Note: The Summer Summit draws hundreds of participants and dozens of highly qualified and engaging panelists. The event is open to all and brings together many perspectives. Speakers’ statements and views do not necessarily reflect the positions or work of the Wisconsin Public Education Network.

The 10th Annual Summer Summit took place July 30-31, 2024 at La Follette High School hosted by the Madison Metropolitan School District.

2024 Summer Summit archive/resources:

2024 Archive:

Morning Meeting
VIDEO of Wisconsin Eye coverage (If you do not already have a free Wisconsin Eye account, you will need to create a free account and log in to view it).

Breakout Session 1

1A. State of School Finance: What You Need to Know Heading into the 2025-27 Budget Process (Vander Meulen Auditorium)
– SLIDES
1B. Community Engagement in Action: Data Dashboards as Tools for Communication (Room 1350)
1C. What Educators Have to Say About Wisconsin’s “Teacher Crisis” (Room 1352)
– VIDEO
1D. Equity in Education (Room 1364)
– VIDEO
1E. Public School Strong: Organizing for Local Action, Statewide Impact (Room 1321)
– VIDEO
1F. The Politics of Literacy and Its Impact on Wisconsin’s Public Education (Room 1318)
1G. We Believe in Wisconsin: Messaging Strategies from All in Wisconsin (Room 1313)
Cancelled due to illness — look out for future resources on this topic!

    Breakout Session 2

    2A. Calling it In: From Institutional Racism to Funding Inadequacy (Vander Meulen Auditorium)
    2B. Referenda All Around: Understanding the Challenges Facing Public Ed (Room 1350)
    2C. Getting a Permanent Fix for Fair Maps (Room 1352)
    – VIDEO
    2D. Act 10 and Its Impacts: Lessons from Unions and the Trades (Room 1364)
    – VIDEO
    2E. A Student and Parent Guide to Navigating the IEP Process (Room 1321)
    – VIDEO
    2F. Healthy School Meals for All Wisconsin and Your Community (Room 1318)
    – VIDEO
    2G. Building a Thriving Ecosystem: A Practical Guide to Sustainable Community Schools (Room 1313)
    2H. Science-Based Early Literacy Instruction: What It Means to Me (Room 1312)
    – VIDEO

    Featured Plenary Panel

    ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: How “The Education Wars” are standing in the way of thriving public schools and what we can do about it.
    – VIDEO

    Breakout Session 3

    3A. From the Board Room to the Ballot Box: Getting Organized (Vander Meulen Auditorium)
    – VIDEO
    3B. From Cradle to College: Coming Together and Connecting the Dots (Room 1350)
    – VIDEO
    3C. Working Families Power Relational Postcard Program (Room 1353)
    3D. Getting to Know Your New Legislators (Room 1364)
    3E. Closing the Resource Gap for Special Education (Room 1321)
    – VIDEO
    3F. Lies, Damned Lies, and School Vouchers (Room 1318)
    – VIDEO
    3G. Direct Pay to Direct Action – Organizing Federal IRA Funds For Our Schools (Room 1313)
    – VIDEO

    The 9th Annual SUMMER SUMMIT took place on Thursday, August 10, 2023 at South Milwaukee High School. The theme was ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION.

    2023 Summer Summit archive/resources:

    • Full program PDF
    • PADLET (shared note-taking hub — if you have comments you forgot to leave, you still can!)
    • Summer Summit Feedback Survey (whether you attended in person, virtually, or are just visiting the recorded sessions here, please take a minute to provide some feedback on the Summer Summit via this link)

    2023 Archive:

    MORNING MEETING (Performing Arts Center (PAC)):
    South Milwaukee District Local Planning Team Welcome, Superintendent Jill Underly, Wisconsin Public Education Network
    –Video

    ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION Part one: Embracing “accountability”: what can we do, where we live, to hold ourselves, our systems and our leaders accountable for delivering the change we seek for our students and their public schools?:
    Getting our finger on the pulse of what is happening now and what can we do about it. 
    Moderator: Heather DuBois Bourenane Panelists: Cass Bowers (All in Wisconsin), Angelina Cruz (Racine Education Association), TR Edwards (Law Forward Staff Council), Martha Siravo and Anna Stevens (MadTown Mommas and Disability Advocates), Julie Underwood (UW-Madison emerita)
    –Video

    BREAKOUT SESSION 1: 

