Educators and administrators from BARR schools in Maine to California, as well as school support organizations and funders, gathered in Palm Springs, California April 26-27, 2023 for the 2023 BARR National Conference.
BARR is a strengths-based educational system that provides schools with a comprehensive approach to meeting the academic, social, and emotional needs of all students through the power of data and relationships. The BARR system is positively impacting students and teachers in more than 200 elementary and secondary schools in 22 states; educators in these schools are part of the national BARR network.
The BARR National Conference provides the time and space for BARR educators to unite as a national network, share successful strategies, and find solutions to common challenges through collaborating with BARR coaches, trainers, and other strengths-focused professionals. The energy and enthusiasm when hundreds of BARR educators unite is something to behold!
Conference attendees heard from inspiring, forward-thinking national keynote speakers over the two-day event. General sessions included:
April 27, 2023 | Day 1
- Welcome
Angela Jerabek, Founder and Executive Director of BARR Center - Building Elite Culture: People, Purpose, Process
P.J. Fleck, Golden Gophers Head Coach, University of Minnesota - Know Your Story, Share Your Story
Irvin Scott, Senior Lecturer on Education, Harvard Graduate School of Education - Advancing Student Success Systems
Robert Balfanz, Principal Investigator and Research Professor, Everyone Graduates Center, John Hopkins University - Leading With Culture From the State Chief Point of View
Kirsten Baesler, State Superintendent, North Dakota Department of Public Instruction
Megan Degenfelder, State Superintendent, Wyoming Department of Education
Eric Mackey, State Superintendent, Alabama Department of Education
Pender Makin, Commissioner, Maine Department of Education
Facilitated by Andy Rotherham, Co-Founder and Partner, Bellwether Education
April 27, 2023 | Day 2
- A Commitment to Hope
Angela Jerabek, Founder and Executive Director, BARR Center
Bill Milliken, Founder and Vice Chairman, Communities in Schools
Facilitated by Melody Schopp, Director of Education Industry Consulting, SAS - Why Windows and Mirrors Are More Powerful than Sticks and Stones
Denise Forte, President and CEO, The Education Trust - BARR’s Evidence Journey: Perspective From the Evaluators
Hans Bos, Senior Vice President, American Institutes for Research
Beth Boulay, Principal Associate, Abt Associates
Anu Sharma, Senior Research Scientist, BARR Center - Special Video Message
Linda Darling-Hammond, President and CEO, Learning Policy Institute and Charles E. Ducommun Professor of Education Emeritus, Stanford University - #GoBeyondGrades | Deepening Family-School Partnerships
Bibb Hubbard, Founder and President, Learning Heroes
Cindi Williams, Co-Founder, Learning Heroes - E-Time: Together We Can Build Something Extraordinary
Beth Heimer, Director of Elementary Schools, BARR Center
Catherine Thimmesh, Children’s Author
Conference attendees chose from a variety of breakout sessions every morning and afternoon. Some sessions were led by BARR staff, while others gave attendees the opportunity to hear directly from other BARR schools. The topics ranged from leveraging data to facilitating effective meetings to creating community partnerships.
Similar to past years and always a conference highlight, attendees were treated to several performances by California high school students. Two students from Valley View High School brought the audience to tears with their rendition of Rise Up” by Andra Day, the Compton High School Marching Band brought down the house with their energy, and the Perris High School Ballet Folklorico Club brought beauty and grace to the closing session with their extraordinary dance performance.
Two new BARR videos also premiered at the conference: one with North Dakota educators and one with educators from White Bear Lake, Minnesota.
“Our conference theme this year was Leading with Culture and BARR educators exemplify this practice everyday. By creating authentic relationships with students and peers, looking at data for solutions, and leveraging strengths, they are leading with culture and transforming their communities,” said BARR’s Founder and Executive Director Angela Jerabek. “I’m incredibly inspired by the national network of BARR educators – they are truly the ones most likely to change the world!“
