EdEquityVA Webinar Series

As a follow-up to the 2019 Virginia is for ALL Learners Education Equity Summer Institute, the Virginia Department of Education hosts monthly webinars focused on equity strategies and resources available to school divisions.

This year’s series is strategically focused on sharing best practice and practical resources that advance the critical competencies necessary to achieve education equity in Virginia: Courageous leadership, Compassionate family and student engagement, Continuous reflection, Cultural responsiveness, and Curriculum reframing. Together these competencies make up the EdEquityVA Compass or Virginia’s Equity 5 Cs. Through the diverse expertise of our partners and presenters, our goal is to offer relevant and engaging sessions to Virginia educators that align to the Department’s priorities outlined in Virginia’s equity framework, Navigating EdEquityVA.

The EdEquityVA Webinars are open to all Virginia educators, education leaders, and education stakeholders. The Office of Equity and Community Engagement has increased the topic offering for this series to meet the diverse needs of educators across the state. A significant portion of the webinars will feature educators and leaders in school divisions across the Commonwealth who will join subject matter experts to share the policies and practices that impact equity outcomes for Virginia students.

See below for the full 2021 EdEquityVA Webinar Series schedule. Registration links will be posted here as they become available. Please note that dates, topics, and presenters are subject to change.

2021 Schedule

All webinars will take place from 3:00-4:30 PM. Registration links will be active in the topic column below once available. For assistance, contact EdEquityVA@doe.virginia.gov.

The work of EdEquityVA relies on the experiences, knowledge, and expertise of a variety of education equity thought leaders. The EdEquityVA Webinar Series often features various presenters representing outside organizations and school division employees. These individuals are not associated with the Commonwealth of Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) and the VDOE does not necessarily endorse the entirety of views expressed during or outside of the webinar series or the data and facts presented by these external stakeholders. Those wishing to contact the presenters may do so directly by using contact information provided during the presentations or by emailing specific questions to the Office of Equity and Community Engagement at EdEquityVA@doe.virginia.gov. 