    1A: School Funding Basics: How Funding of Public and Private Schools Really Works in Wisconsin (Library):
    Tom McCarthy, Executive Director, Office of the State Superintendent, Department of Public Instruction
    –Video
    –Slides

    1B: Public Schools Unite Us: Finding common ground and shared values  (PAC):
    Wendy Francour, Mequon-Thiensville School Board member, Nancy Urbani, Mequon-Thiensville community advocate, Sheryl Cerniglia, Oak Creek-Franklin School Board member, Sam Wollin, Adams-Friendship Referendum Fact Group
    –Video

    1C: Sustaining Ourselves: Strategies for avoiding activist and advocacy fatigue. Staying motivated in times of trouble (2229):
    Dana Schultz, Director of Partnerships and Development, Localyst

    1D: Student Voice Matters: How to Engage, Support and Amplify Youth Advocacy (PDC/2107):
    Anna Stevens, Madtown Mommas & Disability Advocates, Zave Hauser, Class of 2023, Heather Hanson, Shelby Brooks, School District of South Milwaukee         

    1E: See Educators Run! Recruiting and electing public education champions (2231-32):
    Meagan Mahaffey, NEA
    –Video

    1F: Amplification in Action: Advocacy by Podcasts – how to be the media (2230):
    Christie Gajewski and Dan Bader, School District of South Milwaukee
    –Video

    ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION Part two: Holding ourselves, our schools, and our leaders accountable for meeting the needs of our students…even when things get tricky, sticky, and ugly
    How can we celebrate what’s working while demanding better?:
    Moderator: Pablo Muirhead Panelists: Stephanie Farrar (Eau Claire Area School District board member), Angela Lang (BLOC), Melissa Tempel (Wisconsin educator); David Carlson (C.C. We Adapt)
    –VIDEO

    BREAKOUT SESSION 2: 

    2A: Making change: from the ballot box to the boardroom (Library):
    Pablo Muirhead (moderator; WAES, MATC), Chris Thiel (Legislative Policy Manager, Milwaukee Public Schools; WAES board), Jeff Eide (Executive Director, Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance; WAES board), Megan Miller (Beloit School Board)
    –Video

    2B: Public Schools and Privatization: Understanding Vouchers and Charters and Their Impact (PAC):
    Dr. Julie Mead, Professor Emerita, Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Dr. Julie Underwood, moderator, Professor Emerita, Department of Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, University of Wisconsin-Madison; both are also board members of the Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools (WAES).
    –Video

    2C: Educators Amplified: A response to lack of teacher voice (2229):
    Hallie Schmeling, Co-Host, ‘Educators Amplified’ podcast
    –Video
    –Slides         

    2D: Challenges and Hopes for our Districts: a conversation with superintendents (PDC/2107):
    Jim Shaw (moderator), Soren Gajewski (Racine), Deidre Roemer (South Milwaukee), Tina Owen-Moore (Cudahy) and Keith Posely (Milwaukee).
    –Video

    2E: Prioritizing Student Mental Health: how schools and community partners can collaborate for kids. (2231-32):
    Jenny Miller, NCC, LPC, Manager of School-Based Mental Health/SBMH Programs at Children’s Wisconsin, Kim Merath, Social and Emotional Learning Supervisor, Milwaukee Public Schools and Melissa Jenks SBMH Clinical Supervisor
    –Video

    ACCOUNTABILITY IN ACTION Part three:  Uniting to Support Strong Public Schools Against Attacks on Democracy and Accountability
    This panel of national advocates tackles the questions of what’s working and what we’re up against in the movement to defend our public schools.:
    Moderator: Kevin Lawrence Henry, Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools board member Panelists:  Julie Larrea Borst (Save Our Schools NJ Community Organizing & Board President NJ Community Schools Coalition), Kylene Dibble (Parents for Public Schools), Becky Glover (Parents for Public Schools-Mississippi), Rod Gramer (Idaho Business for Education),Marva Herndon (Milwaukee Public Schools Board of Directors), Sharon Kirsch and Beth Lewis (SOS Arizona).
    –Video

    The 8th Annual SUMMER SUMMIT took place on Thursday, July 21, 2022 at Eau Claire North High School (and via Zoom for virtual participants). The theme was Public Schools Unite Us.

