2025 Institute Schedule
Monday, July 21, 2025
8:30am, Regatta
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
Sadika Clarke
SWBOCES PLCS
9:00am - 10:00am, Regatta
KEYNOTE
Dr. Lizzette Ruiz-Giovinazzi
Superintendent, Nyack Schools
10:00am - 12:00pm, Regatta
Rooted in Justice: Transformative Education Practices
Dr. Kathy Sellitti
Director of Diversity & Inclusion, Kingston City School District
12:00pm - 12:30pm, Regatta
30 minute Lunch & Learn, Sponsored by Kids Discover
1:00pm - 2:00pm, Regatta
Equipping Students to Support Neurodivergent Classmates
Helen Kinnen
Special Education, Blind Brook-Rye School District
1:00pm - 2:00pm, Windward
Reimagining PLCs: Embedding Practice for Real School Change
Ogechi Iwuoha Njoku
Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, Programs, & Personnel
Greenburgh Central School District
2:00pm - 3:00pm, Regatta
An Elephant in the Classroom
Valerie Nierman
Health Coordinator, Mahopac Central School District
2:00pm - 3:00pm, Windward
Beyond the Bookshelf: Rethinking Your Classroom Library to Support Belonging
Catherine Graybosch
Supervisor, School Library System at SWBOCES
Tuesday, July 22, 2025
8:30am - 9:00am, Regatta
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
9:00am - 10:00am, Regatta
KEYNOTE
Joi Sampson, Ed.D., M.S.
Assistant Provost for Academic Engagement Mercy University
10:00am - 12:00pm, Regatta
Centering Joy, Building Literacy
Alexis McKoy-Yakle and Christina Bartley
10:00am - 11:00am, Windward
Educational Justice: How Schools and Communities Partner for Equity
Candace Pinn
11:00am - 12:00pm, Windward
Data Driven Parent Training & Counseling
Family of Kidz
12:00pm - 1pm
Lunch
1:00pm - 2:00pm. Regatta
Equity by Design: Using AI Across Systems to Support Every Learner
Rachel Wasilewski
1:00pm - 2:00pm, Windward
Creative Thinking: Bringing the Arts into Everyday Instruction
Andrea M. Thomas
2:00pm - 3:00pm. Regatta
Tech as a Bridge: Connecting with Multilingual Learners and Families
Alana Winnick
2:00pm - 3:00pm. Windward
Rethinking Assessment: The Power of Retesting
Xiomara Gonzalez & Kristen Sessano
Wednesday, July 23, 2025
8:30am - 9:00am, Regatta
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS
9:00am - 10:00am, Regatta
KEYNOTE
Jarvis Marlow-McCowin, PhD
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Education Coordinator Elmira City School District
10:00am - 12:00pm, Spinnaker
Common Circles Art Exhibit
10:00am - 11:00am, Regatta
"In My Shoes": Bridges Experience
12:00pm - 1pm
Lunch
1:00pm - 3:00pm. County Rooms
SEED: Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity
Wendy Dale and Imani Bolling
1:00pm - 2:00pm, Windward
Beyond Beliefs: Building Religious Literacy
Liz Burns Taormina
2:00pm - 3:00pm. Windward
Safe to Be Me: Creating School Spaces That Affirm Every Identity
The LOFT-Darby Allison-Dugue
Thursday, July 24
Location: Jacob Burns Film Center, 364 Manville Rd, Pleasantville, NY 10570
9:00 am
WELCOME & INTRODUCTION
Dr. Raymond Sanchez
Superintendent, Public Schools of the Tarrytowns
FILM SCREENING: COUNTED OUT
As part of our ongoing commitment to equity and inclusion, we invite you to join us for a special screening of the 2024 documentary Counted Out.
Directed by Vicki Abeles, Counted Out explores how our relationship with math shapes identity, opportunity, and access—both in and beyond the classroom. The film delves into the ways math intersects with political polarization, economic inequality, and social justice, challenging us to rethink what it means to be “math capable” in today’s world.
This powerful experience is open to school district teams and community members. We hope you’ll join us for a meaningful morning of learning, reflection, and conversation.
The film screening will be followed by a panel discussion and learning opportunity.