VATLL Annual Conference

Wellbeing cannot thrive in silos. This session
explores how self-awareness, strong
professional relationships, and shared
ownership strengthen collective wellness
across roles. Participants examine how
understanding emotions and intentionally
empowering educator wellbeing moves schools
beyond fragmented initiatives toward coherent,
aligned practices. These practices deepen
culture and collaboration, support the whole
person, and sustain meaningful learning and
leadership over time.

Equity-centered goals are unlikely to produce transformative outcomes unless people, time, funding, and materials are intentionally aligned to support them. In this interactive workshop, participants will complete a guided activity from the book Disrupt, Design, Deliver to examine a current school or district initiative through an equity and resource-management lens. Participants will identify the problem being addressed, consider whose perspectives and expertise are needed, and determine whether existing resource decisions create the conditions for implementation, adaptation, and sustained impact for every learner.

Feedback is most powerful when it extends beyond the evaluation process and serves as an ongoing collaboration that strengthens professional practice and improves student outcomes. This interactive session explores how educators can cultivate meaningful feedback practices that elevate leadership, teaching, and learning.
Participants will examine five essential elements of effective feedback: leading with clarity, being specific and actionable, ensuring timeliness, building constructive support, and creating space for reflection and response. Through authentic scenarios, collaborative discussions, and practical tools, participants will explore how the five elements of effective feedback can strengthen collaborative practices and support continuous improvement.
Designed to support educators across educational levels, this session provides a practical framework, with evidence-based tools and resources, for building a shared language that shifts feedback from evaluation to a culture of meaningful collaboration.

Chronic absenteeism requires an intentional, school-wide response. Drawing on research and hands-on school leadership experience, this session explores targeted strategies to engage students and families. Participants will learn how to leverage data-driven interventions and nurture a proactive culture of attendance. You will walk away with actionable tools to combat absenteeism, strengthen family partnerships, and ensure every student comes to school ready to learn. 

Discover how student voice can become a powerful driver of instructional clarity and engagement, and create more equitable learning experiences. Through authentic student survey data, collaborative learning, and AVID-aligned strategies, participants will explore practical ways to turn student feedback into meaningful improvements in teaching and learning. Attendees will leave with actionable tools, a continuous improvement process, and a plan for creating consistent instructional practices that better support every student's success.