2023 SXSW Edu panel picker vote

Vote for RYHT PanelPicker Idea and become a public education advocate

Up Vote for each of our panels in the Policy & Civic Engagement Track. You are allowed to vote once for each panel. Read more about each to learn more about each of our panels. #PanelPicker #SXSWEDU

ReEngineering School Assessment and Accountability: Measure What Matters

Our students and schools are more than one standardized test administered on one day. Yet, the STAAR Test is what Texas schools and students are assessed on most heavily. A 2021-2022 survey of more than 15,600 Texans shows that educators, parents, community leaders, and students believe in accountability, but want more out of the current A-F system for our schools. How are other states addressing Assessment and Accountability? When do community based accountability systems play a role, and how can school districts successfully implement this new style of accountability? It’s time to rethink our accountability system. It’s time to Measure What Matters.

Speakers

• Bob Popinski, Senior Director of Policy for Raise Your Hand Texas
• Dee Carney, Assessment Accountability and Education Consultant
• Andrea Greene, Elementary English Language Arts Curriculum Specialist, Leander ISD

What will you learn from this panel:

• Results from a statewide survey of more than 15,600 Texans regarding their opinions on Assessment and Accountability
• An overview of what the federal government requires in terms of the number tests and how Texas currently calculates A-F ratings
• What assessment and accountability policy recommendations are being discussed in the Texas 88th Legislative Session

Vote for the “Measure What Matters” Panel

The Five Year Problem: Keeping Our Teachers in the Classroom” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][vc_column_text]Teachers are leaving the profession, half of all new teachers exit the classroom after five years, and fewer young people are pursuing teaching as a career. The teacher pipeline is broken, and alternative certification does not seem to be the answer. Today there is more data than ever about the challenges and potential solutions to improve this profession that is so intimately tied to the future success of Texas. Research and reports from the Charles Butt Foundation, the University of Houston and national academic research will offer a holistic view of the issue, while also guiding policy and helping to write legislation that can help us overcome the Texas Teacher Workforce Challenge.

Hear directly from teachers, the primary experts in their field, about retention policies, ways to make teachers feel valued, and how we can attract them to the profession, while also giving the profession the respect it deserves.

Speakers

• Susan Hansen, Dual Language Instructional Coach, Leander ISD
• Yisbeth Puckett, Science Curriculum Specialist, Leander ISD
• JoLisa Hoover, Teacher Specialist, Raise Your Hand Texas
• Stephanie Stoebe, Language Arts and Social Studies Teacher, Round Rock ISD

What will you learn from this panel: 

• Highlights from recent statewide reports focused on Teacher Workforce from the Charles Butt Foundation and University of Houston
• Insights from experienced teachers about retention policies and how we can attract more teachers to the profession
• What teacher workforce policy recommendations are being discussed in the Texas 88th Legislative Session

Vote for “the Five Year Problem” Panel

How to Become a Public Education Advocate

A strong educational system is fundamental to our democracy, and your voice is needed. If you are considering the adoption of legislative priorities, the answer isn’t to go alone – bring your community along with you! By adopting a relationship-building approach to your legislative advocacy, you can develop strong priorities that give voice, create opportunities to build stronger connections to policymakers, and lead to positive outcomes for public schools. This workshop will teach you how to identify your mobilizers and direct influencers; analyze what skills you need to instill in yourself and others to become public education advocates; and walk away with a plan you can implement to build deeper advocacy in your community.

Speakers: 

• Jackson Griffon, Regional Advocacy Director – East Houston/Gulf Coast for Raise Your Hand Texas
• Robert Long III, Ed.D., Senior Regional Advocacy Director – West Houston for Raise Your Hand Texas
• Natalia Gómez Ramback, Regional Advocacy Director – Central Houston for Raise Your Hand Texas

What will you learn from this panel:

• Identify the advocacy mobilizers and direct influencers who can be part of your advocacy program.
• Analyze what skills you need to instill in yourself and others to create or improve upon your advocacy program.
• Develop a plan you can implement to build deeper advocacy in your community.

Vote for “How to Become a Public Education Advocate” Panel