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Pre-Conference Workshops

Thursday, February 20
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom

Pre-Conference

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Pre-Conference Workshops

1) Better Learning Through Intentional Teaching

Room: TBA

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
A Framework for Engaged, Collaborative, and Independent Learning
John T. Almarode, PhD

2) Transforming Teaching

Room: TBA

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Shaping and Strengthening Today's Classrooms Culturally, Emotionally, and Academically
MaryAnn Brittingham, MS; Kathleen M. Kryza, MA

3) Teaching With AI

Room: TBA

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
How Should Educators Respond to the AI Revolution?
John T. Spencer, EdD

4) Hopeful Schools

Room: TBA

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Building Hope and Resilience in Ourselves and Our Students
Kevin D. Washburn, EdD

5) Awe in Education

Room: TBA

8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Creating Learning Environments That Inspire, Motivate, and Heal
Amy L. Eva, PhD; Vicki Zakrzewski, PhD

CONCURRENT SESSIONS GUIDE

  • (RP)=Brain Research & Practical Strategies/Interventions
  • (R)=Mostly Brain/Child Development Research
  • (P)=Mostly Brain-Based Practical Strategies and Interventions
  • (PREK=16)=Applicable Grade Levels

This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.

Conference Day 1

Thursday, February 20
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST

Keynote Address I: The Science of Rewiring Our Brains for Compassion, Optimism, Gratitude, and Awe - Dacher J. Keltner, PhD

1:05 PM - 2:05 PM PST

Keynote Address II: Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness - Jamil Zaki, PhD

2:05 PM - 2:30 PM PST

Networking Coffee Break

2:30 PM - 3:30 PM PST

Keynote Address III: Divergent Minds: The Power of Nuance and Neurodiversity in a World Desperate for Critical Thinking - Jenara Nerenberg, MS

3:35 PM - 4:35 PM PST

Keynote Address IV: Autism and Education: Focusing on the Strengths of Neurodiverse Students - Temple Grandin, PhD

4:35 PM - 5:00 PM PST

Afternoon Break and Keynote Book Signings

CONCURRENT SESSION

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST

CONCURRENT SESSION A

1) STRENGTH-BASED TEACHING

Room: TBA

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Teaching to Every Student’s Strengths: Liberating the Brain’s Hidden Assets and Talents
Layne M. Kalbfleisch, PhD, MEd
(RP, Grades K-12)

2) STRENGTHS IN NEURODIVERSITY

Room: TBA

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
A Strength-Based Model of Neurodiversity
Lawrence K. Fung, MD
(RP, All Ages)

3) STRONGER MINDS & INTELLECTUAL VIRTUES

Room: TBA

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Teaching for Intellectual Virtues: What, Why, and How
Jason S. Baehr, PhD
(RP, Grades K-12)

4) STRONGER BRAINS & CHARACTER

Room: TBA

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
The Character Gap: How Good Are We?
Christian B. Miller, PhD
(RP, All Ages)

5) STRONGER TEACHERS & HOPE

Room: TBA

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Nurturing Hope and Self-Care: Strategies for Personal and Professional Well-Being
Cathleen G. Beachboard, MA
(RP, Adults)

6) STRONGER LEARNERS & SELF-DIRECTION

Room: TBA

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Building Student Ownership and Self-Direction
John T. Spencer, EdD
(P, Grades K-College)

CONCURRENT SESSIONS GUIDE

  • (RP)=Brain Research & Practical Strategies/Interventions
  • (R)=Mostly Brain/Child Development Research
  • (P)=Mostly Brain-Based Practical Strategies and Interventions
  • (PREK=16)=Applicable Grade Levels

This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.

Conference Day 2

Friday, February 21
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM PST

Keynote Address I: Conscience: The Social Brain and Social Learning - Patricia S. Churchland, BPhil

9:00 AM - 9:25 AM PST

Networking Coffee Break

9:25 AM - 10:25 AM PST

Keynote Address II: Hacking Deficit Thinking: Strategies for Strength-Based Practices - Byron M. McClure, EdD, NCSP

10:25 AM - 10:55 AM PST

Morning Break and Keynote Book Signing

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST

CONCURRENT SESSIONS B

1) STRENGTH-BASED TEACHING

Room: TBA

10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Your Child’s Strengths: A Teacher’s Guide to Discover, Develop, and Use Them in School Jenifer M. Fox, MEd
Jenifer M. Fox, MEd
(RP, Grades PreK-12)

2) STRENGTHS IN NEURODIVERSITY

Room: TBA

10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Seeing the Hidden Strengths and Potential in Neurodiversity in an AI Age
John T. Spencer, EdD
(P, All Ages)

3) STRONGER MINDS & GRATITUDE

Room: TBA

10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Practicing Bold Gratitude to Optimize Happiness, Relationships, and Performance
Lainie J. Rowell, MA
(RP, All Ages)

4) STRONGER SCHOOLS & CHARACTER

Room: TBA

10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
The Kindness Crisis: Solving Empathy in a Lonely World
Houston J. Kraft
(RP, Grades K-12)

5) STRONGER STUDENTS & HOPE

Room: TBA

10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
The Power of Hope, Resilience, and Empathy During Challenging Times
MaryAnn Brittingham, MS; Kathleen M. Kryza, MA
(P, Grades K-12)

