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It was just a few months ago that we knew with all certainty that we wouldn’t be able to host our annual Symposium in person. The Symposium is such a big part of our work at the Aurora Institute. W, we see how so many innovative educators are challenging the status quo and remaking education to be learner-centered, equity-driven, and it inspires us all to take our work to the next level. We know and deeply care about what the convening means for the field.
Because the ramifications of COVID-19, racial awakening, and economic justice on K-12 education were so great, many of you encouraged us to convert the Symposium to a virtual event. We heeded the call, with great trepidation because although we host many webinars and meetings, we’d not conducted a virtual event of this magnitude and scale before. We wanted to serve you with the same caliber of experience of symposia past.
We’ve just experienced an incredible three days of intense learning, sharing, and networking at the first virtual Aurora Institute Symposium. I’m blown away at the responses from the field, such as, “this was exactly what we needed right now” and “because this was virtual, my whole team was able to participate and learn together.” The collective energy and the renewed sense of purpose toward systems change in K-12 education was rejuvenating. We hope we made you proud and equipped you with the resources to keep leading the future of teaching and learning.
It is time to rethink K-12 education in the context of an ecosystem for lifelong learning, driving equity, and thinking big on the challenges that await humanity. That’s what these three days have been about, and it was all grounded in real work happening around the country and around the globe.
Our hope was to help unleash the power of the collective. We know that many of you have been working tirelessly in the classroom, in administrative offices, in policymaker circles, in community spaces, and at philanthropic tables to transform our one-size-fits-all system toward student-centered models that prepare every single child for success in the next stages of their life. You have a home here with us at the Symposium. We are your people, your tribe, and you can count on us to help make connections, amplify voices, and support your work.
The field is moving, but we have so much more to do.
Let me repeat the charge I gave you in the closing keynote. In these difficult times, it’s important to come together to rise up to find our allies and be the change the world needs and lead with light, love, and resilience on behalf of all learners. Thank you. Thank you for your collective commitments and contributions. Go forth and rise up.
We’re looking forward to a time when we can all reconnect again in person. Please save October 25-28, 2021, for the next Aurora Institute Symposium. We don’t know entirely what the future holds for in-person gatherings, but we certainly remain committed to being the space needed for learning, recharging, strategizing, and growing.
Sincerely, |
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