Speakers
Jessica Nordell
Cultivate the mindsets, skill sets, and tools essential for grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM™ — instruction.
Today’s educators face a historic challenge. With engagement sliding, outcomes at risk, and students yearning for teaching that is affirming and meaningful, we need a fresh approach — one that feeds educators’ passion and fortifies instruction.
GLEAM instruction is the most impactful strategy for eliminating the predictability of student outcomes by race, language, and socioeconomic status to ensure all students thrive. At Standards Institute, courageous educators come together from across the country to forge a bold path toward truly transformative teaching and learning.
Our engaging, immersive pathways invite educators to experience, understand, and practice transformative instruction and leadership. Participants will reflect on current practice, commit to an action plan, and leave equipped and inspired to make every classroom GLEAM.
What to Expect
At Standards Institute, educators will learn:
- Content-specific, grade-level standards deeply
- To maintain academic rigor by fostering productive struggle and scaffolding
- Strategies for ensuring culturally, historically, and linguistically affirming and meaningful teaching and learning
- How to plan, design, and deliver GLEAM instruction
Educators will leave Standards Institute with:
- A shared understanding and language for fostering GLEAM instruction
- The mindsets, planning, skills, tools, and actions to deliver GLEAM instruction
- A personalized action plan with context-specific opportunities to ensure GLEAM instruction
- A national community of equity champions committed to growth and change
Why Standards Institute is Different
Standards Institute is not a traditional conference or workshop but an immersive 30-hour in-person course-like experience, where educators from around the nation actively come together in content- and grade-specific cohorts to hone their craft and make their instructional practices grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM.
Over four days, educators learn to unpack and understand standards, scaffold instruction, and foster productive struggle. Educators leave equipped to uphold academic rigor, make teaching and learning engaging and affirming, and improve outcomes for all students.
Start your GLEAM Journey at Standards Institute.
We had wonderful learning opportunities at Standards Institute 2024. Check out the highlights.
ExploreUnboundEd Pathways
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English Language Arts (ELA) Pathway
Standards Institute™ ELA sessions focus on the supports and scaffolds that work to address students’ unfinished ELA instruction while maintaining the rigor of grade-level standards and curriculum. Educators will:
- Explore the commitment, knowledge, and skills necessary to use ELA standards, texts, and tasks to provide all students access to grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM — instruction
- Leave with a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life in their ELA classrooms
ELA Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
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Leadership Pathway
The Leadership Pathway gives school and district leaders a foundation in the key concepts of ELA and math instruction in order to develop a deeper understanding of both subject areas. Participants will:
- Consider key components of planning, instructional delivery, and coaching that lead to grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM — instruction.
- Assess their roles as leaders in advancing educational equity and operationalizing GLEAM within a school system
- Leave with a personal action plan to lead GLEAM instruction in their schools
Leadership Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
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Math Pathway
Standards Institute™ Math sessions offer participants interactive, hands-on experience planning and implementing grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM — mathematics instruction. Educators will:
- Reflect on math identities and their impact on GLEAM math instruction
- Deepen their understanding of math instructional shifts (focus, coherence, rigor) to support GLEAM math instruction
- Learn a new approach to address students’ unfinished instruction that supports GLEAM math instruction within their school contexts
- Leave with a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life in their math classrooms
Math Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
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Multilingual Learners Pathway
During Standards Institute Accelerating English Language for Multilingual Students sessions, teachers and coaches receive research-based, high-leverage, immediately applicable resources, processes, and strategies to accelerate academic English development and build knowledge across content areas in the primary classroom. Participants adapt standards-aligned lessons to support multilingual students in instruction for reading foundational skills, ELA, and math to ensure all students have access to grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful (GLEAM) instruction. Participants leave Standards Institute with a repertoire of practical strategies and a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life for multilingual students.
Multilingual Learners Grade-Bands: K–5
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Science Pathway
Standards Institute™ Science sessions offer participants a foundation in the principles and best practices in science instruction. The Science Pathway explores the Next Generation Science Standards and a vision for grade-level, engaging, affirming, meaningful — GLEAM — instruction for all students. Participants will:
- Explore new ideas through hands-on lessons and investigations in different scientific domains
- Develop a repertoire of practical strategies to ensure that instruction exemplifies GLEAM
- Leave with a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life in their science classrooms
Science Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
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UnboundEd Planning Process™ (UPP®) Pathway
UnboundEd Planning Process™ (UPP) sessions introduce participants to a set of powerful practices for bringing grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful — GLEAM — instruction to life in ELA and math classrooms. Educators will:
- Explore the meaning and value of GLEAM instruction for all learners
- Learn a step-by-step strategy for applying GLEAM principles to any lesson and gain hands-on practice
- Leave with a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life in their classrooms
UnboundEd Planning Process (UPP) Grade-Bands: K–5, 6–12
Note: K–5 participants will use both ELA and math lessons during the week; participants in grades 6-12 will use lessons in their preferred subject area — either ELA or math.
