changes are not coincidental but causal, impacting adolescent psychology and social development. While girls show higher rates of anxiety and depression, boys may face longer-term challenges, including lower education and job prospects. Despite this, Haidt offers hope, urging parents and schools to reduce smartphone reliance, encourage in-person friendships, and provide meaningful adult guidance.
10.05AM - 12.05PM — SECTION A & B BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Leaders of a Thriving Future: Pathways to Success
(Please note that this is a double session)
Niznick Lecture Room
Connie Kamm, Ed. D., CEO Kamm Solutions
Megan Karns Garvy, Ed.D., Level Up Education Pathways Consulting
Join us for Leaders of a Thriving Future: Pathways to Success, an interactive session equipping educators with evidence-based practices, transformative strategies, and occupational pathways to prepare future-ready students for success in an ever-changing world of work and community life.
Participants will delve into the Growth Continuum for a Thriving Future, a cutting-edge model of district and school practices focused on developing transversal competencies—versatile skills and mindsets that empower learners across diverse careers and life stages. This framework will be brought to life through its application in the Onramps to Guided Pathways Project, which showcases how local education agencies, higher education institutions, and industry partners collaborate to close opportunity gaps and enhance student readiness for work and community engagement.
Key themes include:
- Integrating Traditional Academics with Career Awareness
- Embedding Career Awareness in Authentic, Problem-Based Learning Experiences
- Addressing the “College for All” Mindset by Providing Alternative Pathways to Career Readiness
- Establishing Career Academies and Stackable Credentials
- Improving Student Access to College Credit by Diversifying Credit Type
By the end of the session, participants will leave inspired and equipped with practical tools to reimagine education systems. Together, we’ll shape P-20 pathways that empower all students to lead and thrive in our rapidly evolving world.
10.05AM - 10.55AM — SECTION A BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Structured Multiliteracy: What Every Leader Should Know
Paragon Room Home 2
Elsa Cardenas-Hagan, Ed.D., CCC/SLP, CALT- QI; Valley Speech Language and Learning Center, President
Language is the foundation for multiliteracy. Structured Multiliteracy incorporates the structure of 2 or more languages using cross-linguistic and cross-cultural features as a strategic approach. It includes the foundational skills of reading and writing in addition to the development of oral language and comprehension across languages. Evidence-based practices for the successful development of literacy will be discussed. Participants will learn how to support teachers with their implementation of this evidence-based approach.
Opportunities for Restorative and Comprehensive School Mental Health in CT
Summit Room Home 2
Jeana R. Bracey, Ph.D., Associate Vice President of School and Community Initiatives, CHDI
Rebekah Behan, Senior Project Coordinator, CHDI
Rosie Breindel, Project Coordinator, CHDI
This presentation from the Child Health and Development Institute (CHDI) will engage participants to apply key elements of a Comprehensive School Mental Health framework to support overall student and staff well-being, best practices for implementation and quality improvement, and the importance of collaborative partnerships for sustainability. Current opportunities for statewide initiatives offering no-cost technical assistance and support to districts will be highlighted.
Coherence and Emergence: The Magic of Distributed Systems Transformation
English Room DoubleTree
Jal Mehta, Professor of Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education
Leading significant change requires mastering a set of dualities or both/ands: action and reflection, part and whole, dance floor and balcony, collaboration and decisive decision-making. Holding both parts of a polarity simultaneously and knowing which to draw on when is critical for successful leadership. In this session, we will explore one such tension: how to work coherently as a district in developing change while, at the same time, preserving significant space for localized innovation and empowerment. The session will feature a framework for how to think about to integrate coherence and emergence, some examples from districts we work with that are employing these strategies, and opportunities to apply the ideas to your own work.
Leading the Curriculum Development Process
Golden Room DoubleTree
Imma Canelli, Superintendent, Hartland Public Schools
Rosanne Daigneault, Reading Consultant/Coach
John Freeman, Reading Coach
Angela Nelson, Managing Director of High School Humanities for the Achievement First Charter Network
Curriculum is essential to any education system. It articulates the knowledge, concepts, and skills teachers teach and students learn, along with instructional plans for how and when content is taught. A strong curriculum supports students and teachers, helping to ensure common learning expectations and experiences. Participants will be introduced to a tool designed for district teams to use as they develop a robust K-3 reading curriculum for their district.
