Session Details
Professional Learning That Makes an Impact
Professional learning should leave you with more than inspiration—it should leave you with practical strategies you can put into action.
The Upstate Schools Consortium brings together nationally recognized authors, experienced practitioners, and educational leaders to provide engaging professional learning experiences for all educators and school professionals who support teaching, learning, and student success within our member districts. Whether you work directly with students in the classroom or support teaching and learning in another role, each session is designed to combine research, collaboration, and real-world application so participants leave with ideas and tools they can immediately implement in their schools.
Explore the sessions below to learn more about each opportunity, including dates, locations, intended audiences, and learning outcomes. Session details will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Understanding Visible Learning: What Is It Really All About?
Dr. Cathy Lassiter, Corwin Learning
Date: Thursday, September 17, 2026, 8:30 am–3:30 pm EST
Location: Younts Conference Center, Furman University, (3300 Poinsett Highway, Greenville, SC )
Audience: K–12 classroom teachers, instructional coaches, teacher leaders, curriculum leaders, school and district administrators
Description: Visible Learning is more than learning intentions and success criteria—it is a research-based framework for improving teaching, learning, and leadership across an entire school system. Join nationally recognized Visible Learning consultant and Corwin author Dr. Cathy Lassiter as she explores the foundational principles of Visible Learning, Teacher Clarity, leader credibility, and implementation science. Through practical examples from South Carolina schools, collaborative learning, and actionable tools, participants will discover strategies for creating instructional coherence, strengthening leadership, and improving student outcomes.
About Dr. Lassiter: Dr. Cathy Lassiter is a nationally recognized educational leader, Corwin author, and certified Visible Learning consultant with more than 40 years of experience in public education. She has served as a teacher, principal, superintendent, and education consultant, helping schools and districts implement research-based instructional practices that improve student achievement. She is the author of How Leadership Works, How Teams Work, Leader Credibility (co-authored), and Everyday Courage for School Leaders.
Reading to Make a Difference: Classroom Strategies for Deeper Comprehension
Dr. Katie Kelly, Professor of Education, Furman University
Date: Thursday, October 29, from 8:30 am–12:00 pm
Location: Younts Conference Center, Furman University campus
Audience: All
Description: Reading is more than a foundational skill—it is a meaning-making process that empowers students to think critically, communicate effectively, and engage with the world around them. Join Dr. Katie Kelly to explore research-based strategies that strengthen comprehension across content areas through background knowledge, vocabulary development, meaningful engagement, and responsive literacy instruction. Participants will leave with practical strategies that support diverse learners and foster confident, thoughtful, lifelong readers.
About Dr. Kelly: Dr. Katie Kelly is a Professor of Education at Furman University and a former classroom teacher and literacy coach. Her teaching and research focus on engaging students in meaningful literacy experiences that foster critically curious and compassionate lifelong readers and writers. She has authored and co-authored numerous books and publications on literacy, critical comprehension, writing, and educational practice, and is a sought-after speaker and professional learning facilitator.
Implementing High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM): A Two-Day Institute
South Carolina Department of Education
*This is a two-day long session–attendance for both is highly recommended to gain the full benefit of the learning experience*
- Dates: Monday and Tuesday, November 16 and 17, 9:30 am–3:30 pm
- Location: Younts Conference Center, Furman University campus
- Day 1 Audience: K-12 SC Educators
Audience: K–12 classroom teachers, instructional coaches, curriculum specialists, teacher leaders, school and district administrators
Description: Explore the purpose and core principles of High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) and learn how intentional lesson and unit internalization strengthens instructional planning and classroom delivery. Participants will examine practical strategies for implementing HQIM with fidelity while collaborating with peers to strengthen teaching and learning across their schools. Move from understanding to application by exploring what effective HQIM implementation looks like in practice. Through collaborative activities, a Professional Learning Community (PLC) simulation, reflection, and action planning, participants will leave with practical next steps for supporting high-quality instruction within their schools and districts.
About the South Carolina Department of Education: The South Carolina Department of Education supports educators across the state by providing high-quality professional learning, instructional resources, and leadership development designed to improve teaching and learning. This institute is presented in partnership with the SCDE to support effective implementation of High-Quality Instructional Materials in South Carolina classrooms.
Strategies for Supporting Multilingual Learners: Practical Approaches for K–12 Classrooms
Valentina Gonzalez, Founder, Rooted Linguistics
Date: Wednesday, February 3, 2027
Time: 8:30 am–3:30 pm
Location: Younts Conference Center, Furman University campus
Audience: K-12 classroom teachers, instructional coaches, ESL and bilingual instructional staff, and paraprofessional staff who work with multilingual learners, administrators
Description: This interactive professional learning equips K–12 educators with practical, research-based strategies to support multilingual learners in every classroom. With a focus on comprehensible input, maintaining grade-level rigor, and fostering active engagement, participants will explore instructional practices that naturally integrate language development into everyday lessons. Educators will experience modeled techniques firsthand, engage in collaborative practice, and leave with ready-to-implement strategies that make content more accessible while promoting academic language development. Designed for all educators—not just ESL specialists—this session empowers teachers to create language-rich learning experiences that benefit multilingual learners and all students.
About Jimmy: Dr. Jimmy Pryor is an education technology leader with 30+ years of K-12 experience currently serving as AI District Integration Facilitator for Spartanburg School District 01. He is leading the implementation of a South Carolina Department of Education Innovation Grant for “AI Tools for Teachers” focused on helping teachers use AI to create starting points for lessons and materials, allowing them to focus their energy on the real work of crafting and creating quality instruction rather than routine tasks. Dr. Pryor brings both classroom and district-level perspectives to AI implementation as a strong advocate for reducing teacher workload while enhancing the quality of education.
Leading in the Classroom: Communication, Feedback, and Everyday Leadership
Center for Innovative Leadership at Furman University
Date: March 2027 (final date TBD)
Time: 1/2 or full day
Audience: All
Location: Furman Innovation Lab @ Flywheel Coworking (if under 80 registrants), Younts Conference Center (if over 80 registrants). More logistical details will be shared closer to the session date.
Description: Every educator is a leader—whether guiding students, collaborating with colleagues, facilitating professional learning, or contributing to school improvement efforts. In this interactive, in-person session, the Center for Innovative Leadership at Furman University will explore practical strategies for communication, meaningful feedback, and everyday leadership in schools. Participants will examine approaches for building trust, navigating challenging conversations, fostering collaboration, and creating learning environments where students and educators thrive. The specific presenter and session details are currently being finalized and will be updated as soon as they are confirmed.
About the Center for Innovative Leadership: The Center for Innovative Leadership at Furman University develops leaders who create meaningful impact within their organizations and communities. Through evidence-based learning experiences grounded in leadership, innovation, and collaboration, the Center partners with educators, organizations, and communities to strengthen communication, build leadership capacity, and develop practical skills that create lasting positive change.