2022 IBSC Annual Conference 

Blanche, Melinda, and Curley's Wife: Addressing Sexism in the English Classroom
Appeals to: Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Winn Science Center 207
Though we’d rather not admit it, adolescents boys can be prone to sexist attitudes, which can be exacerbated by the absence of girls in the classroom. By introducing female voices and strong female characters in literature, English teachers are uniquely positioned to challenge sexism. Discuss the ways in which we—two male instructors—have attempted to do so.
Presenter: Alexander Barron, Boys' Latin School of Maryland (United States)

Building Bridges: Using Social Media to Expand Your Personal Learning Network
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: McDermott-Green Science Center 102
No longer just a digital toy, social media serve as a legitimate professional tool that can significantly expand your personal learning network. Learn how to use social media to connect yourself, your colleagues, and your classroom to experts and resources that can transform how you teach. Learning social networking skills can expand your horizons beyond your classroom, campus, city, and country.
Presenter: John Mead, St. Mark's School of Texas (United States)

Connecting Critical-Thinking and Collaborative Skills in High-Ability Boys
Appeals to: Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Winn Science Center 208
For leaders in the 21st century, success depends not only on knowledge but also on their ability to harness the intellectual diversity of their teams. Examine teaching methods and frameworks that reinforce the integral partnership between critical thinking and collaboration. Discuss practical ways to empower boys to become more empathetic and supportive partners in the learning process.
Presenter: Alison O'Neill, Harrow School (United Kingdom)

Eight Cultural Forces to Build Character
Appeals to: Middle School (Ages 12-15)
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Centennial Hall 208
Delve into the eight forces that shape the school culture and explore a method to use these forces to build a productive learning environment that allows students to form their character traits. Learn how to put into practice these ideas to find new and efficient ways to build one of the character strengths we choose to develop.
Presenter: Josep M. Simon, Bell-lloc (Spain)

What Works in Character Education
Handout

From Just OK to Thriving: How Universal Design for Learning Leads to Success
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Centennial Hall 232
Traditional classroom environments often leave boys feeling lost and frustrated, whereas boys with an understanding of their communication and learning strengths will succeed. Explore with us the concept of Universal Design for Learning based on learning modalities. Get simple tools and tips on how simple changes to your lessons can enhance your classroom and allow your students to thrive.
Presenters: Tess Crocker, Spoonie Advocate Associates; Abigail James, Piedmont Virginia Community College

Handout

Heeding the Call: Building Pathways to Manhood for All Boys
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Centennial Hall 204
Learn about Belmont Hill School’s decision to remove a challenging artifact from campus and catalyze a new level of engagement with our institution’s history. Explore the triangular partnership among the head of school, director of community and diversity, and board of trustees in working to ensure pathways to manhood for all boys at our schools.
Presenters: Greg Schneider and Caleb Collins, Belmont Hill School (United States)

Presentation
Belmont Hill Inclusive Teaching Practices
Diversity Action Plan
History and Task Force Guiding Principles
Harvard and the Legacy of Slavery

Hiking Woodland Paths and Crossing Streams: An Outdoors Approach to Education
Appeals to: Middle School (Ages 12-15), Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Centennial Hall 119
Receive an overview of St. Mark’s Wilderness Program and an outline of planning, preparation, and execution of campouts. A multimedia presentation illustrates the wild wilderness landscapes St. Mark’s students experience in the backcountry of the Pecos National Park, woodlands of east Texas, and shoreline of Lake Texoma. Hear about the program mission, values, and skills.
Presenter: Eric Slingerland, St. Mark's School of Texas (United States)

St. Mark's Wilderness Program Overview
IBSC Conference Presentation
Wilderness Program Photo Slide Show

“Kindness Is Cool, Bro” and “I Love You, Man:” Tools for a Positive Class Culture
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Centennial Hall 116
We know the research: Boys thrive on connection! Our boys do their best when they feel seen, heard, known, and valued. But how can we foster friendships and build connections while still maintaining the academic level of rigor we wish? We argue that there is no learning until there is community. Join us for practical tools to create a culture of kindness and connection in your school. #goodvibesonly
Presenter: Samara Spielberg, The Allen-Stevenson School (United States)

Presentation Slides

Leading the Learning: The Future of Professional Development
Appeals to: Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: Centennial Hall 209
The most powerful resource a boys' school has is its staff. Discuss how to empower teachers with the pedagogy they bring to the classroom, equip your future school leaders with tools to succeed and inspire boys, and create a community of engagement to become better educators of boys.
Presenter: Casey de Wit, Westlake Boys' High School (New Zealand)

Making Character and Leadership Education and Social-Emotional Learning Possible and Powerful
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Centennial Hall 141
Social-emotional learning (SEL) skills form the foundation of impactful character and leadership education. Learn how to capitalize on existing time in your school’s academic schedule to build in a robust SEL curriculum that has synergistic effects on character and leadership learning and development. Get resources and ideas for quick, hihg-quality SEL content and modes of delivery.
Presenters: Gabby Reed and Dean Clayman, St. Mark's School of Texas (United States)

Handout

Marking Off Roads to Nowhere
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Centennial Hall 227
How can we build functional, school-based contexts and related programs to assist boys on their pathways to manhood? Many wholesale attempts have been made. Moral development requires more than the sharing of information if we are aiming for life-shaping outcomes. Drawing particularly from the field of moral education, discuss how to bridge the gap between thinking and action.
Presenter: David Assender, Scotch College (Australia)

Handout

Propel Engagement, Enrollment, and Your Brand via Student Learning Experiences
Appeals to: Upper/Senior School (Ages 15-19)
Knowledge Level: New to the topic
Room: McDermott-Green Science Center 103
Propel student achievement to new heights through a transformative learning delivery model! Through strategic collaborations with local companies and organizations build engaged, active learners through deeper exploration, while driving brand awareness and enrolment.  This novel and integrated approach shapes individual learning for tomorrow's world.
Presenter: John Walsh, St. Michael's College School (Canada)

Research-Invested Schools
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Winn Science Center - Science Lecture Hall
Define research investment as it exists within IBSC member schools and explore the role of the IBSC Research Committee in supporting and enabling it. Hear about the principles of research investment, get exemples from member schools, and receive an invitation to participate in IBSC research opportunities.
Presenters: Caitlin Munday and Hugh Chilton, The Scots College (Australia); Ross Featherston, Brighton Grammar School (Australia); Peter Coutis, Scotch College (Australia); Sandra Boyes, Crescent School (Canada); Kim Hudson, St. Christopher's School (United States)

Thinking About Headship
Appeals to: All Ages
Knowledge Level: Intermediate
Room: Centennial Hall 142
What's it like leading a school? What are the greatest challenges? Rewards? Surprises? What questions should an aspiring school head askr? Two former IBSC school heads, Rick Melvoin and Vance Wilson, now lead a consulting practice with both new and experienced school heads. Come see what you think.
Presenters: Vance Wilson and Rick Melvoin, Strategic School Leadership