Participants will also explore related topics, such as the difference between “curriculum” and “program,” the benefits of a district-developed curriculum, and critical insights into the leadership moves necessary in the curriculum development process.
How Can the Learning Environment Enhance Your Vision of the Graduate and Contribute to Student Well-being?
White Room DoubleTree
Kimberly Wynne, former Assistant Superintendent in Farmington Public Schools
Russ Crist, Principal of Farmington High School
Farmington opened a brand new high school this past fall and the positive impact on student behavior, social-emotional wellness, and classroom engagement has been considerable. If you are involved in a building or renovation project, you will learn about specific features of the design that made a difference. If you just want to leverage your existing building(s) to better align with a student-centered instructional model, come to this session for ideas and opportunities to explore. We will share photos and discuss the professional learning that supported teachers in making instructional shifts.
11.15AM - 12.05PM — SECTION B BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Structured Multiliteracy: What Every Leader Should Know
Paragon Room Home 2
Elsa Cardenas-Hagan, Ed.D., CCC/SLP, CALT- QI; Valley Speech Language and Learning Center, President
Language is the foundation for multiliteracy. Structured Multiliteracy incorporates the structure of 2 or more languages using cross-linguistic and cross-cultural features as a strategic approach. It includes the foundational skills of reading and writing in addition to the development of oral language and comprehension across languages. Evidence-based practices for the successful development of literacy will be discussed. Participants will learn how to support teachers with their implementation of this evidence-based approach.
Reimagining Schooling for the 21st Century
Summit Room Home 2
Cynthia Ritchie, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, New London, CT
Jennifer Hills-Papetti, Ed.D., Assistant Superintendent, New London, CT
Our aim is to guide participants to identify current strengths and needs of our educational system and to share examples of several ways we could modernize traditional schooling now and into the future.
AI in the Classroom: Navigating the Future of Education with Emerging Technologies
English Room DoubleTree
Matt Mervis, Director, Skills21 and AI Strategy at EdAdvance
This session delves into the transformative role of artificial intelligence in reshaping educational practices and preparing students for a future deeply integrated with AI. The session addresses ethical considerations and explores practical applications in curriculum and administration.
Redefining Success Through the Vision of a Graduate
Golden Room DoubleTree
Alyson Geary, Director NEASC
Carl Johnson, Associate Director NEASC
In schools and districts across Massachusetts and throughout the country, the idea of a vision of a graduate (VoG), is becoming a new and important way to measure and celebrate student progress. Schools and districts with a VoG are focused on preparing graduates for a future that will require them to have not only content knowledge and understandings but also transferable skills and dispositions that will allow them to be flexible and adaptable in the rapidly changing world. The VoG encourages schools and districts to shift what is central to education as we know it and re-design systems to highlight the strengths and abilities of all learners. It can be a powerful force to dismantle inequities. Join NEASC staff to discuss the creation and implementation of a school or district VoG. You will come away with ideas and resources (including the newly released NEASC VoG Handbook) that will help you move this work forward in your school or district.
Getting Early Education (PK-3rd grade) Right to Improve Outcomes through High School
White Room DoubleTree
Karen L. List, Ph.D., UConn PK3 Leadership Founder and Director
Elizabeth Gaffney, Preschool Coordinator, Wallingford Public Schools
Irene Garneau, M.A. in Early Childhood Education, Department Supervisor for Early Childhood Education, West Hartford Public Schools
Contemporary research in child development shows widespread evidence investments in quality early childhood education programs produce lifelong benefits. Quality early education is a priority for CAPSS and our Governor. Creating and leading coherent, integrated systems from PreK to grade 3 have shown learning gaps can be reduced, achievement and opportunities for success enhanced. You’ll learn the neuroscience of early development, the significance of a continuum across the grade levels, and hear from successful practitioners doing this work in their schools and districts.
