Leading Beyond the Margins: Transformative Leadership in Alternative Schools

Presenter(s):
Ms. Latasha Buck, Executive Director, Virtual Academy and Educational Options Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, California

This session is grounded in the real-world experience of a District leader who is reimagining what education looks like for students pushed to the margins. Alternative schools serve youth experiencing trauma, instability, academic gaps, and systemic barriers—but they are also places for profound transformation when leadership is rooted in vision, high expectations, and connection.

Through vivid storytelling and interactive reflection, this session will explore the powerful and complex role of an alternative educational leader operating within the nation’s second-largest school district—a vast and often rigid system—that champions personalized, student-centered learning pathways in environments that demand flexibility and innovation. This leader not only designs individualized programs to meet the unique needs of vulnerable and underserved students but also leads decisively through crisis, responding to disruptive events such as the LA wildfires and citywide protests with empathy, agility, and strategic vision. Participants will examine the core leadership dispositions—innovation, adaptability, and relational trust—that sustain student engagement, resilience, and academic rigor in schools often labeled as “last chance.” They’ll also challenge common myths about alternative education and uncover what it truly takes to navigate systemic complexity while leading with clarity and compassion in high-stakes, high-pressure moments.

Attendees will engage with strategies for trauma-informed instructional leadership, restorative school culture, and collaborative, cross-sector partnerships. The session will offer real examples of innovative school models, highlight the impact of elevating student voice, and empower participants to lead in ways that promote achievement for every learner.

Leveraging the Science of Motivation and Hope to Engage ALL Learners

Presenter(s):
Dr. Tammy Pawloski, Professor of Education and Director of the Center of Excellence to Prepare Teachers of Children of Poverty at Francis Marion University, South Carolina

Are your students failing to scratch the surface of their potential? Do they sometimes seem hopeless, disengaged, or unmotivated? Discover why this may be happening and which teacher and school moves have the most significant impact. Develop a plan to identify specific student needs and implement evidence-based, high-yield strategies that are critical for positive brain change and engagement, leading to increased school success. Do not miss this session!

Participants will 1) identify value and expectancy of success as critical factors that lead to total motivation; 2) explore the science of hope and its impact on engagement; 3) take away high-yield brain and evidence-based strategies that can increase motivation, hope, and engagement.

From Clicks to Connection: Rebooting Engagement in a Fully Computer-Based Alternative High School

Presenter(s):
Mrs. Mercedes Thurston, Assistant Principal & School Site Administrator, Martin County School District, Spectrum Academy, Florida

Alternative education programs that rely heavily on online learning platforms often face a core challenge: maintaining student engagement when much of the instructional day is spent on a screen. In the 2024–2025 school year, Spectrum Academy launched a comprehensive engagement initiative aimed at encouraging students to spend at least one hour daily away from their computers without compromising academic progress. The school redesigned its daily schedule to incorporate live, in-person engagement segments—brief, purposeful sessions that involve collaborative problem-solving, peer discussions, hands-on projects, and targeted mini-lessons. These sessions reintroduced social learning, teacher presence, and active participation into a previously computer-heavy model.

Complementing daily engagement blocks, the school introduced monthly “Eagle Time Activity Days,” featuring physical activities, team challenges, and creative outlets to build relationships, reduce stress, and foster a stronger sense of belonging and school investment.

Come see how Spectrum Academy redesigned its schedule to balance live engagement with credit recovery demands. Learn specific engagement activity formats proven to improve participation and morale. Understand how AI tools were integrated into lesson planning to personalize instruction and boost quality

Turning The Ship, Navigating the Challenges of Change

Presenter(s):
Tara Cooper, Graduation Coach; and Hilary Dickerson, Graduation Coach; Pelion High School—Lexington County School District 1, South Carolina

When a school is performing at or below average, it is of utmost importance to make changes that will help turn things around and move in the right direction. In this session, we will explore a range of topics that have a significant impact on school performance, climate, and culture. We will discuss strategies for addressing the challenges of chronic absenteeism through attendance interventions and seat-time recovery plans. We will examine and discover data that reveals challenges and necessary changes for schoolwide growth and success. Finally, we will address the discouragement and burnout found within schools. We will share how to make some minor changes that will lead to significant results in a breakthrough from burnout. You may be facing challenges in change while trying to turn your ship around, but hold on! You can still enjoy the ride!