6) STRONGER LEARNERS & INDEPENDENCE

Room: TBA

10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Teaching Students to Drive Their Learning
Douglas B. Fisher, PhD
(P, All Grades)

12:25 PM - 1:35 PM PST

Lunch Break (On your own)

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

1:35 PM - 3:45 PM PST

CONCURRENT SESSIONS C

1) STRENGTH-BASED TEACHING

Room: TBA

1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –  The Strength-Based Teacher
David B. Daniel, PhD
(RP, All Grades)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –  Using Cognitive Scaffolding to Strengthen and Support Student Learning
John T. Almarode, PhD
(RP, All Grades)

2) STRENGTHS IN NEURODIVERSITY

Room: TBA

1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –  Hidden Brilliance: Unlocking the Intelligence, Talents, and Strengths of Autism
Lynn K. Koegel, PhD, CCC-SLP
(RP, All Ages)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –  Character Strengths and Abilities Within Disabilities
Daniel J. Tomsulo, PhD
(RP, All Ages)

3) STRONGER MINDS & GRATITUDE

Room: TBA

1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –  The Psychology of Gratitude and Well-Being
Michael E. McCullough, PhD
(RP, All Ages)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –  Gratitude in Schools: The Science of Building Character
Giacomo Bono, PhD
(RP, 4-College)

4) STRONGER SCHOOLS & HONESTY

Room: TBA

1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –  The Philosophy and Psychology of Honesty
Christian B. Miller, PhD
(RP, All Ages)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –  Academic Integrity: From Threat to Opportunity With AI in Education
Denise C. Pope, PhD
(RP, All Grades)

5) STRONGER STUDENTS & HOPE

Room: TBA

1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –  The Power of Hope in Education
Crystal I. Bryce, PhD
(RP, All Grades)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –  The Hopeful Brain: Building Schools and Classrooms of Hope
Cathleen G. Beachboard, MA
(RP, All Grades)

6) STRONGER LEARNERS, AGENCY & AUTONOMY

Room: TBA

1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –  Evolving Learners: Inquiry-Based Strategies to Cultivate Strengths, Compassion, and Autonomy
Lainie J. Rowell, MA
(RP, All Grades)

2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –  Locating and Growing Student Agency in the Science of Reading and in Classrooms
Margaret Vaughn, PhD
(RP, All Grades)

3:45 PM - 4:15 PM PST

Afternoon Break

Afternoon Keynote

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM PST

Afternoon Keynote Addresses

1) OPTION A

Room: TBA

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM PST
How Every Brain is Different: Understanding Our Student's Strengths in Schools
Chantel S. Prat, PhD

2) OPTION B

Room: TBA

4:15 PM - 5:15 PM PST
The Science and Power of Hope
Chan M. Hellman, PhD

5:15 PM - 6:15 PM PST

"Meeting of the Minds" Reception

CONCURRENT SESSIONS GUIDE

  • (RP)=Brain Research & Practical Strategies/Interventions
  • (R)=Mostly Brain/Child Development Research
  • (P)=Mostly Brain-Based Practical Strategies and Interventions
  • (PREK=16)=Applicable Grade Levels

This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.

Conference Day 3

Saturday, February 22
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom

Morning Keynote

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST

Morning Keynote Addresses

1) OPTION A

Room: TBA

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
The Science of Character: PRIMED for Changing the Character of Schools
Marvin W. Berkowitz, PhD

2) OPTION B

Room: TBA

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
The Power of Student Agency: Create the Conditions for All Students to Thrive
Anindya Kundu, PhD

10:00 AM - 10:30 AM PST

Networking Coffee Break and Keynote Book Signings

CONCURRENT SESSIONS

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST

CONCURRENT SESSIONS D

1) STRENGTH-BASED TEACHING

Room: TBA

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Strength-Based Mircohabits to Thrive as an Educator
Rebecca A. Branstetter, PhD
(RP, Grades K-12)

2) DIVERSE BRAINS & ATTENTION

Room: TBA

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Don't Blame the Students: The Surprising Science of Classroom Attention
Andrew C. Watson, MEd
(RP, All Grades)

3) STRONGER TEENS & COMPASSION

Room: TBA

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Measuring Concern for Others Among Adolescents: Connecting Compassion, Empathy, and Prosocial Behavior
Aakash A. Chowkase, PhD
(RP, Grades 6-12)

4) STRONGER STUDENTS & HOPEFULNESS

Room: TBA

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Learned Hopefulness
Daniel J. Tomsulo, PhD
(RP, All Ages)

5) STRONGER LEADERS & HOPE

Room: TBA

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Leading With Hope: Strategies for Empowering Educators and Students
Cathleen G. Beachboard, MA
(RP, All Ages)

12:00 PM - 1:15 PM PST

Lunch Break (On your own)

1:15 PM - 2:45 PM PST

Final Keynote: Seeing Teachers and Students: Gradually Releasing Their Strengths, Independence, and Responsibility - Douglas B. Fisher, PhD

CONCURRENT SESSIONS GUIDE

  • (RP)=Brain Research & Practical Strategies/Interventions
  • (R)=Mostly Brain/Child Development Research
  • (P)=Mostly Brain-Based Practical Strategies and Interventions
  • (PREK=16)=Applicable Grade Levels

This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.