    2022 Summer Summit archive/resources:

    • Full program PDF
    • PADLET (shared note-taking hub — if you have comments you forgot to leave, you still can!)
    • Summer Summit Feedback Survey (whether you attended in person, virtually, or are just visiting the recorded sessions here, please take a minute to provide some feedback on the Summer Summit via this link)

    2022 Archive:

    Layout of the day—click hyperlinks to access videos:

    • MORNING MEETING (Auditorium)
      • Eau Claire & Local Planning Team Welcome
      • Welcome Address: Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly
      • Launch of the Public Schools Unite Us video series with Steve Betchkal 
    • BREAKOUT SESSION 1 (details below)
    • BREAKOUT SESSION 2 (details below)
    • BREAKOUT SESSION 3 (details below)
    • Closing Conversation: Accountability in Action
      • Keynote Remarks: Governor Tony Evers
      • CRITICAL CONVERSATION: Accountability in Action (Auditorium) featuring Dr. Michael Apple, Matt Rothschild, Martha Siravo, Amber West, moderated by Terri Phillips

    BREAKOUT SESSION 1

    1B (IMC) How to run a winning referendum           
    Denise Gaumer Hutchison, Wisconsin Public Education Network NE Regional Organizer;  Jennifer Black, chair of Champions of Tomahawk Public Schools;         

    1D (251) Collective Action for Change: Moving from Transactional Practices to Transformational Work
    Francisco Sanchez, Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership Community Schools K-5 Manager; Dom Portis, Community Schools High School Manager, Milwaukee Community School Partnership;  Briana Fox, Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership Community Schools K-8 Manager; Glenn Carson, Director of the Milwaukee Community Schools Partnership.

    1E (249) The Impact and Effects of Childhood Trauma     
    Tracy Frank, MOSES: Madison Organizing in Strength, Equity, and Solidarity,  Co-leader of MOSES, Racial Justice for All Children, Educational Improvement Committee; Saundra Brown, Co-leader of MOSES, Racial Justice for All Children, Educational Improvement Committee 

    1G (250) Science Doesn’t Give Us the Right Answer; Science Gives Us the Best Answer
    Erik Phelps, ECASD Science Teacher                       

    1H (243) Let’s Vote Wisconsin         
    Debra Cronmiller, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin Executive Director; Anika Larson, C0-Founder, Let’s Vote Wisconsin.

    1I (241) Local School Board Decision Making       
    Todd Price, Kenosha Unified School District School Board Member; Kathleen (Kathy) Wied-Vincent, Greendale Board of Education 

    1J (235) Research to Support Strong Decision Making    
    Ronald “Duff” Martin, NEA Executive Committee and GLC Board member 

    SESSION 2

    2B (IMC) Taking a Faithful Stance for Racial Equity
    Rabbi Bonnie Margulis, Wisconsin Faith Voices for Justice Executive Director; Ms. Lisa Jones, Executive Director and lead organizer, MICAH-MKE

    2C (255) You Don’t Have to be an Expert to be Inclusive
    Martha Siravo, Madtown Mommas & Disability Advocates, Madison Metropolitan School District (MMSD) MTMDA President; Anna Stevens, MTMDA Secretary/MMSD parent, Nancy Molfenter, Interim Director of Student Services in MMSD; Ray Mendez, MTMDA Advocate/MMSD parent; Margarita Rubio, Madtown Mommas and Disability Advocates (Vice President), MMSD Parent         

    2D (251) Supporting Kids with Challenging Pasts: A Love and Logic Approach   
    Chris Peterson, The Parenting Professor, President        

    2F (256) VIRTUAL SESSION: Organizing Across the States                       
    Panel of coalition partners from around the U.S. discuss challenges that are shared and unique to their states, and what is happening locally to organize to support local students. Confirmed panelists include Sharon Kirsch and Beth Lewis, Save Our Schools Arizona; Nancy Loome, The Parents’ Campaign, Mississippi;  Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, President, Indiana Coalition for Public Education.

