OpenSciEd Summer Institute
July 7-8, 2026
8:30-3:30

Are you supporting the adoption or implementation of OpenSciEd, the high quality, standards-aligned, phenomena-based science curriculum? Come to our in-person two-day summer institute in New Bedford.

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Internalize the OSE curriculum design and routines from the student and teacher perspective
• Unpack two units of study to explore the anchor phenomena
• Discuss the OSE approach assessment for learning.
• Join in community with other OSE educators.

Cost: $700. Coffee and lunch provided.

Participants will receive a certification of completion.

Participants who complete the program are eligible for 10 PDPs.

Facilitator Sarah Vendetti is a longtime science educator and leader. She has served as a science Teacher Leader as well as a district wide Department Head, overseeing the adoption and implementation of OpenSciEd for Plymouth Public School.

Launch Investigating History Webinar
June 11, 2026
3:00-3:45 pm

Maureen and James will be hosting this free webinar so participants can learn more about DESE’s free Investigating History curriculum and to explore models for manageable, motivating, sustainable adoption.

MASCD Educators Rising Book Club: Leaders of the Class
March 24, 2026
3:30-5:00 pm

Traditionally, only those who hold formal power benefit from leadership training. But what if every student and educator in our school systems received the support they need and deserve to develop the identity and abilities of a leader? In what ways would the world become a more equitable place? 

In this book talk, Maureen Chapman and James Simons present a framework from their book, Leaders of the Class, to help educators teach (and develop in themselves) the social-emotional skills of leadership. The authors outline four foundational leadership conditions and practices, present a sequence of leadership units that pair with one’s academic content, and introduce replicable routines to ensure every learner builds the skills to motivate, persevere, communicate, and collaborate in the classroom. 

‘Igniting Motivation’ Keynote at NELMS 45th Annual Conference
March 19-20, 2026

Maureen and James will be presenting their dynamic keynote, ‘Igniting Motivation’ at the NELMS Annual Conference.

Innovative Schools Summit – Orlando, FL
March 12-15, 2026

Maureen and James will be presenting ‘Teaching Effective, Appropriate Communication’ at the Innovative Schools Summit in Orlando, FL.

A Worthy Book Study
February 10, 2026

Traditionally, only those who hold formal power benefit from leadership training. But what if every student and educator in our school systems received the support they need and deserve to develop the identity and abilities of a leader? In what ways would the world become a more equitable place?

 In this book talk, Maureen Chapman and James Simons present a framework from their book, Leaders of the Class, to help educators teach (and develop in themselves) the social-emotional skills of leadership. The authors outline four foundational leadership conditions and practices, present a sequence of leadership units that pair with one’s academic content, and introduce replicable routines to ensure every learner builds the skills to motivate, persevere, communicate, and collaborate in the classroom.

Getting Started with MyCAP – A Free Webinar
January 13, 2026
10:30-11:30 am

​In this session, you will learn how to form a team, select a digital tool, utilize grant funding, and begin the MyCap process.​

Learning Forward 2025 Annual Conference
December 10, 2025
8:45-10:45 am

​Activating Leadership: Reach More Students Through Collaborative Inquiry

Join Maureen Chapman and James Simons together with collaborator Theresa Hirschauer, the Middle School Head of Cincinnati Country Day for their session at Learning Forward!

Analyze a three-phase collaborative inquiry-based model initiative, a faculty-led project focused on teaching and assessing students’ leadership skills across all school classrooms.

Participants will:

• Assess opportunities to drive forward key mission-aligned, student-centered initiatives in their own school settings;

• Define the skills of leadership, collecting and analyzing student data, and piloting instructional moves to support students’ opportunities to develop the defined skills; 

• Make a plan for utilizing collaborative inquiry to improve key student competencies; and 

• Become an active member of an educator network that centers around essential, mission-aligned work

Empowered Educator 2025 Summit
November 1, 2025
9 am – 1:30 pm

Ignite Talk: Leaders of the Class

Traditionally, leadership training has been reserved for those in positions of formal power. But what if we transferred leadership development from the C-suite to the classroom? If every student – and every educator – received the leadership training that they need and deserve, how might that transform our schools, and ultimately, create a more equitable world?

In this Ignite Keynote Address, Maureen Chapman and James Simons draw from their book Leaders of the Class to share inspiring stories, research-backed insights, and practical strategies from both education and leadership development. They invite the audience to imagine classrooms and schools where every individual is empowered to lead, not just a select few. Attendees will leave with actionable ideas for building a culture of leadership that nurtures both students and educators alike.

Classroom teachers and school leaders strive to nurture the motivation, engagement, and growth of those they serve. Explicit leadership training strengthens this work by empowering individuals to reflect, set meaningful goals, and build the essential social and emotional competencies that sustain success.

Authentic Tasks, Collaborative Classrooms: Strengthening Engagement in Investigating History
October 28, 2025
9 am – 2 pm

In this interactive one-day session, participants unpack simple ways to increase accessibility and engagement while using the Investigating History curriculum. Facilitators Maureen Chapman and James Simons – certified Investigating History providers and authors of the student-engagement book Leaders of the Class share straightforward protocols and field-tested models for adapting summative assessments. Additionally, they provide model collaboration roles, routines, and tools from their book.

Participants have ample time to work independently and collaboratively to use these tools to adapt a summative assessment to increase task authenticity and create routines to support the development of the collaboration skills central to the curriculum.

Walk away with:

• An adapted summative students will be proud to showcase
• Planned routines to improve student collaboration skills
• Student collaboration roles and toolkits
• Models of task adaptations
• A copy of the book Leaders of the Class: Units for Teaching Motivation, Perseverance, Communication, and Collaboration in the Secondary Classroom

Leaders of the Class: Teaching Effective Communication and Collaboration Skills in Your Classroom
September 8, 2025
10 am – 1 pm

Are you hoping to increase interactivity and group work in your class but finding that students don’t yet have the leadership skills needed to effectively communicate and collaborate?

In these two interactive sessions, you will apply the principles of leadership development to your academic teaching, exploring tools for teaching the communication and collaboration skills needed for success in your classroom.

You will leave prepared and inspired to empower students to lead through interactive and collaborative academic assignments.

Takeaways:
Structures for supporting equitable participation
Tools to help students effectively contribute to discussions
Peer-to-peer feedback protocols and tips
Student resources for appropriately advocating for oneself and others
A replicable framework for groupwork to ensure each student has meaningful roles, responsibilities, and scaffolds to support their success
Reflection prompts and self-assessments to build students’ awareness of their communication and collaboration tendencies

Who Should Attend?
New and veteran primary and secondary school teachers looking to improve the quality of student discussion and group work
School leaders, instructional coaches, and student support team members looking to bolster classroom teachers with student communication and collaboration grades 6- 12