Education Transformation
Explore Bold Solutions for Redesigning Curriculum, Engaging Stakeholders, and Preparing Students for Tomorrow’s Jobs
Meet the Speakers
MASTERCLASS:
Reengineering the Conveyor Belt
BEN CHIDA
Former Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary and Senior Advisor for “Cradle to Career” within the California Office of the Governor
Ben Chida is the former Chief Deputy Cabinet Secretary and senior advisor for “Cradle to Career” within the California Office of Governor. He was the chief architect of California’s Master Plan for Career Education, and five-year compacts with the University of California and California State University. Ben also guided a statewide data system to follow students through the educational pipeline into careers to assess what works and doesn’t. Prior to joining the governor’s office, he served as attorney-advisor in the executive office of thenAttorney General Kamala D. Harris, as a judicial law clerk to federal judges in California and on the DC circuit, and as a third-grade teacher in New York City. His educational journey includes dropping out of high school, attending Orange Coast College, receiving a BA from University of California, Berkeley, and a JD from Harvard Law School.
MASTERCLASS:
Design Matters: Rethinking Learning Environments
CHRISTINE CRUZVERGARA
Chief Education Strategy Officer, Handshake
Good ideas don't matter if you can't convince those around you to follow. As you accumulate inspiration from the speakers before, don't forget to devise a strategy for how you'll implement these new ideas. Your success and your students' success relies on your ability to effectively lead change. Come learn 5 principles for creating the necessary buy-in across your campus or organization. Using behavioral psychology as a foundation, Christine will leave you with memorable stories and concrete techniques to use with your team, your colleagues, and even your children!
MASTERCLASS:
Continuous Improvement & Changing Culture
DR. AL SOLANO
Founder & Coach at the Continuous Learning Institute
Dr. Solano is Founder & Coach at the Continuous Learning Institute. A big believer in kindness, he helps institutions of higher education to plan and implement homegrown practices to improve student success and equity. In addition, his bite-sized, practitioner-based articles and podcast episodes on student success strategies, institutional planning & implementation, and educational leadership are implemented at institutions across the country. He has worked directly with over 50 colleges and universities and has trained well over 5,000 educators. He has coached colleges since 2009, worked at two community colleges, and began his education career in K12. He earned a doctorate in education from UCLA and is a proud community college student who transferred to Cornell University. In addition, his unique coaching model has been studied by Columbia University's Community College Research Center, which found that his approach significantly enhances college teams' culture and project outcomes.
MASTERCLASS:
Big Picture Learning
DR. ELLIOT WASHOR
Founder & CEO, Experience Institute
Elliot Washor, Ed.D., is the co-founder of Big Picture Learning and The Met Center in Providence, RI. With over 50 years in education, he has served as a teacher, principal, administrator, writer, and innovator in school reform. His work spans K-college levels, urban and rural settings, and a wide range of disciplines.
Elliot's contributions center on reimagining school design, pedagogy, and assessment, championing real-world learning through strong community connections. His vision for Big Picture Learning as a "do-think-do" organization has shaped its global impact, especially for students in underserved communities.
He has received numerous accolades, including the Ford Foundation's Innovations in Government Award and recognition by the George Lucas Educational Foundation as one of the "Daring Dozen" educators worldwide.
MASTERCLASS:
Redefining the Goal of Education
DR. KEVIN J FLEMING
Author. CEO of Catapult.
As a first-generation college student, Dr. Fleming was told that education counts. Supported by the cultural belief that the more education you get, the more money you make, he pursued not one, not two, but 5 degrees. Overeducated and underemployed, he found himself drowning in student loan debt. It was his industry credential that lifted him out of working poverty and changed the trajectory of his life. In this keynote, Dr. Fleming validates that education does count but is insufficient all on its own. Learn about the power of industry credentials in providing all students a competitive advantage after graduation.
MASTERCLASS:
Opportunity On-ramps: Targeted Education for the Jobs of the Future
MICHELLE WEISE
Future of Education & Workforce Strategist
Tech is advancing; jobs are morphing, and job tenure is shorter; retirement is delayed or gone entirely; and education has to be continuous. Education and workforce strategist Dr. Michelle R. Weise talks about the infrastructure we need to build for a future filled with 20, 30, or more job changes. Part of that involves building more on-ramps to better economic opportunities, which are not always going to mirror the educational experiences we recognize today. During this session, Dr. Weise will share an array of new approaches to skills building for the jobs of today and tomorrow.
MASTERCLASS:
Design Matters: Rethinking Learning Environments
KEN SHELTON
EDUCATOR - SPEAKER
In today’s age, hybrid and remote working environments are becoming increasingly common along with asynchronous, global team collaborations. The terms learning and classroom (learning space) have therefore taken on a myriad of different and newer meanings.
Both regularly occur and are associated with physical and digital environments. Often times the design of these environments can be a determining factor in the desired outcomes and a learner’s career readiness. In both cases, the designs of each can not only influence the learner, but also the breadth and quality of their learning experience. It is this experience that can mean the difference between successful engagement in learning versus disengagement.
During this keynote, we will examine ways in which we can leverage the designs of physical and digital space to create a unique learner experience as well as strategies for effective design of equitable and inclusive learning environments. Because Design Matters.
LEVEL UP YOUR TEAM
See why Educational Institutions rely on Catapult to provide relevant learning & development. Contact us Today.
Programs and Masterclasses
Interview format - host Dr. Kevin J Fleming
Interview format - host Dr. Kevin J Fleming
Interview format - host Dr. Kevin J Fleming
Interview format - host Dr. Kevin J Fleming
Interview format - host Dr. Kevin J Fleming
Pathway Success
Pathway Success
Pathway Success
Pathway Success
Pathway Success
"This has been a tremendous experience with growth potential at every corner! Our Implementation Team has been on fire, and we are stoked about each session. Thank you for providing this opportunity to our team!"
Chuck Carter, Director of CTE Programs, Tennessee Department of Education
99%
of educators/staff found Catapult’s content motivational and engaging.
90.8%
of educators/staff say Catapult helped to transform passive support into active commitment at their institution resulting in broader understanding and buy-in.
96.3%
of educators/staff found Catapult’s content useful in crafting their local strategies/tactics.
98%
of participating educators/staff were thankful for the time and space created to reflect, discuss, and engage together.
97.1%
of educators/staff felt more prepared and focused on implementing targeted institutional change.
95.9%
of educators/staff highly recommend Catapult.
Explore our complete Prospectus for an in-depth look at Catapult’s masterclasses, learning outcomes, and transformative approach to professional development
Discover how Catapult empowers educators through expert-led instruction, tactical resources, and a vibrant professional learning community
Learn how to incorporate Catapult Masterclasses into your Perkins V application with clear language and strategic alignment guidance
Explore our Manifesto to discover the ‘why’ behind Catapult—our vision, our values, and our unwavering belief in making education
boldly relevant
