Transforming Education for Social Justice Conference

Build Knowledge. Raise Consciousness. Take Action.
Attendee Alert: Please read below. Conference is postponed.

Transforming Education icon

Alert for Attendees:

Our conference is about coming together and feeling our collective power and our connection and joy about being together in our transformation work. We also believe strongly in caring for our each other and our community - especially our elders, our immunocompromised beloveds, pregnant friends, and more. Given the concerns about COVID-19, we have decided to postpone our conference scheduled for Saturday, March 14, 2020. 

We will need to wait a few weeks before setting a new date so that we can understand more about what timing would be best for the collective health of our amazing crew of conference attendees, volunteers, and presenters. Once we have more information, we’ll be in touch with a new date for the conference. 

If you would like to receive emails with social justice and equity-related resources and events for pk-12 educators, including updates about the conference, sign up here.

Description

The Transforming Education for Social Justice Conference is a regional conference that brings together people in Western Massachusetts who are interested in social justice and equity in K-12 schools, early childhood classrooms, and the surrounding communities. Participants and speakers will co-create a space for young people, educators, activists, administrators, and scholars to connect and network, share and learn, dream and envision possibilities for developing education as a tool for equity and social justice. In this space, participants will have the opportunity to examine the specific regional challenges that young people are facing in our education system which are a central to their lives and to the vitality of our communities.

Conference Tracks

Early Childhood; Elementary; Secondary; Youth-led Track 

Conference Features

  • 1.5 hour workshops focused on regional topics and initiatives related to social justice and equity in education
  • Opportunities for powerful networking and connections with local educators and administrators as you share curriculum, lunch and facilitated conversation  
  • Youth-led sessions that provide opportunities to learn from young people and support the development of student leadership.

Audience

We encourage K-12 schools to send groups which include young people, classroom teachers, administrators, and school staff. 

Credits

10 PDPs will be awarded to conference attendees who also complete an additional assignment. Read more here. 

Availability

Future conference dates will be announced here. If you have questions, please contact us.

Instructor(s)

  • Safire DeJong

    Keri "Safire" DeJong, Ed.D.

    Keri “Safire” DeJong, Ed.D. works in the Professional Development department at the Collaborative for Education Services (CES). Safire leads social justice focused consulting and professional development for PK-12 schools with an array of talented and experienced co-facilitators and consultants.

    Read more
  • Photo of Romina Pacheco

    Romina Pacheco

    Romina was born and raised in Maracay, Venezuela. Her early work as an educator focused on teaching English as a Foreign Language, and Spanish as a Second Language. Romina’s career as an educator shifted when she migrated to the United States in her mid-20s where most of her work has concentrated in teaching Social Justice Education and Critical Multicultural Education in institutions of higher education. Romina has a M.Ed in Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst, and a Ph.D. from New Mexico State University where she studied Curriculum and Instruction and Gender and Sexuality Studies. 

    Read more
For more information, contact:

Erin Sullivan

Position: 
Events Coordinator
Phone: 
413.586.4900 x5981
Email: 
esullivan@collaborative.org

Registration

A maximum class size is set for each course and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If the number of registrations for a course exceeds the maximum seats available or is too low to be able to conduct a quality learning experience, CES will inform you of available options.

Course Cancellation

If you wish to cancel your registration, please submit a request in writing (via mail, email or fax) no later than 7 business days before the workshop’s start date. After that, there are no refunds or billing adjustments.

In the event that a course is cancelled by the Collaborative for Educational Services, we will notify you as soon as possible. Please be sure to provide your best email address and phone number so we can contact you. Although every effort is made to avoid last minute cancellations, if an emergency arises, we will do our best to reach you at the phone number and email address you provide. 

Inclement Weather

Any delays or cancellations are posted online at collaborative.org. You may also call 413.588.5979 after 6:30am for information about classes that day. Or for Early Childhood Professional Development information, please call 413.588.5570.