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

Specially Designed Instruction for Administrators

Wednesday June 3, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am EDT

PRESENTATION LINK

School leaders will understand what specially designed instruction (SDI) is and understand the role of special and general educators in delivering specialized instruction

Speakers

Tiffany Young

Wednesday June 3, 2026 8:15am - 9:15am EDT
Auditorium

Academic Achievement, Required

9:15am EDT

From Observation to Transformation: Making Teacher Evaluation Matter

Wednesday June 3, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am EDT

Auditorium

PRESENTATION LINK

Speakers

Thomas Ferrell, Jr.

Director of High School Education, Henrico County Public Schools

Dr. Candace Wilkerson

Wednesday June 3, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am EDT
Auditorium

Recruit Engage Retain Reward Staff, All Leaders

10:15am EDT

Alternative Pathways for SWD to earn a Standard Diploma

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

1103

Speakers

Laura Tully

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
1103

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

10:15am EDT

Coaching is for EVERYONE!: Setting Expectations for Authentic Engagement

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

2203

Discover how to position coaching as a core part of professional practice that supports every educator. In this session, school leaders will gain strategies to align coaching with School Support Plan goals, implement ongoing coaching cycles, and build a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement. Leave with actionable tools to elevate the visibility and impact of coaching in your school.

Speakers

Denise Clary

Specialist, School Quality

Sarah Combs

Coaching Support Specialist, Federal Programs & Foundational Learning

Coaching Support Specialist

Nicole Sanchez-Coe

School Quality Specialist, School Quality

Nicole Sanchez-Coe is a dedicated educator with over 18 years of experience in the classroom. Her career began in New York City, where she was selected as a Teaching Fellow and launched her work in education at a middle school in the Bronx. During this time, she earned her Master’s... Read More →

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
2203

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

10:15am EDT

ELEMENTARY- REQUIRED Session-Choose your OWN Adventure

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

Commons 2

LINK for Huddle Groups

Speakers

Mike Dussault

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
Commons 2

Academic Achievement, Required

10:15am EDT

Leading for LifeReady: Practical Strategies to Embed Durable Skills School-wide

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

1110

Please join the Department of Innovation for “Leading for LifeReady,” a session designed to support school leaders in identifying key innovation priorities for the year ahead. Through this session, participants will explore actionable strategies for integrating the Henrico Learner Profile's (HLP) durable skills into the heart of their school culture to empower students through voice, choice, and leadership opportunities. In addition, we will explore how durable skills equip students to thrive in a world shaped by artificial intelligence. Participants will learn to use an AI-powered tool to crosswalk their school's goals with the HLP, creating deeper connections between strategic planning and student success.
Leave with actionable ideas and a toolkit of strategies to bring back to your building, and a clearer understanding of how to maximize the role of your Innovation Learning Coach (ILC) to drive meaningful change and support staff throughout the year.

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 →

Laura van Bylandt

Central Innovative Learning Coach, Henrico County Public Schools

National Board Certified Educator and former Middle and High School Art teacher with 20 years of experience in Henrico County Public Schools. Laura previously taught Art at Godwin HS, Wilder MS, Hungary Creek MS, and Glen Allen High School. She was the ILC at Short Pump Middle School... Read More →

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 →

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
1110

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

10:15am EDT

School Quality 2025-2026 (Secondary)- REQUIRED

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

1106/1107

This is a required session for all Principals and Associate Principals to review the 2025-2026 School Quality Process

Speakers

Ann Marie Seely

Director of Teaching, Learning, and School Quality, Henrico County Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
1106/1107

Academic Achievement, Required

10:15am EDT

Specialty Center Expectations and Appeals

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

2102

This session will highlight the specialty center expectations handbook, with revisions from its first year of implementation. Administrators will have the opportunity to learn and discuss alignment for expectations, withdrawal procedures, and appeals for withdrawals and the application process. Participants will learn and explore how standard aliignment across the district can proactively mitigate common issues that arise across specialty centers.

Speakers

Stephanie Lambrecht

District Leader, Central Office, Department of Teaching and Learning, Specialty Centers

Educational Specialist

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
2102

Academic Achievement, Recommended

10:15am EDT

Say what? Engaging families and staff through meaningful communication

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

1104

School administrators will explore practical strategies for crafting clear, impactful messages that connect with families and staff without overwhelming them. We'll discuss how to bridge the gap between complex school operations and everyday understanding to promote inclusivity and engagement. We will also talk about the challenges of information overload and how to effectively use tools like ParentSquare, newsletters, social media, and media relations to strengthen communication.