    2G (250) Schools as International Peace Sites      
    Kimberly Hill, former Principal of Flynn Elementary School Eau Claire, retiree and public school advocate; Deb Schretenthaler, Flynn Elementary School teacher; James Schmitt, Flynn Elementary School principal

    2H (243) Gaining Support for Public Schools Through Presentations, Donations & Volunteer Opportunities   
    Dani Graham, Eau Claire Area School District, Homeless Program Coordinator; Blia Schwahn, Eau Claire Area School District, School and Community Liaison

    2I (241) Anatomy of a School Board Recall: Keeping the Focus on Non-partisanship   
    Jennifer Winterfield, The Coalition to Support MTSD/Mequon Thiensville School District Executive Committee Member; Chad Winterfield, Executive Committee Member, The Coalition to Support MTSD

    SESSION 3

    3B (IMC) Uniting Schools and Communities: Local Advocacy for Public Education          
    Robert Asen, University of Wisconsin-Madison Professor                     

    3E (249) COMING TOGETHER TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OUR HMONG STUDENTS THROUGH A HMONG PTA
    Blia Schwahn, Eau Claire Area School District, School and Community Liaison; Caitlin Lee, President of Hmong PTA; Dang Yang, Treasurer of Hmong PTA; Khoua Vang, past Secretary of Hmong PTA; Pa Thao, Co-Founder of Hmong PTA.

    3G (250) Coherent Governance: The Right Model for Your School Board?         
    Lori Bica, Eau Claire Area School District, Board of Education Vice President; Tim Nordin, School Board President, Eau Claire Area School District

    3H (243) VIRTUAL/HYBRID SESSION: Uniting to Vote Public: Reaching and uplifting all communities in an election cycle
    Shannon Ross, Executive Director, The Community and Host, All In All Out podcast; Karen Voss, Chippewa Valley Votes

    3I (241) Introduction to Act Now for Wisconsin            
    Melinda Heinritz, Madison Public Schools Foundation President, Joey Grindrod, Madison Public Schools Foundation

    The 7th Annual SUMMER SUMMIT took place on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021 at Sun Prairie High School (and via Zoom for virtual participants).

    Universal 2021 Summit archive/resources:

    2021 archive: recordings and resources

    Morning Meeting featuring Superintendent of Public Instruction Jill Underly and Governor Tony Evers + welcome from Mayor Paul Esser, Sun Prairie Area School District Superintendent Brad Saron, Board President Steve Schroeder and Vice President Bryn Horton, Sun Prairie educator and Wisconsin Teacher of the Year Chris Gleason, and Wisconsin Public Education Network Executive Director Heather DuBois Bourenane
    – Video

    Breakout 1 (see below for sessions)

    Keynote: Closing the Gaps with Keron Blair, Executive Director, Alliance to Reclaim Our Schools
    – VIDEO
    – (Video clip from full plenary/keynote recording)

    Lunch

    Breakout 2  (see below for sessions)

    Breakout 3  (see below for sessions)

    Critical Conversation: Closing the Gaps with Dr. Gloria Ladson-Billings and Dr. Kevin Lawrence Henry, Jr.
    – VIDEO
    – (Video clip from full plenary/keynote recording)

    Pre-recorded message from Senator Tammy Baldwin
    – Video

    Call to Action + Closing Remarks: Wisconsin Public Education Network: Announcement of Drawing winners and presentation of the Changemaker of the Year Award
    – Video

    Breakout 1

    1A. VIRTUAL SESSION:  Closing the Gaps Nationwide: Advocacy Lessons from Around the Country. Panel of advocates from Arizona, Indiana, Mississippi and more! Nancy Loome, The Parents’ Campaign, Mississippi; Sharon Kirsch, SOS Arizona; Julie Larrea Borst, Executive Director, Save Our Schools NJ Community Organizing and Board President, NJ Community Schools Coalition; Cathy Fuentes-Rohwer, President, Indiana Coalition for Public Education; Mary Sinclair, Game On for Kansas Schools
    – Video

    1B. Where are we now? Budget & Legislative Updates with policy experts & Capitol insiders. Chris Thiel, Legislative Policy Manager, Milwaukee Public Schools; Kim Kaukl, Executive Director, Wisconsin Rural Schools Alliance
    – Video

    1C. HYBRID/VIRTUAL SESSION: Preventing Weight Stigma and Disordered Eating in Schools. Laurie Cooper Stoll,  Professor and School Board Member University of Wisconsin-La Crosse and the School District of La Crosse; Jessica Sprengle, MA, LPC; Stephanie Campbell, Ph.D. Candidate, School Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Madison; Kathryn Draper, LEO Program Coordinator, CW Solutions, LLC (Awaiting video)

    1D. Closing the Gap in Literacy Instruction: Best Practices from Scholar Practitioners. Dr. Cathy Toll, Center Director; Faculty Member, UW Oshkosh Center for Literacy Educators & Leaders; Dr. Kathryn Allen; Dr. Katrena Leininger; Dr. Chelsea Faase, all faculty members at the UW Oshkosh Center for Literacy Educators and Leaders
    – Video

