The 2020 SEED Summit was nothing short of inspiring, informative, and refreshing! More than 350 staff members from across the SEED Network joined virtually via the Whova App on Thursday, August 13, and Friday, August 14, for two days of community building, professional development, networking, and more. With various workshops led by industry experts within the SEED community, attendees walked away with the latest tips and best practices for increasing student engagement, promoting self-care, and implementing SEED’s culture throughout the network.
Christopher Rooks, math teacher at SEED DC, served as our emcee, kicking of Summit with the energy and excitement we needed to get started! In the initial session, attendees heard from SEED graduates Ralph Mehitang and Maryam Hassan. They shared how SEED prepared them for success in college and beyond. We also heard from heads of school Brian Rahaman (SEED DC), Kirk Sykes (SEED MD), and Kara Locke (SEED Miami), as they shared their plans for the upcoming school year.
“As the new head of school for SEED MD, I have asked staff to support a vision in which we will leverage a system of communication, collaboration, and consistency to provide a rich and rigorous college prep academic environment and student life supports,” Mr. Sykes said.
Day two of Summit started with an informative presentation about the SEED Core Model and our network vision and goals. Led by Hopi Moodie, director of strategic initiatives and special projects at The SEED Foundation, attendees heard from network leaders who discussed the components of the SEED Core Model: College Preparatory Academics, Social & Emotional Learning, and College Knowledge & Advising. Read our latest annual report to learn more about SEED’s Core Model.
Among the most popular Summit workshops was Self-Care: Strategies to Prevent Burnout. In this session, attendees were equipped with strategies to promote self-preservation while teaching and working from home. Melissa Braynon, mental health counselor at SEED Miami and session speaker, encouraged educators to take mindful moments with their students to increase engagement and add variety to their school day. “It is important to take a break sometimes. Get up and stretch and do some deep breathing exercises with your class. Designating workspace that include elements that are soothing for you like aromatherapy, plants, and natural lighting can also help your state of mind,” shared Ms. Braynon.
To say that the 2020 SEED Summit was a success is an understatement. Providing members of The SEED Network with a forum to connect virtually and grow professionally is a vital part of our work at SEED. We look forward to continuing this tradition next year!