Ethical Leadership Empowering Education
Presented by Shoulder-to-Shoulder
An immersive professional development event for educators who seek to lead with compassion, moral courage, and integrity in a globally connected, ethically complex world.
SESSIONS
Moral Examples from the Field
Real-world ethical leadership in action
Hear directly from NGO partners whose work reflects compassion, moral imagination, and community-driven leadership in the face of injustice and local challenges.
Presented by:
Fernando Maldonado
Farmer and Educator, Puerto Rico
Katy Baric
Cofounder & Executive Director - Hands On Peru
Mia Vaughnes
Founder - Good Neighbor Gardens, San Diego
Models of Mentorship: Mentoring as Leadership
Developing the Next Generation Through Purposeful Guidance
Explore how school-based and nonprofit mentoring programs cultivate inclusive leadership, foster moral courage, and empower young people to imagine and shape a more just world.
Presented by:
Dennis Pooler
Managing Director of Post-Secondary Strategy & Success - Comp Sci High, NY
Duron Jones
Senior Program Director - Summer Search, Seattle
Principles of Risk Management
A Comprehensive Approach for School Programming
Learn how to design ethically responsible educational experiences using a systems lens to anticipate risk and uphold integrity, safety, and shared responsibility.
This practical session covers student safety, communication protocols, and emergency response planning.
Presented by:
Bill Cotter
Director of Programming and Education - Students Shoulder-to-Shoulder
Children Inspiring Hope
Using Art to Inspire Global Citizenship
Discover how creative expression can foster compassion, a global mindset, and cross-cultural connection in young learners.
Presented by:
Amy Gaylor Nedriga
Executive Director - Children Inspiring Hope, Savannah, Georgia
Full Division Immersion Programs
Planning, Challenges, and Benefits Across K–12
Explore how schools are transforming culture through full-division, off-campus experiential learning—rooted in systems thinking, ethical principles and public purpose.
Presented by:
From Polarization to Progress
Tools to Navigate Difference and Lead in Divided Times
Dr. Katy Anthes provides educators with tools to lead with moral courage, promote collaborative decision-making, and foster unity in divided contexts.
Featuring insights from her leadership of the PEBC initiative, Forward
NGO Partner Panel: Seeing Through Our Partners’ Eyes
A Unique Perspective on the SStS Field Study Experience
Join a candid conversation with long-time partners reflecting on ethical collaboration, mutual respect, and the power of co-leadership in shaping transformative student experiences.
Presented by:
Fernando Maldonado
Farmer and Educator, Puerto Rico
Katy Baric
Cofounder & Executive Director - Hands On Peru
Mia Vaughnes
Founder - Good Neighbor Gardens, San Diego
Karambu RIngera
Founder and President of International Peace Initiatives, Kenya
Keynote Speaker – To Be Announced!
Stay tuned for our featured keynote—a national leader in education and ethical innovation who exemplifies what it means to lead with vision, courage, and purpose.