The Science of Lesson Planning Book Talk

Catdc workshop

Join author Lori Cohen and Leslie Powell, Lower School Director at Head Royce School, for a conversation about The Science of Lesson Planning: High-Impact Practices That Deepen Student Learning (ISTE+ASCD, September 2026). Together they’ll explore what happens when we treat lesson planning as the place where learning science comes to life—and what becomes possible for students and for the people who teach them.

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Courageous Coaching: Building Cultures of Growth, Trust, and Accountability

CATDC Workshop

This three-part series equips leaders with practical coaching strategies and sustainable feedback systems that strengthen both educator practice and school culture. Grounded in research on adult learning, psychological safety, and relational leadership, participants will learn how to navigate challenging conversations with confidence, deliver feedback that inspires growth rather than defensiveness, and cultivate environments where educators feel supported, challenged, and empowered to continuously improve.

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Tanya Lemmon Profile

Tanya Lemmon Tanya Lemmon holds a B.A. in Sociology from UCLA and a Master’s in Education from UCLA’s Graduate School of Education (Center X). She began her career in public education before teaching internationally at the American School Foundation in Mexico City and Guadalajara, where she developed a strong foundation in culturally responsive teaching, community building,…

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Ashley Harding Profile

Ashley Harding Ashley Harding, founder of North Star Academics, is a fourth-generation educator and Los Angeles native dedicated to advancing educational equity. She holds a B.S. from the University of Southern California and an M.A. in Child Development from Tufts University, with additional study in education reform at NYU and as a Graduate Fellow in the University of…

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Lauren Benjamin Profile

Lauren Benjamin Lauren Benjamin has cultivated a thriving career as a multidisciplinary artist and educator for over 20 years. Lauren earned her BFA in painting and photography and holds a Master’s in Education. She is an alum of dance epicenter Jacob’s Pillow and CATDC’s Leadership Fellows. She worked as a supervisor to student teachers at Mills…

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Nisa Frank Profile

Nisa Frank Nisa Frank has proudly served as the Head of School at Prospect Sierra, a TK-8 school in El Cerrito, Ca.,  for seven years, bringing a wealth of experience in progressive leadership and institutional equity. Prior to her current role, Nisa served as the Head of Lower School at The Hamlin School, an all-girls K-8…

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Janine Extavour Profile

Janine Extavour Janine Extavour is the Director of Teaching & Learning at Sonoma Academy in Santa Rosa, where she leads initiatives focused on instructional practice, faculty development, and the student learning experience. Building a culture where all learners and educators feel connected, challenged, and inspired, guides Janine’s approach to professional learning. She leads with equal parts  joy,…

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Shakirat Taylor Profile

Shakirat Taylor Shakirat Taylor is the High School Principal at Campbell Hall in Los Angeles and the incoming Director of Teaching and Learning at the American International School of Johannesburg. Shakirat is passionate about helping educators strengthen their practice in ways that deepen student engagement, support meaningful learning for all students, and sustain joy in the work.…

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Kasiopia Moore-Watts Profile

Kasiopia Moore-Watts Kasiopia Moore-Watts is energy and love personified. She serves as the Middle School Principal at Campbell Hall in Studio City, where she made history as the first African American principal in the school’s 80-year legacy. Leading with what she calls radical love, Kasiopia is deeply committed to cultivating belonging, brilliance, and purpose in every…

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Ginger Healy Profile

Ginger Healy Ginger Healy’s leadership is grounded in relationships, deep connections, and a commitment to child-centered education. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Southern California, followed by a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University, Northridge, and a Master of Arts in Education with a concentration in Pedagogy from…

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Dr. Byron Philhour Profile

Dr. Byron Philhour Dr. Byron Philhour teaches physics and astrophysics at the Nueva School in San Mateo, California, and consults in data science and educational leadership. For six years, he served as the Dean of Teaching & Learning at San Francisco University High School. He has over thirty years of classroom teaching experience at the high…

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