Virtual Event • Free • Hosted by EdWeb • Continuing Education Credit (view on EdWeb for credit)
Measuring engagement and belonging is an opportunity to better understand and strengthen the learner experience in your schools.
What if chronic absenteeism, disengagement, and disconnection for some students are actually signals that all students’ experiences need to change?
In this virtual session hosted by EdWeb, LEAP Innovations and ed leader panelists explored what authentic student engagement and belonging actually look and feel like from the student perspective. Brian Smith, Falcon Zone Superintendent of Colorado’s District 49, and Dr. Adrienne Usher, Deputy Superintendent of Kentucky’s Bullitt County Public Schools, shared how they distinguish engagement from compliance, how they understand the relationship between chronic absenteeism with engagement and belonging, and how they use both quantitative data and student voice to understand what is really happening for learners in their classrooms.
This session moved beyond simply asking “Are students engaged?” to a more powerful question: “How do we know, and what do we do with what we learn?”
Why Watch?
Differentiate engagement from attendance and compliance
Understand how students' sense of connection, agency, and belonging influences their participation in learning
Identify meaningful ways to measure engagement and belonging
Recognize the limitations of traditional measures and understand why attendance, achievement, behavior, or participation data alone may not tell the full story of the student experience
Learn how to turn engagement and belonging data into action
The Tools We Presented
LEAP Learning Framework™. Identify the strategies and qualities that have evidence of fostering engagement. Free to download.
Full Spectrum of Evidence Toolkit. Connect qualitative and quantitative data using student voice to make evidence-based decisions that advance student engagement and belonging. Free online toolkit.
LEAP Learner Engagement Survey. Gather student and teacher perspectives on the classroom learning experience with research-validated insights to find out what’s working with engagement and belonging strategies. Free to demo, with low-cost schoolwide and systemwide subscriptions available.
Student-Centered Learning Innovations at District 49 and Bullitt County Public Schools
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Panelists
Dr. Adrienne Usher, Deputy Superintendent, Bullitt County Public Schools, Kentucky
Dr. Adrienne Usher is a seasoned educational leader serving as Deputy Superintendent of Bullitt County Public Schools in Kentucky. With more than 20 years of experience from the classroom to central office, she serves as the frontline strategy partner for the Superintendent, driving districtwide vision while ensuring full compliance with state and federal legislation. She champions student success through human-centered innovation and continuous improvement. Dr. Usher oversees curriculum and instruction, leadership development, human resources, technology, district communications, federal programs and grants, school counseling, and family support systems. Selected for prestigious state and national leadership programs, she holds national advisory roles and is actively involved in statewide assessment reform. Her holistic background empowers her to break down educational silos, foster educator growth, and build learning environments that truly prepare students for lifelong success.
Brian Smith, Falcon Zone Superintendent, School District 49, Colorado Springs, Colorado
Brian Smith is the Falcon Zone Superintendent in School District 49 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He leads seven schools, including four elementary schools, a middle school, a comprehensive high school, and an applied learning campus serving grades 8–12. He has dedicated his entire career to District 49, serving as a high school chemistry and AP Chemistry teacher, Science Department Chair, Assistant Principal, and, for 13 years, a middle school Principal and Executive Principal. In that role, he helped open a new elementary school connected to the middle school campus. Brian holds a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry with Teaching Certification from Fort Lewis College and a Master of Arts in Educational Administration with Principal Certification from the University of Denver. He is driven by a commitment to empower every learner through engaging environments, enhanced opportunities, and elevated instruction so they can earn their WINGS—Wisdom, Integrity, Networking, Grit, and Self-Confidence.
Sue Holmes, Senior Executive Director, LEAP Innovations
Inspired by the vision of transforming teaching and learning in classrooms nationwide to become places of modern, personalized, competency-based learning, Sue Holmes left her K-12 leadership post as a superintendent in Colorado, where she led the scaling of modern, personalized learning in her local schools. With a heart for leaders and teachers undertaking this paramount goal, Sue knows the power of engaging students at a personal level and works to ensure that student ownership of learning is a reality for districts throughout the country. As a Senior Executive Director at LEAP Innovations, Sue works with schools, districts, and organizations to innovate and transform classrooms and systems so that each learner can achieve their potential and prepare for what’s next by supporting them through professional learning and strategy.
Jessica Paulsen, President, LEAP Innovations
A leader in education innovation and nonprofit strategy, Jessica Paulsen has over two decades of experience driving systemic change toward equitable, student-centered learning. As President of LEAP Innovations, she translates LEAP’s vision for education into measurable impact by advancing personalized learning and human-centered innovation across schools and districts nationwide.
Jessica believes real educational transformation starts with centering the people closest to learning. This belief has deepened her commitment to building relationships, learning continuously, and designing with those she serves. At Distinctive Schools, Jessica served as Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer, driving strategic growth, innovation, and advocacy for a network of public charter schools. As Executive Director of Pass With Flying Colors, she stewarded an eight-year college access and persistence model to change outcomes for first-generation students through long-term relationships. She launched New Sector Alliance's Chicago site and led its national leadership development curriculum for emerging nonprofit and education leaders.