CEWL enjoys giving platforms to our members and education thought leaders so they can discuss the issues that matter most to them. Our panel discussions are designed to advocate for the policies and legislation we need to deliver the schools you and your students deserve.

Join us for a conversation with Tayler Simon (she/her), the owner of Liberation is Lit, a bookstore that aims to spark collective action for liberation and community building among readers and book lovers by promoting stories from intersectional experiences. Through Liberation is Lit, she also provides self-publishing book coaching to writers from historically marginalized identities. She has self-published three books, Phases: Poems, Writing Our Truths: A Guide to Self-Publishing for BIPOC Writers, and Love and Other Forms of Heartbreak. Tayler is passionate about promoting social liberation and bringing an anti-oppression lens to all industries, institutions, and fields, especially through the power of transformative stories.

Anthony Brisson (he/him) is has over 15 years of experience in the field of education as a former high school English teacher, adjunct college professor and education consultant. Anthony moved to Washington, D.C. because he wanted to have a direct impact on public education nationally to help advance equity in education, particularly for LGBTQ+ educators and students. Anthony has trained thousands of educators on various racial and social justice topics/issues: implicit bias, race class narrative, advancing racial justice, LGBTQ+ and intersectional identities, diversity, bullying & sexual harassment, cultural competence, and others. Anthony has a strong background in developing and maintaining relationships with national and governmental agencies, public speaking, training, and moderating panel discussions. Anthony currently manages over 50 trainers nationwide and serves as the lead for all LGBTQ+ issues for the National Education Association. Anthony oversees and manages 5 different training cadres, serves on multiple internal groups for curriculum design, and helps oversee LGBTQ+ partnerships and program implementation for NEA state and local affiliates.

Join author William Mayer for a conversation about his book, Are You a Kid Connector Today? Mayer believes that Kid Connectors go beyond just teaching content; they make lessons relevant to students' interests and connect them to real-life applications. They foster personal growth, creating a cooperative learning environment that emphasizes teamwork, discipline, and shared goals. Above all, Kid Connectors are dedicated to their students' success not only in the classroom or on the field but also in life after high school or college. Their greatest pride comes from seeing their students grow into successful adults, partners, parents, and leaders in their communities and professions. For a Kid Connector, this is the ultimate measure of success.

Join Mary Wood for a conversation about teaching in an era where censorship is threatening our freedom. Mary is an educator in Chapin, South Carolina, where she instructs juniors and seniors in Advanced Placement and upper-level English. Mary believes she can help to develop empathy in her students as they grow their understanding of unfamiliar cultures, belief systems, and ways of life. In the past year, Mary faced censorship in her classroom when students complained to school board members about a lesson on systemic racism, which resulted in the removal of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Between the World and Me from her students’ hands. What followed was a firestorm of calls for her termination from parents, legislators, and community members. Still, she continues to teach, pushing back against efforts to whitewash truth in literature.

Join Tiffany Cain from NEA, Carisa Martin from Study.com, Teddi Meier and MaryRita Watson from The SCEA for a conversation about the new resources available to The SCEA members who need assistance passing The Praxis.

Join Anya Gizis and Jeremy Thompsons from Good Jobs First and The SCEA President Sherry East for a conversation about the impact tax abatements have on local schools and communities.

Join author and USC law professor Derek Black for a conversation about voucher schemes and the powerful impact black leaders have had on advancing public education in South Carolina.

Debbra Alvarado is the Director of Programs & Network Engagement at Hispanic Alliance (https://hispanicalliancesc.com/). She shares tips for best supporting our Hispanic students. We discuss what educators need to know about ICE raids and honoring the cultures of all students. She also shares practical tips for Hispanic families to be aware of their rights. Folks can download and print "Red Cards" that help people communicate their constitutional rights at https://hispanicalliancesc.com/resources-legal/.

Join Deborah DePaoli, Palmetto Engagement & Policy Director at the Institute for Child Success, for a conversation about childhood advocacy. Deborah started her career in public education and community development at the age of seventeen, working with migrant farmworkers and their children in Southern California. She served for years as a public-school teacher and administrator working with marginalized students: second language learners, under-resourced preschoolers, and the children of low-wage earners. Deborah has now lived in South Carolina for 18 years where she currently works for Institute for Child Success engaging with families, agencies, and elected officials to advocate for children. Equity in education, access to political power, and real opportunities for establishing generational wealth are some of the issues that Deborah is most passionate about.