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Advocating to Empower our most Vulnerable Students

Address Your Own Unique Problem of Practice at BLI

July 13-16, 2025
USC Hotel
Los Angeles, California

Throughout the Breakthrough Leadership Institute 2025, you will connect with a select group of peers from around the country to explore case studies from world-class experts on advancing equity and develop a plan with relevant, measurable goals guided by a USC Rossier faculty facilitator.

Why Attend?

  • Dedicated uninterrupted time to work with my team
  • Interactive setting – working on a plan while learning from expert speakers and expert school leaders 
  • Building community with my team over meals and during learning experiences 
  • Immediate impact on the systems and structures in my school district  – implemented the work right away
  • Thinking through the various communication needs of different groups within and around our school community 
  • Amazing hospitality – well-fed and cared for the entire time 
  • Focused time with Dean Pedro Noguera to think through our most challenging problems 
  • Meaningful examples of school/district leadership success, in practice 
  • Peer feedback from other district and school groups with similar needs 

Disrupt

Disrupt how a district or school provides support to a community well versed in its own agency.

Advocate

Advocate clear definitions, actions, and timelines for student growth systems that center on healing and justice.

Reimagine

Reimagine definitions of how students feel connected, seen, and valued in schools.

Innovate

Innovate ways to personalize teaching and learning to local contexts.

Introduction & Conclusion by Dr. Pedro Noguera

Distinguished Professor of Education
Emery Stoops and Joyce King Stoops Dean
School of Education; Creator, Breakthrough Leadership Institute; Author, A Search for Common Ground: Conversations about the Toughest Questions in K-12 Education

Guest Speakers

Dr. Royel Johnson
Professor at USC Rossier School of Education with courtesy appointment at Dworak-Peck School of Social Work; Co-Chair of the PhD in education program; Director of the National Assessment of Collegiate Campus Climates in the USC Race and Equity Center; Co-Director of the Research Institute for Scholars of Equity (RISE), North Carolina Central University; Author, From Foster care to College: Navigating Educational Challenges & Creating Possibilities (2024)
Links

Equity Book Talk: From Foster Care to College

Dr. Mary-Helen Immordino-Yang
Fahmy and Donna Attallah Chair in Humanistic Psychology; Director, USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education; Professor of Education, Psychology & Neuroscience; Member, U.S. National Academy of Education; Author, Emotions, Learning & the Brain: Exploring the Educational Implications of Affective Neuroscience (2015)
Links

Big Think

Dr. Eugenia Mora-Flores
Professor of Clinical Education, Assistant Dean of Teacher Education; Author, Teaching & Supporting English Learners: A Guide to Welcoming & Engaging Newcomers (2022)
Dr. Darline P. Robles
USC Rossier Associate Dean for Diversity & Community Engagement; Award-winning Retired Superintendent; Creator, Breakthrough Leadership Institute; Author, Now What?: Confronting Uncomfortable Truths about Inequities in Schools (2022)
Dr. Stephanie Dewing
Assistant Teaching Professor of Education, MAT Program; Author, Teaching & Supporting English Learners: A Guide to Welcoming & Engaging Newcomers (2022)
Dr. Shon Hiatt
Associate Professor of Management and Organization, USC Marshall School of Business
Dr. Carl Cohn
Award-winning Retired Superintendent; Senior Research Fellow; Clinical Professor
Dr. Jennifer Cheatham

Dr. Jennifer Cheatham is a Senior Lecturer on Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Theodore R. Burnes
Licensed Psychologist, Expert in gender diversity & supports for non-binary youth

“Belonging isn’t about “feeling good” it is a requirement for learning, I am inspired to support my team to think outside the box and innovate.”
School Administrator
“I thought I was already inspired to do my best as a teacher in the classroom. This conference has somehow furthered my inspiration.”
Teacher Attending with a School Team
“It was amazing to see the evolution of our thinking over the three days with probing from Dean Noguera and Professor Darline Robles,” said Moore. “They challenged our thinking, and we recast our timeline and approach to ensure our students are at the center of this reimagination.”
Dr. April MooreSierra Sands Superintendent

Our Team of Facilitators

Dr. David Cash
USC Rossier Assistant Dean of Leadership; Award-winning Retired Superintendent

Dr. Maria G. Ott
USC Rossier Irving R. and Virginia A. Melbo Chair in Education Administration; Award-winning Retired Superintendent

Dr. Rudy Crew
Nationally-acclaimed educator & author; Award-winning Retired Superintendent

Dr. Christina M. Kishimoto
Founder & CEO, Voices for Equity, Empowering Women for Policy Leadership; Award-winning Retired Superintendent

Dr. Greg Franklin
Award-winning Retired Superintendent, Professor of Clinical Education

Dr. Vivian Ekchian
Former Superintendent, Glendale Unified School District