Breaking Barriers, Building Bridges Conference

"Empowering Educators: Practical Strategies for Implementing UDL in the Classroom"
Presenter Dianne Blackburn, MA Ed. Leadership

Building on the insights from the keynote address, this breakout session is designed to equip educators with concrete, actionable strategies for implementing Universal Design for Learning (UDL) in their classrooms. This interactive workshop will provide a deeper dive into the practical application of UDL principles, helping educators create a more inclusive and engaging learning environment for all students. Participants will explore resources from schools that have successfully integrated UDL, and engage in collaborative exercises to develop and refine UDL-based resources and activities tailored to diverse learners.

About the Presenter

Dianne Blackburn is an independent Educational Consultant providing bespoke education solutions to international schools world-wide. She has many years of consultancy experience in pedagogical leadership, change management, and educator training solutions. Dianne also works for the International Baccalaureate as a Lead Educator, Field Representative, Chair and IBEN Workshop Leader building on her experience as an MYP Coordinator and Principal Examiner. Read her full bio at https://www.dianneblackburn.com/.

"Collaborative Teaching and Inclusive Learning: Co-teaching and Interactive Classroom Strategies"
Presenters Annie Hughes, St. Andrew's Humanities faculty and Ashley Taber, Wolf Academy at St. Andrew's faculty

Creating an inclusive environment is essential for student success in today’s diverse classrooms. This session explores the benefits of co-teaching with interactive activities to enhance inclusivity in the classroom. Participants will learn about understanding co-teaching dynamics, exploring the flipped classroom model, and integrating technology for inclusion.

About the Presenters

Annie Hughes is a dedicated educator with 17 years of service at St. Andrew's School, where she teaches Upper School history and coaches cross country. She has co-led the experiential National Parks travel class for the past three years, enriching students' understanding of the U.S. National Parks and our role in the environment; and she has taught in the Wolf Academy program for the past two years. Previously, Annie served as a dorm parent for 10 years and coached girls soccer and lacrosse. She holds a MAT in secondary education from Simmons University, bringing both academic expertise and a passion for experiential and differentiated education to her role. Annie is the 2024 recipient of St. Andrew’s Gladys Trudeau Fischer Award.

Ashley Taber serves as the Residential Life Learning Support Coordinator and a member of the Wolf Academy faculty at St. Andrew’s School. With extensive expertise spanning years in special education and applied behavioral analysis (ABA), Ashley specializes in supporting students holistically. She empowers teachers by equipping them with tools to enhance academic behaviors and strengthen students' executive functioning and social-emotional learning skills across diverse environments. Most recently she presented with Frankenburger Associates at the 2024 Independent Educational Consultants Educational Conference. Ashley holds a Bachelor of Science in Special Education.

"Daily Practices and Activities to Increase Accessibility, Equity, and Success in Middle and High School Mathematics Classroom"
Presenter Betsy Aulisio, St. Andrew's Learning Support faculty

Engaging in hands-on mathematics activities can revolutionize the classroom environment, making complex concepts more accessible to every student. Participants will explore math-based activities designed to cultivate a classroom culture that values diverse perspectives, fosters real-world connections, and offers meaningful opportunities for students to practice and engage with the content. The session will also focus on the importance of puzzles and games to empower diverse learners and increase success in the mathematics classroom. Participants will be able to engage, practice, and create a digital toolbox of ready-to-implement strategies and activities for their classrooms.

About the Presenter

Betsy Aulisio has more than two decades of experience in both public and independent school settings, and she continues to share innovative teaching strategies as a member of St. Andrew’s School Learning Support faculty. Known for her infectious enthusiasm and joyful approach, Betsy has a unique talent for making mathematics engaging and accessible to all students. A graduate of Hamilton College with a Master’s in Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, Betsy has dedicated her career to fostering a positive, engaging, and inclusive educational environment. Her approach emphasizes active learning, collaboration, and the belief that every student can excel in mathematics through supportive and dynamic instruction.

“Demystifying AI”
Presenter Joanne Fayan, St. Andrew's Arts Department Head 

As access to Artificial Intelligence increases rapidly, educators know that students are not only currently using AI tools, but are entering a world which will come to rely on it. Artificial Intelligence can feel foreign to many educators but it allows students to access new portals of learning, promoting a diverse and inclusive learning environment. As the world, and the classroom, change, educators have the opportunity to model the use of AI, provide opportunities for students to use AI, and address the ethical use for both educator and students. This workshop is the first step for hesitant educators to develop a growth-mindset on the subject, learn with and from each other, and address their concerns in a safe and enjoyable environment. At the close of this workshop, educators will have a working knowledge of the concepts of Artificial Intelligence, have access to various educational tools to introduce into their curriculum, and have a starting point to address the ethics of AI with other educators and their students.

About the Presenter

Joanne Fayan began working at St. Andrew’s School in 2010 as a theater teacher and co-director of All Children’s Theatre, and she currently serves as the Arts Department Head while teaching Theater and Design. She is certified to teach in the MYP and DP Programmes for IB Theater and recently began studying AI for educators with ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education). As a theater artist, she has worked regionally along the East Coast, most recently directing the play premiere of Gals Who Dream by Gayle Hanrahan. She is a co-founder of Women’s Work Theatre Collaboration (RI) and the former Associate Artistic Director for All Children’s Theatre. She holds a Master of Fine Arts from the University of South Carolina and the Shakespeare Theatre (Washington, DC).

“Using Edge Effect to Bridge Teachers and Benefit Students"
Presenter Derek Pierce, St. Andrew's Humanities faculty

The idea of “edge effect” originated with the naturalist Aldo Leopold, explaining that an explosion of diversity emerged along the fault lines of two ecosystems coming together. Contemporarily, the cellist Yo-Yo Ma expresses both an interest and pursuit of blending musical disciplines in order to make new discoveries. Essential to meeting the needs of diverse learners is balancing the production of accessible content with a process that draws upon the strengths of all those involved. Therefore, this 60-minute session will not explore predetermined topics or tips; intead, we take the time to recognize the experiences and skills of each other so as to enhance our perspectives and maximize our efforts in the classroom and our schools.

About the Presenter

Derek Pierce is an Upper School Humanities faculty member at St. Andrew’s School, teaching English and Literature. He has lived and taught on three continents over the past 13 years, focusing his efforts to meet the changing and complex needs of high school students both inside and outside of the classroom. Derek has masters degrees in special education and writing, and he prioritizes trust, mindfulness, perspective, and empathy in his teaching practices. In his breakout session, Derek looks forward to the unique strengths the participants will bring and the collaborative insights that will emerge and ultimately benefit our students and school communities.

“Curriculum Review: Empowering Faculty through Feedback”
Presenter Kelsey Shea, St. Andrew's Humanities faculty

This session is designed for teachers, department chairs, and academic administrators. The goal of the session is to offer schools another opportunity for curriculum-based professional development that they can offer in-house that builds capacity in their staff to give and receive meaningful, actionable feedback.

About the Presenter

Kelsey Shea serves as the Middle Years Programme Coordinator and a member of the Humanities faculty at St. Andrew’s School. She previously served as a member of the Social Studies department at a large public school in North Carolina. Her passion for international education began with her first Master's Degree at the University of Leicester (UK) and has continued through her 9 years of teaching and leading within IB schools. With extensive expertise in education and school leadership, Kelsey specializes in curriculum development and professional development design. She prioritizes the importance of feedback as a means of empowering teachers and students to improve upon the expertise they bring to their work. Most recently she presented on Gender and Student Leadership at the 2024 NAIS Thrive conference. Kelsey graduated from the University of Pennsylvania's School Leadership program in 2022.