Facilitator: Dr. Sonya Murray
Organization: Equity Matters Consulting
Role: CEO
Session Description:
This interactive session will challenge the traditional reliance on remediation as a one-size-fits-all approach, which can reinforce implicit biases and inequitable outcomes for diverse student groups. Participants will explore how remediation can often overlook the strengths of individual learners, focusing instead on perceived deficits. Through collaborative activities, case studies, and discussions, we will examine the benefits of acceleration models that prioritize grade-level content and high expectations for every learner, regardless of background or circumstance. Whether it’s engaging administrators, teachers, or parents, attendees will leave with the tools to effectively communicate why acceleration is a more equitable and successful approach for all learners.
Session Objectives/Outcomes:
- By examining real-world case studies and engaging in critical discussions about current remediation practices, participants will be able to identify biases in their own schools' approaches and will be equipped with tools to critically assess and revise those practices.
- Through interactive exploration of successful acceleration strategies, participants will leave with concrete strategies that they can directly apply to shift from remediation to acceleration in their own classrooms and schools.
- Participants will develop tailored advocacy plans during the session, including messaging, data points, and stakeholder engagement strategies, empowering them to confidently champion acceleration over remediation to administrators, teachers, and parents.
Professional Biography:
Dr. Sonya Murray, Founder/CEO of Equity Matters Consultants and Missouri Leadership Development Specialist (EducationPlus), is a transformation change agent who works alongside education leaders to leverage practices that disrupt the status quo in leadership, teaching, and learning. She believes all students can thrive when educators engage in adult learning theory around diversity, equity, and inclusion in schools that support students to reach their full academic potential. She has nearly three decades of broad experience as a researcher, Principal, Leadership Coach, District Administrator, Entrepreneur, and former Teacher of the Year. Sonya is passionate about ensuring educational equity for every child, regardless of background or zip code. She is the co-author of Serving Educational Equity: A Five Course Framework for Accelerated Learning published by Corwin Sage Press.
