Conferences & Institutes

Building for Education and Democracy (BEAD) Conference

2025 Theme: A Freedom School for Educators

This professional learning conference is designed for pre-K-12 educators who are seeking a deeper understanding of education policy – past and present – and the pivotal relationship between education and democracy. Building on Bank Street’s history, tradition, and expertise in progressive education and centering the critical link between civic engagement and progressivism, this conference will support educators in navigating the current policy context while exploring the transformative potential of education to restore and renew democracy. BEAD will support school-based professionals with a broad spectrum of policy expertise by providing both background and up-to-date information on education policies and the relationship between inquiry and action in the current context.

This conference is sponsored by Bank Street’s Public Engagement and Research Initiative (PERI). For questions, please email peri@bankstreet.edu. 

Event Details

  • Overview

    Wednesday, July 9 from 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
    Bank Street College
    610 West 112th Street, New York, NY 10025

  • Rates

    Scholarships and discounts available.

    Full day on-site participation (7 PD / CTLE hours):
    • $195 early bird rate (ends June 18, 2025)
    • $250 regular registration rate
    • Bundle & Save: Buy 1 get 2nd ticket 50% off

    Full day on-site participation (No PD / CTLE hours):

    • $80 early bird rate (ends June 18, 2025)
    • $130 regular registration rate
    • Bundle & Save: Buy 1 get 2nd ticket 50% off

    Online plenary only (no PD / CTLE hours):

    • $75 early bird rate (ends June 18, 2025)
    • $100 regular registration rate
  • Agenda
    8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Check-in and breakfast
    8:30 AM – 10:00 AM Plenary: Panel Discussion
    10:15 AM – 11:15 AM Storytelling and Democracy
    11:30 AM – 12:30 PM Lunch
    12:30 PM – 1:00 PM Plenary: Performance by EPIC Theatre Ensemble
    1:15 PM – 2:30 PM Plenary: Dialogue featuring Sherrilyn Ifill
    2:45 PM – 3:30 PM Individual workshops
    3:45 PM – 4:30 PM Closing session
Sherrilyn Ifill

Featured Speaker: Sherrilyn Ifill

Sherrilyn Ifill is a civil rights lawyer and scholar with expertise in the 14th Amendment rights of educators and students. She is the President Emeritus of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, Inc. (LDF), the nation’s premier civil rights law organization fighting for racial justice and equality. She is currently the Vernon E. Jordan Chair in Civil Rights and the founder and director of the 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy at the Howard Law School.
Join us at Continuing Professional Studies this summer

Interested in Deepening Your Practice?

Bank Street Graduate School of Education offers programs in general education, special education, dual language/bilingual education, Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL), and more—designed for educators committed to equity, inclusion, and progressive practice. If the themes of this conference resonate with you, explore how our graduate programs can help you grow as an educator or leader and advocate for meaningful change in schools and communities.
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