    1E. Seize the Moment! Preparing to Push for Robust District-Level Nondiscrimination Policies. Elisabeth Lambert, Attorney, ACLU of Wisconsin; Hope Owens-Wilson, ACLU of Wisconsin
    – Video

    1F. Gaps in White Racial Consciousness. Tasha O’Malley, Teacher and Equity Team Member, Sun Prairie Area School District
    – Video
    – Slides

    1G. Understanding Hunger in Families and the Importance of Child Nutrition Programs. Ashley Best, Community Nutrition Program Manager,Hunger Task Force – Milwaukee; Bard Meier, Educator, Hunger Task Force
    – Video

    1I. Using the Science of Math to Close Learning Gaps. Misti Trowbridge, Principal & Director of Student Services, School District of Thorp; Amanda VanDerHeyden (Cancelled)

    1J. Closing the GAP:  Public Schools-Public Health-Public Education Advocates. Sandy  Whisler, President, Citizen Advocates for Public Education; Samroz Jakvani, Jefferson County Health Department Epidemiologist; Pam Streich,  Jefferson County Health Department; Dr. Tonya Olson, District Administrator, Lake Mills Area School District
    – Video

    1K. Empowering Students to Rise. Jacqueline Gonzalez Reyes, Chief Executive Officer and Founder JGR Consultancy (No session)

    Breakout 2

    2A. VIRTUAL SESSION: School Finance 101. Bob Soldner DPI; Dee Pettack, DPI
    – Video
    – Slides

    2B. Vouchers and Charters: What are they and how do they work? Dr. Julie Mead, UW-Madison
    – Video

    2C. Talking to Early Learners about Race. Ashley White, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, UW Madison
    – Video

    2D. Closing the Gap with Legislators. Jim Bowman, Coordinator; Patti Clark-Stojke; Ann Cattau; Nancy Jones; Marcia Engen; all with Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education (Awaiting video)
    – Slides

    2E. Doing Social Justice in Schools While Navigating Resistance. Laurie Cooper Stoll, School Board President, School District of La Crosse; Aaron Engel, School District of La Crosse Superintendent (Awaiting video)
    – Handouts/Slides

    2F. Using “The Science of Reading” to Close Achievement Gaps and Raise Achievement for All Students. John Humphries, WI CARE: Call to Action for Reading Excellence; Misti Trowbridge and Pati Montgomery
    – Video
    – Slides

    2G. Closing the Efficacy Gap with Questions. Ryan Champeau, Innovation Coach & Mentor,  Secondary School Redesign (Awaiting video)

    2H. Understanding and Applying the Neurodiversity Paradigm to Provide Respectful Supports for All. Katy Hayes, Student Services Coordinator, Oconomowoc Area School District; Allie Tasche, Sheboygan Area School District
    – Video

    2I. Everyone Needs to Own Equity – Our Journey in Helping Create an Inclusive Equity Team for District (Central) Office Support Staff. Chandu Vemuri and Michele Vollmer, Administrative Assistants, Sun Prairie Area School District
    – Video
    – Handout/Slides

    2J. Closing Gender and Equity Gaps in Educator Pay. Peggy  Wirtz-Olsen, Vice President, Wisconsin Education Association Council; Mendy Dorris, WEAC Region 6 Director; Elizabeth Fernandez
    – Video

    2K. VIRTUAL SESSION: Closing the Gaps in Voter Turnout: Ensuring that Youth Become Voting Adults. Wendy Heyn, Voting Outreach Advocacy Specialist Wisconsin Disability Vote Coalition/Disability Rights Wisconsin; Jenny Neugart, Disability Community Organizer, Board for People with Developmental Disabilities
    – Video
    – Slides

    2L. “Disabling Inequity” in Wisconsin Schools. Joanne Juhnke Advocacy Specialist – Special Education, Disability Rights Wisconsin; Lydia Hartlaub, Special Education / Victim Advocacy Specialist, Disability Rights Wisconsin
    – Video

    Breakout 3

    3A. VIRTUAL SESSION: Beyond Vouchers: Legislation to Watch. Sharon Kirsch and Melinda Iyer, SOS Arizona
    – Video

    3B. Close the Gap Between what Voters Want and Legislators Do. Janine Edwards, Wisconsin Public Education Network partner; Myra Enloe, Women Voters Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Democracy Campaign; Mel Barnes, Law Forward; Carlene Bechen, Fair Maps Coalition
    – Slides
    – Video

