Dr. Shawnrell Blackwell
Multi Hyphenate & Transformational Leader
Teaches:
The Other C’s in CTE: Classroom Management Strategies to Improve CTE Instruction
Dr. Shawnrell Blackwell dedicates her life to public service in education, mental health, and philanthropy. Dr. Shawnrell Blackwell received her Educational Leadership and Policy Studies doctorate from VA Tech University in 2008. She received her Master’s in Administration and Supervision and her Bachelor’s in English from Virginia State University. Dr. Blackwell holds a Division Superintendent License and a teaching and administrator license in Virginia. She is endorsed in English, ESL, and PreK-12 Administration and Supervision. Since 2000, Dr. Blackwell has been an instructional leader in inner-city and rural elementary, middle, and secondary schools with a proven track record of success. Dr. Blackwell has spearheaded many school improvement initiatives to improve student outcomes as a senior-level director in Petersburg City Public Schools as Director of Federal Programs and School Improvement and in Henrico County Public Schools as Director of Family Engagement. She is recognized for her transformational leadership in culture and climate, classroom management, and data disaggregation. In 2016 Dr. Blackwell transitioned to the mental health field as a Qualified Mental Health Professional and CEO of Avail Outpatient Counseling, LLC. She uses Evidenced-Based Conventional Therapies in conjunction with Complementary and Alternative Therapies such as meditation, mindfulness, fitness counseling, and stress management. She conducts national and local trainings and workshops on self-care, trauma-informed care, and non-pharmaceutical interventions for mental health disorders. Lastly, she founded Education Connection Academy, a nonprofit established in 2009 that focuses on increasing mental health awareness in BIPOC communities.
masterclass DESCRIPTION
Explore the other Cs in CTE with transformational and school improvement leader Dr. Shawnrell Blackwell. Whether you are a first-year teacher or a 20-year veteran, chances are you have at least one area of classroom management you would like to improve upon. Managing students’ behavior, social-emotional, and learning needs are among most educators' biggest challenges. Without a plan to tackle classroom management, you plan to fail. Dr. Blackwell created a simple-to-use classroom management plan based on research best practices and her experience as a mental health professional to address common classroom management pitfalls and challenging behaviors.
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Join Dr. Blackwell to address the other Cs in CTE by developing an effective classroom management plan and learning practical Classroom management strategies that are Culturally responsive, Creative, and Content-driven to increase student engagement.
MASTERCLASS TRAILER
Getting to Know Dr. Shawnrell
1
What sparked your interest in your keynote topic?
The trial and error of twenty years of experience in education in working with diverse populations of students and seven years of professional experience in the mental health field sparked the topic for this keynote. I wanted to provide practical tools to help other educators avoid some of the pitfalls related to classroom management I experienced and successfully overcame by continuously learning, cultivating relationships, and creating safe spaces for students.
2
What was your first teaching experience? What did you learn from it?
I was 22 during my first teaching experience at an urban high school. I was only a few years older than some of my students, and many had life challenges that my teaching of Shakespeare would not fix. I had to
learn quickly how to build relationships and trust with my students while bridging real-world connections and applications to the subject of English. Initially, as a novice teacher, this was sometimes daunting and overwhelming. However,
I have learned that it was also the most beautiful and rewarding experience to help students learn how to remove barriers that may impede their success and use education to overcome their circumstances, making it worth it. This experience inspired me to work in high- poverty school districts with majority BIPOC populations.
3
What missteps would you caution others to avoid as they strive for Instructional Excellence?
To strive for Instruction Excellence, do not be afraid to do your “inner work” by acknowledging your biases, limitations, and mental and physical capacity to create a safe environment for all students that is conducive to teaching and learning. In the words of Maya Angelou, “Once you know better, you do better.” Always remember that setting the tone and expectations of
the classroom starts with the teacher first. Most importantly, be patient with yourself and your students.
STUDENT SUCCESS
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“When you learn, teach, when you get, give.“
Maya Angelou