Empowering Voices, Transforming Classrooms: The Role of Student Voice in Effective Classroom Management

Presenter(s):
Dr. Toshawnka Mahone, Principal, Andrews High School, Georgetown County School District

This engaging and thought-provoking session explores the intersection of student voice and classroom management, providing educators with actionable strategies to support at-risk and struggling students better. Drawing on my research into the perspectives of urban schoolteachers, this session explores how integrating student voice into classroom management practices can foster a more inclusive, engaging, and equitable learning environment.

Attendees will gain insight into the transformative potential of student voice as a tool to dismantle barriers to learning and reduce disciplinary issues, contributing to the prevention of student dropout. Through a blend of research findings, real-world examples, and interactive discussions, participants will explore the journey of embracing student voices, including the challenges educators face and the successes they achieve.

McKinney Vento 101: Supporting Our Students Experiencing Homelessness

Presenter(s):
Kylee Fuhr, District Homeless Liaison, St. Lucie Public Schools, Florida

Participants will learn who qualifies as McKinney-Vento and how to identify them. The session will cover how to implement the McKinney-Vento law to ensure all rights are being upheld. Various projects from our LEA will be showcased along with techniques for building MV awareness within your school district.

Attendees will learn how to provide resources to their students experiencing homelessness so they feel supported and confident that they can achieve those graduation goals.

A Unified Approach for Non-Traditional Student Success

Presenter(s):
Major Stevie Brooks, Manager of Students Retention & Success; Dr. Pamela Ford, Executive Director of Research & Accountability; Ms. Annette McDonald, Extended Learning Coordinator; and Mr. Jamil Snowden, Student Retention Specialist, Kansas City Public Schools, Missouri

Our unified initiative will demonstrate how to empower every step of the recovery process for At-Risk students, providing a framework to ensure they are supported in their educational journey. Participants will learn this framework and the four critical pillars required for At-Risk student success: 1) T.R.I.P.: Recognize the Path to Attendance; 2) D.R.I.P.: Reignite Potential, Inspire, and Progress; 3) G.R.I.P.: Grasp Success, Graduate Strong; and 4) L.I.F.T.: Elevate Lives, Shape Futures.

Attendees will see how each pillar addresses a critical phase in the At-Risk experience, and how the program has helped increase district graduation rates and reduce negative issues such as low attendance and dropout rates. Our program yields numerous benefits, including increased attendance efforts, higher academic performance and educational attainment, positive social and emotional development, and reduced student dropout rates.

Throughout this process, goals are established, and check-in sessions with each At-Risk student encourage recognition and award improvements. This approach ensures that acknowledgement and positive reinforcement are directly tied to measurable improvements in continued success.

Project STAND: Reducing Dropout through school-based mentoring for college, career and community readiness

Presenter(s):
Dr. Tarol Clements, Senior Manager; and Tracy Gorea, Lead Advisor; Memphis Shelby County Schools’ Project STAND, Tennessee

The session will bring best practices, research, and practical strategies to professionals who serve at-risk and struggling students across multiple settings. Project STAND, an in-school mentoring program offered by Memphis Shelby County Schools, focuses on reducing high school dropout rates by promoting college, career, and community readiness. The session on Reducing High School Dropout through School-Based Mentoring for College, Career, and Community Readiness offers an excellent opportunity to explore proven strategies, best practices, and the impactful outcomes of such mentoring initiatives. This session will dive into how mentoring programs focused on these key areas can play a critical role in helping students overcome challenges, stay engaged in school, and prepare for long-term success. Participants will walk away with practical tools for designing, implementing, and evaluating effective mentoring programs, along with inspiring real-world success stories, including insights from Project STAND.

Participants will gain a deeper understanding of how structured mentoring can reduce dropout rates by improving student engagement and retention, as well as preparing them for success in higher education, the workforce, and their communities.

I See You: Meeting the Needs of Students with Disabilities in a General Education Setting

Presenter(s):
Meghan LeFevers, District Behavior Specialist; and Kim Harmon, District Behavior Specialist; Gaston County Schools, North Carolina

Looking for intentional strategies to nurture unique learners? What about positive, proactive behavioral strategies? This session is for you! Meet a student and a persistent team who, despite challenges or labels denoting disabilities, determined that with the right pieces in place, all students can find they are able. See how one school system has taken lessons learned from working with individual students to create a movement of inclusivity. Imagine what can happen if we meet the needs of students with disabilities, thus presenting a smoother path for graduation and post-secondary success! You are guaranteed to leave with a full heart and strategies that can be implemented the next day!

