By WCER Communications
The Wisconsin Center for Education Research’s (WCER) MSAN Consortium is encouraging researchers across the School of Education, including doctoral students, to submit proposals by March 1 for the MSAN Institute, a two-day, professional development opportunity in April for PK-12 educators aimed at increasing understanding of current research and district practices that build racial equity in schools.
Proposals for 60-minute breakout sessions during the conference, to be held online April 19-20, should share research-based strategies and promising practices around topics aligned with MSAN’s mission, including social-emotional learning and radical self-care for students and teachers wearied by pandemic-related challenges.
“As our schools continue to see high levels of student trauma and educator exhaustion, it seems particularly important that we center the mental health of our students and educators during the institute this year,” the call for proposals says.
As in years past, breakout sessions focused on improving students’ academic achievement and sense of belonging are welcome as well, according to MSAN Executive Director Madeline Hafner. The conference also may feature sessions provided by teachers, administrators, or others across the MSAN Consortium of 28 multiracial school districts working together to understand and change school practices and structures that keep racial academic and opportunity gaps in place.
The annual conference for educators is open to individuals and groups from MSAN member districts, as well as the general public. MSAN also offers an annual conference exclusively for students from MSAN member districts, typically in the fall.
The MSAN Consortium is a national coalition of multiracial school districts committed to eliminating racial opportunity gaps that persist in their schools. MSAN districts have student populations between 3,000 and 33,000 and are most often located in well-established first-ring suburbs or small/mid-size cities. Additionally, the districts share a history of high academic achievement and connections to major research universities.
Learn more about the MSAN Institute.