First Moments, Lasting Impact: How Morning Rituals Improve Belonging, Behavior, and Academics

How a school day begins shapes everything that follows. In this session, learn how a purposeful morning routine can make every day begin with connection, calm, and purpose. These practices, grounded in the Whole Child Model, an evidence-based approach to supporting learning and thriving in schools, are increasing students’ sense of belonging, decreasing suspensions (by up to 70%), and making a positive impact on math and ELA scores in just one year.

Presenters:

• Cynthia Robinson Rivers, Managing Partner, Transcend
• Paige Hoffman, Chief of the Office of School Improvement and Supports, DCPS

15-Minute Reading Revolution: How Collaborative Reading is Driving 80% Literacy Gains

Recent NAEP data shows that only 31% of fourth graders are proficient in reading, leaving nearly 70% below grade level. aThis session explores Collaborative Reading as a powerful solution, blending evidence-based literacy strategies with peer interaction to build both reading proficiency and essential communication skills. Participants will examine how just 15 minutes of collaborative reading fosters comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency skills drawing on research-backed strategies that have led to upwards of 80% proficiency year after year–and 100% literacy rates among BIPOC students.

Presenters:

• Dr. Jennifer Charlot, Managing Partner of School Design, Transcend and Co-Founder, Rev-X Education
• Dr. Alexa Sorden, Principal, LEAD 359 (formerly Concourse Village Elementary School) 
• Dr. Meisha Ross Porter, Former Chancellor, New York City Schools and Visiting Senior Fellow, Center for Educational Innovation

The SOMOS Conference is one of New York’s most influential gatherings of public officials, community leaders, and advocates dedicated to advancing equity, opportunity, and innovation across sectors. Leaders from government, education, business, and philanthropy will explore strategies that strengthen communities and expand access to high-quality learning for all students. Transcend’s Melissa Harris (Senior Fellow) and Dr. Jennifer Charlot (Managing Partner, Transcend & Co-Founder, RevX Education) will attend this year’s conference to deepen and advance conversations about innovation in NYC—engaging with education leaders and partners committed to transforming learning environments so every young person can thrive.

The ExcelinEd National Summit on Education Innovation is one of the country’s leading gatherings for state and national education policymakers, advocates, and innovators. Each year, the Summit convenes governors, legislators, education chiefs, and thought leaders to explore bold ideas and evidence-based strategies that expand opportunity and drive improved outcomes for students. The event serves as a powerful catalyst for advancing state-level policies that foster innovation, align systems with workforce needs, and prepare learners for the future.

Transcend’s Leslie Colwell (Director of Policy) and Dr. Deborah Gist (Superintendent-in-Residence) will join this year’s convening to advance the conversation on state-level research and development (R&D) as a driver of education innovation. Together, they’ll highlight how R&D infrastructure can empower states to pilot, scale, and sustain breakthrough models of learning—and explore the opportunities ahead for policy, philanthropy, and practice to work in concert toward a more equitable, future-ready education system.

The Black Men in Education Convening (BMEC) is a national gathering that celebrates and empowers Black male educators and leaders who are shaping the future of education. Hosted by The Center for Black Educator Development, BMEC serves as a vital space for dialogue, learning, and action—advancing equity, leadership, and innovation across the education landscape.

At BMEC 2025, Transcend will contribute to this movement through a session aligned with the theme Power to the Pupil: History, Hip Hop, & the Future of Teaching & Learning. The panel will explore how student input is reshaping educational leadership and driving transformation toward more learner-centered, equitable, and culturally responsive systems—offering practical strategies for embedding student voice into policy, instruction, and practice.

Powerful Voices, Bold Leadership: How Black Male Superintendents Are Centering Student Voice to Transform School Systems
Presenters: Dr. Dan Sims, Superintendent (Bibb County Schools), Robert Lambkin, Assistant Superintendent of Instruction (McComb School District), Jamie Downs, Partner, Systems Stakeholder Lead (Transcend)

An annual homecoming of TFA Chicago alumni → focused on connection, reflection, and celebration—honoring TFA Chicago’s 25 years of collective impact. Transcend CEO Aylon Samouha shares how understanding and elevating student experiences can transform schools—offering research insights, practical tools, and strategies to design learning environments where every young person thrives.

Transcend and Collegiate EduNation share how collaboration unlocks transformative impact for students and communities. Drawing on the strengths of rural education, this session explores actionable strategies and hard-won lessons to accelerate innovation, engage families and businesses, and prepare students with skills to achieve real economic opportunity.

Building Rural Partnerships: Leveraging Your Strengths For Outsized Impact
Presenters: Rachael McClain, President (Collegiate EduNation), Melissa Harris, Senior Fellow (Transcend) & Dariana Castro, Partner (Transcend)

At the Grantmakers for Education 2025 Annual Conference, Transcend is spotlighting how philanthropy can catalyze bold change in education. In collaboration with cross-sector leaders, we share how collective leadership is forging new pathways between education, career, and civic life—and how proven, community-driven approaches in rural districts across the country are weaving together schools, workforce, and infrastructure to expand student success.

Collective Leadership Solutions for Next Generation Economic Mobility and Civic Engagement
Presenters: Kyla Kasharian, Senior Associate, Knowledge and Impact (Siegel Family Endowment), Nicole Brisbane (Building Impact Partners), Donny Jones (West Alabama Works), Julia Baez (Baltimore’s Promise), Sheila Thornton (OneFuture Coachella Valley),

Small Towns, Big Impact: Cross-Sector Pathways for Outsized Student Success
Presenters: Kyla Kasharian, Senior Associate, Knowledge and Impact (Siegel Family Endowment), Shaniqua Corley-Moore, Head of Tech Talent Development (Center for Rural Innovation), Chris Maggiolo, Deputy Executive Director (Black River Innovation Campus), Aylon Samouha, CEO (Transcend)

At FullScale Symposium, Transcend showcases how communities across the country are moving from bold vision to breakthrough action in reimagining schools. Together with district and school partners, our sessions highlight how learner-centered, community-connected experiences are transforming education—from rural Massachusetts to Lindsay Unified in California.

How Interdisciplinary, Community-Connected Experiences are Reimagining School in Rural Massachusetts
Transcend Presenters: Nikolaus Namba, Holly Reardon
External Presenters: Dr. Beth Regulbuto, Julie Dolan, Southern Berkshire Regional School District

From Bold Vision to Breakthrough: How Lindsay Unified and Southern Berkshire Are Transforming Schools Through Community-Driven Innovation
Transcend Presenters: Nikolaus Namba, Holly Reardon, Jane Bryson
External Presenters: Cinnamon Scheufele, Lindsay Unified School District; Beth Regulbuto, Brockton Public Schools

Agency and Ownership as Learners Practice Math Skills and Learning-to-Learn Skills
Transcend Presenters: Nik Namba, Jane Bryson
External Presenters: Cinnamon Scheufele, Rebecca Sepeda, Casandra Luna, Erica Madrigal, Lindsay Unified School District

Igniting Innovation in Public Schools: The Transformative Power of Microschools
Transcend Presenters: Dr. Deborah Gist
Presenters: Victoria Andrews, Getting Smart; Katie Martin, Learner-Centered Collaborative; George Philhower, Eastern Hancock School; Megan Hanley, ASU Preparatory Academy