REDLANDS, California (July 11, 2017)—Leaders in education from across the region will focus on “Addressing Diversity and Advancing Equity” at the University of Redlands’ 13th annual Summer Institute on Leadership for Educational Justice on July 18, 2017 at the Orton Center on the Redlands campus. 

       The day-long conference will include a keynote address from author, educator and scholar Dr. Tyrone Howard on “Why Race and Culture Matter in Schools: Closing the Achievement Gap in America’s Classrooms.” Plenary speakers include Deepika Srivastava from the Moreno Valley Unified School District on “Equity in Math and Science Classrooms” and Dr. Erick E. Witherspoon ’15 of Generation Ready on “Cultural Proficiency as a Policy Matter.” 

         Breakout sessions will be held throughout the afternoon, and a Superintendent’s Forum with Q&A—“Equity Toward Excellence in K-12 Schools: What, Why, How?”—is scheduled at 1:45 p.m. with superintendents from the Corona-Norco, Moreno Valley, San Bernardino City, Val Verde, San Jacinto and Walnut school districts and from Riverside and San Bernardino counties. 

         Event co-sponsors are U of R School of Education’s Center for Educational Justice and the Riverside County School Boards Association.