12.15PM - 1.00PM — LUNCHEON
Event Center - Century Ballroom
1.00PM - 2.00PM — KEYNOTE ADDRESS BY JULIETTE KAYYEM
After the "Boom": Building Resiliency in an Age of Mayhem
Event Center - Century Ballroom
Juliette Kayyem, Harvard Professor, CNN National Security Analyst, Former Assistant Secretary at DHS, Author & Consultant
Emergency management planning is the responsibility of all leaders. Crises are part of the education leaders' experience, and building resiliency is essential. The essential missions of disaster management are broken down as a template for all crises, with Kayyem providing lessons learned from years spent managing the nation’s most pressing disasters. Kayyem draws on her experiences handling such crises as the BP Oil Spill, the H1N1 Outbreak, among others, to deliver important lessons for the public and private sector alike.
2.20PM - 3.30PM — SECTION C BREAKOUT SESSIONS
Science of Reading: WRITING, the Next Chapter
Niznick Lecture Room
Dr. Nancy Boyles, Professor Emerita, Southern CT State University, Author, and Consultant
While the Science of Reading has taken bold steps to move reading instruction forward with positive impact on students’ reading performance, writing instruction lags behind both in adherence to research-based strategies and improved writing performance. In this session, clarify standards-based writing expectations for students, identify factors that have gotten in the way of sound writing instruction in the classroom, understand writing instruction strategies with high impact, and prepare to move forward as a district with research-based writing practices.
Building Structures for Collaborative Accountability
Paragon Room Home 2
Fran Rabinowitz, Executive Director, CAPSS
Terry Carroll, Senior Staff Associate, CAPSS
To foster collaborative accountability, it is essential to establish a framework where team members or organizational stakeholders share responsibility for achieving goals. This requires clear expectations, open communication, and effective mechanisms for feedback and mutual support. Participants will learn how to strengthen collaboration within existing structures by enhancing their effectiveness and inclusivity, while also identifying and creating new opportunities to build collaborative structures that drive shared accountability and success."
Vernon’s ‘Blueprint for Success’ in Improving Reading Results
Summit Room Home 2
Joseph P. Macary, Ed.D., Superintendent of Schools, Vernon, Connecticut
Melissa Trantolo, Director of Teaching and Learning (Elementary), Vernon Public Schools
This session is designed to share district and school strategies to increase reading achievement for all students. The Vernon PS ‘Blueprint for Success’ is the framework that the district used to drive educational excellence with the belief that all student can and will learn. For the first five years, the district and school improvement agenda focused on a small number of key priorities: 1) ensuring a relevant curriculum aligned to Connecticut core standards, 2) providing tiered student interventions for both academics and behaviors and 3) providing students with rigorous academic tasks. This philosophy drove the teachers and administrators towards high-quality instruction in all classroom grounded in the instructional core (Elmore, 2000).
AI in the Classroom: Navigating the Future of Education with Emerging Technologies
A. English Room DoubleTree
Matt Mervis, Director, Skills21 and AI Strategy at EdAdvance
This session delves into the transformative role of artificial intelligence in reshaping educational practices and preparing students for a future deeply integrated with AI. The session addresses ethical considerations and explores practical applications in curriculum and administration.
NEASC District Accreditation: Charting Your Journey of Growth and Improvement
A. Golden Room DoubleTree
Fran Kennedy, Associate Director NEASC
Join this insightful session on the accreditation process tailored for superintendents, who will receive a comprehensive update on the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC) and its 2023 Standards for Accreditation. Attendees will gain an understanding of NEASC’s new process for District Accreditation and its importance, the new accreditation process and district visit protocol, and how to engage with NEASC as partners in your district’s growth and improvement.
The History of Childhood: A Deeper Learning Experience
C. White Room DoubleTree
Veronica Ruzek, Assistant Superintendent of Farmington Public Schools
Sadie Robinson, English Teacher at Farmington High School
For many years, Farmington has been working on developing and implementing our student-centered instructional model. In this session, you will examine some of the principles and practices of this pedagogy by experiencing a model lesson. This lesson will delve into the history of childhood and leave you where The Anxious Generation begins. Ultimately, this session will allow you to more deeply consider Jonathan Haidt’s assertion that the childhood students are experiencing today is substantially different than that of any generation that came before.