CORE Learning Pathways
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CORE Learning: Elementary Reading Academy
This pathway offers educators a strong foundation in standards-aligned and evidence-informed reading practices rooted in the science of reading. Educators will:
- Dive into the research on reading instruction and connect research to practice
- Develop high-leverage instructional practices (educational practices that can improve outcomes for every learner, like designing lessons in service of a goal, promoting active student engagement, collecting and assessing data, and more)
- Deliver standards-aligned and evidence-informed reading instruction
Elementary Reading Academy Grade-Bands: K–6
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CORE Learning: Leadership for Literacy
Participants in the Leadership for Literacy pathway will develop a foundational understanding of the science of reading and learn how to transform their instructional practices to accelerate student literacy. Leaders will:
- Learn practical knowledge about the science of reading and how to implement it across systems
- Develop tools, skills and processes for assessing school-wide literacy programs
- Identify leadership actions that help build professional capacity and introduce new opportunities for students to become successful readers and communicators
Leadership for Literacy Grade-Bands: K–5
Achievement Network Pathways
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Achievement Network: Empowering Teachers Through Assessments
The Achievement Network sessions support school leaders in building a draft research-based, balanced assessment plan. Participants discover strategies to decrease the time spent testing students while increasing instructional time and providing equitable outcomes for all students. School leaders will:
- Learn a research-based framework for classifying assessments and how they can create a balanced assessment landscape within their school.
- Explore the current state of assessments and teacher data used to craft a draft school-wide vision for the future of equitable assessments.
- Leave with a plan to gather teacher input and carry out a balanced assessment strategy with a team of teachers and leaders in the school.
School Leadership Grade-Band: K–12
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Achievement Network: Assessment Planning for Districts
The Achievement Network sessions support district and system leaders in building a draft research-based, balanced district-wide assessment plan. Participants discover how to empower educators and school leaders to increase instructional time and data usage while decreasing the time spent testing districtwide, leading to more equitable outcomes for students in schools. District leaders will:
- Learn a research-based framework for classifying assessments and how it can create a balanced assessment landscape across the district.
- Explore strategies to empower your educators throughout the creation of your district-wide assessment plan and how to build capacity around data gathering and analysis.
- Leave with a plan to gather input from various stakeholders, invest in schools, and carry out a balanced assessment strategy across the district with a cross-functional team of leaders.
District Leadership Grade-Band: K–12
Registration for Standards Institute is $2,700.00 per participant. The Standards Institute price includes attendance to the pathway session for the duration of the event (four days), lunch for all four days, access to special events and keynotes, snacks, and materials. Breakfast and dinner are not included, and travel and expenses are also not included.
To register, you must provide your Accounts Payable contact name, email address, and phone number. We accept credit cards, Automated Clearing House (ACH) payments, or checks.
To reserve a seat(s), you can submit a purchase order to AR@UnboundEd.org. Please ensure your name and confirmation number are on the purchase order.
After registering, UnboundEd will send an invoice to your Accounts Payable contact. The invoice can be paid via ACH, credit card, or check.
Remit all checks to:
UnboundEd Learning, Inc.
PO Box 69046
Baltimore, MD 21264-9046
Cancellation and Substitution Policy
Refunds will be provided if cancellations are made by June 15, 2025. Modifications may be made online until July 5, 2025. Registrations can be transferred to another person at your organization until July 5, 2025. After July 5, 2025, please contact support at SupportDesk@UnboundEd.org.
Daily Schedule at a Glance
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Sunday, July 20
Registration Open
Please stop by our Registration Check-in desk and tables to let us know you’ve arrived and pick up your Conference Badge and your UnboundEd Swag!
Meet and Greet
Be our guest! During this networking event relax and connect with your fellow participants. We enjoy meeting our amazing educators!
We will finalize a location soon.
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Monday, July 21
Registration Open
Stop by our Registration Check-in kiosk and tables to let us know you’ve arrived and pick up your UnboundEd Swag!
