CRI Expo

Culturally Responsive Instruction Expo 2024

Culturally responsive instruction (CRI) is the key to enabling cognitive processing needed for students to be engaged, learn, and become independent learners. As an educator, you are already practicing CRI. Our goal is to make these practices intentional and replicable throughout the district.

2024 CRI Expo

All Saint Paul Public Schools educators are invited to attend the CRI Expo coming this June.

What is the CRI Expo?

The CRI Expo is a celebration of educators' CRI practices and a professional development opportunity to co-create lesson plans that can be used in the classroom. Keynote presenters will inspire attendees as they model different ways to share knowledge, include community and engage students.

When and where is the CRI Expo?

The CRI Expo will take place June 17-18 at Washington Technology Magnet from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. You can attend one or both days. The agenda is forthcoming and will be posted below when it is finalized. Lunch will be provided. We hope to see you there!

Why should you attend?

Educators are experts at their craft, and they know SPPS students! The CRI Expo is an opportunity for educators to learn from each other and share resources they can take back to the classroom.

How do you register to attend?

We hope you will attend any of the days that interest you or both days of the Expo. Register on Powerschool.

Call for presentation proposals!

Do you have culturally responsive instructional strategies and practices you would like to share during a breakout session of the Expo? Please complete this form by May 17.

Presenters will be compensated at the contractual workshop presenter rate for 3 hours of preparation + attendance as a presenter on the day presenting.

Attendees will receive in-service clock hours toward re-licensure and be compensated at the workshop rate. Attendees will also receive required hours for re-licensure in cultural competency (P1).

PLEASE NOTE:

Supplemental pay may take longer to process and receive than regular pay as there are additional approval steps required.
The Office of Teaching & Learning will submit a supplemental pay form for you.

EVENT LOGISTICS

Mothering Room available, see clerk in 2nd floor main office
Lunch is provided
Free parking

2024 Schedule

Welcome

Greetings SPPS Educators,

Thank you for attending our third and last year of the Culturally Responsive Instruction (CRI) Expo! It has been an honor to have served the students of SPPS as a 25-year classroom teacher and recently as CRI Coordinator, in creating a ripple effect of building a district culture that is inclusive and equitable, to ensure every student is given the opportunity to realize their potential and make of themselves what they wish.

The importance of culturally responsive teaching cannot be overstated. It fosters an inclusive, respectful, and effective learning environment that enables students to connect their home experiences with their educational journey. This connection not only enhances engagement but also supports their academic success and personal growth. When students see their identities reflected in their learning, they are more likely to feel valued and motivated to succeed.

The overarching goal of the CRI Expo is to recognize and celebrate the culturally responsive instruction already taking place in the district. This event will provide a platform for educators to share their wisdom and replicable practices with one another in order to foster a culture of collaboration where we can learn from each other's successes and replicate them district-wide. In doing so, we demonstrate our shared commitment to our students' success.

I look forward to your participation in the CRI Expo and to the continued success of our students as we embrace culturally responsive instructional practices across the SPPS district.

All my best,

Chong Yang
Teacher, Culturally Responsive Instruction Coordinator

Day 1 - June 17

Time	activity	location
9-9:25 a.m.	Welcome and Baci Ceremony With Chong Yang Chong Yang is the Culturally Responsive Instruction Coordinator in the Office of Teaching & Learning and previous educator for 26 years. In this role, she is working to achieve the district's goals of building a culture centered on a shared understanding of culturally responsive instruction, creating learning environments where all students make connections to what they are learning, and helping teachers meet the learning needs of students, which will contribute to successful academic outcomes.	Great Hall
9:25-9:55 a.m.	Keynote: Marvin Roger Anderson Marvin Roger Anderson is a retired Attorney at Law and current community activist involved with ongoing efforts to celebrate the past, present and future of Saint Paul’s African American community of Rondo. Mr. Anderson was a co-founder and the first president of the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers (MABL). He is the co-founder of the Rondo Days Festival established in 1983 and was instrumental in the creation of the Rondo Commemorative Plaza in 2016. Mr. Anderson serves as the Project Director of the Rondo Commemorative Plaza and Chair of the Board of Directors of the Rondo Center of Diverse Expression. As Board Chair for ReConnect Rondo, he is instrumental in helping the organization lead a restorative movement to revitalize Rondo with an African American cultural enterprise district connected by a land bridge.	Great Hall
10 a.m.-12 p.m.	Breakout Session #1 *Breakout sessions will be repeated for both sessions unless otherwise noted.	Houses 22 & 24
12-1 p.m.	Catered Lunch: Afro Deli Enjoy a boxed lunch provided by Afro Deli. Creativity Challenge Showcase The second annual Creativity Challenge entries will be on display in the Great Hall. This year’s theme was Celebrating Identity.	Great Hall
1:05-3 p.m.	Breakout Session #2 *Breakout sessions will be repeated for both sessions unless otherwise noted.	Houses 22 & 24

