Transform evaluation systems from a compliance-driven task into a meaningful, growth-oriented process.

We will explore how to reimagine evaluation as an act of "tending the ecosystem," a collaborative and continuous practice rooted in equity, well-being, and professional growth. Participants will engage with research-based tools for assessing instruction and classroom culture, such as the Teacher-Student Relationship Quality (TSRQ) Matrix and the Integrated Classroom Practices for Equity (ICPE) rubric. You will leave with a clear, co-creative process to design a dynamic, human-centered evaluation system that better supports the flourishing of both educators and students at your school.

Intended outcomes:

• Explore how growth and evaluation are interconnected with equity and well-being in a thriving school ecosystem.
• Analyze research-based, equitable evaluation practices to identify strengths and gaps in their current systems.
• Apply practical tools, such as the Teacher-Student Relationship Quality (TSRQ) Matrix and the Integrated Classroom Practices for Equity (ICPE) rubric, to assess classroom dynamics.
• Design a preliminary action plan for co-creating a human-centered, equity-focused evaluation process at their own school.

Lori Cohen Consultant

Lori Cohen has worked in education (both public and independent schools) for over two decades serving as a teacher, instructional coach, school leader, and professional development facilitator whose expertise spans a range of topics. Lori brings intentionality and a broad array of skill sets to her design and facilitation—all through the lenses of equity and inclusion—and she facilitates with a balance of humility, humor, and heart. In 2019, Lori began working as an independent consultant. She has worked with the Eastern Education Resource Collaborative (East Ed) and as the Developer of People and Programs for Bright Morning Consulting. Cohen has written articles and blogs for English Journal, EdWeek, the California Teacher Development Collaborative, and Bright Morning Consulting, and she was a contributing author of The Art of Coaching Workbook. She is co-author (with Elena Aguilar) of The PD Book: 7 Habits that Transform Professional Development. Her most recent publication is Integrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders, co-authored with Elizabeth Denevi.

Elizabeth Denevi Lewis and Clark

Elizabeth Denevi, PhD is assistant professor at Lewis and Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling with a focus on antiracist leadership. She also serves as the director of Eastern Educational Resource Collaborative (East Ed), an educational nonprofit that works with school and colleges across the country to promote equity and diversity pedagogy. With over 30 years’ experience, she has worked in a number of NAIS member schools and served as both a PK–12 teacher and administrator. Her newest publication is a collaboration with Lori Cohen entitled Integrating Educator Well-Being, Growth, and Evaluation: Four Foundations for Leaders, which is a featured title in Routledge's Equity and Social Justice in Education series. She also is the co-author of Learning and Teaching While White: Antiracist Strategies for School Communities.

Kimpton Gray Hotel  122 W. Monroe St., Chicago