ESC Summer Learning Institute 2025: Full Schedule

Unlocking the Power of Knowledge: The Key to Deeper Learning for All

Join us on Tuesday, June 10, 2025, at Grandview Heights Middle School for a dynamic day of professional learning at the Summer Learning Institute 2025! This year’s theme, "Unlocking the Power of Knowledge: The Key to Deeper Learning for All," will inspire educators to explore innovative strategies that foster deeper understanding and engagement for every learner.

For just $60*, attendees will gain access to expert-led sessions, collaborative discussions, and valuable resources—all while enjoying a provided lunch. The steps to register are provided below.

*An early bird discount of $50 is available thru April 15th!

Day-At-A-Glance
Here is the plan for Summer Literacy Institute 2025 (SLI25). Registration begins at 7:30 with coffee and a light breakfast served. While waiting for Dr. Christopher Emdin to kick off SLI25 with an inspiring keynote at 8:30, network by visiting our Partnership Fair. Two self-selected breakout sessions round out the morning. At 12:15, lunch is provided by Apple Spice. Finally, Kara Vandas leads our afternoon keynote from 1:15-2:15 on Learner Agency with one more self-selected breakout rounding out the day of learning. All sessions will be finished by 3:30.

For content questions, please contact Rachel at Rachel.Daniels@escco.org. For purchase order questions, please contact Sam at Samantha.Finkel@escco.org.

Check out our breakout session options below by toggling "schedule" in the Next Steps-Schedule-Search bar.

Review the lunch options listed below so you are prepared to make your selection when registering.

Sandwich Options–All sandwiches are served with chips and a cookie:

Granny Apple Turkey | Honey Wheat Tangy sliced green apples, Havarti cheese, lettuce, and our famous apple cider vinaigrette dressing on top of our oven roasted turkey breast.

Trio Classic | 13-Grain A trio of thinly sliced meats including cured ham, roasted turkey, lean roast beef, with lettuce, Swiss cheese, and our signature sauce.

Vegetarian (V) | 13-Grain Mushrooms, cucumbers, vine-ripened tomatoes, sprouts, roasted red peppers, and avocados on lettuce with cheddar cheese and pesto mayonnaise.

Grilled Chicken Club| 13-Grain Grilled chicken, tomatoes, cheddar cheese, bacon, green leaf lettuce, and our signature sauce.

Salad Options–All salads are served with bread and cinnamon butter and a variety of dressings :

Strawberry Grilled Chicken

Vidalia Grilled chicken breast, strawberries, and feta cheese make this a sweet and savory favorite.

Classic Cobb

Grilled chicken with bacon, hard boiled egg, and bleu cheese crumbles on fresh salad greens.

Chef Salad

Oven-roasted turkey, cured ham, and hard boiled egg with jack & cheddar cheese on crisp salad greens.

Apple Walnut | Poppy Seed

Fresh apples, candied walnuts, crumbled bacon, and mozzarella cheese on a crisp bed of salad greens

Super Food | Raspberry Vinaigrette

A super antioxidant mix of kale, baby spinach, and red cabbage, topped with dried cranberries, raspberries, almonds, and feta cheese.

Registration Process
Note: Due to Google and Apple’s App Store policies, tickets must be purchased through the Sched website and cannot be purchased through the Sched mobile app. Once registration is complete, you can use the mobile app to create and edit your conference schedule.

Step 1
At the end of these registration directions, you will find a "Reserve Tickets" button on the right side of this page. Click on that button. On the next screen, select your ticket, and you will be directed "to continue with ticket purchase, "Sign up or Log in."

If you do not have an existing Sched account, you will click on "Sign up" to create a free Sched account. If your school is a Google Workspace district, it is as easy as clicking “Sign in with Google.” Otherwise, you can create a Sched account with your work email address and a password.

Step 2
Once you are signed into Sched, you will be prompted to purchase your registration “ticket.” Because of how Sched works, individuals must have their own Sched account and register for the conference themselves.

Payment Details
Credit Cards
Credit Cards are processed by Stripe. This includes a non-refundable processing fee.