Day 1: Breakout Sessions

DEEP DIVE WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER MARVIN ANDERSON
Great Hall
Presenter: Marvin Anderson, retired Attorney at Law and former Minnesota State Law Librarian
Marvin will share historical and personal wisdom on growing up in the Rondo neighborhood and meeting historical figures that changed his life. Marvin will demonstrate the power of storytelling and how it can be used in the classroom to engage students towards positive change.
Intended audience: all educators

DE-CENTERING WHITENESS IN OUR SCHOOLS
House 22, Room 2208
Presenter: May Lee Xiong, Principal at Txuj Ci Hmong Language and Culture Lower Campus
How do we make our schools and classrooms places of learning and of belonging? How do we invite different forms of knowledge into our schools? In this session, Principal Xiong will share practices to decenter Whiteness at her school and the impact of that work on students, families, and school community. Content will be specific to the Hmong culture and language, but it can be applied to other communities.
Intended audience: classroom, EL, & SPED educators; administrators, TOSAs

TAKE CARE: EXPLORATION OF EDUCATOR WELL-BEING
House 22, Room 2220
Presenter: Leah Dunbar, Parent Educator, Highland Park Elementary School
The work we do matters, and so do we. In this session, Leah will examine reasons to prioritize our well-being, why it is so difficult to do so, and practice some techniques together that generate calm and presence.
Intended audience: educators interested in their own well-being & how it impacts their lives in the workplace & beyond

WORKSHOP ON WORD PROBLEMS IN THE IMMERSION CLASSROOM
House 22, Room 2230
Presenter: Xinyue (Jessie) Zong, 1st Grade Teacher, Jie Ming Mandarin Immersion
Jessie will introduce how she engages students in the language immersion classroom and encourages them to bring their personal experiences and other subject academic language into solving word problems.
Intended audience: immersion language educators; K-5 math educators

CIVIC ENGAGED STORYTELLING: EXAMPLES & IMPLEMENTATION SUPPORT
House 22, Room 2240
Presenter: Paul Creager, Curriculum & Media Arts Coordinator, Gordon Parks High School
In this session, Paul will explore examples of Civic Engaged Storytelling from Gordon Parks High School (2008-present) and other national exemplars, assist attendees in development, implementation and community partnership building for the 2024-25 school year, and build a cohort of SPPS teachers who are enthusiastic about this approach to instruction.
Intended audience: middle & high school educators

SHIFTING FROM PEDAGOGY OF COMPLIANCE TO A PEDAGOGY OF VOICE
House 22, Room 2250
Presenter: Linda Jones, PAR Educator Coach and Spanish Teacher
In this session, Linda will present the "Six Simple Rules" by Shane Safir and Jamila Dugan as presented in "Street Data." There will be discussion on how we can use these "tools" and "rules" to encourage student self-empowerment towards independence.
Intended audience: instructional leaders; educators; administrators

CUSTOMIZED LEARNING WITH IPAD ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES
House 24, Room 2408
Presenter: Andy Leiser, Amanda Madsen & Emily Kjesbo-Johnson, Digital Learning, Office of Teaching & Learning
Learners of all ages can and should personalize their iPad experience using the abundant and powerful built-in Accessibility features. While these features have been created to make Apple tools available for anyone living with a disability, the features benefit all who appreciate personalizing their device to make their experience more conducive to their unique perspective for learning. This session is ideal for anyone looking to learn more about how iPad can support students accessing and create learning materials in authentic and personal ways.
Intended audience: all educators

