Conference Theme: Love and Compassion in Education
May 4, 2019       Time: 9:00-2:30         UNCG SCHOOL OF EDUCATION

The theme for the second annual conference was Love and Compassion in Education. In a time when classrooms are increasingly diverse and political/social climates are tumultuous, it is important that educators focus on fundamental qualities of humanity. One way to do that is by ensuring that love and compassion are at the forefront of teaching and learning. With love and compassion, the relationships that form in educational spaces can help combat the negative detritus created from marginalizing and oppressive policies over testing, monolingual and monocultural ideologies, and scripted, one-size-fits-all curricula. Love and compassion are not commonly discussed in education; love, especially, tends to  be a taboo subject of discussion, and we challenge why this is. With this year’s theme, we ask educators to consider why and how love and compassion are significant in education. What does it look like in action? How do we create spaces where all students thrive? How can education be a platform for activism? How do we make our schools a better place, where community, kindness, gratitude, and relationships matter? How do we make this a reality in our schools? 

We welcomed Laura Rendón, author of Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy, as our keynote speaker.

We offered a variety of breakout sessions that will connect with this year’s theme, including those related to pedagogy/teaching practices, research, and community engagement initiatives. 

Click here to view the program for the day.

Laura Rendón, this year's keynote speaker.

Congratulations to this year's Smiley Award winner Cathryn Bennett!