2019 NIET Conference Panels and Presentations

NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken delivers the National NIET Conference keynote address. "High-quality schools filled with well-trained teachers are not only the best answer, but the attainable answer," he says.

NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen addresses the National NIET Conference. "Teachers are the pathway to the future," she says.

NIET Co-President and Chief Learning Officer Dr. Josh Barnett address the more than 1,000 educators, policymakers and other influential leaders at the conference, and thanks them for their efforts to improve instruction and student achievement.

NIET Conference Opening Session: Districts That Thrive with NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen and district superintendents. 

From left to right: Dr. McQueen, Perry Township Schools (IN) Superintendent Pat Mapes, Jefferson Parish Public School System (LA) Superintendent Dr. Cade Brumley, Caddo Parish Schools (LA) Superintendent Dr. Lamar Goree, Avondale Elementary School District #44 (AZ) Superintendent Dr. Betsy Hargrove, and Somerset Independent School District (TX) Superintendent Dr. Saul Hinojosa.

NIET Conference Opening Session: Districts That Thrive with Dr. Cade Brumley (Jefferson Parish, Louisiana), Dr. Lamar Goree (Caddo Public Schools, Louisiana), and Dr. Betsy Hargrove (Avondale Elementary School District #44, Arizona).

NIET Conference Opening Session: Districts That Thrive with Perry Township Schools (IN) Superintendent Pat Mapes

NIET Conference Opening Session: Districts That Thrive with Dr. Betsy Hargrove (Avondale Elementary School District #44, Arizona) and Dr. Saul Hinojosa (Somerset Independent School District, Texas).

NIET Senior Program Specialist Dr. Davita Lancelin leads a training on connecting instructional practices to new and more rigorous high-quality curriculum.

NIET Co-President and Chief Strategy Officer Dr. Patrice Pujol leads a panel of state and district leaders on effective strategies that advance school improvement solutions. Says Louisiana Superintendent John White: "NIET is about providing a clear roadmap to give teachers and students a path to success."

Left to right: John White, Orangeburg Consolidated School District 5 (SC) Chief Instructional Services Officer Dr. Cynthia Cash-Greene, Knox County Schools Executive Director of Elementary Schools Julie Thompson, and Slaton Independent School District (TX) Superintendent Julee Becker.

Knox County Schools (TN) Executive Director of Elementary Education Julie Thompson and Slaton Independent School District (TX) Superintendent Julee Becker discuss factors for advancing school improvement solutions. "You can't overestimate the effective leadership of principals," says Thompson.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Jennifer Campbell helps teachers determine the best approaches to coaching reflective teachers.

NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook leads a session on the power of stories to build a shared vision and commitment to action.

NIET Conference Featured Speaker Louisiana Superintendent John White: "NIET is a fantastic, evidence-based vehicle for professionalizing teaching."

Caddo Parish Schools District Executive Master Teacher Dr. Bridgette Brown facilitates a session on how to effectively utilize high-quality data.

Professional learning and observation are about supporting educators and building a culture of continuous improvement. NIET LA BOLD Executive Director Vicky Condalary addresses a packed room of educators on ways to strengthen the quality of the post-conference plan.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Theresa Hamilton meets with conference participants.

Educators collaborate during a training session.

NIET Director of School Services Laura Roussel addresses the National NIET Conference.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Lindsey Parker (center, right) and North DeSoto Upper Elementary School (LA) Principal April Woolard (center, left) lead a training session on connecting common goal consensus to collective efficacy. 

How do you move from long-range planning to unit planning for a particular professional learning session? NIET Senior Program Specialist Jodi Leckbee Chan gives participants useful tips.

NIET Director of Learning Technology Stephanie Mosqueda addresses the National NIET Conference.

NIET Director of Training Dr. Ann Shaw helps conference participants obtain a deeper understanding of challenging students through thinking and problem-solving.

Educators network between sessions at the National NIET Conference.

NIET Conference attendees participate in a training.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Patti Cruz facilitates a session on coaching exemplary teachers.

NIET Chief Policy Officer Kristan Van Hook leads a discussion on principal leadership and the practices that lead to school success.

From left to right: Cross County School District (AR) Executive Master Teacher and Federal Programs Director Mindy Searcy; Alice M. Harte Charter School (LA) Head of School Robert Hill; West St. John Elementary School Principal Chantell Walker; and Douglas MacArthur Elementary School (IN) Principal Star Hardimon.

A jam-packed room of educators, including members of Cross County Elementary Technology Academy (AR), learn more about principal leadership practices that lead to success.

Austin-East Magnet High School (TN) Principal Nathan Langlois helps educators structure walk-throughs that best impact student learning.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Natalie Szakacs leads a session on how to coach educators to maximize their impact on student learning.

NIET Senior Trainer Teddy Broussard leads a training on strengthening academic culture through reflective practice.

Members of the NIET 2018-19 Educator Advisory Board are honored for their service.

From left to right: NIET Chairman and Founder Lowell Milken, Dodson Branch School (TN) Mentor Teacher Alex Patterson, Grand Prairie Independent School District (TX) Deputy Superintendent of Innovation and School Improvement Pat Lewis, Cross County School District (AR) Executive Master Teacher and Federal Programs Director Mindy Searcy, Barrera Veterans Elementary School (TX) Master Teacher Amber Simpson, Central Decatur Community School District (IA) PK-6 Principal Amy Whittington, Orleans Parish School Board Executive Master Teacher Shelia Banks, Perry Township Schools (IN) Assistant Superintendent Vickie Carpenter, West Goshen Elementary School (IN) Principal Lori Line, Avondale Elementary School District #44 (AZ) Superintendent Dr. Betsy Hargrove, and NIET CEO Dr. Candice McQueen.  

Dr. Fernando Valle, associate professor of educational psychology and leadership at Texas Tech University, emphasizes the value of partnerships between school districts and higher education. He says the two questions should be, "What is it that you need? And how can we adjust our educator preparation program to fit into your specific context?" 

All panelists featured are, from left to right: Dr. Rhonda Wilson, director of the Practitioner Teacher Program at LSU Alexandria; Valle; Paula Summers Calderon, dean of the College of Education at Southeastern Louisiana University; and Dr. Kenith Britt, senior vice president of teacher learning excellence and dean of Marian University's Klipsch Educators College.

Madison Parish School District​ Master Teacher Tracy Banks participates in an NIET Conference training.

Wildflower School (AZ) educators and Avondale Elementary School District #44 (AZ) leaders discuss their success and address questions from the audience about implementing best practices in their schools.

From left to right: District Professional Development Coordinator Anna Carino, Wildflower Mentor Teacher Elzbieta Galek, Wildflower Master Teacher Katelyn Orloski, Wildflower Principal Dr. Araceli Montoya, Wildflower Dean of Students Ana Gutierrez, and moderator NIET Senior Program Specialist Sheila Talamo.

What characteristics do we look for in developing and supporting teacher leaders? NIET Senior Trainer Teddy Broussard and Senior Program Specialist Jennifer Hazelwood work with educators to identify these important elements.

NIET LA BOLD Executive Director Vicky Condalary: "The post-conference is not the end. It’s the beginning of the teacher’s work to change practice."

NIET Senior Program Specialist Jen Oliver leads a session on measuring and monitoring the impact of professional learning meetings to celebrate short-term wins.

Educators participate in a conference training.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Roneka Coleman helps leadership teams make school plans come to life.

NIET Senior Program Specialist Jennifer Hazelwood (far right, standing) engages with educators to help strengthen academic culture through reflective practice.