2018 TAP Conference Panels and Presentations

"Teachers are in the driver's seat in helping students excel and compete in school and in life," says NIET CEO Dr. Gary Stark. Stark thanks the educators for their commitment to TAP System implementation, designed to place teachers at the center of school improvement efforts. As a former teacher and school administrator, and having met with thousands of educators during his career, Stark knows firsthand the critical role talented educators play in schools today. Read Stark's TAP in Focus essay on teacher leadership.

Dr. Patrice Pujol, NIET co-president and chief strategy officer, speaks about the critical need to develop teacher leaders in schools. She led panels on teacher leadership throughout the TAP conference, outlining how stakeholders at all levels can maximize its effectiveness. Pujol has over 40 years of experience as a superintendent, during which she made teacher leadership a hallmark of her vision to ensure quality educational experiences for all students. Read more about her insights.

NIET Co-President and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett discusses NIET's new Teach Factor campaign, based on the organization's 20-year mission to advance educator effectiveness. "Through The Teach Factor campaign, we're taking our commitment to the next level," he says. "Under the 2018 theme, teacher leadership, we're gathering the most talented educators to ignite conversations that will create solutions." Learn more about The Teach Factor.

"When teachers are asked about leadership opportunities, one-half of all teachers say they are interested in exploring the possibilities of continuing their work in classrooms combined with new leadership roles and responsibilities in the school or district. And nearly one-quarter of all teachers say, unequivocally, that they have a strong interest in such roles and responsibilities," says NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken in the 2018 TAP Conference keynote presentation. It only makes sense to give these spirited educators the new roles and responsibilities they want and that will allow them to excel."

Download highlights from the presentation. Read Lowell's TAP in Focus essay on building a structure for teacher leadership.

During Lowell Milken's keynote presentation, Joni Readout, a TAP master teacher in the Central Decatur Community School District in Iowa, shares the impact of TAP on her career. "I remain amazed by the powerful learning experiences I had through TAP," she says. "I knew I was growing in my profession."

During Lowell Milken's keynote presentation, Alice Harte Charter School (Louisiana) Head of School Robert Hill discusses the core principles that has allowed his school to have four consecutive years of A ratings. "The shared leadership structure in TAP places leaders in roles that will benefit all of our teachers."

Somerset ISD (Texas) Superintendent Dr. Saul Hinojosa describes the three key levers for the dramatic improvements his district has seen in educator practice and student achievement: instructional leadership is at the forefront of their work; they place a high priority on recruiting and retaining effective teachers; and they invest in TAP as a comprehensive approach to increasing the capacity of all educators. These measures have allowed all campuses to meet state standards.

We know that leadership can take many forms, and one key resource that has been woefully underused is teacher leadership. A new generation of teachers is particularly focused on hybrid roles that enable teachers to take on leadership responsibilities while remaining in the classroom. How can teacher leaders make the most impact? How do strong school leaders develop teacher leaders? Representatives from national organizations share their perspectives in a panel moderated by NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook.

Pictured from left to right: Van Hook, Teach Plus President and CEO Roberto Rodriguez; National Governor's Association Center on Best Practices Program Director Seth Gerson; Ascension Public Schools (Louisiana) District Supervisor Dr. Latatia Johnson; National Association of Elementary School Principals Associate Executive Director Gail Morgan; and U.S. Department of Education Special Assistant Chris Rinkus.

During the Impact of Cluster Cycle 1 with Tennessee TEAM Coach Tracy Riddle (left), participants identify ways to use student work to effectively provide feedback to teachers and to track student growth.               

NIET Director of Training Dr. Ann Shaw presents Abraham Lincoln Elementary School in Indiana as a finalist of the TAP Founder's Award and describes the impact of the TAP System on its achievements. Learn more about Abraham Lincoln Elementary School.

NIET Senior Trainer Teddy Broussard presents Cross County Elementary Technology Academy in Arkansas as a finalist of the TAP Founder's Award and describes the impact of the TAP System on its achievements. Learn more about Cross County Elementary Technology Academy.