Purchase Orders
Purchase orders should be made payable to ESC of Central Ohio, 2080 Citygate Drive, Columbus OH 43219. We ask that the creator of the Purchase Order send a copy to Sam at Samantha.Finkel@escco.org before distributing the PO number to your attendees for registration.

Refunds and Cancellations
Cancellations received up to ten (10) business days prior to the date of the conference will receive a full refund, minus any credit card processing fees if applicable. Cancellations received less than 10 business days prior to the event will have an additional $50 administrative fee, on top of any credit card processing fees. Individuals who register and are "no shows" will pay the full registration.

10:00am EDT

Beyond the Project: Integrating Real-World Problems into Daily Instruction

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

Unlock deeper learning by embedding real-world problems into daily instruction. This session explores practical strategies for incorporating meaningful challenges into your curriculum, including developing driving questions and problem statements that connect content to context. Discover ways to make learning more relevant and impactful while staying aligned with required content.

Speakers

Rob Niedermeyer

Middle School Technology and Engineering Teacher

With a background in problem-based learning and STEM education, Rob Niedermeyer is passionate about making learning meaningful through real-world problem-solving. Over the past 20 years, he has collaborated with teachers across all content areas and grade levels to develop engaging... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 10:00am - 11:00am EDT

K-12, General

Audience 4-12, K5
Area Mathematics, STEM, Humanities, Literacy, General

11:15am EDT

Being a Person of Influence: Unlocking the Mystery of Influence in Order to have a Greater Impact

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

Evidence suggests that one of our basic human desires is to be a person of influence. In addition, those supporting learning within a system are often motivated to find ways to have a greater, more meaningful sphere of influence to accelerate learning and change for others.

During this session, learners will explore:

the role we can play in transforming everyday conversations to spark inspiration and
aspiration in others.
new and novel research on what makes a person of influence
how influence can vary from negative or harmful to empowering and life changing
walk away with doable practices and focus areas that will grow your influence with others.

Speakers

Kara Vandas

Author Consultant, The Core Collaborative

Kara Vandas is an educator with an enduring passion for empowering learners. She began her career in education at an alternative school for youth at-risk. Kara spent several more years in the classroom in public education as a middle and high school educator and then transitioned... Read More →

Tuesday June 10, 2025 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT

K-12, General

Audience 4-12, K5
Area General, Ed Tech, Humanities, Literacy, Mathematics, STEM

2:30pm EDT

Explore Authentic Learning Projects for Advanced Learners with NASA Educator Resources

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

Blast off into an out-of-this-world learning adventure! Ignite your students’ curiosity for discovery with hands-on experiences that bridge critical thinking and real-world applications from NASA educator resources. We’ll explore how interdisciplinary projects fuel learning for advanced students while teaching valuable social and executive functioning skills —guiding all students as they design and construct their own rockets. We will also explore other projects that spark their individual interests with a student centered approach. Get ready to launch their imaginations to infinity and beyond!

Speakers

Carmen Tarbill

Gifted Consultant, Educational Service Center of Central Ohio

Aside from being a proud space geek, Carmen Tarbill is a gifted consultant for the ESC of Central Ohio.

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

K-12, General

Audience K5, 4-12
Area General, Humanities, Literacy, Mathematics, STEM

2:30pm EDT

The Anatomy of a Mastery Moment

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

What does it mean to have a mastery moment? How do we foster motivation for change and growth in both students and educators? What enabling conditions must be in place? Have we considered how mastery moments can revolutionize learning in our schools? During this keynote, you will learn how redefining how we notice, share, and build on mastery moments can impact an entire system, build self and collective efficacy, and propel learners and educators into an upward spiral. That upward spiral will impact all learners in the system, building the disposition toward learning and the desire for deeper learning. We invite you to listen in and discover a missing link in empowering learners and educators.

Speakers

Kara Vandas

Author Consultant, The Core Collaborative

Tuesday June 10, 2025 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

K-12, General

Audience 4-12, K5
Area General, STEM, Humanities, Literacy, Mathematics

ESC Summer Learning Institute 2025

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