Upcoming Leadership Labs
Speakers & Sessions
Inspiring voices. Practical ideas. Stronger schools.
LUMEN Leadership Labs feature leading thinkers in education who share research, experience and practical strategies to help school leaders make a meaningful difference.
Tuesday
NOV 17
2026
"Stronger schools are built through stronger leadership."
- Principal Kafele
Principal Kafele
What is My Value Instructionally to the Teachers / Supervise?
Principal Kafele is a highly-regarded educator over the past 38 years, Principal Baruti Kafele distinguished himself as a master teacher, a transformational school leader and an internationally-renowned education speaker, consultant and author. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange, NJ, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex County Public Schools Teacher of the Year and New Jersey State Teacher of the Year finalist.
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Principal Kafele is a highly-regarded educator over the past 38 years, Principal Baruti Kafele distinguished himself as a master teacher, a transformational school leader and an internationally-renowned education speaker, consultant and author. As an elementary school teacher in East Orange, NJ, he was selected as the East Orange School District and Essex County Public Schools Teacher of the Year and New Jersey State Teacher of the Year finalist.
As a middle and high school principal, Principal Kafele emerged as a turnaround school leader which included the turnaround of “The Mighty” Newark Tech, that went from a low-performing school in need of improvement to national recognition, including U.S. News and World Report Magazine recognizing it three times as one of America’s best high schools with Principal Kafele being awarded the coveted Milken Educator Award for his leadership.
Known as America’s “AP & New Principals Leadership Coach,” Principal Kafele is one of the most sought-after school leadership presenters in America. Over the past 40 years, he has delivered more than 3000 conference and program keynotes, professional development workshops, parenting seminars and student assemblies. Additionally, he is the creator and host of the popular AP & New Principals Academy, streamed live every Saturday morning on his AP & New Principals Academy YouTube channel at 11:00 ET.
In addition to writing several professional articles for popular education journals, he has authored fourteen books, including his seven ASCD best sellers. He is the recipient of over 150 educational, professional and community awards which include the prestigious Milken Educator Award, the National Alliance of Black School Educators Hall of Fame Award, the East Orange, NJ Hall of Fame Award, recognition as one of the World’s Top 30 Education Professionals for seven consecutive years (2020 – 2026) by Global Gurus Top 30, recognition by District Administration as one of the Top 100 Influencers for Educational Leadership in America for 2025, president-elect of the NJ affiliate of the National Alliance of Black School Educators and the City of Dickinson, Texas proclaiming February 8, 1998 as Baruti Kafele Day.
ABOUT THE SESSION
Explore what it means to add value instructionally to the teachers you supervise, and how school leaders can have a positive and lasting impact on teaching and learning
Dr. John Mighton
How to help every student excel in math using JUMP Math.
Wide differences in achievement appear to be natural in mathematics: by high school, many students have fallen behind or developed negative attitudes about math. New research in cognitive science suggests that math should be the most accessible subject for everyone’s brain, and important as a predictor of overall academic success. Dr. Mighton will explain how teachers can use evidence-based methods of instruction to help all students realize their remarkable potential in math. Participants will learn about JUMP Math’s approach using rigorously scaffolded lessons to close gaps in prior knowledge while motivating whole classes to reach new levels of math achievement.
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John Mighton, Ph.D., O.C., is an award-winning mathematician, playwright, and best-selling author who founded the Canadian charity JUMP Math in 2002 with an equity-driven mission to empower every child to multiply their potential through accessible math education. Based on his experiences tutoring very challenged children to succeed in math, he developed an evidence-based instructional approach that challenges the belief that only those with natural ability can excel in math.
ABOUT THE SESSION
Learn how evidence-based instructional methods can help all students excel in mathematics, including how to close gaps in prior knowledge and build confidence.
Wednesday
DEC 2
2026
"Every student can learn and succeed in mathematics."
- Dr. John Mighton
Tuesday
JAN 12
2027
"Research can help us build more equitable opportunities for every learner"
- Nidhi Sachdeva
Nidhi Sachdeva
Advancing Equitable Learning Through the Science of Learning
Nidhi Sachdeva is Faculty in Teacher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, Canada, Professor of Teacher Expertise at the Academica University of Applied Sciences and Chair of the ResearchEd Canada. She began her teaching career in 2004 after completing a German Teacher Training Program from the Goethe-Institut, Munich.
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Nidhi Sachdeva is Faculty in Teacher Education at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education at the University of Toronto, Canada, Professor of Teacher Expertise at the Academica University of Applied Sciences and Chair of the ResearchEd Canada. She began her teaching career in 2004 after completing a German Teacher Training Program from the Goethe-Institut, Munich. After teaching German in Delhi for fi ve years, she moved to Toronto and completed an M.A. in Applied Linguistics from York University and a PhD in Curriculum and Pedagogy with a focus on cognitive science from the University of Toronto. Her work focuses on translating cognitive science into practical approaches that help educators and learning professionals design instruction that builds durable learning, skilled performance, and professional expertise. Across her work, she is especially interested in how effective instruction and teacher expertise can contribute to more equitable educational outcomes by ensuring that all learners have access to teaching that is clear, structured, rigorous, and responsive to how learning happens
ABOUT THE SESSION
Discover how the science of learning can inform instructional practices that support durable learning and more equitable outcomes for all students.
What to expect from LUMEN Leadership Labs
60-minute Sessions
Focused learning designed to fit into a school leader’s day.
Practical Insight
Research, experience and ideas that can be applied in real schools.
Meaningful Conversation
Space to reflect, ask questions and learn alongside other leaders.