NIET LA BOLD Project Executive Director Vicky Condalary presents 2018 TAP Founder's Award Finalist Mansfield High School, Louisiana, discussing the impact of the TAP System on the school's achievements. Learn more about Mansfield High School.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Dr. Dedra Collins presents Slaton Junior High School in Texas as a finalist of the TAP Founder's Award and describes the impact of the TAP System on its achievements. Learn more about Slaton Junior High.

NIET Director of Learning Technology Stephanie Mosqueda presents West Goshen Elementary School in Indiana as a finalist of the TAP Founder's Award and describes the impact of the TAP System on its achievements. West Goshen was announced as the winner of the Award. Learn more about West Goshen Elementary School.

Efforts to advance the human capital of our education community is vital to placing a highly effective educator in front of every student in America. How do these roles help recruit, retain and reward effective teachers? Mentor and master teachers, and principals, share their experiences, led by NIET Co-President and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett.

Pictured from left to right: Barnett, TAP Master Teacher Corrie Callahan (Abraham Lincoln Elementary School, Indiana); TAP Coordinator Angela Davis (St. John the Baptist Public Schools, Louisiana); NIET Director of Research Dr. Tanee Hudgens; and TAP Mentor Teacher Sherri Rodriguez (Slaton Junior High School, Texas).

The Next Generation Science Standards: How the NIET Rubric Supports Three-Dimensional Science Learning, facilitated by Executive Master Teacher (DeSoto Parish, Louisiana) Nicole Bolen. 

Pictured from left to right are Bolen, Texas Tech University Regional Master Teacher Elizabeth Woodall, College Street Elementary (Manchester City Schools, Tennessee) Assistant Principal Mary Gilbert, and NIET Policy Associate Austin Reid.

Leading Through Expectations, facilitated by NIET Senior Trainer Teddy Broussard (standing). Participants explore and identify ways to set high and demanding performance expectations of leadership team members and classroom teachers, resulting in increased teacher instructional capacity and higher student achievement.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Dr. Davita Lancelin leads "Tight Is Right: Designing an Effective Model for Cluster."

NIET CEO Dr. Gary Stark meets with district superintendents about efforts to advance educator effectiveness.

Pictured from left to right: Cross County School District (Arkansas) Superintendent Nathan Morris; Avondale Elementary School District #44 (Arizona) Superintendent Dr. Betsy Hargrove; Stark; Algiers Charter School Association CEO Rene Lewis-Carter, Goshen Community Schools (Indiana) Superintendent Dr. Diane Woodworth; and Ascension Public Schools (Louisiana) Superintendent David Alexander.

NIET Chairman and TAP Founder Lowell Milken (right) and St. John the Baptist Public Schools (Louisiana) Superintendent Kevin George

NIET's TAP System serves as a national model for providing the structure and support for teacher leaders to take on roles and improve the capacity of all teachers. How do districts maximize the role of teacher leaders? How do schools provide the structure for teacher leaders? Educators and experts share their experiences, led by NIET President and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Patrice Pujol.

From left to right: Pujol; NIET Co-President and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett; Goshen Community Schools (Indiana) Superintendent Dr. Diane Woodworth; Barrera Veterans Elementary School (Texas) Principal Geneva Salinas; education researcher Craig Jerald; and Central Decatur Junior-Senior High (Iowa) TAP Master Teacher Joni Readout.

Executive Master Teacher Tracy Hypolite of St. John the Baptist Public School System (Louisiana), left, and NIET LA BOLD Project Executive Director Vicky Condalary, right, hold a leadership team simulation using data to implement, monitor and support the school plan.

Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School Assistant Principal Gillian King-Hughes (center) of St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools in Louisiana participates in a leadership team training.

Growing the Impact of Teacher Leaders: The Power of Collective Teacher Efficacy. 

Center: Lakeside Primary (Ascension Public Schools, Louisiana) Assistant Principal Brandie Edwards.

NIET LA BOLD Project Executive Director Vicky Condalary visits with educators during a session on how to best implement, monitor and support the school plan during TAP Leadership Team meetings.

