After an eleven year adventure in the classroom inspiring students to lead, Nili’s technology integration role at the elementary level for the next three years pushed her to see the importance of a thriving culture.  Through coaching colleagues and implementing innovative ideas, Nili was able to serve as a catalyst, sparking positive change in her buildings as well as district. Now in a new role and district, Nili is bringing her experiences with her and is most certainly creating new ones.  A MassCUE Committee Member, BrainPOP Certified Educator, enthusiastic presenter, and blog author, Nili is committed to sharing her passions beyond the school community and is always excited to connect with other educators.

Keynote

Lead beyond Your Title

When we lead beyond our titles, cultures thrive.  Whether in the classroom, hallways, or beyond, we can all make an impact regardless of our roles. Driven by the PIRATE acronym, the Lead beyond Your Title experience will challenge attendees to harness the leader within as well as inspire others to do the same.  You will be asked to define your own role, share your awesome, and create new leadership avenues on you own PIRATE journeys. Exploding with interaction and energy, you will leave empowered to not only tap into your own courage but pass the mic to students, colleagues, administration, and community members.  Packed with ideas for unleashing strengths and passions within our buildings, you will be able to run back to school inspired to make a greater impact. Fueled by transformation, this PIRATE journey will push attendees to identify their next destination; as leaders.

Workshop/Breakout Sessions

Putting Passion into Practice

Do students, staff, and administrators know what you’re passionate about?  Passion-based learning is hot and is revolutionizing education globally. If we have any shot of bringing passion into the classroom, it starts with us.  In this session, we will dive into our own journeys exploding with personal and professional passion as well as encourage you to share and ignite your own.  You will be challenged to think about and share those topics in education that make you jump out of bed in the morning. Whether it’s becoming a PIRATE, 21st-century learning, connecting with your PLN, growth mindset, and so much more, these are the topics that guide us as leaders and bring us together.  Through stories of Genius Hour, Student Edcamp, and design challenges leading a school, community, and beyond, we will discuss the importance of colleagues putting their professional passions together. Based on evidence of transformational experiences for students, teachers, and administrators we will reflect as a new Passion Crew ways we can start or continue our own passion journeys with the support of each other.  An essential component to leading like PIRATES, let’s walk away inspired to be transparent in our work so that school can most certainly be a place where everyone is banging on the doors to get in.

Taking the PIRATE Plunge

Whether you consider yourself a PIRATE educator or you’re aspiring to become one, join me in celebrating the journey of a lifetime. PIRATE is one extraordinary mindset. In this session you will go from thinking PIRATE to acting PIRATE. Dive into honest, vulnerable, and courageous transformation stories that took guts, heart, and the “do whatever it takes” attitude that inspires change. Within each journey shared, you will learn strategies to add to your PIRATE toolbelt so that you can create your own stories and build upon the ones you’ve already started. From transforming the way you teach and lead to transforming the way students learn, you will feel the power of PIRATE regardless of the role you play in your building. We’ll discuss practical ideas for you to start your own transformation journey by asking you to consider what’s working and what isn't, and what YOU can do about it. We will discuss what it takes to bring “uncommon” learning experiences to your students and staff and ask you to share your own. With “Ask and Analyze” as a precursor to effective change, you will be asked to  take Lead Like a PIRATE’s “More Bam and Less Blah” transformation challenge and share your thinking with each other. A CREW in every sense of the word, we will come together in our session as a PIRATE community, committed to supporting each other in the adventures yet to come. Whether you start in the classroom with your students or with the teachers and administrators you work with, let’s create a ripple effect together making everyone in our schools run in, not out.

You’re Connected, Now What?

“Connected educator” is a hot term these days.  What matters most is identifying how being connected can improve your practice.  Whether you start your day connecting with educators all over the world, or lurking in hopes of finding another great idea, this workshop will help you determine where you are on your “connected journey.”  You will be challenged to think about your online presence, why you’re there, and how you’re bringing innovative ideas back to your building. You will be invited to share your own “connected” stories, the successes and the challenges.  Jumping into conversations about Twitter, PLN’s, and blogging, you will also be challenged to explore your next step. Whether you’re determined to dive into a Twitter chat, follow leading educators and hashtags, merge your online and offline communities, or start your own blog, you’ll walk away with ideas pushing you to grow and inspire others.  Staying true to PIRATE roots, you will be asked to choose one idea to put into action with a crew of attendees supporting you. Join me for an experience that will leave you empowered to continue your “connected journey,” a life changing adventure you won’t want to miss.