Summer Institute for Authentic Learning and Leadership: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

1:25pm EDT

Authentic Learning as an “Achievement Culture” Cure

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:25pm - 2:20pm EDT

We are in the midst of a youth mental health crisis that is reaching a critical stage. Many of our students experience anxiety and depression; some describe living in a constant state of stress. Teen anxiety and depression levels are particularly high in affluent communities where students feel extreme pressure to achieve. In this session, we will examine the problem with input from a student, a neuropsychologist, and a school leader who looked at his school's data and made changes to radically improve student mental health. We will also have conversation about engaging our communities in confronting this crisis, with an emphasis on how we can utilize authentic learning as a tool in our commitment to student and staff wellness.

Speakers

Steve Shapiro

Co-Founder, Our Family Culture

Steve Shapiro is a veteran school reimaginer, with over 30 years of K-12 classroom teaching experience, 15 concurrent years as a high school humanities program director, and four years as a district leader of experiential learning. In response to the unsettling state of youth mental... Read More →

Nancy Shapiro

Co-Founder, Our Family Culture

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:25pm - 2:20pm EDT
W1401

Breakout Presentation

3:35pm EDT

It's All About Culture

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:35pm - 4:30pm EDT

W1401

Authentic learning requires much more than passive compliance. So how do we help students develop the mindsets and habits that will support authentic learning success? We must focus on the single force that provides the context of all human experience: CULTURE. In this interactive session, Steve will help you identify the specific student qualities that lead to effective authentic learning experiences and will present a strategy to build powerful cultures that bring those qualities to life in your classroom. Participants will learn strategies they can apply in all learning spaces- from the home, to the classroom, to the school at large. This is a session that will stay with you and impact all aspects of your life.

Speakers

Steve Shapiro

Co-Founder, Our Family Culture

Nancy Shapiro

Co-Founder, Our Family Culture

Wednesday July 15, 2026 3:35pm - 4:30pm EDT
W1401

Breakout Presentation

9:55am EDT

Passion Night... From Vision to Impact

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:55am - 10:50am EDT

W1401

Educators from Galion Intermediate School will share their journey of designing and implementing a school-wide Passion Night focused on authentic learning and student engagement. This session will walk participants through the full process—planning, execution, and reflection—providing practical strategies and real examples that can be adapted to any school setting.

Participants will explore how the team built staff buy-in, structured engaging experiences for families, and showcased meaningful student work that connects learning to the real world. The session will also highlight lessons learned, challenges faced, and adjustments made to improve impact.

Attendees will leave with:
•. A clear framework for organizing their own Passion Night
•. Ideas for increasing student voice and authentic learning opportunities
•. Strategies for engaging families and the broader community
•. Reflection tools to evaluate success and plan next steps

Whether you are just beginning to explore authentic learning or looking to deepen community engagement, this session offers a realistic, replicable model grounded in practice.

Speakers

Thursday July 16, 2026 9:55am - 10:50am EDT
W1401

Breakout Presentation

Summer Institute for Authentic Learning and Leadership

1:25pm EDT

Steve Shapiro

Nancy Shapiro

3:35pm EDT

Steve Shapiro

Nancy Shapiro

9:55am EDT

Matt Dick

Katie Guy

Kelly Showecker

Maura Hartley

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