Join Brian Stack & Jonathan Vander Els at the Fullscale Symposium in New Orleans
This October, the Fullscale Symposium in New Orleans will bring together educators and leaders from across the country to engage in powerful conversations about the future of learning. We are excited to be featured in multiple sessions designed to inspire, challenge, and equip school and district leaders to advance student-centered learning. Here is how you can engage with us:
Pre-Conference Workshop: From Compliance to Commitment: Leading Change that Cultivates and Sustains Student-Centered Learning
In this unique pre-conference experience, Brian and Jon will unpack how to utilize a highly effective collaborative process to support student-centered, personalized, and deeper learning. They will reference various resources from both their 2024 Solution Tree book co-written with Karin Hess, Elevating Competency-Based Learning in a PLC at Work©: Actionable Assessment, Defensible Evidence, and Equitable Grading and Jon’s 2025 Solution Tree book co-written with Joshua Ray, The Foundation for Change Focusing on the Four Pillars of a PLC at Work® and facilitate guided conversations and reflection on this topic. Participants will also be invited to participate in individualized team follow-up coaching sessions with Brian and Jon and an extended virtual discussion to further network with other workshop participants after the Symposium is over.
Panel Discussion: Lessons From the Field: Leading Student-Centered Learning in Your District
We will also host a dynamic panel featuring district leaders who have led successful transformation toward student-centered learning:
Dr. Jeni Gotto, Superintendent, Westminster Public Schools, CO
Dr. Patty Haynes, Assistant Superintendent, Portsmouth City Schools, NH
Dr. Adam Hicks, Assistant Superintendent, Shelby County Schools, KY
Dr. James Neihof, Marzano Resources, Former Director of Deeper Learning, Green River Region Educational Cooperative, KY
Dr. George Philhower, Superintendent, Eastern Hancock Schools, IN
This moderated discussion will highlight real-world lessons and challenges of leading systems-level change. Following the panel, attendees will have the unique opportunity to engage in small-group conversations with the panelists to ask questions and explore strategies for their own districts.
Breakout Session: Messaging That Moves. Designing Effective Messaging About Personalized, Competency-Based Systems Transformation
Facilitated by Chiara Wegener (Fullscale Learning)
In this session, facilitated by Chiara Wegener of Fullscale Learning, V&S Co-Partner and Lead Associate Brian Stack will join two other transformative leaders who have made that shift; they’ll share lessons they learned along the way around building effective and compelling messaging to talk about a shift to competency-based education, what they wish they knew at the start of the process, and what recommendations they have for others just getting started.
Why You Should Join Us
The Symposium is more than a conference—it’s a community of practice. Whether you’re just beginning your journey into personalized and competency-based learning or you’re refining years of work, these sessions will offer clarity, courage, and connections to move the work forward.
Register Today
Seats are limited, and the pre-conference fills quickly. Don’t miss your chance to join us in New Orleans this October.
👉 CLICK HERE to register for the Fullscale Symposium