Elkhart Culture Series: Thought Leadership Conference

The primary focus of the session will be on the many immigrant communities that are an under-appreciated cultural resource in the greater South Bend/Elkhart Region.  Attendees will discuss models of inclusion.  
Participants will have a better understanding of what immigrant communities are in the area and how they can be better included in the life of the region.

Attendees will discuss what the education of the future should and will look like.  They will examine some key elements that can accelerate and personalize learning.   Participants will make plans for how they can make changes to their educational environment to address needs of learners in the future.

The goal of this session is to discuss and itemize education needs of the future. Each participant will make a plan for how they can incorporate these needs in the future.   Participants will be able to adapt learning environments to the educational needs of the future.

In this session, participants will explore the role of the organization in including all individuals and discuss with panel of experts the benefits of this effort.

Attendees will explore the concept of "normal", compare bias relevant to disability type , define "right to access", consider various approaches for successful inclusion in different settings, and celebrate gifts that come through an inclusive culture.

Participants will gain an appreciation for the challenges and benefits of including individuals with disabilities.

Relationships Matter is an interactive session to assist principals or leaders outside of education with supporting and coaching non-relational teachers/employees.  Specific strategies will be offered in guiding conversations with teachers (and other employees outside of education) on how to be relational.  

The goal of this session is to provide specific strategies for administrators or leaders to use when working with non-relational teachers/employees (Examples include a template for coaching conversations, specific narratives that can be used during the evaluation process, and activities that can be used in PD sessions with staff to promote positive relationship building) .

Participants will take the strategies with them to implement in their perspective fields.

• Increase awareness of self and leadership strategies.
• Awareness of inclusion, education and community outcomes.

In this session you will increase your awareness about the program Elkhart Community Schools launched in 2014 known as School without Walls.  The flexible and inclusive program was designed to reach seniors who, for whatever reason, were falling short of graduating. high school.  School without Walls became the vehicle through which students earn credits to graduate through a digital learning program that benefits more than seniors; it provides credit generating options for students with anxiety, health issues, employment, or other special circumstances.