Thursday, February 20
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Pre-Conference Workshops
Room: TBA
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
A Framework for Engaged, Collaborative, and Independent Learning
John T. Almarode, PhD
Room: TBA
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Shaping and Strengthening Today's Classrooms Culturally, Emotionally, and Academically
MaryAnn Brittingham, MS; Kathleen M. Kryza, MA
Room: TBA
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
How Should Educators Respond to the AI Revolution?
John T. Spencer, EdD
Room: TBA
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Building Hope and Resilience in Ourselves and Our Students
Kevin D. Washburn, EdD
Room: TBA
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST
Creating Learning Environments That Inspire, Motivate, and Heal
Amy L. Eva, PhD; Victoria S. Zakrzewski, PhD
This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Thursday, February 20
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM PST
Keynote Address I: The Science of Rewiring Our Brains for Compassion, Optimism, Gratitude, and Awe - Dacher J. Keltner, PhD
1:05 PM - 2:05 PM PST
Keynote Address II: Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness - Jamil Zaki, PhD
2:05 PM - 2:30 PM PST
Networking Coffee Break
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM PST
Keynote Address III: Divergent Minds: The Power of Nuance and Neurodiversity in a World Desperate for Critical Thinking - Jenara Nerenberg, MS
3:35 PM - 4:35 PM PST
Keynote Address IV: Autism and Education: Focusing on the Strengths of Neurodiverse Students - Temple Grandin, PhD
4:35 PM - 5:00 PM PST
Afternoon Break and Keynote Book Signings
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
CONCURRENT SESSION A
Room: TBA
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Teaching to Every Student’s Strengths: Liberating the Brain’s Hidden Assets and Talents
Layne M. Kalbfleisch, PhD, MEd
(RP, Grades K-12)
Room: TBA
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
A Strength-Based Model of Neurodiversity
Lawrence K. Fung, MD
(RP, All Ages)
Room: TBA
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Teaching for Intellectual Virtues: What, Why, and How
Jason S. Baehr, PhD
(RP, Grades K-12)
Room: TBA
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
The Character Gap: How Good Are We?
Christian B. Miller, PhD
(RP, All Ages)
Room: TBA
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Nurturing Hope and Self-Care: Strategies for Personal and Professional Well-Being
Cathleen G. Beachboard, MA
(RP, Adults)
Room: TBA
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM PST
Building Student Ownership and Self-Direction
John T. Spencer, EdD
(P, Grades K-College)
This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Friday, February 21
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM PST
Keynote Address I: Conscience: The Social Brain and Social Learning - Patricia S. Churchland, BPhil
9:00 AM - 9:25 AM PST
Networking Coffee Break
9:25 AM - 10:25 AM PST
Keynote Address II: Hacking Deficit Thinking: Strategies for Strength-Based Practices - Byron M. McClure, EdD, NCSP
10:25 AM - 10:55 AM PST
Morning Break and Keynote Book Signing
10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
CONCURRENT SESSIONS B
Room: TBA
10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Your Child’s Strengths: A Teacher’s Guide to Discover, Develop, and Use Them in School Jenifer M. Fox, MEd
Jenifer M. Fox, MEd
(RP, Grades PreK-12)
Room: TBA
10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Seeing the Hidden Strengths and Potential in Neurodiversity in an AI Age
John T. Spencer, EdD
(P, All Ages)
Room: TBA
10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Practicing Bold Gratitude to Optimize Happiness, Relationships, and Performance
Lainie J. Rowell, MA
(RP, All Ages)
Room: TBA
10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
The Kindness Crisis: Solving Empathy in a Lonely World
Houston J. Kraft
(RP, Grades K-12)
Room: TBA
10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
The Power of Hope, Resilience, and Empathy During Challenging Times
MaryAnn Brittingham, MS; Kathleen M. Kryza, MA
(P, Grades K-12)
Room: TBA
10:55 AM - 12:25 PM PST
