2025 CACE Leadership Conference

Keynote Speaker!

Breaking the Mold - The Art of Unlearning
Sometimes we do things in a certain way simply out of habit. But breaking habits is necessary to advance our teaching practices in an ever-changing educational landscape. In order to evolve so that we can support every student, we first need to unlearn. The process of unlearning can be uncomfortable, like getting a new phone, but this discomfort is necessary for growth. We must change our mindsets to change the larger system. In this session, we will explore common mindsets and unpack and unlearn them so we can challenge our existing beliefs and move forward toward implementation of Universal Design for Learning.

Keynote Speaker!

Perspectives from Washington

Keynote Speaker!

Perspectives from Washington

Natalie Wexler is an education writer and the author of Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning (ASCD 2025) and The Knowledge Gap: The Hidden Cause of America’s Broken Education System—And How to Fix It (Avery 2019). She is also the co-author, with Judith C. Hochman, of the first and second editions of The Writing Revolution: A Guide to Advancing Thinking Through Writing in All Subjects and Grades (Jossey-Bass, 2017 and 2024). Her articles and essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post. The Atlantic, and other publications. Before turning to education, Wexler worked as a freelance writer and essayist on a variety of topics, and as a lawyer and legal historian. She lives in Washington, D.C.

Breakout Session: Beyond the Science of Reading: Connecting Literacy Instruction to the Science of Learning  

Cognitive science provides solid evidence for learning strategies like retrieval practice. But they only work if applied to substantive content or a transferable skill—and literacy instruction typically focuses on non-transferable skills like “making inferences.” The good news is that a content-rich curriculum combined with explicit, manageable writing instruction can provide all the benefits of science-informed instruction—and more. If we break down the artificial walls separating reading.

Keynote Session: The Knowledge Gap: What It Is and How to Narrow It

We hear a lot about the Science of Reading, but most of it focuses on problems with phonics instruction. That’s important, but science also tells us that if we want children to become literate, we need to change our approaches to comprehension and writing as well. Instead of test prep and drills on skills like “finding the main idea,” schools can engage kids in deep dives into topics and have them write about what they’re learning, building the knowledge and analytical abilities that fuel comprehension. An increasing number of schools are doing just that, with promising results.

Why High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) Are Not Enough: Seven Things We Must Do Differently to Truly Effect (Enduring) Change.

High-quality instructional Materials (HQIM) are vital to providing schools and districts with coherence, consistency, and clarity. Unfortunately, the work doesn't stop once the materials are adopted. This session will explore seven common reasons why schools and districts do not achieve the desired outcomes after implementing HQIM. After completing an assessment of their school or district, participants will receive a guide designed to help avoid these pitfalls or to help reset and pivot.

Family Engagement in Title I Programs

Maximizing the Impact of Language Support

Understanding the Relationship between Title I and Special Education to Maximize Student Services

Understanding the Relationship between Title I and Special Education to Maximize Student Services

Leadership Credibility

Dr. Douglas Fisher is professor and chair of educational leadership at San Diego State University and a leader at Health Sciences High & Middle College, having been an early intervention teacher and elementary school educator. He is the recipient of an International Reading Association William S. Grey citation of merit, an Exemplary Leader award from the Conference on English Leadership of NCTE, as well as a Christa McAuliffe award for excellence in teacher education. He has published numerous articles on reading and literacy, differentiated instruction, and curriculum design as well as books such as "The Teaching Reading Playbook."

Of Laughter and Remembering: How one misstep in education thirty years ago changed everything and limited our children’s potential.

For more than 3 decades, we have pursued “Education Reform” through a combination of standards, assessment, and accountability. That approach brought important gains—particularly in the first half of that era. We raised expectations, closed some access and achievement gaps, and built a culture of performance. But over the last decade, the progress has stalled. National NAEP scores have been largely stagnant since 2013. The strategies that once moved us forward are no longer enough. We now need a new revolution in American education.  This session explores how play, deeper learning and technological advancement might provide the foundation for just such a new, better revolution.

Rob and Matt will cover a wide range of topics with respect to state and federal education policy, funding, and other important updates from DESE.

Matt and Rob will cover a wide range of topics with respect to state and federal education policy, funding, and other important updates from DESE.