The Langham Pasadena
March 5 - 7, 2025
This three-day event will bring together education leaders from across the country for dynamic sessions on leadership development, innovative instructional strategies, and impactful networking opportunities. You'll engage with thought leaders, participate in solution-driven discussions, and leave equipped with actionable insights to advance student achievement in your district.
*This event is compliments of Carnegie Learning. Your travel and accommodations are hosted by Carnegie Learning. If attendance at this hosted event exceeds the limits set by applicable law or the your district's policy on gifting, we will work directly with you to discuss available options.
Learn about the different branches of culturally responsive education and how they fit into asset-based pedagogy. This glossary will help you decipher the different strategies founded by different education researchers.
Take this self-assessment to reflect on how deeply your practices incorporate asset-based pedagogy. Learn how to include products and practices from non-dominant cultures to honor the value they bring to your classroom.
Learn how culturally responsive school leaders can tackle systemic oppression. Read about the responsibility of school leaders in pushing back against deficit-based language and mindsets in their buildings.
Teachers can discover ways to create classrooms that value and respect every student. Our toolkit offers concrete ideas for culturally responsive activities that honor diverse backgrounds, viewpoints, and experiences. We've included activities for all content areas, including world language, English Language Arts, and mathematics.
CEO, Ai for Education
Amanda Bickerstaff
Amanda is the Founder and CEO of AI for Education. A former high school biology teacher and EdTech executive with over 20 years of experience in the education sector, she has a deep understanding of the challenges and opportunities that AI can offer. She is a frequent consultant, speaker, and writer on the topic of AI in education, leading workshops and professional learning across both K12 and Higher Ed. Amanda is committed to helping schools and teachers maximize their potential through the ethical and equitable adoption of AI.
CEO, educational epiphany
Dr. Donyall Dickey
Dr. Donyall D. Dickey, Ed.D., is a nationally recognized expert in curriculum, instruction, organizational development, and district improvement, with over 20 years of experience in education. A graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, Loyola University—Maryland, and George Washington University—D.C., he has held leadership roles at various levels, including Assistant Superintendent, Chief Academic Officer, and Chief Schools Officer in some of the largest school districts in the nation. His leadership has consistently driven significant improvements in student achievement and organizational effectiveness. Currently, as the CEO and Lead Consultant for Educational Epiphany, he collaborates with school districts across 40+ states, providing research-based instructional materials and professional development for educators, administrators, and educational organizations.
ChIEf Mathematics Officer,
carnegie Learning
Sandy Finocchi
Sandy is the Chief Mathematics Officer at Carnegie Learning, leading the instructional design of mathematics materials that blend academic research with effective classroom practices. With 14 years of experience as a high school math teacher, department chair, and coach, she has spent over two decades at Carnegie Learning, supporting teachers in shifting toward student-centered learning. Her team authored the highly rated Middle and High School Math Solutions, and she has played a key role in developing the company’s Professional Learning division. A passionate advocate for teachers and students, Sandy inspires educators through keynote addresses, challenging them to rethink learning and maximize student growth. She firmly believes that all students can become confident math learners, a conviction that drives her work every day.
FAQ
Have you heard the terms "asset-based," "culturally responsive" and "culturally sustaining"? If you have, chances are you've heard them used alongside words like "mindset" and "pedagogies." But are these terms interchangeable, and what do they really mean?
Download our toolkit to learn more about culturally responsive teaching and how it can transform your classroom.
Culturally responsive teaching helps educators draw from students' cultural backgrounds and use those experiences to enhance their learning. Our downloadable toolkit explains the four components of culturally responsive teaching, including validating cultural identity and modifying instruction.
Our Culturally Responsive Teaching Toolkit is intended for K-12 educators, including classroom teachers, building administrators, and district-level leaders. This resource facilitates important conversations about reaching all students in the most beneficial way.
We recommend using this toolkit in PLCs, departments, leadership teams, and in-services. Whether you're new to culturally responsive teaching or a seasoned asset-based educator, you will find value in this resource.
While culturally responsive teaching and SEL work to ensure educational equity, they do so differently. Social-emotional learning focuses on developing students' social and emotional intelligence, whereas culturally responsive teaching seeks to affirm students' cultural identities.
Both strategies have value in 21st-century classrooms, and each can support the success of the other. By becoming more emotionally developed, students can better understand the value they bring from their unique backgrounds. Likewise, the more students share from their backgrounds, the more they can help their peers develop empathy and compassion for others.
Culturally responsive teaching has more direct links to academics, but SEL is an important piece of building educational equity. You can find out more about SEL here.