    3C. Amplifying your Message by Getting Organized and Building an Advocacy Team. Martha Siravo (Madtown Mommas and Disability Advocates President), Anna Hauser (MTMDA Secretary), Margarita Rubio (MTMDA Vice President), Mattie Reese (MTMDA Treasurer), Beth Ivankovic (Past Eau Claire Special Ed. PTA SEPTA President), Dan Grandone, WiLD (Wisconsin Leadership Development) Project
    – Video

    3D. Wisconsin’s Unfair and Inadequate Funding System: Background, Progress, Next Steps.  John Humphries, Executive Director; and John Gaier, WI Association for Equity in Funding (AEF)
    – Video
    – Slides

    3E. College Prep: Racist Structures in High School. Heather Price, Assistant Professor, Marian University
    – Video

    3F. Building Community Through Joy. Jamie Racine, Community Schools Program Coordinator, Sun Prairie Community Schools; Sun Prairie Community Schools Site Coordinators: Stacy Darga, Tenisha Winn, Shenika Moss (Awaiting video)

    3G. Creating School Communities of Belonging through Children’s Books. Andrea Bernstein, Associate Director, Milwaukee Jewish Community Relations Council; Rona Wolfe, Early Childhood Educator and Consultant (Awaiting video)

    3H. Excellence Gaps: How to Narrow Them through Anti-Racist Gifted Education. Pamela Clinkenbeard, Past President; Professor Emeritus, UW-Whitewater    Wisconsin Association for Talented & Gifted; Jackie Drummer, Past President, WATG; Christina Gomez-Schmidt, advocacy committee member, WATG, & school board member, Madison Metropolitan School District; Dr. Sharon Alexander, Director of Advanced Learning, Madison Metropolitan School District; Dr. Maria Katsaros-Molzahn, Advanced Learning Specialist, Oregon School District; Dr. Scott Peters, Professor of Educational Foundations, UW-Whitewater; Dennetra Williams, STAR Coordinator, Boys & Girls Club.
    – Video

    3I. Closing the Gaps for LGBTQ+ Students. SJ Hemmerich, Ph.D. candidate and former Welcoming Schools Facilitator and art teacher, and Phillip Edmonds, educator, Madison Metropolitan School District (Not recorded) 

    3J. Educator Self-care and Living a Balanced Life. Pam Klein and Kalise Horst, Educator Self-care and Well-being Consultants, Steeping Wellness, LLC (Cancelled)

    3K. Families and Schools Together: Time is Now.  Lynn McDonald, Founder, Families and Schools Together; Toni Rivera-Joachin, Executive Director; Molly McGowan, Program Director; Dr. Lisa Marion Howard, Principal, Engleburg, Milwaukee; Rachael Wichgers, Indian Community School, Franklin, WI
    – Video
    – Handouts/Slides

    Wisconsin Public Education Network held its 7th Annual Summer Summit, hosted by the Sun Prairie Area School District, on August 2, 2021 at Sun Prairie High School (with a limited virtual participation option)

    • Summer Summit: Monday, August 2, 2021 8am-5pm, followed by (optional) dinner reception at The Loft in Sun Prairie, catered by Salvatore’s
    • Equity in Action Leadership Circle – an optional six-week learning & action-planning opportunity for educators, board members, school leaders and community advocates on the Summit theme – CLOSING THE GAPS.  Sessions took place virtually on June 17, June 24, July 15, 22, 29 and August 5 from 7-9 pm. Participation is FREE with Summit registration, through the generous sponsorship of the Department of Public Instruction.  Attendance at the Summit is expected of all who participate in the Leadership Circle.
      • Districts and organizations sponsoring staff/member participation include Sun Prairie, Green Bay Education Association, Lake Mills, La Crosse, McFarland, Oregon and WEAC Aspiring Educators

    August 2 Summer Summit
    See the full schedule at-a-glance for the 2021 Summit here

    Special thanks to our 2021 Summer Summit Sponsors:
    Department of Public Instruction
    Wisconsin Education Association Council (WEAC) Region 6 
    WEA Trust
    Wisconsin Education Association Council
    AWSA (Association of Wisconsin School Administrators)
    Foundation for Madison’s Public Schools
    Findorff 
    Bray Architects
    Kobussen Buses Ltd.
    Wisconsin School Public Relations Association (WSPRA)

    CLICK HERE FOR FULL 2020 SUMMIT ARCHIVE WITH VIDEO OF ALL SESSIONS

    A special message from Charlie Berens of Manitowoc Minute for supporters of Wisconsin public schools:

    THANK YOU to all the participants, presenters, sponsors, and the local planning team for making our 6th Annual (and first virtual!) Summer Summit a success!