MOTHER'S ROOM
House 23, Room 2373

Day 2 - June 18

time	activity	location
9-9:10 a.m.	Baci Ceremony With Chong Yang	Great Hall
9:10-10 a.m.	Keynote: Rev. Dr. Darcel Hill on the Freedom School Model and Harambe Ceremony Rev. Dr. Darcel Hill has served in SPPS for 28 years, including 17 years as a TOSA at the Area Vocational Technical Institute now known as Saint Paul College, two years as a Parent Academy Instructor, and 10 years as the EDL- Freedom Schools Express and CDF Freedom Schools Executive Director. She has always been active in community service work and ministry and has created, developed, and managed local and nationally award-winning culturally responsive educational curriculum, services, and programs during her career. Dr. Hill loves teaching and has served as an Adjunct Faculty at the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities: Metropolitan State University for 20 years. She is a proud mother of two sons who are SPPS alumni.	Great Hall
10:05-11:35 a.m.	Breakout Session #1 *Breakout sessions will be repeated for both sessions unless otherwise noted.	Houses 22 & 24
11:35 a.m.-12:35 p.m.	Catered Lunch: El Burrito Mercado Enjoy a boxed lunch provided by El Burrito Mercado. Creativity Challenge Showcase The second annual Creativity Challenge entries will be on display in the Great Hall. This year’s theme was Celebrating Identity.	Great Hall
12:40-2:10 p.m.	Breakout Session #2 *Breakout sessions will be repeated for both sessions unless otherwise noted.	Houses 22 & 24
2:15-3 p.m.	Smudging With Principal Julie Hutcheson-Downwind Julie Hutcheson-Downwind is the Principal at American Indian Magnet School. She is Ojibwe and an enrolled member of Keweenaw Bay Indian Community in Baraga, Michigan. She previously served as a teacher at American Indian Magnet and as an Indigenous Curriculum TOSA where she created lessons and resources that integrated Indigenous curriculum across grade bands and content areas. Closing Comments With Chong Yang	Great Hall

Day 2: Breakout Sessions

MATH PROBLEM-SOLVING STRATEGIES & ACTIVITIES
House 22, Room 2208
Presenter: Kristi Sauer, Reading/Math Specialist, Saint Paul Music Academy
Kristi will demonstrate culturally responsive activities and strategies in solving math problems. She will also share several ready-made differentiated math activities for each problem-solving strategy that teachers in grades 3-5 can use with students.
Intended audience: elementary educators, grades 3-5

GROWING CONNECTIONS THROUGH THE SCHOOL GARDEN CLASSROOM
House 22, Room 2220
Presenter: Kirsten Saylor, Garden Coordinator (all grades) & SPPS-Grow Our Own Coordinator, Bruce Vento Elementary
In this workshop, Kirsten will walk through what makes a garden classroom work, how to get one and maintain it whether there is a garden classroom at your school yet. Connect with others in your grade level or content area to explore specific ways to honor student experiences in this hands-on learning resource, and share classroom management techniques to keep the teaching grounded. Grow your connections through literally and figuratively digging into teaching with a garden classroom.
Intended audience: educators who already have a garden classroom or are garden curious

ETHNIC STUDIES AT WORK: BRIDGING RESEARCH, LEGISLATION & COMMUNITY ORGANIZING TO EDUCATORS*
House 22, Room 2230
*This session will only be available for Breakout Session #2
Presenter: Xue Xiong, Ethnic Studies Specialist; Mouakong Vue, Ethnic Studies Coordinator, Office of Teaching & Learning
Xue and Mouakong will share about the relationship network the Ethnic Studies (ES) department has cultivated to bring ES to the classroom across Minnesota. They will introduce work that they have done with community stakeholders, from the passage of the Ethnic Studies Bill to community youth organizing, in a gallery walk. Finally, they will facilitate a brainstorming session on ways the community, district offices, and administrators and teachers can pick up the mantle to do the work.
Intended audience: all educators & leadership

QUEERNESS IN COMICS & CARTOONS
House 22, Room 2240
Presenter: Preston West, 6th, 11th, 12th, middle & high school electives ELA Teacher, Open World Learning Community
Preston will showcase the 9-12 English Elective LGBTQ+ Narratives (colloquially called Queerness in Comics and Cartoons) which was taught for the first time this year. He will also showcase student-created comics (both informational and narrative), discuss how to use portfolios to support student freedom while keeping them accountable to reading diversely, and building language on how to discuss identity and intersectionality.
Intended audience: all educators, grades 9-12; English educators

SUPPORTING OUR STUDENTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITH RESPECT & DIGNITY
House 22, Room 2250
Presenter: Heather Alden, Supervisor Project REACH
Heather will share the impact of historical trauma, chaos and experiencing homelessness on our students and how we can build on their resilience to achieve social emotional and academic success.
Intended audience: all educators

SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: THE INTERSECTION OF RESTORATIVE PRACTICES, SOCIAL EMOTIONAL LEARNING, POSITIVE BEHAVIOR INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORTS, AND CULTURALLY RESPONSIVE INSTRUCTION
House 24, Room 2408
Presenter: Heidi Koury, Principal of Cherokee Heights Elementary; Mary Rose, Learning Lead, Cherokee Heights Elementary
Principal Koury will explore the intersections of RP, SEL, PBIS and CRI with participants. Among other activities, participants will share their story of ‘desilofication’ to create a positive school culture, experience a whole group overview of the importance of layering all of these frameworks together and the positive impact experienced by teachers and students in a school that has done this work. Participants will also engage in small group circles or discussions about how this type of work could be done in their schools with the hope that participants leave with ideas for implementation.
Intended audience: all educators

MOTHER'S ROOM
House 23, Room 2373