Developing Praxis in Education During Times of Uncertainty and Complexity
Held at
California State University, San Marcos
July 28-30, 2025
This comprehensive three-day Leadership and Equity Institute is designed for K-12 county and district superintendents, school administrators, teachers, classified management leaders and higher education professionals. It will focus on the Model of Transformative Leadership to achieve equitable, inclusive, and high-quality education for all students, and on fostering an organizational culture of belonging through Culturally Proficient Educational Practice.
This institute will offer an immersive and extensive exploration into the intricacies of leading for equity. Participants will engage in reflection, dialogue and action discussions aimed at equipping them with the necessary skills and knowledge to confidently foster transformative change within their respective institutions.
The program will address critical issues such as creating inclusive educational environments, promoting inclusion, equity and access, and building a culture of belonging. Through the implementation of Culturally Proficient Educational Practices, attendees will learn how to support and advocate for an equitable and quality education for all students, irrespective of their background.
Additionally, this institute will provide a platform for educators to share best practices, collaborate on innovative solutions, and develop strategies to effectively navigate the challenges posed by today’s volatile and uncertain times. This transformative leadership program serves to inspire and empower educational leaders to drive meaningful change and create lasting impact within their communities.
The comprehensive agenda includes keynote presentations, a master class, and themes and focus areas led by esteemed experts in the field. Participants will have the opportunity to network with peers, exchange ideas, and gain valuable insights to enhance their confidence, professional learning and leadership capabilities to meet today’s educational challenges and stay the course for closing disparities and outcome gaps for all students.
Day 1 – Monday, July 28, 2025
Leadership & Curriculum to Meet the Moment
Land Acknowledgement (R. Tolteka Cuauhtin) – Cuauhtin is best known for his work as co-chair of the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum (ESMC) advisory committee, an 18-person group charged with advising on the development of a new ethnic studies curriculum to be recommended to California schools.
From Transformational to Transformative (Dr. Carolyn M. Shields, Wayne University) – In these uncertain and complex times, it’s crucial for educators to become transformative leaders. Discover the Transformative Leadership Model to support an Equitable, Inclusive, and Quality Education. This keynote and workshop will introduce educational leaders to the concept of a VUCA world (a world dominated by volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity) (Caron, 2024). Dr. Shields Keynote and her workshop will show how VUCA helps to explain some of the current challenges and opportunities facing educational leaders. Learn how this model can coalesce staff and colleagues in supporting and fostering an inclusive organizational culture to provide a quality education for all students.
Ethnic Studies is Transformative and Culturally Competent Curriculum (Ron Espiritu) – Ethnic Studies exemplifies culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy, embodying Culturally Proficient practice. California’s Assembly Bill 101 was passed in 2021 after an important 20-year grassroots effort led by educators which mandates a California Ethnic Studies graduation requirement by 2029-30. A growing body of research documents the positive impact of Ethnic Studies pedagogy on academic achievement and well-being for students of all racial and ethnic backgrounds. The road to implementation continues to face a variety of challenges from funding to political challenges, to the need for quality and authentic Ethnic Studies curriculum that is relevant to the specific histories of the location the courses are being implemented in. Ron Espiritu has extensive experience in implementing Ethnic Studies throughout Southern California. He will share what educators and leaders need to know for implementing and teaching Ethnic Studies pedagogy, effective ways for training teachers, and how to build capacity by confidently advocating for and effectively implementing these courses with fidelity at all education levels.
Day 2 – Tuesday, July 29, 2025
Disinformation about DEIA Fosters a Paralysis of Fear
Disinformation about DEIA Fosters a Paralysis of Fear (Dr. Shaun Harper) – Shaun Harper is one of America’s most highly respected diversity, equity, and inclusion experts. He is a Provost Professor in the Rossier School of Education, Price School of Public Policy, and Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California. He also is the Clifford and Betty Allen Chair in Urban Leadership, as well as the USC Race and Equity Center’s founder and Chief Research Scientist. He was named University Professor in 2022. Attendees will also receive a copy of his new book set to be released on July 25, 2025.
Spoken Word (Fong Tran) – Fong Tran is a Spoken Word Poet, Educator and Public Speaker. UC Davis Masters in Community Development. UC Berkeley BA Social Welfare.
Public Education is Under Attack, Silence is Complicity (Dr. Ken Magdaleno) – pending confirmation
The Truth about DEIA (Honorable Rob Bonta, California Attorney General) – pending confirmation
Day 3 – Wednesday, July 30, 2025
Staying the Course for Equity And Access – A Framework for Culturally Proficient Practice
A Master Class for “Sitting in the Fire” (Drs. Delores & Randy Lindsey, CCPEP) – will deepen your knowledge of the Conceptual Framework for Culturally Proficient Practice. These speakers will share their personal journeys for addressing equity and access as teachers, administrators, and professors. This will be a special opportunity to ask questions about individual and organizational change during volatile and uncertain times.
Learn and practice effective and comprehensive strategies to ensure you can “sit in the fire” when advocating for equity, inclusion, and accessibility, all key components of a quality educational experience. Learn how the conceptual framework can also be the foundation for uniting our communities and bringing people back together.
Explore the Self-Guided Equity Assessment Tool SEAT (Dr. Jaime Welborn, Professor, Saint Louis University, and President of the Midwest Coalition for Culturally Proficient Schools) – This will be an introduction to the Self-Guided Equity Assessment Tool (SEAT) for the purpose of monitoring the status of your equity action plan and strategic transformative levers.
Diverse Leadership Perspectives in Education: From K-12 to Higher Education (Dr. Brooke Soles, Associate Professor, School of Education, CSU San Marcos and Dr. Theresa Meyerott, Assistant Professor, School of Education, CSU Los Angeles) – A current examination of the field of educational leadership encapsulating complex transformative avenues for overcoming systemic barriers in K-12 schools and districts, community colleges, and universities. This session presents an expert panel of researchers situated in these various spaces to provide empirical data, best practices, and a way forward.
Institutionalizing Cultural Knowledge – A Voices from the Field Presentation by LACOE EDI Leaders (Dr. Jamaal Williams, Dr. Tyisha Noise, and Mr. Marco Ibarra of the Los Angeles County Office of Education Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Department) – The group will share their equity action plan implementation of culturally proficient practice for leading transformative change throughout the second largest county office of education in the United States.
Grant High School Student Cultural Proficiency Video – Presented by: Mr. Jason Dillard. A Grant High School, Twin Rivers Unified School District, student leaders’ presentation.
