On March 31 and April 1, WEPC partnered with the Boston University College of Education and Human Development to host the 2022 BU Wheelock Forum. The BU Wheelock Forum centered around discussing the ways that policy-relevant, partner-driven research can enhance our understanding of how various policies impact the diversity and quality of the teacher workforce. BU Wheelock students, alumni, faculty, community members, and national and state education leaders came together in-person and virtually to discuss teacher shortages amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic and the impacts of workforce policies on teachers serving English learners and students with disabilities.

The program balanced research highlights from the BU Wheelock community, in-depth conversations with teachers and policymakers, and commentary from several national leaders. Speakers and panelists included:

  • WEPC researchers and BU Wheelock faculty
  • Kate Walsh, President, National Council on Teacher Quality
  • Shay Edmond, Senior Associate Commissioner, Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (MA DESE)
  • Priya Tahiliani, Superintendent, Everett Public Schools
  • Jessica Tang, President, Boston Teachers Union
  • Takeru Nagayoshi, 2020 MA Teacher of the Year
  • Sydney Chafee, 2017 MA and National Teacher of the Year
  • Jennifer Hedrington, 2021 MA Teacher of the Year
  • Marta García, 2022 MA Teacher of the Year
  • Juliana Urtubey, 2021 National Teacher of the Year and Special Education teacher from Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Heather Peske, Sr. Associate Commissioner, MA DESE
  • Andrea Zayas, National Director for K12 Education, Ballmer Group
  • Cynthia Paris, Superintendent, Lawrence Public Schools
  • Lindsay Jones, CEO, CAST
  • Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, Executive Director, Ivy Street School & Boston School Committee Member
  • Alicia Gatewood, Senior Director of Student Supports and Accessibility, Indiana Department of Indiana
  • Roberto Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development, U.S. Department of Education

Watch the full reel of 2022 BU Wheelock Forum talks and discussions here!

Day One – Overview

Day Two – Overview

Day Two – Research Focus

Day 1 – In Person Social

Day One: Shortages, shifts, & stability in the Massachusetts educator workforce amidst the COVID-19 pandemic

In-Person Event w/ Live Stream option
Hosted at Boston University, 1 Silber Way, 9th Floor, Boston, MA, 02215

4:00  Welcome & Keynote Opening – Kate Walsh, President, National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ)

4:20  Featured Research Presentation: COVID-19 & the MA Teacher Workforce – Andrew Bacher-Hicks and Olivia Chi presented findings from ongoing research with the MA Department of Elementary and Secondary Education including year 1 (2020-21) and year 2 (2021-22) results. 

5:00  Discussion Panel including Shay Edmond, MA Senior Associate Commissioner; Priya Tahiliani, Superintendent of Everett Public Schools; Jessica Tang, President, Boston Teachers Union; Kate Walsh, President, NCTQ. Moderated by Takeru Nagayoshi, 2020 Massachusetts Teacher of the Year

6:00  Fireside Chat with recent MA Teachers of the Year including Sydney Chafee, 2017 National & MA TOY, Jennifer Hedrington, 2021 MA TOY and Marta García, 2022 MA TOY

6:45  Social & Networking Opportunity – Food & Drink Provided, including other invited education leaders

Day Two: Workforce policies & the understudied impact on teachers serving English learners and students with disabilities

Hosted Virtually

9:00  Welcome & Keynote Opening – Juliana Urtubey, 2021 National Teacher of the Year and Special Education teacher from Las Vegas, Nevada

9:20  Lightning Talks & Breakout Sessions #1, Theme: Measures of Effectiveness Centering Best Practices & Outcomes for English Learners and Students with Disabilities

Featured Talks Included:
Using Classroom Observations in the Evaluation of Special Education Teachers 
Heterogeneous Teacher Effects, Comparative Advantage, and Match Quality
Bringing Race Into the Classroom: Describing ACSES and Its Implication for Teacher Education and Training

With Discussants:
Heather Peske, Sr. Associate Commissioner, MA DESE
Andrea Zayas, National Director for K12 Education, Ballmer Group & former Chief Academic Officer for Boston Public Schools

10:25  Lightning Talks & Breakout Sessions #2, Theme: Conditions that Influence Teacher Readiness & Success in Supporting English Learners and Students with Disabilities 

Featured Talks Included:
Professional Development at Scale: The Causal Effect of Obtaining an SEI Endorsement Under Massachusetts’s RETELL Initiative
Are Two Teachers Better than One? The Effect of Co-Teaching on Students with and without Disabilities
Disparities in Access to Well-Qualified, Well-Supported Special Educators Across Higher- Versus Lower-Poverty Schools Over Time

With Discussants:
Cynthia Paris, Superintendent, Lawrence Public Schools
Lindsay Jones, CEO, CAST

11:30   Featured Speaker – Roberto Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation and Policy Development at the U.S. Department of Education

12:00   Discussion Panel on the day’s theme, moderated by WEPC Faculty Nathan Jones and including: Brandon Cardet-Hernandez, Executive Director of the Ivy Street School & Boston School Committee Member; Alicia Gatewood, Senior Director of Student Supports and Accessibility for Indiana Department of Education; Roberto Rodriguez, Assistant Secretary, USED