Date	Topic and Corresponding Equity 5 C	Details	Recorded Webinar
January 26	Collaboration for Equity: A Look at How Region II School Divisions Lead Together for Equity (Courageous Leadership)	Dr. LaQuiche Parrott, Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Virginia Beach City Public Schools Dr. Jennifer Clayton, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Administration, The George Washington University Dr. Sheli Porter, Director of Secondary Teaching and Learning, Chesapeake Public Schools Alaina Trott, Director of Strategic Initiatives, Chesapeake Public Schools Camille Harmon, Principal of Bayside Middle School, Virginia Beach City Public Schools	Play Video
February 9	Supporting Younger (PreK-6) Multilingual Learners: Strategies to Support Multilingual/English Learner Students in Remote/Hybrid Learning Environments (Compassionate Family and Student Engagement, Courageous Leadership)	Dr. Jessica Costa, English Learner Instructional Specialist, Virginia Department of Education Esther Park, Instructional Designer and Learning Experience Developer	Play Video
February 23	Schools as Racial Justice Engines: Trauma Informed Care for Racial Trauma and Strategies to Support the Unique Needs of Black Students in Schools (Compassionate Family and Student Engagement, Culturally Responsive)	Dr. Danielle Apugo, Assistant Professor of Education, Virginia Commonwealth University Dr. Charles Barrett, Lead School Psychologist, Loudoun County Public Schools; 2019 School Psychologist of the Year Myles Hunt, Student Representative, Superintendent’s African American Advisory Council Leah Walker, Director of the Office of Equity and Community Engagement, Virginia Department of Education	Play Video
March 9	Culturally Relevant Teaching (CRT) Part 1: An Overview (Culturally Responsive)	Maria D. Burgos, Supervisor of Global Learning & Culturally Responsive Instruction, Prince William County Public Schools	Play Video
	Culturally Responsive Teaching Part 2: Strategies to Support Culturally Responsive Practice (Note: These sessions do not require advanced registration. You can access the content by clicking on the links below) Culturally Responsive Teaching Part 2a: Strategies to Support Culturally Responsive Teaching Practice in Mathematics Presented by: Dr. Angela Byrd-Wright, Mathematics Curriculum Leader, Hampton City Schools Culturally Responsive Teaching Part 2b: Action Research for Culturally Responsive Teaching Presented by: David Glass, History & ESL teacher at Meadowbrook High School in Chesterfield County Public Schools, Alma Kenup, English teacher at Quioccasin Middle School in Henrico County Public Schools, Victoria Parent, English teacher at Monacan High School in Chesterfield County Public Schools, and Dr. Jesse Senechal, Director of the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium at Virginia Commonwealth University To view examples of individual action research projects, click on each presenter's name. Culturally Responsive Teaching Part 2c: Creating Safe Spaces for Marginalized Students Presented by: Kirk Brown, Founder, Melanin Meetups
March 23	Grading for Equity: A Look at Alternative Grading Practices that Center Equity (Continuous Reflection)	Thomas Franco, Project Analyst, Virginia Department of Education R. Erin Comninaki, Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, Lynchburg City Schools Dr. Maria Pitre-Martin, Division Superintendent, Petersburg City Public Schools	Play Video
April 13	Postsecondary Transition: Intentional and Strategic Best Practices that Allow ALL Students to Access Postsecondary Opportunity (Continuous Reflection)	Sarah Bazemore, School Counseling Specialist, Virginia Department of Education Erin McGrath, Assistant Director of College Access & PK-12 Outreach, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia Joy Pugh, Director, Virginia College Advising Corps Alex Johnston, Assistant Director, Virginia College Advising Corps Melissa Benavidez, North Central Regional Manager, GEAR UP Virginia	Play Video
April 27	Continuous Reflection for Equity: Data Review for Equity, A Deep Dive into One of Virginia’s Equity 5 Cs (Continuous Reflection, Courageous Leadership)	Leah Walker, Director of Equity, Virginia Department of Education Dr. Roy Echeverria, Director of Assessment, Reporting & Program Evaluation, Frederick County Public Schools	Play Video
POSTPONED- New date TBA	Virginia Mathematics Pathways Initiative: Redefining Mathematics Pathways for Students in the Commonwealth	Tina L. Mazzacane, K-12 Mathematics Coordinator, Virginia Department of Education
May 11	Embracing and Incorporating Student Voice: Incorporating Diverse Student Perspectives into Strategic Planning (Compassionate Student and Family Engagement, Culturally Responsive, Continuous Reflection)	Lottie M. Spurlock, Director of Equity, Loudoun County Public Schools Megan Bryant, History & Social Science Teacher, Chesterfield County Public Schools; Sponsor for the African American Culture Club Telena Washington, former Chesterfield County Public Schools Student and Member of the African American Culture Club; Current Student at VCU Dr. Monica Manns, Chief Equity, Diversity & Opportunity Officer, Henrico County Public Schools	Play Video
May 25	Equity in CTE Programs: Reflecting on Policies, Procedures, and Practices to Avoid Disparate Impact (Continuous Reflection, Courageous Leadership)	Casey Roberts, Executive Director, New Horizons Regional Education Centers Kate Kreamer, Deputy Executive Director, Advance CTE Mimi Lufkin, CEO Emerita, National Alliance for Partnerships in Equity	Play Video
June 3	What's Culture Got to Do With It? Cultural Competence in Student Athletics	Dr. Billy Haun, Executive Director, Virginia High School League Dr. Tomika Ferguson, Interim Asst. Dean for Student Affairs & Inclusive Excellence and Asst. Professor, Virginia Commonwealth University.	Play Video
June 8	Building Literacy for Multilingual Learners: Best Practices in Remote Reading Instruction and Recommendations for Developing Language and Literacy at Home for English Learners (Curriculum Reframing, Compassionate Student and Family Engagement, Courageous Leadership)	Dr. Jessica Costa, English Learner Instructional Specialist, Virginia Department of Education Carmen E. Kurek, Elementary English/Reading Specialist, Virginia Department of Education	Play Video
July 27	Affirming & Inclusive School Culture: How to Cultivate Welcoming School and Classroom Environments for ALL Students that is Centered in Equity (Compassionate Family and Student Engagement)	Dr. Vivian Stith-Williams, Retired Virginia Department of Education School Social Work Specialist	Play Video
August 24	Supporting Transgender Students: An Overview of the Transgender Model Policy and Strategies to Support Trans Students (Compassionate Student and Family Engagement)	Quyen Duong, Student Services Specialist, Virginia Department of Education DeHaven Mays, Director of School Programs, Side by Side Vee Lamneck, Executive Director, Equality Virginia Side by Side is an organization dedicated to creating supportive communities where Virginia’s LGBTQ+ youth can define themselves, belong, and flourish. Visit their website here: https://www.sidebysideva.org/. Equality Virginia (EV) is an advocacy organization in Virginia seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people. EV is building a fully inclusive Commonwealth by educating, empowering, and mobilizing Virginians to ensure all LGBTQ people are free to live, love, learn, and work. Visit their website here: https://equalityvirginia.org/.	Play Video

