Steve Ventura

Popular Workshops

Leadership Development and Coaching
What is it, specifically, that instructional leaders do to support and implement instructional leadership techniques? How can leaders overcome the "politics of distraction" when it comes to leading change? Instructional leadership must be focused on evidence, not tradition. In this thoughtful and interactive session, Steve describes the instructional leadership behaviors necessary to become a high impact school. Providing leadership support for feedback, assessment, and developing assessment capable learners are just a few examples of a specialized skill set designed to enhance instructional strategies. Moreover, instructional leaders must maintain a learning environment based on quality teaching, student engagement, evaluation of instructional impact, and create positive home-school relationships. Join Steve for an unforgettable, inspirational session, and learn how to pursue higher levels of leadership with greater focus, rigor and clarity

Formative Assessment and Evaluation
This interactive two-day seminar will demonstrate how teachers and leaders can create and implement effective short-cycle formative assessments. Formative assessment is a powerful tool for improving learning. Rigorous short-cycle interim assessment systems provide ongoing feedback that helps inform timely intervention for improved end-of-year assessment results. Access to and frequent use of short-cycle assessment data foster continuous discussion and critical focus on student achievement within educator peer groups, and between educators and administrators. To get best results from such a system, schools must provide systematic professional development on data literacy and use for student improvement.

Grading Practices and Effective Feedback
Without question, grading is one of the most emotional topics in all of education. The problem with creating grading systems is more than just implementing a new scale of progression. To demonstrate professional respect for educators, it is important to first ask “why” before we implement a new strategy or grading initiative. Making an initial case for change is absolutely essential when adjusting grading practices and policies, as any effort to suggest that grading systems should be changed requires a considerable degree of justification. The tradition of common practices is deep, and therefore many common practices are continued, even when we know that they are not effective. This powerful session takes on those routine grading practices that have the worst effect on student motivation. Participants will be supplied with dozens of alternatives to failing more students. When we challenge conventional grading wisdom, we can improve student motivation, achievement, and behavior. When was the last time a single change in your school accomplished all that?

What People are Saying:

"When we first heard Steve deliver a keynote, we knew immediately that he would be a perfect fit for our leadership team. Since working with Steve, we have determined those leadership actions that have the greatest impact on student outcomes. By identifying high impact initiatives, we have been able to successfully monitor what we implement.”
- Assistant Superintendent, Hartwell County Charter System

"Steve is one of the most engaging and knowledgeable presenters we have worked with. His dedication, passion, and enthusiasm make it an easy choice for us to establish a long-term commitment with him.”
- Assistant Superintendent, Geary County Schools