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Virginia School Consortium for Learning

Using Data to Drive Real Learning Cohort Workshops

K-12 Teachers, Teacher Leaders, Support Specialists, Data Team Members, Building Level Administrators, Content Coordinators, and Instructional Coaches

Note: There will be a workshop scheduled for January, 2027. The date and location to be announced.
October 28,  &  March 25, 2027
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
  • Presented by:
    Dr. John Almarode and Dr. Kelley Turner
  • Registration Fee (Members):
    $350
  • Registration Fee (Non-Member):
    $400
  • Type of Workshop:
    On-Site Workshop - In Person Only
  • Location:
    James Madison University (October 28, 2026)
    Date & Location TBA (January, 2027)
    William and Mary School of Education (March 25, 2027)

Workshop Details

Too often, students—especially those from marginalized backgrounds—are denied access to grade-level learning. Well-meaning teachers, eager to ensure success, may over-scaffold lessons, unintentionally limiting student agency and growth. Meanwhile, schools collect mountains of data—but is it the right data? More importantly, do educators know how to use formative data to drive real learning?

This assessment cohort’s high-impact professional learning experiences will be scheduled onsite and virtually throughout the year. We will shift the way you think about assessment and evaluation. Instead of seeing those as endpoints, you’ll learn to use assessment and evaluation as powerful tools to deepen student learning, refine instruction, and promote mastery through job-embedded applications in your school.

What Participants Will Gain:

  • Master the Evaluator Mindset – Understand how to assess learning in real-time and adjust instruction effectively.
  • Make Data Work for You – Learn how to collect, analyze, and act on meaningful student data.
  • Use Scaffolding & Feedback with Purpose – Move beyond over-scaffolding and equip students with the tools to succeed independently.
  • Design Grade-Level Learning Tasks – Ensure every student engages in appropriately challenging, standard-aligned work.

Audience

K-12 Teachers, Teacher Leaders, Support Specialists, Data Team Members, Building Level Administrators, Content Coordinators, and Instructional Coaches

Note: There will be a workshop scheduled for January, 2027. The date and location to be announced.

Recertification Certificate

Recertification Certificates will be given at the end of the PD workshop series after completion of an electronic exit survey.

Presenters

John Almarode

Dr. John Almarode, a bestselling author, has worked with schools, classrooms, and teachers all over the world. He has presented locally, nationally, and internationally on the application of the science of learning to the classroom, school, and home environments, and what works best in teaching and learning. He has worked with hundreds of school districts and thousands of teachers in Australia, Canada, Egypt, England, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Scotland, South Korea, Thailand and all across the United States.

In 2019, John and his colleagues developed a new framework for developing, implementing, and sustaining professional learning communities: PLC+.  Focusing on sustained change in teacher practice, the PLC+ framework builds capacity within teacher-led teams to maximize student learning.  The books, PLC+ Better Decisions and Greater Impact by Design, The PLC+ Playbook, Grades K - 12, The PLC+ Activator’s Guide will support this work in schools and classrooms.

In addition to devoting his time to collaborating with PreK – 12 schools and classrooms, he is an Associate Professor of Education and the Executive Director of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education.

John began his career in Augusta County, Virginia, teaching mathematics and  science to a wide‑range of students.  Since then, John has authored multiple articles, reports, book chapters, and eleven books. However, what really sustains John, and his greatest accomplishment is his family. If you have ever worked with John via Zoom, WebEx, Google Meets, or Teams, you have almost certainly met each member of his immediate family through their impromptu cameo appearances. John lives in Waynesboro, Virginia with his wife Danielle, a  fellow educator, their two children, Tessa and Jackson, and Labrador retrievers, Bella and Dukes.

Kelley Turner

Dr. Kelley Turner is a versatile professional with over 20 years of experience in K12 education including leading a school division staff of over 100 science teachers, Kelley has provided leadership in creating, implementing, and evaluating new curriculum and technological programs aligned to the needs of the school division, state, and national standards. She has served as an educational leader at the school division and state level providing mentorship, coaching, support and professional learning for teachers and administrators. She is a Balanced Assessment Coordinator for VaSCL and works with member divisions to implement the use of the VaSCL assessment bank for formative and summative purposes.

Workshop Series Cost

The workshop fee is $350 for each participant who is a member of a school division that is a member of VaSCL. You can check here for member divisions.

The registration fee for participants from Non-Member school divisions is $400.

If you would like to pay now by credit card or through a PayPal/credit account, you will be given an opportunity to do so below.

If payment is not made by credit card/PayPal account at registration, the person whom you identified as the Billing Contact will be sent an invoice for payment of your registration fee.

Refund Policy

VaSCL has a no refund policy for workshop registrations.

If a participant is unable to attend the workshop please let Alison Dwier-Selden (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) know as soon as possible.

We are happy to allow a substitute to attend in your place. Allison will need to know the person’s name and email address for confirmation.

Registration Information

In the registration form below, required fields are indicated with a red asterisk. Once you have submitted the registration, the person or people whom you have registered will receive a confirmation email (with registration information included) within 24 hours.

Registration Deadline


Wednesday, October 14, 2026

Registration Confirmation

In the next 24 hours you will receive a confirmation email. Be sure to check for this email as this is what guarantees that you have a spot in this workshop or webinar. If you do not receive a confirmation email, please check your junk/spam folder. It is also possible that your division technology department blocks some emails from outside organizations.

If you do not receive a confirmation AND it is not in your junk/spam folder, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to let her know.  You can also ask your technology department to unblock emails with addresses that end in vascl.org. That will ensure that participants get the communication emails sent to them before the event. 

Contact VaSCL

If you have questions or concerns or would like to receive more information about this workshop, please contact our Professional Learning Coordinator, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Cancellation Policy

Notification of cancellation of a participant’s registration must be sent by email to Alison Dwier-Selden, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If you are able to arrange a substitute, please send the name and email so that confirmation can be sent. VaSCL has a no refund policy.

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Payment

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If you would like to pay now by credit card or PayPal, you will be provided with a link to the VaSCL online payment portal after you submit your registration.

If you do not pay by credit card or PayPal at registration, the person whom you identify above as the Billing Contact will receive an invoice via email for payment of the registration fee after the conference has been held.

If a purchase order number is provided on the registration form, it will be referenced on the invoice.


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Using Data to Drive Real Learning Cohort Workshops
9:00 AM - 3:00 PM
On-Site Workshop - In Person Only
James Madison University (October 28, 2026)
Date & Location TBA (January, 2027)
William and Mary School of Education (March 25, 2027)
350.00
400.00