Great Teachers Change Lives. In 2023, this statement couldn’t be more true or more critical. In classrooms across the country, including Indiana, educators are working harder than ever to support students emotionally, mentally and academically. While all students have been impacted academically by the pandemic’s disruptions to schooling, students in our most vulnerable populations, including students with special needs and English language learners, saw the most significant declines in academic performance.
If we are to radically change education and positively impact student achievement for all students, it’s time we provide educators with spaces to develop their practice and collaborate with their peers. Teach Indy is working hard to do just that.
Teach Indy is an Indianapolis-based education nonprofit working to recruit, develop, recognize and support the retention of high-quality educators in Indianapolis. Each year, they gather top educators from Indianapolis and beyond at their annual Educators Conference. For the past two years, Teach Indy’s team has hosted the event virtually. This year, that all changes.
“We finally have the opportunity to bring educators together from across the state of Indiana to collaborate, celebrate and build community IN PERSON,” said Sara Marshall, Executive Director of Teach Indy. “The ability to discuss an idea or share real-time feedback among educators without the restrictions of a screen is something that we’ve really been missing.”
On Saturday, February 25, 2023, Teach Indy will welcome current and aspiring educators to Butler University’s campus from 9am-3pm. The conference is centered on the theme of ‘For teachers, by teachers,’ with many sessions being led by local educators who have strong results working with students.
“In working with our session leaders, we set the goal that attendees will walk out of each session with real, tangible tools that can be implemented in their classrooms the following Monday,” shared Mark Carter, Manager of Programs and Events at Teach Indy.
The conference will feature sessions focused on three primary development areas:
- Serving Special Populations: Special Education
- Serving Special Populations: English Learners
- Panel Discussions: Innovative Models and Practices in School
“It was important to us to examine statewide data and present sessions that we believe support educators in better serving all students, especially those who receive special education services and English Learners,” Carter shared. “By creating interactive, engaging sessions with strategies and resources they can use in their classrooms on Monday morning, we believe we can empower teachers to start to close these achievement gaps.”
In addition to interactive breakout sessions, the conference will feature two keynote speakers. In the morning, we will host a panel of current and aspiring educators discussing how one teacher can make a difference in the lives of a young person who is thinking about becoming an educator themselves.
To close out the day, educators will experience a powerful address from Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera, an Indiana education leader, nationally recognized author, speaker and current director of equity and inclusion. Her book, Identity Affirming Classrooms: Spaces That Center Humanity, has become a cornerstone text of many teacher preparation programs. It offers leading research and practical applications to support teachers in building safe, positive classrooms where students are challenged academically while being valued for who they are as individuals.
Throughout the day, time will be reserved for educators to discuss their learning and the application of best practices they’ve heard during sessions and at the panel discussions to improve classroom practice.
This high-energy day will include educator recognition, giveaways, prizes and more. The conference is open to educators across Indiana working in all school settings, Pre-K through High School. The team is also excited to welcome college students interested in teaching, career changers thinking of pursuing their calling, and even a group of high school students thinking of teaching in the future.
For more information about Teach Indy and to register for the Teach Indy Educators Conference, visit: https://teachindynow.org/teach-indy-educator-conference-2023/.
High-Level Details
The Teach Indy is excited to announce registration is LIVE for the 2023 Teach Indy Educators Conference. The conference, held on the campus of Butler University will take place on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 9a-3p.
URL to Register: https://teachindynow.org/teach-indy-educator-conference-2023/