The Pathways Club: Building Resilience in At-Risk Students

Presenter(s):
Jim Warford, Program Administrator, The Peter R. Marsh Foundation

In this session, you will learn how the Peter R. Marsh Foundation’s Pathways Club helps build resilience, improve attendance, raise grades, reduce dropouts, and increase graduation rates. The session will focus on providing specific examples and testimonies of how The Pathways Club can help schools build a culture of “Resiliency” around at-risk students and how our Foundation Pathways Grant will compensate your school staff club leader.

Reengaging, Reinvesting, Reimagining: How Cyclone Academy is Changing the Game

Presenter(s):
Lynn Gaffney, Assistant Superintendent for Instruction; Larry Schmiegel, Superintendent of Schools; and Matthew Burdick, Director of Student Empowerment and Success; Watertown City School District, New York

In an effort to keep students engaged and on track for graduation, our district created Cyclone Academy—an innovative alternative education program designed to meet the unique needs of high school students at risk of dropping out. Operating outside of the regular school day, Cyclone Academy provides a structured yet flexible learning environment for students who struggle with traditional schedules, experience school-related anxiety, or require a more personalized approach to learning.

This session will highlight how Cyclone Academy leverages small group instruction, project-based learning, and strong student-teacher relationships to foster academic success and re-engage students in their education. We will share program outcomes, lessons learned, and strategies that other districts can implement to support their own at-risk students. Join us to explore how a non-traditional model can provide a lifeline for students on the verge of dropping out of school—ensuring they stay enrolled, empowered, and on track for graduation.

Empowering School Communities to Improve Attendance and Prevent Dropout: A Whole-Child MTSS Approach

Presenter(s):
Krystal Colhoff, Director of MTSS, Austin Independent School District, Texas; and Sarah Mathew, Director of National Partnerships, CharacterStrong

Chronic absenteeism is one of the earliest and most powerful indicators of academic risk, disengagement, and eventual dropout. This session will explore how school systems can adopt a proactive, whole-child approach to attendance and dropout prevention by focusing on creating the right conditions for learning—starting with positive school climate, strong relationships, and compassionate, data-informed conversations.

In this session, Austin ISD, a large urban school district with over 72,000 students, will highlight how a comprehensive Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) can be leveraged to empower school communities of any size. Participants will learn how to use weekly or biweekly attendance data analysis to identify at-risk students early and respond with the right level of intervention and support.

Key to the model is a team-based approach that brings together school counselors, nurses, social workers, parent advocates, and community partners to create a unified support network. Through collaborative data analysis and solution-focused dialogue with families, these teams not only address attendance barriers but also foster the student motivation, engagement, and well-being that are essential for long-term success. Leveraging our MTSS systems and Child Study Teams and incorporating the use of the Character Strong Blueprint for Chronic Absenteeism as an additional tool to engage in root cause analysis, we have standardized a practice for supporting families and reducing barriers to attendance.

Creating a 5 Star Pathway: How Youngstown’s Choffin CTC is leading Ohio Career Readiness

Presenter(s):
Jeremy Batchelor, Superintendent; and Dr. Michael Saville, Director, Choffin Career & Technical Center, Youngstown City School District, Ohio

In a district once defined by state intervention, Youngstown City Schools is charting a new course through innovative career and technical education. Scholars at our career technical center are achieving graduation status at a 10% higher rate than non-career technical students. This session highlights how Choffin Career and Technical Center is serving as a model for student re-engagement, academic improvement, and workforce alignment. Attendees will learn how CTE is not just a program, but a pathway to reduce dropout rates, provide purpose, and position scholars for college, careers, and life. Attendees will learn about the structures, partnerships and strategies that power Choffin’s revitalization and the district’s broader vision for equitable access to opportunity.

More Than a Diploma: Expanding Pathways to Student Success in Alabama Beyond High School Graduation

Presenter(s):
Mrs. Cristin Dillard, Education Administrator—College & Career Readiness/Talent Development; and Mrs. Shenitra Stokes Dees, Education Specialist, Alabama State Department of Education

Across the nation, educators face the urgent challenge of not only preventing students from dropping out but also preparing them for meaningful success after high school. Alabama has responded to this challenge with a bold and comprehensive approach: creating multiple, flexible, and student-centered pathways that ensure high school completion is not the end point, but the launch pad toward college, career, and life readiness.