    You can view Wisconsin Eye footage of the plenary, keynote & featured panels here.

    Click here for the full schedule!

    Click here to access our #VotePublic action toolkits: WisconsinNetwork.org/VotePublic!

    6th Annual Summer Summit – July 24, 2020: ONLINE

    • SUMMER SUMMIT REGISTRATION is closed for 2020! The ,6th annual Summer Summit, hosted by Sun Prairie Area School District https://summersummit2020.eventbrite.com. 
    • This year’s theme was Public Education and Democracy: what civic engagement really means in and to our schools, and how we can work together to defend the most essential pillar of a strong democracy – a sound public education!
    • Guest speakers included Governor Tony Evers, State Superintendent Carolyn Stanford Taylor, Despite the Best Intentions author Dr. John Diamond; Charles Franklin, Marquette University; Angela Lang, BLOC (Black Leaders Organizing Communities, and many more!
    • Thanks to our partner districts and education associations who provided professional development opportunities and sponsored staff/members to attend!
    •  Facebook event here.
    • The Wisconsin Alliance for Excellent Schools is a nonpartisan, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization and the fiscal agent of the Wisconsin Public Education Network. Your donation to WAES supports the work of the Wisconsin Public Education Network and local level action with statewide impact.

    5th Annual Summer Summit – August 5, 2019: La Crosse

    Our 5th annual Summer Summit was held at La Crosse Central High School. See the schedule and event details at https://summersummit2019.eventbrite.com! Click here to see the full programDescription of Breakout Sessions with Materials and Handouts for 2019 Summit

    August 1, 2018: Appleton

    Our 4th Annual Summer Summit was held at Appleton North High School and hosted by the Fox Cities Advocates for Public Education. Agenda included keynote speaker Jitu Brown, a plenary panel with members of the Blue Ribbon Commission on School Funding, special guest Joe Thomas, president of the Arizona Education Association, a morning welcome from Superintendent Tony Evers and 28 breakout sessions! PLUS: silent auction, a #VotePublic workshop & much more!

    See our 2018 Summer Summit photo album here and click here for the full program.  Scroll down for presenter materials and news from the Summit, and click here to view photos and Wisconsin Eye footage from the event.

    Presenter materials and resources.

    August 2017 Summer Summit: Lake Mills

    Over 350 people attended our 3rd annual Summer Summit in Lake Mills, hosted by CAPE (Citizen Advocates for Public Education) and the Lake Mills School District, for a full day of workshops, presenations, and the Wisconsin Premier of the film “Backpack Full of Cash,” with a conversation with the filmmakers. CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL AGENDA  and click here to see our 2017 Summer Summit resource page with videos and descriptions of sessions.

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    August 2016 Summit, Wauwatosa

    Our 2nd Annual Summer Summit featured a full day of workshops and strategy breakouts led by Wisconsin public education advocates and experts, featuring keynote presentations from Rev. Dr. William Barber II and John and Tashia Morgridge, and a special welcome from Dr. Tony Evers, Superintendent of Public Instruction.  CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL SCHEDULE!

    Wisconsin Eye footage: http://www.wiseye.org/Video-Archive/Event-Detail/evhdid/10823

    http://www.wiseye.org/Video-Archive/Event-Detail/evhdid/10823

    Tony Evers interview 8/24 (mentions WPEN partners in opening) http://www.wiseye.org/Video-Archive/Event-Detail/evhdid/10813

    Wauwatosa Hosts Statewide Education Summit: http://www.wauwatosanow.com/story/news/2016/08/24/wauwatosa-hosts-statewide-summit-public-education/89217458/

    Public School Leader Worries about “Haves” and “Have-Nots” http://www.wpr.org/public-school-leader-says-he-worries-about-teacher-shortages-and-have-not-districts

    School leaders push for more K-12 public school funding. Public Education Summit held in Wauwatosa http://www.tmj4.com/news/local-news/hundreds-gather-to-push-for-more-funding-of-k-12-public-schools

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    August 2015: Middleton


    Our first annual Summer Summit was held at Kromrey Middle School in Middleton.

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