2017 TAP Conference Panels and Trainings

NIET Chief Executive Officer Dr. Gary Stark addresses the more than 1,000 TAP conference attendees, discussing the importance of advancing educator effectiveness and the work that educators do every day. Read more in CEO's Corner from TAP in Focus magazine.

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken (far right) moderates a panel on how states can be the catalysts of change in the era of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). From left to right on the panel: Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White, The Education Trust President and former U.S. Education Secretary John B. King Jr., and Tennessee Education Commissioner Dr. Candice McQueen. Read the panel summary.

Carver Primary (Ascension Parish, Louisiana) TAP Mentor teacher Ashley Hawkins participates in a TAP training. Learn more about her school, winner of the 2017 TAP Founder's Award.

NIET Chief Communications Officer Kristan Van Hook leads a session on unleashing the power of teacher leaders. From left to right: Lorimer Arendse, Principal, Grand Prairie High School, Texas; Holly Boffy, Vice President, Louisiana Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE); Lisa Carpenter, TAP Master Teacher, Goshen Middle School; Connie Kinnaird, TAP Master Teacher, Dodson Branch School, Tennessee; and Mindi Woodson, TAP Master Teacher, South Elementary School, Central Decatur Community School District, Iowa. Learn the takeaways.

NIET Director of Learning Technology Dr. Danielle Ferreira leads a training on the EE PASS Portal.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Dr. Dedra Lee-Collins leads a training on the purposeful and intentional use of student work in TAP's professional development cluster meetings.

Louisiana Superintendent of Education John White welcomes the more than 1,000 TAP conference attendees to his home state and salutes them for their work. Read about his participation on a policy panel, "States as Catalysts for Change."

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken (center) discusses innovative practices to advance educator effectiveness with district partners Superintendent Diane Woodworth of Goshen Community Schools, Indiana, and Cade Brumley, superintendent of DeSoto Parish Schools, Louisiana.

How is the TAP System positively impacting instruction and student achievement across the country? NIET Senior Research Associate Dr. Tanee Hudgens presents the latest research. View some of the key findings.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Jodi Leckbee expands educators' understanding and planning of a TAP cluster cycle.

NIET President Dr. Patrice Pujol (far right) leads a panel of state department of education officials to discuss how to capitalize on evaluation policies and practices. Left to right: Lilla Toal-Mandsager, Education Associate, South Carolina Department of Education; Rebecca Kockler, Assistant Superintendent of Academic Content, Louisiana Department of Education; and Rene Diamond, Executive Director of Educator Effectiveness, Tennessee Department of Education. Learn the takeaways.

TAP educators exchange best practices during a training.

Dr. Kristopher Childs, assistant professor of STEM at Texas Tech University, and Elizabeth Woodall, regional master teacher at Texas Tech University, co-lead a session on how to implement lessons that are rich in thinking and problem-solving.

How does a district define its vision for instructional improvement, and align human and financial resources to that goal? NIET President Dr. Patrice Pujol (far right) explores the priority with district superintendents who have demonstrated long-term progress. From left to right: Dr. Saul Hinojosa, Superintendent, Somerset ISD, Texas; Diane Woodworth, Superintendent, Goshen Community Schools, Indiana; Dr. Cade Brumley, Superintendent, DeSoto Parish Schools, Louisiana; and Julee Becker, Slaton ISD, Texas. Learn the takeaways.

NIET Senior Trainer Teddy Broussard (center) guides attendees on how to be a "lead learner," one who is open to continuous development and improvement of his or her own craft. This approach is critical to creating a risk-free environment that supports teacher and student growth.

During a training, TAP educators brainstorm ideas of improving educator effectiveness.

Louisiana TAP Executive Master Teacher Tracy Lofton Hypolite collaborates with TAP conference attendees.

NIET Chief Learning Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett (far right) engages district and university partners in the best methods for coaching principals and evaluating their performance.  From left to right: Dr. Fernando Valle, Associate Professor, Texas Tech University; Lisa Hendricks, Executive Director, Partnership Academy, Minnesota; Laura Roussel, Supervisor of Elementary Education, Ascension Public Schools, Louisiana; and Dr. Alan Metcalfe, Assistant Superintendent, Goshen Community Schools, Indiana. Learn the takeaways.

During a TAP training, TAP educators exchange best practices for advancing educator effectiveness.

Who's with me? NIET Senior Program Specialist Davita Lancelin leads a session on deepening understanding of the TAP teaching standards.