This session will take participants on a journey through Alabama’s evolving dropout prevention and student success initiatives—highlighting both the results achieved and the challenges overcome along the way. Drawing from state-level strategies, local innovations, and collaborative partnerships, presenters will share how Alabama is reimagining the high school experience to keep students engaged, supported, and future-ready.

Developing a Dropout Prevention Self-Assessment Tool for Secondary Schools

Presenter(s):
Mr. Daniel Wynne, Outreach Transition Specialist, Miami-Dade County Public Schools/Educational Alternative Outreach Program, Florida

Secondary schools face the persistent challenge of identifying and addressing the root causes of student disengagement and dropout. This session invites you to take a deep dive into a new, research-based self-assessment tool designed to pinpoint areas for improvement and highlight best practices in secondary schools.

The presenter will share initial findings from a case study at a voluntary alternative school in Miami-Dade County, where the tool was implemented during the 2025-26 school year. This data-driven approach provides a clear rating of the school’s current practices and includes actionable recommendations for school-wide and role-specific professional development.

This is not a lecture, it’s an opportunity for collaboration. The purpose of this presentation is to share this self-assessment tool with colleagues across the country and, most importantly, to elicit your feedback. Help us refine this model into a reproducible, transferable resource that can be adopted by a variety of secondary schools nationwide to improve student outcomes and close performance gaps.

Building Bridges, Not Walls: Fostering Positive Student Connections

Presenter(s):
Jasmine Cohen, School Social Worker; and Jewelwanda Stenson, School Social Worker, Berkeley County School District, South Carolina

This will be an engaging and impactful session designed to provide educators, counselors, and other professionals who work with at-risk and struggling students the tools and insights necessary to build meaningful relationships. Attendees will explore proven best practices, cutting-edge research, and practical strategies designed to foster positive and supportive connections with students who may face academic, emotional, or social challenges. This session emphasizes the importance of creating a safe and inclusive environment where students feel seen, heard, and valued.

Project Engage: A Summer Strategy for Combating Chronic Absenteeism and Boosting Graduation Rates

Presenter(s):
Paul Milford, Coordinator— Social Work Services, School District of Lee County, Florida

What if the fight against chronic absenteeism started before the first school bell of the year even rang? In the School District of Lee County, the nation’s 27th largest school district, our answer is Project Engage, a proactive summer initiative designed to connect and engage our most vulnerable students before they slip further from graduation.

Starting as a pilot project, and now serving over 2,000 Tier 3 attendance students in each of the past two summers, Project Engage pairs students in critical transition grades (elementary to middle, middle to high, and 11th to 12th) with a dedicated summertime School Social Worker who checks in, problem-solves with families, and ensures that barriers to attendance are addressed before the school year begins.

Whether you’re looking to expand your district-wide attendance strategy or implement a school-based approach to prioritizing relationships with families, Project Engage offers insights that can be utilized to keep students in school, on track, and heading toward a diploma.

Future Forward: Innovative, Student-Centered Strategies for Credit Recovery

Presenter(s):
Paula Shaw, School Counselor/Program Manager; and Sarah Gossard, Program Site Manager, Bellefontaine High School, Ohio

At the heart of every successful credit recovery program lies a strong relationship between educators and students. This session explores innovative, student-centered strategies for credit recovery, with a focus on building trust, connection, and a sense of belonging for at-risk learners. Participants will examine the underlying factors that lead to credit loss and disengagement and discover how meaningful relationships can be a powerful driver for academic turnaround.

This session is designed for educators, administrators, counselors, and program coordinators who seek practical solutions to help students recover lost credits and stay on track for graduation. Attendees will explore a wide range of topics, including successful credit recovery models—both traditional and alternative—along with case studies from districts demonstrating high success rates. The session will highlight strategies for re-engaging at-risk students, promoting accountability, and incorporating student voice in the recovery process. Participants will learn about best practices in curriculum design, including differentiated instruction, standards-aligned content, and the integration of social-emotional learning and trauma-informed practices. We will also examine the role of technology, tools for monitoring student progress, and ensuring accessibility for special education and ELL students.