Empowering Leaders' Symposium 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to the Henrico County Public Schools 2026 Empowering Leaders Symposium

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

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8:15am EDT

Title IX & Protected Class harrassment/discrimination & Legal Reminders

Tuesday June 2, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am EDT

PRESENTATION LINK

How to report allegations, breakdown of Title IX and protective class definitions, investigative processes, Scenarios to practice. The HCPS legal team will also share reminders.

Speakers

Leslie Traylor

HR Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Megan Watkins

Tuesday June 2, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am EDT
Auditorium

Learning Environment, Key Session

9:15am EDT

Update for the 2025-2026: Code of Student Conduct, DRHO Procedures, and Incident Management

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am EDT

Auditorium

PRESENTATION LINK
In this required session, school administrators will receive important updates on the 2025-2026 Code of Student Conduct and the Division Hearing Review Officer (DRHO) timelines and procedures for discipline hearings. Additionally, administrators will participate in a refresher on incident management processes within PowerSchool. The UCBS Team will also join to provide guidance on documenting student behavior and processing teacher referrals. This session ensures administrators are fully equipped to support a safe, organized, and responsive learning environment.

Speakers

JaNee Boston

MTSS Coordinator, Central Office- MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports)

MTSS Coordinator- Tier 1

Demi Branch

Office Professional

Dr. Tiffany Byrd & Dr. William Noel Libby Goldberg

Tuesday June 2, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Auditorium

Learning Environment, Key Session

10:15am EDT

AI-Ready Leadership

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

2109/2110

Please join the Department of Innovation for “AI-Ready Leadership.” Leading AI at your school starts with developing your own skills. Through this session, participants will explore essential AI competencies for school leaders, boosting your productivity, creativity, and leadership effectiveness. We will cut through the complexity to reinforce your existing foundational AI knowledge and provide the essential AI literacies leaders need to thrive today. This session will empower you to confidently use, model, and lead safe, effective AI implementation in your school, helping you to remain an informed leader.

Speakers

Kourtney Bostain

Director of Innovation

Kourtney is in her 23rd year in education and currently serves as the Director of Innovation for Henrico County Public Schools. She started her career as a middle school social studies teacher at Brookland Middle, then moved into instructional technology as an ITRT at Moody and Quioccasin... Read More →

Jon Gregori

Education Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Innovation Specialist

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
2109/2110

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

10:15am EDT

Partnership in Practice: Strengthening the Relationship Between School Resource Officers and School Leaders (Elementary) - REQUIRED

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

Community Room

PRESENTATION LINK
Join the Director of Safety and the Assistant Chief of Police for this timely and essential session focused on building strong, collaborative relationships between School Resource Officers (SROs) and school administrators. Together, we'll explore best practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, and discuss proactive strategies for maintaining safe, supportive learning environments. This engaging session replaces the previously scheduled full-day training in August—meaning one less summer commitment! Attendance is required for all school leaders, and we’re confident you’ll find this time well spent. Come prepared to learn, reflect, and strengthen your school’s approach to safety through effective partnership.

Speakers

John Casullo & Assistant Chief Bob Wershbale

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
Community Room

Learning Environment, Required

10:15am EDT

Quiz the Lawyers - Question and Answer Session (bring your questions this will be an open time for dialogue)

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

1108

Speakers

Mary Hart

Andrew Lloyd

Megan Watkins

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
1108

Learning Environment

10:15am EDT

Supporting Challenging Behaviors before an FBA

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

2213

Speakers

Kristin Herman

Exceptional Education Coordinator, Henrico County Public Schools

Tuesday June 2, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
2213

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

AI-Ready Leadership

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

1208/1209

Speakers

Kourtney Bostain

Director of Innovation

Jon Gregori

Education Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Innovation Specialist

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
1208/1209

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

Explicit Instruction

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

2109/2110

Learn how the Explicit Instruction approach, developed by Dr. Anita Archer, promotes student achievement, academic engagement, and on-task behavior and helps teachers cover content more deeply and quickly. Throughout the learning, participants will explore the core concepts of Explicit Instruction, a set of research based design and delivery principles that provide a clear model for what impactful classroom instruction looks like.

Speakers

Drew Baker

Education Specialist, Henrico County

PLL Specialist

Jenn Coleman

Professional Learning and Leadership Specialist, Henrico County

PLL Coordinator

Taren Meekins

Coordinator, Professional Learning and Leadership, HCPS Professional Learning and Leadership

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
2109/2110

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

Partnership in Practice: Strengthening the Relationship Between School Resource Officers and School Leaders (Secondary) - REQUIRED

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

Community Room

Speakers

John Casullo & Assistant Chief Bob Wershbale

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
Community Room

Learning Environment, Required

1:55pm EDT

AI-Ready Schools

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

1208/1209

Please join the Department of Innovation for “AI-Ready Schools.” Artificial intelligence is fundamentally reshaping education, and schools that embrace this shift will be best equipped to adapt and thrive. Through this session, participants will explore a school-wide blueprint for integrating AI safely, responsibly, and equitably, so no one is left behind. You will get practical strategies for cultivating innovation among teachers, strengthening students' digital literacy and citizenship skills, and seamlessly weaving AI initiatives into your school’s goals. Leave with actionable ideas and tools to help lead your school to become AI-ready.

