2016 Conference on Teaching: Teachers Individualizing Learning
The Evaluation Systems 2016 Conference on Teaching brought together researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to discuss the Conference theme Teachers Individualizing Learning. Conference topics addressed how teachers can benefit professionally and students can benefit academically from individualized learning. Over the course of the Conference, discussants considered implications of individualizing instruction for future teaching and learning.
Speakers
Mr. Nathan Gibbs-Bowling
AP Human Geography and AP Government & Politics Teacher, Lincoln High School, Tacoma Public Schools, 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year
An eleven-year teacher, Nate Gibbs-Bowling is a veteran of the United States Air Force Reserves and a graduate of the Evergreen State College. He was a 2013 recipient of the Milken Family Foundation's Educator Award, is the 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year, and was one of four finalists for 2016 National Teacher of the Year. Nate was also a recipient of the 2016 Joseph Albert Dear Distinguished Alumni Award from Evergreen. He blogs about teaching and educational equity issues at natebowling.com, and his writing has been published in the Washington Post, New York Observer, Huffington Post, and Seattle Times. Nathan is a co-founder of Teachers United, a teacher-led education policy advocacy group, and currently teaches AP Human Geography and AP Government & Politics at Lincoln High School in his hometown of Tacoma.
Ms. Leigh M. VandenAkker
Teacher, East High School, Salt Lake City School District, 2012 Utah Teacher of the Year
Leigh M. VandenAkker is Utah's 2012 Teacher of the Year and winner of Utah's 2011 Golden Apple Award. She is a 2015 recipient of the prestigious Huntsman Award for Excellence in Education. As co-author of Techniques for Tough Times™, Leigh has trained teachers nationwide, providing insight and support by educating teachers in classroom management and how to teach SEL. She presented recently on "Whole Child vs. No Child" at SXSWedu.
With over 20 years' experience in the educational setting, Leigh has developed strategies and techniques that really work in today's classrooms. Designed to aid classroom teaching of communication and anger-management skills, her curriculum supports the strategies for teaching metacognition. Students learn to self-advocate, have a voice, and use higher order thinking skills to power through life's obstacles. Leigh holds an EdM degree as well as certifications in special education, criminology and corrections, ESL, and conflict resolution (communication, mediation, negotiation). She is highly skilled in program development and coordination. Her particular expertise is with "at-risk" populations, grant proposal writing, and program management.
As a 2012 Pearson Global Scholar, Leigh visited the country of Brazil, where she had the unique opportunity to examine its education system.
As a full-time public high school teacher, Leigh is recognized as a consummate professional who cares deeply for students. She is presently teaching at East High School in Salt Lake City School District, and she is currently serving on the Utah Education Association's Teachers Excellence Task Force. You can find out more about her by viewing her recent TED Talk.