2020 Schedule

Date	Topic	Details	Recorded Webinar Link
February 25	Black History Year Round: Strategies to Incorporate Black History into Teaching and Learning Throughout the Entire Year	Casssandra Newby-Alexander of NSU and Derrick Alridge of UVA, Co-chairs of the Governor’s African-American History Education Commission	Play Video
March 5	Reframing School Discipline Part 1: A Virginia Profile of School Discipline Disproportionality and Variables Making an Impact	Dr. Jennifer Piver-Renna, Director of Research, Virginia Department of Education	Play Video
June 23	Culturally Relevant Remote Instruction: Strategies to Support Culturally Relevant Teaching in Remote Settings	Dr. Jaime Aquino, Senior Vice President for Curriculum and Instruction at Discovery Education Leah Dozier Walker, Director of Equity, Virginia Department of Education Robin Porter, Vice President for Digital Content at Discovery Education Matthew Woods, Principal, Fieldale-Collinsville Middle School, Henry Co., VA	Play Video
July 14	Multilingual/English Learner Students and Remote Learning: Strategies to Support Multilingual/English Learner Students in Remote Learning Environments	Jessica Costa, English Learner Instructional Specialist, Department of Learning and Innovation, Virginia Department of Education Jose A. Velazquez, Director of Academic Instruction & School Support, Education Service Center-Region 19 Presented in Partnership with IDRA	Play Video
July 21	COVID-19 Slide Recovery: What Summer Learning Loss Can Tell Us	Dr. Aaliyah Samuel, Executive Vice President of Government Affairs & Partnerships, NWEA John A. Caggiano, Ed.D., Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Hampton City Schools, Hampton, VA Angela Byrd-Wright, Mathematics Curriculum Leader, Hampton City Schools, Hampton, VA	Play Video
August 4	Re-engaging Disconnected Students and Families: Best Practices in Family Engagement	Aurelio M. Montemayo , M.Ed., Family Engagement Coordinator, IDRA Presented in Partnership with IDRA	Play Video
August 18	Becoming an Anti-racist Education Leader: Equity and Anti-racism for Education Leaders	Dr. Andrew Daire, Dean, VCU School of Education	Play Video
September 1	Reframing School Discipline Part 2: Best Practices Following COVID-19 School Closures	Rebecca Kahila, School Safety and Discipline Specialist, Office of Student Services, Virginia Department of Education Brian Matbly, Discipline Hearing Review Officer, Hanover County Public Schools	Play Video
September 15	Trauma Informed Practice: Important Equity Considerations Post COVID-19	Quyen Duong, Student Services Specialist, Office of Student Services, Virginia Department of Education	Play Video
October 13	Culturally Responsive Family and Student Engagement: Principles for Successful Family/School Partnerships	Aurelio M. Montemayo , M.Ed., Family Engagement Coordinator, IDRA Presented in Partnership with IDRA
October 27	Navigating EdEquityVA: Implementing Virginia’s Equity Framework and Audit	Leah D. Walker, Director, Office of Equity and Community Engagement, Virginia Department of Education	Play Video
November 10	School PRIDE in the 21st Century: Strategies to Ensure Inclusive School Environments for LGBTQ+ students	Ted Lewis, Executive Director, Side by Side John Taylor, Associate Director, Side by Side	Play Video
December 8	Culturally Courageous Leaders and Educators: Open and Honest Conversations to Center Equity	Brenda Muse, Director of Curriculum & Instruction, Franklin County Public Schools Anitra Holland, Elementary School Principal, Franklin County Public Schools Matt Dunbar, Middle School Assistant Principal, Franklin County Public Schools	Play Video

2019 Schedule