Speakers

Ken Blackstone

Eileen Cox

Chief of Communications, Henrico County Public Schools

Dylan Garner

Cean Gilliland

Chris OBrion

Communications Specialist

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
1104

Learning Environment, Recommended

10:15am EDT

Threat Assessment Training- REQUIRED

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT

Community Room

Threat Assessment training for returning TAT leaders. (Additional training sessions will be provided at a future time for new TAT leaders.)
Link to presentation: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kLy6OeD_zoPkrIzSXqSo7R3RhlimN03YCVeWhBMbEEs/edit?usp=sharing

Speakers

Katie Moorman

Assistant Director of School Safety, Henrico County Public Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 10:15am - 11:30am EDT
Community Room

Physical Social Emotional Mental Health, Required

11:30am EDT

Lunch

Wednesday June 3, 2026 11:30am - 12:30pm EDT

12:30pm EDT

Bridges Math Intervention for Leaders

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

1106/1107

Speakers

Kelly Parker

Elementary Math Specialist, Elementary Teaching and Learning

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
1106/1107

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

Coaching is for EVERYONE!: Setting Expectations for Authentic Engagement

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

2203

Speakers

Denise Clary

Specialist, School Quality

Sarah Combs

Coaching Support Specialist, Federal Programs & Foundational Learning

Coaching Support Specialist

Nicole Sanchez-Coe

School Quality Specialist, School Quality

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
2203

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

From Data to Decisions: Uncovering Patterns & Tracking Progress with Unified Insights

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

2109/2110

This collaborative workshop, co-presented by the Teaching & Learning and School Quality departments, will support participants in using Unified Insights to better understand and interpret elementary ELA intervention data. Together, we will explore how the platform brings multiple data sources into focus—revealing patterns, highlighting student progress, and helping schools tell a cohesive story that drives instructional and strategic decisions.
Outcomes:
* Understand how to interpret elementary ELA intervention data within Unified Insights
* Learn how to identify and monitor student progress over time
* Strengthen collaboration between instructional and school quality efforts"

Speakers

Jen Perry

School Quality Manager, Henrico County Public Schools

Christina Saunders

Education Specialist - Elementary ELA, Henrico County Public Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
2109/2110

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

Specialty Center Expectations and Appeals

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

2102

Speakers

Stephanie Lambrecht

District Leader, Central Office, Department of Teaching and Learning, Specialty Centers

Educational Specialist

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
2102

Academic Achievement, Recommended

12:30pm EDT

AI-Ready Leadership

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

2212

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

Jon Gregori

Education Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Innovation Specialist

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
2212

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

BLISS? Supporting Students with Challenging Behaviors

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

1207

Description of the BLISS program (profile of students and interventions) for administrators who may not be familiar with the program. Learn to think about student consequences using a new lens.

Speakers

Michele Andrews

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
1207

Learning Environment, Recommended

12:30pm EDT

Explicit Instruction

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

2210

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

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
2210

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

12:30pm EDT

Say what? Engaging families and staff through meaningful communication

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

1104

Speakers

Ken Blackstone

Eileen Cox

Chief of Communications, Henrico County Public Schools

Dylan Garner

Cean Gilliland

Chris OBrion

Communications Specialist

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
1104

Learning Environment, Recommended

12:30pm EDT

Threat Assessment Training- REQUIRED

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

Community Room

Threat Assessment training for returning TAT leaders. (Additional training sessions will be provided at a future time for new TAT leaders.)

Speakers

Katie Moorman

Assistant Director of School Safety, Henrico County Public Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
Community Room

Physical Social Emotional Mental Health, Required

12:30pm EDT

Talent Perform and Substitutes

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT

2106

Reviewing Talent Perform, Verfication of Jobs in Smartfind and Board Sub s- Mininum required days

Speakers

Felicia Bryant

Wednesday June 3, 2026 12:30pm - 1:45pm EDT
2106

Recruit Engage Retain Reward Staff, Recommended

1:55pm EDT

Best Practice For Attendance Team Support and Engagement

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

2107

Wondering how an attendance team can make a difference with supporting attendance? Curious about how attendance interventions and strategies can be applied using a tiered system approach? Then this session is for you! Join this session for an active and engaging learning session that will:
Review the current protocol for addressing and supporting attendance,
Highlight the design of effective attendance teams, including roles and responsibilities of team members, and
Introduce participants to various attendance strategies and interventions using a tiered system of support approach.

