St. Andrew's Conference

The St. Andrew's Conference, hosted at St. Andrew’s School in Barrington, United States, is an engaging professional development conference designed for educators across various fields. Led by esteemed keynote speaker Antonio Viva, a partner at Leadership+Design, the conference emphasizes human-centered design principles aimed at transforming educational practices. Participants will learn to redesign lessons and student experiences through collaborative prototyping, ensuring that students' needs are at the forefront of educational strategies. This session is tailored for TK-12 educators, deans, advisors, and student life professionals eager to rethink classroom learning and advisory programs.In addition to the keynote session, the conference offers a variety of workshops led by experienced educators. Betsy Auliso, a member of the SAS Upper School Learning Support faculty, will lead a workshop titled Empowering Every Learner: Advancing Accessibility in High School Mathematics through Inquiry-Based Practices. This session will focus on integrating inquiry-based learning with Universal Design for Learning principles, providing educators with tools to create inclusive and engaging math classrooms. Participants will explore practical strategies such as choice boards and student-created rubrics, which are essential for fostering deeper mathematical understanding for all learners, including those with learning differences. Another significant session, Creating an Inclusive Learning Environment: An Occupational Therapy Lens on Sensory Regulation and Executive Functioning, led by Amanda Barnes, SAS Occupational Therapist, offers insights into sensory supports and executive functioning strategies. Attendees will gain practical tools for supporting diverse learners, enabling them to create classroom environments that address sensory needs and enhance learning experiences. This session is ideal for teachers working with students facing various challenges related to sensory regulation and executive functioning.The conference also features Nadya Rivera, who will present on How Do We Make Inquiry Work for Students at Any Language Level? This session aims to empower educators to design inquiry experiences that cater to all learners, regardless of their language fluency. Participants will explore methods to foster inquiry through identity-driven tasks and visual scaffolds. Sara Viveiros will lead a session on using Universal Design for Learning in student projects, highlighting how to blend inquiry with UDL principles to create inclusive learning environments. Further, Blinn Dorsey will facilitate a discussion on addressing controversial topics with sensitivity, providing educators with strategies to engage students in meaningful conversations. Lastly, Dr. Abdou Lo will introduce Design Thinking as a framework for creating school-wide projects, promoting a holistic approach to education that integrates STEM, humanities, and arts. The conference aims to strengthen the partnership between educators and parents, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive in a supportive and innovative learning environment.