GET INVOLVED

 REGISTER TO ATTEND THE CONFERENCE. DEADLINE HAS PASSED

 SIGN UP TO EXHIBIT/SPONSOR. DEADLINE HAS PASSED

 SUBMIT A WORKSHOP PROPOSAL. DEADLINE HAS PASSED

2016 SCHEDULE 2016 SCHEDULE

THURSDAY, JULY 14 : 8am-4pm
 
    7:15 - 8:00    Registration
    8:00 - 8:15    Welcome & Opening Remarks
    8:15 - 9:45    Morning ACE Panel
  9:45 - 10:15    Q&A with Panelists
10:15 - 10:30    Break and transition
10:30 - 11:30    Workshop Session A
11:30 - 11:45    Break and transition
11:45 - 12:45    Workshop Session B
  12:45 - 1:15    Lunch
    1:15 - 1:45    Exhibit viewing time
    1:45 - 2:45    Workshop Session C
    2:45 - 3:00    Break and transition
    3:00 - 4:00    Workshop Session D
 
FRIDAY, JULY 15 : 8am-12:30pm
 
    7:15 - 8:00    Registration
    8:00 - 8:15    Welcome & Opening Remarks
    8:15 - 9:45    Morning Keynote Address
  9:45 - 10:15    Q&A with Keynote Speaker
10:15 - 11:15    Workshop Session E
11:15 - 11:30    Break and transition
11:30 - 12:30    Workshop Session F

THE CONFERENCE

The Social Emotional Learning Conference is an exciting annual event hosted by Metro Nashville Public Schools and Alignment Nashville's Behavioral Health Team. This year's conference takes place Thursday, July 14 and Friday, July 15, 2016, at Cane Ridge High School in Antioch, Tennessee. This will be the sixth installment of the conference, which features a panel of experts on ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences) on Thursday morning, a keynote address from a renowned SEL expert on Friday morning, and over 50 unique workshops over the two days that attendees can self-select. An exhibit hall will also be featured, and businesses and organizations that support SEL and mental health will be on hand to share information about their services. 

Click here to view titles and read descriptions for this year's huge range of breakout workshops!

This year's panel will feature some of Tennessee's leading voices on adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and their effects on brain development, learning, and behavior, such as Jenn Drake-Croft (Tennessee Commission on Children and Youth), Loraine Lucinski (Tennessee Department of Child Health), Kristen Rector (Prevent Child Abuse Tennessee), and more!

This year's keynote speaker is Pedro Noguera, Ph.D. Dr. Noguera is the Distinguished Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA.  His research focuses on the ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions, as well as by demographic trends in local, regional and global contexts.  He is the author of eleven books and over 200 articles and monographs. He serves on the boards of numerous national and local organizations and appears as a regular commentator on educational issues on CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, and other national news outlets. 

Click here to view the conference program booklet!

 

WHAT IS SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING (SEL)? 

Social emotional learning (SEL) is the process through which children and adults acquire and effectively apply the knowledge, attitudes, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions, set and achieve positive goals, feel and show empathy for others, establish and maintain positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. 

SEL in the context of education focuses on teaching social and emotional skills to students, recognizing trauma as significant to a child's overall wellbeing, and creating and maintaining a safe, connected learning environment. A growing body of research clearly demonstrates that climates of connectedness in school buildings, trauma-informed teaching, and the promotion of social and emotional competencies and skills are integral to learning and academic success. SEL core competencies include self-management, self-awareness, social awareness, responsible decision-making, and relationship skills. Learn more via CASEL, the Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning.

Check out highlights from last year's conference!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

FAQ for ATTENDEES

Q: Where do I register to attend the conference?

A: Register here.

Q: How much does admission cost?

A: Admission is FREE for all MNPS staff, educators, community members and others wishing to attend who work within Davidson County. If you wish to attend from an organization or company outside Davidson, we ask that you please purchase a ticket for $80. You can pay by credit card at the registration website, or if you need to pay by check, please contact Andrew Duffel at andrew@alignmentnashville.org to secure your registration.

Q: Do MNPS staff receive a stipend for attending?

A: No, MNPS staff will NOT receive a stipend this year. 

Q: I'm not an educator, counselor, or youth-serving agent; I'm just interested in SEL. Can I still come?

A: Of course! The conference is open to all. If you live and work outside Davidson County, however, please purchase a ticket at the registration link above.

Q: Where is the conference? Is the location wheelchair accessible?

A: The conference will be at Cane Ridge High School in Antioch, entirely on the first floor of the building. The location is wheelchair accessible. Signs will be visible to direct you from the parking lot into the building. A full map of the campus and rooms being used will be featured in the conference program and is also located here.

FAQ for EXHIBITORS

Q: How do I procure a table so that I can exhibit on behalf of my organization or company at the conference? Do I need to bring my own table?

A: You can sign up to sponsor and exhibit here. MNPS will provide 6-foot exhibitor tables; all other details are located at the link.

Q: When can I setup my exhibitor table? How do I pay my sponsorship fee?

A: You can setup either the day before the conference, July 13 from 1pm to 5pm, or the morning of the conference during registration, starting at 7am. Information about setup, logistics and payment is all located at the signup link above. You will also receive an info sheet in the weeks preceding the event with any additional logistical details.

Q: Do I need to register to attend the conference?

A: No need -- if you're exhibiting at a table or presenting a workshop, you do NOT need to register.  As a contributor, you will have admission to the full event!

FAQ for PRESENTERS

Q: How can I submit a proposal to present a workshop?

A: You can submit your workshop proposal here. NOTE: You must have an Alignment Nashville Portal login to submit responses. Click here to register.

Q: What's the deadline to submit a proposal?

A: All submissions must be received by Friday, May 6, 2016 to be considered.

Q: When will I find out if my proposal was accepted? What do I need to bring to present?

A: The Alignment Nashville Behavioral Health Team will alert you about the status of your proposal no later than June 20, 2016. If your workshop is approved, you will receive information about presentation logistics/details, your time slot, and your classroom location around that same time. If you are using a digital presentation, you'll need to bring your own laptop and a VGA cable if you use a Mac. All of the breakout classrooms are equipped with digital projectors. If you're not using a laptop, you may bring any materials you need to conduct your presentation, including flipcharts, pens, handouts, games, etc.

Q: Can I choose which day I present?

A: You may indicate a preference when filling out the ITP form. However, the team may not be able to accommodate all requests and will do so on a first-come/first-served basis.

Q: Is there internet access at Cane Ridge?

A: There is wi-fi, but it is very spotty and not reliable for extended use. If you need internet for your presentation, you may bring an ethernet cable to plug into network outlets in the classrooms (FYI: cell phone Wi-Fi Hot Spots MAY NOT WORK inside the school building.)

Special note on videos: If you are depending on a Youtube video for your presentation, please be advised Youtube is blocked by MNPS' network and you will not be able to access it. (The same is true for all social networking sites.) Please try to have any videos downloaded as files on your computer, rather than using web links, if you need video for your presentation.

Q: Do I need to register to attend the conference?

A: No need -- if you're exhibiting at a table or presenting a workshop, you do NOT need to register.  As a contributor, you will have admission to the full event!

Have a question that's not answered here? Email us!


Thank you for your interest in the 2016 SEL Conference!

 

"SEL Conference" and "Social Emotional Learning Conference" are trademarks of Alignment Nashville.

©2016 Alignment Nashville