Conference Schedule

Wednesday, June 24

7:00–8:00 a.m. — Breakfast (Commons)

8:00–9:30 a.m. — Opening Session (Black Box)

The Ninth Grade Initiative: A Framework for Team-Based Freshman Success

At the heart of The Ninth Grade Initiative is a simple belief: freshman success is not the result of isolated teachers doing great work—it is the result of teams of adults working together with purpose, consistency, and focus.

The Ninth Grade Initiative provides a practical framework for what effective freshman teams do when they meet. Represented by nine interconnected elements, this model helps schools move beyond discussion and toward coordinated action that improves student outcomes.

9:30–9:45 a.m. — Break

9:45–11:45 a.m. - Main Session #1

Choose ONE:

Assessment for Learning - Part I (F110)

Practices that delve into the heart of our efforts to ensure freshmen learn. (Click for video overview.)

Scott Habeeb

The Bridge to 10th Grade: 8 Phases - Part I (F206)

Bridge to 10th Grade Workbook

This is a practical framework to help freshmen successfully navigate their first year of high school and enter 10th grade prepared for greater independence, responsibility, and achievement. Rather than viewing ninth grade as a collection of isolated courses, this strand helps schools see the year as a strategic progression with key milestones, checkpoints, and supports along the way.

Participants will explore how successful schools build systems that monitor student progress, identify concerns early, celebrate growth, and create intentional interventions before students fall off track. Topics include attendance, grades, behavior, relationships, executive skills, team-based supports, student recognition, and the critical transitions that occur throughout the freshman year.

By the end of this strand, teams will leave with a clear roadmap for helping more students stay connected, stay successful, and cross the bridge to 10th grade ready for the opportunities ahead.

Because the goal of ninth grade is not simply survival—it is transformation.

Todd Novak

11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. — Lunch (Commons)

12:45–1:45 p.m. - Short Sessions

Choose one:

Q & A for Administrators - Offered both days (F110)

Scott invites teachers and administrators to an open discussion about how to align building resources to support freshman success. He has decades of experience with master scheduling and FTE allocation across multiple systems and structures.

6 Working Geniuses by Patrick Lencioni - Offered both days (F116)

Wade Kippley, the Freshman Academy Coordinator at Washington High School in the Sioux Falls School District, will unpack this powerful way to look at how we work at the table. Click HERE for a quick overview.

Pathfinders: A Model for Student Leadership Development - Only Wednesday (F206)

Pathfinders lead a team of one to three freshmen. They meet weekly with freshmen, and the Pathfinders meet weekly as a leadership team for lunch. Over 70 students have volunteered to give up their study hall or their open lunch to be a part of this program for the fall. This could be amazing! Pathfinders is a program that is about two years old. It is under construction. Todd will walk you through his journey thus far. There is great potential in a student-led mentoring program that connects upperclassmen with freshmen during their transition to high school.

Team Meetings - An option both days

Instead of attending one of the short sessions, teams may choose to plan as a team during this hour. Teams may meet in any open space or request a room from Todd Novak (605) 310-7616.

1:45–2:00 p.m. — Break

2:00–3:30 p.m. - Main Session #2

Choose one:

Going Beyond the Content-Part I (F110)

Going Beyond the Content is about instilling character and motivating freshmen through relationships and life application Scott provides practical and impactful ways to inspire freshmen. (Click for a full article.)

The Level Table Framework - Part I (F206)

The Level Table is a simple framework for helping teams function at the table. Todd explains this framework which helps educators move from discussing student problems to taking coordinated action. By organizing students according to their level of need, teams can identify priorities, assign interventions, monitor progress, and ensure that no student falls through the cracks. The result is a more focused, collaborative, and proactive approach to supporting freshman success. (Click for a full unpack.)

3:30–4:30 p.m. — Networking Hors d'oeuvres (F-Wing)

Networking Event - Wednesday Only - (Coffee Bar & F-Wing)

Join us around the Coffee Bar and main hallway of F-Wing for afternoon hors d’oeuvres and conversation. All are welcome!

Thursday, June 25

7:00–8:00 a.m. — Breakfast (Commons)

8:00–10:00 a.m. - Main Session #1

Choose one:

Assessment for Learning - Part II (F110)

See above for details - Scott Habeeb

The Bridge to 10th Grade: 8 Phases - Part II (F206)

See above for details - Todd Novak

10:00–10:15 a.m. — Break

10:15–11:45 a.m. - Main Session #2

Choose one:

Going Beyond the Content-Part II (F110)

See above for details - Scott Habeeb

The Level Table Framework - Part II (F206)

See above for details - Todd Novak

11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. — Lunch (Commons)

12:45–1:45 p.m. - Short Sessions

Choose one:

Q & A for Administrators - Offered both days (F110)

Scott invites teachers and administrators to an open discussion about how to align building resources to support freshman success. He has decades of experience with master scheduling and FTE allocation across multiple systems and structures.

Working Geniuses (Patrick Lencioni) - Offered both days (F116)

Wade Kippley, the Freshman Academy Coordinator at Washington High School in the Sioux Falls School District, will unpack this powerful way to look at how we work at the table. Click HERE for a quick overview.

Rewind Data Study: Getting to Action - Thursday Only (F206)

Can we identify struggling freshmen before they fail?

The Rewind Study explores one of the most important questions facing freshman teams: What early indicators predict success or failure in ninth grade, and what can schools do about it? Using a unique "rewind" approach, we compared successful freshmen with struggling freshmen who entered high school with remarkably similar middle school profiles.

Participants will discover how middle school data—including reading levels, course failures, attendance, and discipline records—can help identify students who may need additional support before the first day of school. The session also examines how just 20 days of high school data can provide powerful insights that allow teams to intervene before students fall too far behind.

Most importantly, attendees will learn the practical intervention strategies developed through the study, including the Awesome Eight and Fantastic Five frameworks, which helped schools focus attention on a small group of students and significantly improve their likelihood of staying on track for 10th grade.

This session is ideal for teams seeking to move from reactive interventions to proactive support systems that identify, encourage, and monitor students before failure occurs.

Team Meetings - An option both days

Instead of attending one of the short sessions, teams may choose to plan as a team during this hour. Teams may meet in any open space or request a room from Todd Novak (605) 310-7616.

1:45–2:00 p.m. — Break

2:00–3:30 p.m. — Closing Session (Black Box / Commons)

The Ninth Grade Initiative: A Framework for Team-Based Freshman Success

At the heart of The Ninth Grade Initiative is a simple belief: freshman success is not the result of isolated teachers doing great work—it is the result of teams of adults working together with purpose, consistency, and focus.

The Ninth Grade Initiative provides a practical framework for what effective freshman teams do when they meet. Represented by nine interconnected elements, this model helps schools move beyond discussion and toward coordinated action that improves student outcomes.

Scott and Todd will wrap up the two-day conference with a call to meet together, meet often, and see the results of your efforts in the lives of freshmen.