Keynote Address
Lacey Robinson, President and Chief Executive Officer, UnboundEd
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Planning Time
Team planning time
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Tuesday, July 22
Registration Open
Please stop by our Registration Check-in desk and tables to let us know you’ve arrived and pick up your Conference Badge and your UnboundEd Swag!
Keynote Address
Jessica Nordell
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Planning Time
Team planning time
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Wednesday, July 23
Support Desk Open
Stop by our Support Desk if you need help or have questions.
Morning Session (No Keynote)
No Keynote on Day 3 – Morning learning session
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session (continued)
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Planning Time
Team planning time
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Thursday, July 24
Keynote Address
Day 4 Keynote
Morning Break
15-minute break
Pathway Learning
Morning learning session
Lunch
Lunch break on site
Pathway Learning
Afternoon learning session
Afternoon Break
15-minute break
Team Planning Time
Team planning time
About the Event
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Where will the Atlanta Standards Institute be held?
The Standards Institute will be held at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, located at 265 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30303.
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How long is the Atlanta Standards Institute?
Standards Institute will last four full days, starting Monday, July 21, and ending Thursday, July 24. Participants are expected to arrive on Sunday, July 20.
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Who can I reach out to if I have any questions prior to the start of the event?
Please contact us at the following email: SupportDesk@UnboundEd.org.
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What is the schedule for the event?
Please see the agenda tab for the Standards Institute Atlanta 2025 schedule.
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Do you provide Participation Certificates after Standards Institute?
Yes. Participation Certificates are sent to the email address provided during registration within three weeks after attending the Standards Institute. It will include the pathway and session attended as well as the total hours completed. Please note that Participation Certificates are only provided to those participants who attend all four days of the event. We do not provide CEUs or other credits.
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Who will speak at the event?
We will have several keynote speakers. You can see who our Keynote Speakers will be on the About tab above.
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Do I have to check in when I am there?
Yes. Please stop by our Registration Check-in at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta registration area to get your badge and pick up your UnboundEd Swag.
Sunday, July 20: 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Monday, July 21: 7:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, July 22: 7:00a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
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What special events are taking place?
We will have several special events throughout the duration of the event. Please refer to the Special Events tab for more details.
Attending the Event
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Can I attend some of the days/partially? Do I have to attend all days to receive a participation certificate?
Participants are required to attend all four days of the event in the same Pathway and grade band they registered for. Those attending all four days will receive a participation certificate.
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What pathways/grade bands are offered at the event?
- ELA: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
- Leadership: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
- Math: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
- Science: K–5, 6–8, 9–12
- UnboundEd Planning Process (UPP): K–5, 6–12
- Multilingual Learners (MLs): K–5, 6–12
- CORE Learning: Elementary Reading Academy: K–6
- CORE Learning: Leadership for Literacy: K–5
- Achievement Network (ANet): Empowering Teachers Through Assessments
- Achievement Network (ANet): Assessment Planning for Districts
For more information about the pathways, see the Pathways tab.
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Can my group meet together as a team at any point during the event?
Yes, school districts/organizations attending Standards Institute will have ample opportunities to meet daily for Team Time (at the end of each day). Your team will be able to reflect on the overall learning from the event, discuss implications, and determine the priority actions to take when you return to your school district or network. You will find the assigned location where your team can meet in the UnboundEd app.
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I’ve attended a Standards Institute in the past; will the content be different? What is your recommendation if I wish to attend this time?
Our pathways content has been updated to focus on equitable instructional practices and examining bias focused on planning toward grade-level engaging, affirming, and meaningful (GLEAM™) instruction. If you are attending again, we recommend taking the UnboundEd Planning Process™ pathway, which introduces participants to a set of powerful practices for bringing GLEAM™ instruction to life in ELA and math classrooms. Please note: these pathways are geared toward teachers, so if you are a coach or leader, please come with your “teacher lens” during the learning.
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I’ve taken Pathway 1 at a previous Standards Institute. Is Level 2 offered?
Unfortunately, there was not enough interest in the Level 2 pathways in the past, so we were unable to continue them for 2025.
We do have pathways centered around “the how” of putting the learning into action. This is the UnboundEd Planning Process™ or UPP pathway. We encourage returning participants or anyone interested in putting the work into action to attend these sessions. You can find more information on the Pathways tab above.
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I attended one of your two-day summits. Will the content be different at Standards Institute?
