Keynote: El Power of Our Students’ Testimonies In order for students to leverage all that they are and all that they can be, they must engage in critical self-reflection from a young age. Testimonios are integral to this process. As educators, we must continue to leverage the cultural and linguistic gifts that students bring into the classroom. Participants in this session, through the use of the Testimonio Framework, will engage in activities that empower the diverse student communities they serve.
Keynote: Assume Greatness Jo will share up-to-date statistics on refugees and internally displaced people with a focus on a family from Ukraine who landed in Tacoma three years ago. With the help of their local school system, the family has rebuilt their lives after war. She’ll then discuss her national, undercover investigation of enrollment practices throughout the country — which yielded very positive results in the state of Washington. The presentation will also focus on high schools making a positive impact on newcomer students’ lives by removing barrier to their education.