Speakers

Kourtney Bostain

Director of Innovation

Jon Gregori

Education Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Innovation Specialist

Doug Saunders

Innovative Learning Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

I work in the Department of Innovation for Henrico County Public Schools, where I enjoy supporting school leaders and educators in designing forward-thinking learning experiences. I'm passionate about creativity, collaboration, and exploring emergent technologies that can transform... Read More →

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
1208/1209

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

1:55pm EDT

Behavior Support (Kickboard): Secondary Update

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

1104

It has never been more important to track behavior interactions within your school climate. This session will provide updates and demos regarding updates for the Behavior Support dashboard (Kickboard). The information included will be conducive to the elementary school setting.

Speakers

JaNee Boston

MTSS Coordinator, Central Office- MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports)

MTSS Coordinator- Tier 1

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
1104

Learning Environment, Recommended

1:55pm EDT

Leading 504: Tools, Trends & Tactics

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

1103

Section 504 compliance isn’t just about paperwork — it’s about leadership, equity, and protecting your students and your school. This interactive 75-minute session cuts through the legal jargon and gives school and administrators real-world tools, current legal insights, and practical strategies to confidently lead 504 processes on their campuses.

We'll tackle hot-button issues including mental health accommodations, discipline and manifestation determinations, chronic health conditions, and the rising tide of parent conflict — all through the lens of compliance and campus culture. Walk away with easy-to-implement templates, risk-spotting strategies, and a leadership action plan to improve implementation, reduce disputes, and empower your team.

Speakers

Nisha Green-Jones

504 Coordinator

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
1103

Learning Environment, Recommended

1:55pm EDT

LifeReady Learning Environments

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

2202

Presentation: Please join the Department of Innovation for LifeReady Learning Environments, a session designed to support school leaders in identifying key innovation priorities for the year ahead. Through this session, participants will explore and brainstorm ways to redesign learning environments to support deeper, student-centered learning. The focus of this session will be redesigning learning environments to foster deeper, student-centered learning. Participants will explore and brainstorm strategies, review examples, preview upcoming opportunities, and identify the alignment with Journey to 2030.

Presentation

Speakers

Kourtney Bostain

Director of Innovation

Rebecca Hardin

Education Specialist of Library Services, Henrico County Public Schools

Jon Wirsing

Education Specialist - Innovative Learning, Henrico County Public Schools

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
2202

Learning Environment

1:55pm EDT

Partnership in Practice: Strengthening the Relationship Between School Resource Officers and School Leaders (Elementary)- REQUIRED

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

Community Room

PRESENTATION LINK

Join the Director of Safety and the Assistant Chief of Police for this timely and essential session focused on building strong, collaborative relationships between School Resource Officers (SROs) and school administrators. Together, we'll explore best practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, and discuss proactive strategies for maintaining safe, supportive learning environments. This engaging session replaces the previously scheduled full-day training in August—meaning one less summer commitment! Attendance is required for all school leaders, and we’re confident you’ll find this time well spent. Come prepared to learn, reflect, and strengthen your school’s approach to safety through effective partnership.

Speakers

John Casullo & Assistant Chief Bob Wershbale

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
Community Room

Learning Environment, Required

1:55pm EDT

Rebranding: Student Support Interventionist (SSI)- REQUIRED FOR SCHOOLS WITH SSI

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

2103

This session highlights the expanded direct 1:1 support Student Support Interventions (SSIs) will provide to students on their caseloads, alongside comprehensive campus-wide assistance. The goal is to equip SSIs with effective strategies and resources to support students to improve their behavior performance positively impacting their overall academic and attendance outcomes. Additionally, this session introduces a progress monitoring tool to manage interventions. Don't miss this opportunity to learn about innovative solutions that can enhance your school's intervention processes and support student success.

Speakers

Marcella Armstrong

Education Specialist, Behavior Support

Julian Rieder

MTSS Specialist, Central Office- MTSS (Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports)

MTSS Specialist

Tuesday June 2, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
2103

Learning Environment, Required

3:20pm EDT

Leading 504: Tools, Trends & Tactics

Tuesday June 2, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

1103

Speakers

Nisha Green-Jones

504 Coordinator

Tuesday June 2, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT
1103

Learning Environment, Recommended

3:20pm EDT

LifeReady Learning Environments

Tuesday June 2, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

2202

Speakers

Kourtney Bostain

Director of Innovation

Rebecca Hardin

Education Specialist of Library Services, Henrico County Public Schools

Jon Wirsing

Education Specialist - Innovative Learning, Henrico County Public Schools

Tuesday June 2, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT
2202

Learning Environment

3:20pm EDT

Partnership in Practice: Strengthening the Relationship Between School Resource Officers and School Leaders (Secondary)- REQUIRED

Tuesday June 2, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

Community Room

PRESENTATION LINK

Join the Director of Safety and the Assistant Chief of Police for this timely and essential session focused on building strong, collaborative relationships between School Resource Officers (SROs) and school administrators. Together, we'll explore best practices, clarify roles and responsibilities, and discuss proactive strategies for maintaining safe, supportive learning environments. This engaging session replaces the previously scheduled full-day training in August—meaning one less summer commitment! Attendance is required for all school leaders, and we’re confident you’ll find this time well spent. Come prepared to learn, reflect, and strengthen your school’s approach to safety through effective partnership.

Speakers