Standards Institute is an immersive and transformative four-day in-person learning experience appropriate for teachers, coaches, and leaders. This highly interactive experience focuses on the mindsets, planning, and instructional actions required for implementing grade-level, engaging, affirming, and meaningful (GLEAM™) instruction. They will identify specific mindsets and practices that embody GLEAM instruction for their chosen pathway. Throughout the sessions, participants will reflect on and commit to specific action steps aligned with GLEAM instruction in their chosen pathway. Participants leave Standards Institute with a repertoire of practical strategies and a personal action plan for bringing GLEAM instruction to life. You can find more information on the Pathways tab above.
Pricing and Payments
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How much is the cost to attend?
Registration for Standards Institute is $2,700.00 per participant.
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What is included in the pricing?
The Standards Institute price includes attendance to the pathway session for the duration of the event (four days), lunch for all four days, access to special events and keynotes, snacks, and materials. Breakfast and dinner are not included, nor are airfare and expenses.
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What payment methods do you accept for the event fee?
We accept all major credit cards or purchase orders for payment.
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Are there any group discounts?
Yes, there is. Please contact support at supportdesk@unbounded.org for additional information.
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What is your cancellation policy?
Refunds will be provided if cancellations are made by June 15, 2025. Modifications may be made online until July 5, 2025. Registrations can be transferred to another person at your organization until July 5, 2025. After July 5, 2025, please contact support at SupportDesk@UnboundEd.org.
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Are meals included in the event's pricing?
We provide lunch and snacks to participants during the event. Breakfast and dinner are not included.
Hotel & Travel
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What's the hotel for the event? Where should I book rooms?
The hotel for participants to stay at while attending the Atlanta Standards Institute is the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. Please see the Location tab at the top of the page for more details. Participants are eligible to receive a discounted rate when booking through the link available on the Location tab.
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Will there be transportation to the event from the airport?
We do not provide transportation from the Atlanta Hartsfield – Jackson Airport to the Hyatt Regency.
We encourage participants to use public transportation when available. Participants can use MARTA trains from the airport (Gold or Red line) to Peachtree Center. The station is located 2 blocks from the hotel.
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If I drive to the Hyatt Regency Atlanta, will parking be available? Is there a parking fee?
Yes, parking is available for a fee.
Valet Parking:
Valet parking is available in a protected underground garage. This includes 24-hour access to your vehicle with in/out privileges. Vehicles are picked up in the motor lobby, located on level LL3 of the atrium tower. Parking may be limited due to high demand.
Self-Parking:
Although there is no official hotel self-parking, Hyatt guests may elect to self-park at designated off-property locations and enjoy discounted rates with no in/out privileges. As events in the city warrant, parking costs at non-Hyatt facilities are subject to change without notice. We do not recommend parking in any open, unsecured lots.
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What ADA and other accommodations do you have available?
Yes, we will have ADA accommodations available at the event. We will also have a Mother’s room, a prayer room, and wheelchair access. Please make sure to include specific needs when you complete your registration.
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Do you have gender-neutral bathrooms at the venue?
Yes, gender-neutral bathrooms are available at the venue, which will be clearly labeled. If you have any questions regarding the location of the gender-neutral bathrooms, please stop by the Help desk upon arrival at the event.
Registration
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How do I register for this event?
You can register for the Atlanta Standards Institute via the Register Now button until July 5, 2025
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How can I update my registration? I signed up for the wrong pathway/grade band. Can I change my registration?
Click on the Already Registered link here. From there, you can modify your registration until July 5. We cannot accommodate changes when you arrive at Standards Institute. If you experience any issues with updating your registration, please contact SupportDesk@UnboundEd.org.
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Can I switch or swap my registration to be with my colleagues in the same room?
Standards Institute Participants are placed in sessions randomly to learn from one another. Changing sessions at the Standards Institute will not be allowed.
Food
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I have dietary restrictions. Who should I contact so my meals are appropriate for my dietary needs?
Please indicate any dietary restrictions when you register. If you have additional questions or concerns, feel free to contact us at SupportDesk@unbounded.org.
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How will the meals be served?
Lunch will be served buffet style on Monday through Thursday.
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What meals are included?
We will provide lunch and snacks, including beverages. Breakfast and dinner are not provided.
Social Media
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How can I use social media at the event?
Post, share, connect, and engage!
The fun part about social media is that it allows you to share all the great things you’re doing and learning at the UnboundEd Standards Institute, and more importantly, connect with fellow educators.
Event Hashtag: #StandardsInstitute