Staff of West Goshen Elementary School (Indiana), winner of the 2018 TAP Founder's Award, discuss the school's dramatic improvement with the TAP System for Teacher and Student Advancement. West Goshen moved from a D to an A with the help of the initiative.

Pictured from left to right: Assistant Principal Karen Brock; Principal Lori Line; and TAP Mentor Teacher Lauren Moore.

Watch West Goshen's TAP Founder's Award video to learn more.

NIET works with many rural communities who face challenges for educating all students, recruiting and retaining educators, and obtaining access to outside partnerships and networks. Led by NIET Co-Presdient and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Joshua Barnett, district leaders offer strategies to recruit and retain effective educators, develop a strong educator faculty, and ensure all students achieve.

Pictured from left to right: Slaton Independent School District Superintendent (Texas) Julee Becker; Central Decatur Community School District (Iowa) Superintendent Chris Coffelt; Manchester City Schools (Tennessee) Superintendent Lee Wilkerson; and Madison Parish Schools (Louisiana) Superintendent Benita Young.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Patti Cruz leads the TAP Conference training, "When do you field-test a teacher strategy instead of a student strategy?"

NIET Senior Program Specialist Lindsey Parker helps educators design professional learning "clusters" that result in improvements to student achievement.

From left to right: Duplessis Primary School Assistant Principal Carlotta Williams, Duplessis Primary School TAP Master Teacher Shaneka Burnett and Somerset Independent School District Superintendent Dr. Saul Hinojosa delve into Individual Growth Plans and Student Learning Objectives.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Jen Oliver leads the session, "Unraveling Rigorous Instruction at the Secondary Level."

Lowell Milken Center for Unsung Heroes Executive Director Norm Conard presents about the groundbreaking work of LMC to uncover the deeds of those who have changed the course of history. Learn more about the Lowell Milken Center.

NIET Chairman Lowell Milken, Lowell Milken Center Fellow and Milken Educator Madeline Hanington, and Lowell Milken Center Executive Director Norm Conard

NIET works with states, districts and university partners who are introducing a range of innovative approaches to teacher preparation programs. Many of these innovations are growing out of stronger partnerships and connections between higher education faculty and the districts hiring their graduates. Moderated by NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook, panelists discuss national and state policy influences and responding innovations to draw a more talented and diverse pool of candidates; new training and support for pre-service teachers; accreditation processes; and technology solutions that are better preparing new teachers to be successful.

Pictured from left to right: Van Hook; Texas Tech Associate Professor Dr. Fernando Valle; Texas A&M-Kingsville Associate Professor Dr. Gerri Maxwell; Texas Tech On-Site Coordinator (New Caney ISD) Monica McCann; and Arizona State University Associate Dean for Grants and Partnerships Nancy Perry.

Read more about NIET's work in educator preparation in this Higher Ed Brief and in TAP in Focus.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Jodi Leckbee Chan leads a session on coaching using the Golden Circle model. The self-reflective model starts with drawing a Golden Circle encompassing the questions, "Why," "How," and "What," in smaller circles. Are we asking the right questions to help teachers reflect on and improve their practice?  

During a panel led by NIET Co-President and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Patrice Pujol, West Goshen Elementary School (Indiana) Principal Lori Line and Slaton Junior High School (Texas) Principal Jim Andrus share the impact of putting structures of teacher leadership in their schools. Both schools were recognized by NIET for their exemplary efforts. Read more about West Goshen and Slaton Junior High.

NIET Director of School Services Laura Roussel describes how field testing can be the linchpin for systemic student and teacher growth.

What's new in EE PASS content and how do you utilize the resources effectively? NIET Director of Learning Technology Stephanie Mosqueda leads a training.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Natalie Szakacs demonstrates how to structure instructional planning with problem solving in mind.

NIET Director of Training Dr. Ann Shaw meets with educators during her session, "Growing the Impact of Teacher Leaders: the Power of Strong Instructional Strategies."

District Spotlight: St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools (Louisiana). 

From creating a vision for the work, hiring and developing key staff, and embedding ongoing district support for schools, St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools’ district leads explain their framework for preparing their 10 year-one schools for strategic and focused TAP implementation.