Teaching Students to Drive Their Learning
Douglas B. Fisher, PhD
(P, All Grades)
12:25 PM - 1:35 PM PST
Lunch Break (On your own)
1:35 PM - 3:45 PM PST
CONCURRENT SESSIONS C
Room: TBA
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –
The Strength-Based Teacher
David B. Daniel, PhD
(RP, All Grades)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –
Using Cognitive Scaffolding to Strengthen and Support Student Learning
John T. Almarode, PhD
(RP, All Grades)
Room: TBA
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –
Hidden Brilliance: Unlocking the Intelligence, Talents, and Strengths of Autism
Lynn K. Koegel, PhD, CCC-SLP
(RP, All Ages)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –
Character Strengths and Abilities Within Disabilities
Daniel J. Tomsulo, PhD
(RP, All Ages)
Room: TBA
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –
The Psychology of Gratitude and Well-Being
Michael E. McCullough, PhD
(RP, All Ages)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –
Gratitude in Schools: The Science of Building Character
Giacomo Bono, PhD
(RP, 4-College)
Room: TBA
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –
The Philosophy and Psychology of Honesty
Christian B. Miller, PhD
(RP, All Ages)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –
Academic Integrity: From Threat to Opportunity With AI in Education
Denise C. Pope, PhD
(RP, All Grades)
Room: TBA
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –
The Power of Hope in Education
Crystal I. Bryce, PhD
(RP, All Grades)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –
The Hopeful Brain: Building Schools and Classrooms of Hope
Cathleen G. Beachboard, MA
(RP, All Grades)
Room: TBA
1:35 PM - 2:35 PM PST
Part I –
Evolving Learners: Inquiry-Based Strategies to Cultivate Strengths, Compassion, and Autonomy
Lainie J. Rowell, MA
(RP, All Grades)
2:45 PM - 3:45 PM PST
Part II –
Locating and Growing Student Agency in the Science of Reading and in Classrooms
Margaret Vaughn, PhD
(RP, All Grades)
3:45 PM - 4:15 PM PST
Afternoon Break
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM PST
Afternoon Keynote Addresses
Room: TBA
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM PST
How Every Brain is Different: Understanding Our Student's Strengths in Schools
Chantel S. Prat, PhD
Room: TBA
4:15 PM - 5:15 PM PST
The Science and Power of Hope
Chan M. Hellman, PhD
5:15 PM - 6:15 PM PST
"Meeting of the Minds" Reception
This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.
Saturday, February 22
Location: Fairmont San Francisco or Virtually via Zoom
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
Morning Keynote Addresses
Room: TBA
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
The Science of Character: PRIMED for Changing the Character of Schools
Marvin W. Berkowitz, PhD
Room: TBA
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM PST
The Power of Student Agency: Create the Conditions for All Students to Thrive
Anindya Kundu, PhD
10:00 AM - 10:30 AM PST
Networking Coffee Break and Keynote Book Signings
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
CONCURRENT SESSIONS D
Room: TBA
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Strength-Based Mircohabits to Thrive as an Educator
Rebecca A. Branstetter, PhD
(RP, Grades K-12)
Room: TBA
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Don't Blame the Students: The Surprising Science of Classroom Attention
Andrew C. Watson, MEd
(RP, All Grades)
Room: TBA
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Measuring Concern for Others Among Adolescents: Connecting Compassion, Empathy, and Prosocial Behavior
Aakash A. Chowkase, PhD
(RP, Grades 6-12)
Room: TBA
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Learned Hopefulness
Daniel J. Tomsulo, PhD
(RP, All Ages)
Room: TBA
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM PST
Leading With Hope: Strategies for Empowering Educators and Students
Cathleen G. Beachboard, MA
(RP, All Ages)
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM PST
Lunch Break (On your own)
1:15 PM - 2:45 PM PST
Final Keynote: Seeing Teachers and Students: Gradually Releasing Their Strengths, Independence, and Responsibility - Douglas B. Fisher, PhD
This schedule is preliminary and subject to change.