The inaugural Deeper Learning New York conference (DLNY 2024) kicks off tomorrow July 16-17 at Kingston High School in the Hudson Valley of New York. The event will gather an impressive group of change-makers dedicated to creating equitable educational outcomes. I was able to score a few minutes with Dr. Jonah Schenker, the District Superintendent at Ulster BOCES, who dove deep into his organization’s unique role in New York’s educational landscape. He emphasizes collaboration, innovation, and efficiency in educational service delivery, highlighting Ulster’s pivotal role in statewide educational initiatives like the Blue Ribbon Commission.
Deeper Learning is an innovative approach to project-based learning that teaches the higher-order thinking skills, learning dispositions, and collaboration skills students need to succeed in modern life The original Deeper Learning network was established in 2010 by the William & Flora Hewlett Foundation to serve as a source of innovation. The network of ten school networks spans a mix of charter and traditional public schools across 41 states and serves more than 200,000 students. Deeper Learning supports educators to be innovators, motivators, and disruptors who engage in a transformative learning journey to reimagine schooling and implement meaningful change in their own schools and districts.
DLNY 2024 was created and designed for educators to discover entirely new horizons for the benefit of students and their families. Day 1 will focus on reimagining traditional schooling through immersive experiences and creating connections between the administrators in attendance. Deep Dives related to school leadership will provide attendees the opportunity to delve into complex and interesting topics and emerge with new ideas and inspiration. The day will end with collaboration on a “Share Your Learning Showcase.” Stay tuned for Deep Dive Topics and speakers to be announced in the near future.
The second day of the conference will build on the momentum of Day 1 with Den Talks exploring avenues that push the boundaries of conventional thinking. Topics will include:
- Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging;
- Project-based learning and assessment; and
- Community-building.
Dr. Christopher Emdin will conclude the DLNY 2024 conference with an inspiring keynote. Dr. Emdin is the Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education and Professor of Science Education at Teachers College, Columbia University. He is also the director of creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship at the STEAM DREAM and Ideal Lab. He is the creator of the nonprofit organization HipHopEd, featuring Science Genius BATTLES, and the CREATE Accelerator—an initiative that funds non-profits focused on culture and education. He is the author of numerous award winning works including Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation, For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Ya’ll too, STEM STEAM Make Dream, and Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Success.
“Education is not about handing down unchanging systems of knowledge and skill from some authoritative source,” said Dr. Emdin. “It is the activation of curiosity and passion within students that enables them to grow and solve problems throughout their lives. I’m eager to take part in an event that reimagines education with students at the center.”
“Ulster BOCES is an innovative district with a commitment to offering every student a transformative learning experience,” said Tina Schuster, director of pedagogy and innovation at High Tech High Graduate School of Education. “We’re excited to see what happens when they come together with other educators eager for change and begin working to transform education.”
To register for the conference, become a sponsor, or to partner with Ulster BOCES, please visit UlsterBOCES.org.
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