Doug Roberts
4 min readJun 3, 2020

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July 24–25 “Reopen Schools with Equity” Symposium Free Registration for any district leader

The image above surely causes a visceral reaction for any educational leader associated with IEI. Rows of desks designed for students to sit and get, spaced from each other, which looks like fewer and fewer classrooms in American schools each year. An empty classroom that IEI superintendents are being charged with figuring out how to fill while also following the onerous guidelines from the CDC. How are we going to figure out how to teach students using facilities, systems, and policies set up for a 19th or 20th century instructional paradigm?

None of us has any conclusive answers. But IEI can bring its members and other invited superintendents together to ask good questions and workshop solutions with third party experts in the fields of public health, IT/security, distance education, school finance, family engagement, and blended learning.

IEI SUPERINTENDENT SYMPOSIUM AND RETREAT: DEVELOPING A BLUEPRINT FOR RE-OPENING SCHOOLS SAFELY AND WITH A LASER FOCUS ON EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

Friday July 24, Noon through 9:00AM Sunday July 26.

In-Person: The Biltmore Estate, Asheville, NC (by invitation only)

Free Registration for any district leader to individual workshops or the entire Symposium

Sponsored by:

WHY ARE WE DOING THIS SYMPOSIUM NOW AMIDST ALL THE CRAZINESS?

Because IEI educational leaders need to workshop ideas with each other as they face an unprecedented challenge. Because we all need to roll up our sleeves and get to work and take a break from Zoom and Webinars. Because we feed off each others’ passion and creative energy. Because we can do this safely, far from intense COVID outbreaks.

WHAT WILL THIS SYMPOSIUM ACCOMPLISH?

We will develop and publish a concrete blueprint for reopening schools SAFELY and with a laser focus on EQUITY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE. This is a time for bold ideas that put students at the center of everything we do. The IEI Blueprint will be released within 10 days of the Symposium. All attendees will be credited as co-authors.

HOW WILL WE DO THIS?

Conversations will be organized by topic into 90-minute blocs throughout the 2 days, with panel presentations featuring superintendents, subject matter experts, and some of IEI’s thought leader partners combined with small group workshop discussions organized by district contexts and needs (rural, suburban, urban). Virtual and in-person attendees will participate in discussions on equal footing. The IEI team will capture ideas and turn them into the final blueprint document.

IEI’s Virtual Conference Software Solution, Remo, replicates in-person conference discussions

The in-person event will be safe and follow CDC guidelines. The Estate is geographically isolated and the hotel will be operating at diminished capacity to keep numbers down. We will use large meeting rooms, attendees will be capped at 50 people, meals and all events will be socially distanced. Masks will be distributed. Dress will be casual as some events will be held outside. Leave your jackets at home. As always, superintendents are invited to bring spouses and families.

HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Click here for more detail about the Symposium.

Follow IEI on Twitter. Visit our website.

Subscribe to the IEI Podcast, Talk Supes (and CEOs).

HOW DO I ASK QUESTIONS OR SIGN UP?

Email tiffany@instituteforedinnovation.com to inquire about availability and apply to attend.

WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, IEI SUPERINTENDENTS GET GOING

This is an opportunity to re-craft educational opportunity and remove obstacles to equity! It’s time to move beyond the Zooms and webinars, get together with fellow leaders SAFELY, and develop plans and protocols that can provide guidance for the most bizarre and challenging school year we may ever see.

IEI MEMBERS HAVE BEEN WORKING LIKE CRAZY. IT’S TIME TO CONVENE AND BRING BACK SOME NORMALCY!

We always leave IEI Summits re-energized and fired up to implement new ideas. We’ve never needed that more than now.

We hope to see new and old friends in Asheville and on the Virtual Conference Platform July 24–26!

Register for Virtual Attendance here!

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Doug Roberts

Doug partnered with some of the nation’s most innovative educational leaders to form IEI as a think tank that solves challenges facing kids in US public schools