Details

Brandon Jacobs — “If You Build It, They Will Come”: How to Hook, Inspire, and Create Belonging in Your Classroom

Session Information:
“If You Build It, They Will Come”: How to Hook, Inspire, and Create Belonging in Your Classroom

Who Should Attend: 
  • Teachers
  • Deans
  • Department Chairs
  • Curriculum Leaders
What Will People Learn: 
  • Tips and strategies for connecting with students
  • Ways to incorporate DEI into beginning lessons
  • Skills to open authentic conversations with students
  • Examples of “openers” or “hooks” for students Pre-K-12th grade
Presented by: Brandon Jacobs

About the Presenter:
Since 2018, Brandon has served as the Director of Diversity and Inclusion at The Shipley School (PA) where he leads the development and implementation of policies, procedures, and programs that sustain an inclusive school community and curriculum and fulfill the School’s diversity and inclusion goals. Working closely with school administrators, he directs recruitment and retention initiatives to broaden the diversity of the student body and among faculty and staff. A champion of diversity work, he oversees affinity groups, leads the All-School and Divisional Diversity teams, and plans all programming related to diversity and inclusion.

Previously, Brandon held various roles at The Hill School (PA), including Director of Inclusion and Diversity, Director of Student Activities, Class Dean, and Assistant Director of College Advising. He was an online course facilitator in school culture and inclusivity for Global Online Academy, Dean of Student Advisement for the New Jersey SEEDS program helping high-achieving students from low-income families, and served as Admissions Counselor and Multicultural Recruiter for Rider University.

Brandon has presented at the NAIS People of Color Conference, as well as the Hawaii, Association of Delaware Valley Independent Schools, and Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools conferences. Other conference attendance includes National SEED Project seminars, the NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute, the NAIS Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning Design Lab, and the 6th World Congress on Positive Psychology.
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The Shipley School is a private, coeducational day school for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade students, located in Bryn Mawr, PA. Through our commitment to educational excellence, we develop within each student a love of learning and a desire for compassionate participation in the world.