Speakers

Jan Parrish

Shenita Williams

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
2107

Academic Achievement, Recommended

1:55pm EDT

Elevating Student Learning: Observing What Matters Most in Science Instruction

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

1104

Deepen your understanding of what high-quality science instruction looks like in the elementary & secondary classroom. Explore key indicators of student engagement, scientific discourse, hands-on investigations, and reflective practice. Together, we’ll unpack observable practices that support inquiry-based learning, discuss how to recognize effective questioning and discourse strategies, and examine tools to guide meaningful feedback and teacher reflection. Leave with a clear vision and actionable look-fors to support powerful science teaching in every classroom.
Presentation Link

Speakers

Karen Hues

Elementary Science Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Rachael L. Toy

Education Specialist - Secondary Science, Secondary Teaching and Learning

Educational Specialist - Secondary Science

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

Academic Achievement, Recommended

1:55pm EDT

Integrating Capstones and Work-Based Learning Across Specialty Centers

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

2104

Four specialty center coordinators will discuss how they embed capstone experiences and work-based learning opportunities into their curriculum. The center's theme-based focuses are: Information Technology, Education and Human Development, Spanish Language and Global Citizenship, and The Arts (visual arts, theater, musical theater, and dance). This panel discussion will allow the directors to describe the student experiences in detail. These details will include: 1. Curriculum alignment and embeddedness 2. Logistics for planning for the experience 3. Communicating expectations to students and families 4. Rubric for evaluating 5. Community partnerships to facilitate a successful experience 6. Collaboration across the school division 7. How their specialty center capstones and work-based learning experiences help to reinforce division teaching and learning objectives to create life ready students with durable skills. Coordinators will share their lessons learned, and the value these experiences add to the curriculum. There will be interactive portions throughout the panel discussion to provide follow-up commentary or additional questions for the panel.

Speakers

Stephanie Lambrecht

District Leader, Central Office, Department of Teaching and Learning, Specialty Centers

Educational Specialist

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
2104

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

1:55pm EDT

Leading with Language: Strengthening ESL Instruction and Compliance in Your Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

2109/2110

Empower yourself to lead and support multilingual learners more effectively! This session will guide administrators in examining ESL curriculum through a side-by-side look at general education content lessons and ESL language-focused lessons. Learn what to look for during ESL teacher observations, how to differentiate between content and language objectives, and how to ensure your school remains in compliance with ESL regulations. Walk away with clear strategies to champion strong language instruction across all classrooms.

Presentation Link: https://tinyurl.com/LIEPELS2025

Speakers

Deidre Cox

Alexa Haynie

Sarah Modrak

LIEP/ESL Education Specialist, Teaching & Learning

ESL Specialist, Coordinator or Coach

Allyn Pritchard

Divisional English as a Second Language Coordinator, Henrico County Public Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
2109/2110

Academic Achievement, Recommended

1:55pm EDT

School Quality 2025-2026 (Elementary)- REQUIRED

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

1106/1107

This is a required session for all Principals and Associate Principals to review the 2025-2026 School Quality Process

Speakers

Jen Perry

School Quality Manager, Henrico County Public Schools

Ann Marie Seely

Director of Teaching, Learning, and School Quality, Henrico County Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
1106/1107

Academic Achievement, Required

1:55pm EDT

Explicit Instruction

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

2210

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

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
2210

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

1:55pm EDT

Get in the Game: Boost Student Engagement and Belonging

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

2203

Let’s "Get in the Game" and have serious fun at school that builds student engagement, improves attendance, and strengthens learners and community alike. Join the Innovation and Gifted departments for an introduction to the many game-changing opportunities available in Henrico, including FIRST, Rubik’s, Chess, Minecraft, Esports, and more. Whether you are looking to start a club, support PBIS, or build a competitive team, you will learn about new pathways for student success! You will leave with a menu of game-changing opportunities for your students and an early invitation to be "All In" on February 25, 2026.

