14th Annual TLI: Developing School Communities that Thrive

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If you attended Teacher Leadership Institute last year, then you already know that you do not want to miss this annual AZK12 event. In 2018, this gathering of educators and stakeholders helped to ignite, motivate, and confirm many of the current movements that we continue to see active in education today. We took a hard look at equity under the guidance of keynote speaker Dr. Dominique Smith, testimonials from Spotlight Teachers, and dynamic breakout sessions.

And we are doing it again, bigger and better, in 2019!

Join us at the scenic Loews Ventana Canyon Resort (Tucson, AZ)  from June 18-20 for the 14^th annual TLI Institute. We will continue with our theme of developing thriving school communities because Arizona is not there yet. But, we are making progress!

We will hear from nationally renowned speaker Cornelius Minor. In addition to being an author and senior staff developer at Teacher’s College, I am most impressed with the fact that Mr. Minor is a middle school teacher in Brooklyn, N.Y.  The real-life experience that he has adds credit and validity to the message that he brings. In addition to talking the talk, he has walked the walk.

The conference will also have a panel of Spotlight Teachers from across Arizona, including our own 2019 Arizona Teacher of the Year, Kareem Neal!  There will also be an interactive project display on the “Attributes of an Arizona Teacher Leader”, so have your phone ready with FlipGrid accessible. Sign up for FlipGrid is free! If you are an Arizona teacher and you want to be included in this project, send me a message @yolandachanel and will get back with you.

Breakout sessions will be in full force with topics including:

• Listening Protocols
• Improving Educational Spaces for Teachers and Students of Color
• Encouraging Equitable Environments
• Take a Walk in My Shoes
• Literacy as a Pathway to Equity

When it comes to breakouts, get creative in how you will attend. If you are coming with a team, you may decide to attend them together to support collaboration and get a jump start on action planning. Or, you may decide to break-up so you can meet up later, debrief, and plan next steps. If you are attending alone, I encourage you to make a few friends that you can meet up with and share notes. Any of these approaches will help you get the most out of the experience.

Spaces are filling up fast, so do not hesitate to register. If you are driving in from Phoenix like me, you may want to choose to have accommodations. Make sure you check with your leadership before you pay out of pocket because there may be funds available to help cover your costs.  In fact, you may be able to advocate for your whole team to attend!

To learn more about the conference, go to the AZK12 Leadership Events website or contact them at:

AZK12 Center

99 E Virginia Ave Ste 100

Phoenix, AZ 85004

(602) 443-6444

Follow me on Twitter @yolandachanel to get the latest TLI information and share your thoughts. Keep a lookout because I will be posting more about the event and the speakers as we get closer.

Next month’s edition: Stay tuned for an update on the status of African American students in Arizona (I might have to post this one early).

Yolanda Wheelington

Yolanda Wheelington

Phoenix, Arizona

Yolanda has taught for the past 7 years in the Phoenix Elementary School District. Her passion for developing and supporting the human potential is evident in the cross-curricular work done her classroom. She is a member of the Association Montessori International and is a RODEL Scholar. Yolanda earned a Bachelor’s in Psychology from The Catholic University of America (Washington, D.C.), a Master’s in Social Work and a Master’s in Education (Special Education) from Arizona State University, and a diploma in Lower Elementary Education for ages 6-12 from the Montessori Institute of North Texas.

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