Leaders and teachers need the knowledge and tools to have productive, safe and meaningful conversations that foster anti-racist classrooms. We don’t have much time—we need to focus on actionable plans for what we can do now to get ready to return to school. 

We welcome you to join us for this 3-week virtual series, split into 1-hour sessions, each following a similar structure. At the heart of each session is a panel discussion featuring diverse leaders, who will each share a story about a major learning they’ve had, a strategy they’ve used, or an experience that illuminates the struggles and wins in this work. Each week focuses on a single area. 

Panelists

Dr. Anthony Hamlet, Superintendent
Pittsburgh Public Schools

Dr. Bryan Johnson, Superintendent
Hamilton County Schools

Traci Davis, Former Superintendent
Washoe County School District

Douglas Corbin, Principal
Golden Gate Community School

Jason Isaacs, Chief Revenue Officer
Open Up Resources

Week-by-Week 

Week 1: Practice | REGISTER NOW
Thursday, July 23 | 3PM ET

• How do we safeguard the student experience from the board level to the classroom?
• How do we identify and implement the tools and conversations to create more student-centered learning?
• How do we equip teachers to confidently lead these crucial conversations?
  
  

Week 2: Culture | REGISTER NOW
Thursday, July 30 | 3PM ET

• What is culturally-relevant instruction?
• How do we use this to illuminate teacher comfort and discomfort?
• How do we properly address this?
• What cultures are being celebrated in our schools, and which ones are being left out as in?

Week 3: Leadership | REGISTER NOW
Thursday, August 6 | 3PM ET

• How do we build anti-racist school district practices?
• How do we center achievement for all students?
• How do administrators bring the required voices to the conversation?
• What rules and structures are in place that are implicitly biased within the school?
  
  

About the Panelists

Dr. Anthony Hamlet, Superintendent 
Pittsburgh Public Schools (PA)

Dr. Hamlet is a native of Palm Beach County and is a product of the West Palm Beach Public School system. Upon graduation from high school, he attended the University of Miami where he was a starting defensive end. Dr. Hamlet received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1992. His achievements on the gridiron led him to a brief tenure as a professional football player with the Seattle Seahawks and the Indianapolis Colts. After leaving the NFL, Dr. Hamlet began his career in the service of children and families in the state of Florida.

The start of Dr. Hamlet’s career in education began with his work as a case manager and behavioral specialist with a county mental health unit. From there, he has held positions of teacher, Dean of Students, Assistant Principal, Principal and district administrator in a variety of school settings – urban and suburban. He has worked in affluent and high poverty districts. He has worked in high achievement and failing school contexts. He has been responsible for the transformation of dozens of schools in his career and is especially adept at providing leadership in very challenging educational settings. 

Dr. Hamlet is the recipient of five Principal of the Year Awards in the State of Florida from various organizations, including the State Department of Education.

Dr. Bryan Johnson, Superintendent
Hamilton County Schools (TN)

Dr. Johnson just completed his third school year as Superintendent of Schools in Hamilton County with student academic results showing historic levels of improvement. For the first time, the district's overall composite, and each subject area measured, achieved Level 5 - the highest level of academic growth on the latest state testing results, and 32 schools achieving Reward status - the top distinction a school can earn in Tennessee. His vision when he arrived in Hamilton County Schools was for the district to become the fastest improving school district in the state. Hamilton County Schools was #130 in student academic growth when he arrived and is now the #2 district in the state, making Hamilton County Schools the fastest improving school district in Tennessee! 

The success of Hamilton County Schools has earned Dr. Johnson state and national recognition. He was named a 2020 Leader To Learn From by national education publication, EdWeek, and is the Southeast Tennessee Superintendent of the Year and one of eight finalists for the Tennessee Superintendent of the Year.

Traci Davis
Former Superintendent, Washoe County School District (NV)

Award-winning educator and former superintendent of the Washoe County School District (WCSD) in Reno, NV, Traci Davis served more than 64,000 students, their families, and more than 8,000 employees. Her transformational and passionate educational leadership has resulted in sweeping gains in student achievement and performance as the District works toward its goal of “Every Child, By Name and Face, to Graduation.”

During her distinguished career as an educator, she has worked in a variety of schools ranging from at-promise to affluent, high-achieving to failing, and has helped transform learning environments in elementary-, middle- and high schools. She believes that we should have high academic expectations for all students so they graduate ready for college, careers, or military service. As the chief executive officer of the District, she oversees the day-to-day activities of WCSD, provides support to the Board of Trustees and manages the District’s Strategic Plan in support of the goals established by the Board.

Douglas Corbin, Principal
Golden Gate Community School, Contra Costa County Office of Education

Douglas Corbin has been an educator in alternative education for over 15 years as a workshop facilitator, teacher, dean of students, and assistant principal. Douglas graduated from U.C. Berkeley with bachelor’s degree in African American Studies and earned his master’s degree from Brandman University in Educational Leadership.  He has worked in the public-school sector in both Oakland and Richmond, CA. The remainder of his time as an educator has been in the court and community schools for the Contra Costa County Office of Education.

Douglas’ goal as an educator has consistently been to create positive student relationships and to challenge marginalized students academically through relevant and engaging curriculum. He was the first teacher in the nation to bring NASA’s Astrobiology curriculum to court and community schools. In 2015, he was a nominee for JCCASAC’s Teacher of the Year for his work in the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s, Golden Gate Community Schools Program.  He currently is the Principal of the Contra Costa County Office of Education’s, Golden Gate Community School Program.

Jason Isaacs, Chief Revenue Officer
Open Up Resources

Jason started his K-12 career in 2006 at PS 328 in Brooklyn, NY as their after-school director. Recognized for his ability to increase student attendance and increase parent engagement, he quickly worked his way through the ranks to become Executive Director at The Princeton Review. His experience includes managing the Sales and Operational Teams for Noodle Markets & 3P Learning across the US, Latin American and Canadian markets. He is most passionate about helping underprivileged students succeed in life.

About Open Up Resources:

Open Up Resources is a 501c3 that exists to increase equity in education by making the highest quality curriculum freely accessible to educators and providing implementation supports to the broadest number of teachers, empowering them to effectively and sustainably improve student outcomes in pre-K-12 English Language Arts and Mathematics. To learn more about Open Up Resources' mission and work, click here.

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