Speakers

Kourtney Bostain

Director of Innovation

Elizabeth Kirk

Education Specialist - Innovation, Henrico County Public Schools

Elizabeth has 29 years of experience in education. She spent 18 years teaching 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade in Lynchburg City and Chesterfield County. She also served as a STEM Coach for Powhatan County and a Curriculum Specialist at VCU for the Virginia Initiative for Science Teaching... Read More →

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
2203

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

1:55pm EDT

MTSS Across the Tiers: Secondary

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

1110

Having a well-structured MTSS framework can help students, families, and staff receive the necessary support needed for progress in all areas. This session connects Tier 1, 2, & 3 in your elementary building to promote healthy communication, improve collaboration, and renew a sense of accountability within your school climate.

Speakers

JaNee Boston

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

MTSS Coordinator- Tier 1

Julian Rieder

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

MTSS Specialist

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
1110

Physical Social Emotional Mental Health, Choice for all leaders

1:55pm EDT

Threat Assessment Training -REQUIRED

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

Community Room

Threat Assessment training for returning TAT leaders. (Additional training sessions will be provided at a future time for new TAT leaders.)

Speakers

Katie Moorman

Assistant Director of School Safety, Henrico County Public Schools

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

Physical Social Emotional Mental Health, Required

1:55pm EDT

Supervising & Supporting School Counselors: A Guide for Administrators

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT

1111

Strong school counseling programs thrive under knowledgeable and supportive leadership. In this engaging professional learning session, school administrators will explore practical strategies for empowering their school counselors and aligning counseling services with schoolwide goals. Participants will learn how to gather and analyze school counselor use-of-time data to ensure effective and equitable service delivery. The session will also provide customizable templates for ongoing, purposeful meetings with counseling staff to promote collaboration, goal setting, and progress monitoring. In addition, administrators will receive a timely refresher on the school counselor evaluation and observation tool launched last school year—focusing on how to use it to provide meaningful feedback and support counselor growth. Participants will leave with tools and insights to strengthen the partnership between school leadership and school counselors in service of student success.

Speakers

Star Anderson

Nicole Scalea

Wednesday June 3, 2026 1:55pm - 3:10pm EDT
1111

Recruit Engage Retain Reward Staff, Recommended

3:20pm EDT

Advancing Rigorous Instruction with Depth and Complexity: A Framework for Elementary Leaders

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

1105

Speakers

Dr. Jenna Conlee

Gifted Specialist, Teaching & Learning, Gifted Programs

K-12 Gifted Specialist

Catherine Kelly

Divisional Gifted Coordinator, Henrico County Public Schools

Matt Parker

Gifted Talent Development Coordinator, Henrico County Public Schools

Shannon Wakefield

Divisional Gifted Coordinator, Henrico County Public Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT
1105

Academic Achievement, Choice for all leaders

3:20pm EDT

Best Practice For Attendance Team Support and Engagement

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

2107

Speakers

Jan Parrish

Shenita Williams

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT
2107

Academic Achievement, Recommended

3:20pm EDT

Elevating Student Learning: Observing What Matters Most in Science Instruction

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

1104

Speakers

Karen Hues

Elementary Science Specialist, Henrico County Public Schools

Rachael L. Toy

Education Specialist - Secondary Science, Secondary Teaching and Learning

Educational Specialist - Secondary Science

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT
1104

Academic Achievement, Recommended

3:20pm EDT

Leading with Language: Strengthening ESL Instruction and Compliance in Your Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

2109/2110

Speakers

Deidre Cox

Alexa Haynie

Sarah Modrak

LIEP/ESL Education Specialist, Teaching & Learning

ESL Specialist, Coordinator or Coach

Allyn Pritchard

Divisional English as a Second Language Coordinator, Henrico County Public Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT
2109/2110

Academic Achievement, Recommended

3:20pm EDT

AI-Ready Schools

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

2105

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

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT
2105

Learning Environment, Choice for all leaders

3:20pm EDT

EDO Empowering School Culture Principal Focus Group

Wednesday June 3, 2026 3:20pm - 4:35pm EDT

1108

Participants will share a collaborative space to provide expertise and critical feedback on the school district’s equity-driven efforts in alignment with the HCPS strategic plan: Journey to 2030.

Speakers