Behind the Scenes of the Whole Girl Education National Conference
This Women’s History Month Student Leadership Network is launching a landmark event: our inaugural Whole Girl Education National Conference ((WGENC) on March 16-18 in New York City!
The WGENC is an opportunity for school leaders, teachers, and educators of girls and gender-expansive youth to come together to learn about our Whole Girl Education model. The theme of this year’s conference is Connected Communities, focusing on the ways that authentic connections can be fostered in schools.
Members of our Girls’ Education team gave us a behind-the-scenes glimpse into conference planning and what to expect at the big event.
The Whole Girl Education National Conference – why now?
Sarah: The Girls’ Education team at Student Leadership Network has long recognized that there is a sizeable national audience for a conference designed for public and tuition-free school educators that serve girls and gender-expansive youth. After the toll that the Covid-19 pandemic took on educators and school communities, we recognize that the need to build connected communities within schools is now more vital than ever. Since the connection is a foundational practice in our Whole Girl framework, we are eager to provide this meaningful opportunity to educators across the country. Our goal for the conference is to utilize our expertise, resources, and national reach to assist educators in building connections within their schools.
What excites you about our plenary speakers?
Caitlyn: We have some truly inspiring speakers joining us for the conference! We are so excited that all of them will be joining us for this event.
Of course, we have our very own Yolonda Marshall; she is Student Leadership Network’s first-ever Chief Executive Officer and has dedicated nearly two decades of her life to ensuring that children growing up in underserved communities across the country receive the education they deserve.
Dr. Monique Couvson is a social justice scholar and the award-winning author of Pushout is one of few scholars working at the intersection of the work that the Young Women’s Leadership Network does. Her research calls out the injustice Black girls face in school environments and offers strategies to help create joyful, restorative, and healing spaces for girls of color.
Melissa Kilby is the head of Girl Up and is a global thought leader on girls’ leadership, youth activism, and nonprofit management. Her work at Girl Up reminds us that work to support girls’ leadership is a global effort and that girls should be at the forefront of that movement. She connects us with young people around the world and helps young people cultivate agency and resilience to change the world.
Dr. Bettina Love, an award-winning author and professor focused on strengthening education through abolitionist teaching, Black joy, and anti-racism, is a powerful voice for anti-racist education in the United States. Dr. Love’s call to action to better serve, uplift, and empower young people deeply resonates with our community of educators.
And last but certainly not least, Rachel Simmons is the New York Times bestselling author of three books on supporting girls as they become leaders. She is renowned for translating social science research into accessible strategies with authenticity and humor.
We can’t wait to be in a room with these women and trade insights!
What impact are you hoping the conference will have on its attendees?
Laura: We want WGENC to leave educators feeling equipped with new skills and practices to try out in their classrooms and, overall, leave feeling reinvigorated and energized about their teaching practice. Additionally, we want them to leave having formed new relationships and with a strengthened network of like-minded education professionals who are striving to improve the quality of education and outcomes for girls and gender-expansive youth.
What new knowledge do you want conference attendees to walk away with?
Sarah: Our hope is that attendees leave the conference feeling inspired by the scholarship and research, as well as feeling equipped with the practical tools and connections that will be immediately applicable to their work.
Caitlyn: We are ecstatic to be welcoming a network of education professionals from across the world, coming from NYC, Los Angeles, Dallas, Kansas City, Atlanta, Baltimore, and India, to name a few places. The quality and quantity of the breakout sessions and workshops we will be offering will cater to the various interests and learning goals of our attendees.
It’s not too late to save your seat! Register today to ensure you don’t miss this exciting opportunity to learn from and share with other leaders in girls’ education.
