Institute Program

PREVIEW

(subject to change)

19th Annual MASTERS Institute

Creating and Activating HOPE

“WE ARE HOPE”

September 24-27, 2024

Host Hotel 

Embassy Suites Phoenix, Scottsdale

4415 E. Paradise Village Pkwy S

Phoenix, AZ 85032

Presented by Kids at Hope and The Intersection Construct

Arizona State University, School of Community Resources and Development

Arizona School Administrators

Special Pre MASTERS-Workshop

An Introduction to the Science and Culture of HOPE

Date and Time: Tuesday, September 24, from 1:00 PM-3:00 PM

Location: The MASTERS Institute’s host hotel, Embassy Suites by Hilton, 4415 Paradise Village Pkwy, S, Phoenix, AZ 

Limited Space: Register Early – Don’t Miss Out. 

Cost: No Cost if you are registered for The MASTERS

THE MASTERS is excited to announce that a special Pre-Institute Workshop will be offered to attendees who have not yet experienced the formal Kids at Hope training module or those who wish for a refresher course. The Falls Church City Public School, VA, will facilitate this course, which fully embraces the Kids at Hope strategic cultural framework. Learn from a team of people who prove all kids can succeed, with no exceptions.

Facilitators and Treasure Hunters

• Julie Macrina, Director of PK-12 Curriculum & Instruction
• Jennifer Santiago, Ph.D., Director of Equity and Excellence 
• Steve Knight, Teacher, Instructional Technology,  Professional Development Teacher, Instructional Technology, and Professional Development in Falls Church, Virginia

To register, please email [email protected], noting the names and organization. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2024

4:00 PM Opening Reception

5:00 PM Treasure Hunters Got Talent Show

A Hootin' Tootin’ Heck of a Good Time Show showcases our fellow treasure hunters' many hidden and not-so-hidden talents. 

Wednesday, September 25, 2024

8:30 AM Greetings– Rick Miller, Dean, The MASTERS Institute

Welcome Dr. Christine Buzinde, Director & Professor, School of Community Resources & Development and Senior Global Futures Scientist, Global Futures Scientists and Scholars, and Dr. Paul Tighe, Executive Director, Arizona School Administrators

Dr. Christine Buzinde                       Dr. Paul Tighe

Rick Miller

8:45 AM – “WE ARE HOPE” Rick Miller, Dean, The MASTERS Institute 

Introduced by Dr. Ibi Davila Haghigat - Founder, The Leadership Boost, a Consulting Group

Part I - The Creative Commitment 

Rick Miller, founder of Kids at Hope, Chief Treasure Hunter, and Arizona State University Professor of Practice, will facilitate a highly interactive and energetic exercise that examines each person's creativity, leadership, and engagement. This group activity is filled with surprises, laughter, and poignancy and sets the stage for this year’s MASTERS Institute. 

9:30 AM Networking Break

9:45 AM Part II – “WE ARE HOPE” Hope Science and Kids at Hope-Past, Present and Future

Rick will explore the history, research, findings, principles, and practices that launched the Kids at Hope movement over a quarter of a century ago. The movement has trained over 110,000 caring adults and is reaching over 1.2 million youth with a message and strategy that demonstrates all youth can succeed—no Exceptions! As part of the presentation, Rick will share current HOPE Science translations and interpretations and offer a vision for the future. 

10:45 AM Networking BreakPatricia StallardDr. John Coffey 

11:00 AM – SPOTLIGHT on HOPE PRACTICES  

This session will feature two top practices demonstrating how to CREATE and ACTIVATE HOPE for All by All. Facilitated by Patricia "Trish" Stallard, Principal, River Ridge School, Kent School District, WA, and introducing Dr. John Coffey, Associate Professor of Psychology, Arizona State University 

11:30 – Noon Dean’s Recognition Luncheon Reception

Noon-1:30 PM – Dean’s Recognition Luncheon and HOPE Honors Program 

Featuring The Freeman Fine Arts Academy Da-Capo Choir, Littleton Elementary School District, AZ

1:30-1:45 Room Reset Up

1:45 PM – 4:45 PM – The Time Traveler’s Healthy Plan FunShop

The MASTERS Institute is proud to welcome back Spencer Gorin, a mental health specialist and creator of Healthy Play, Courageous Conversations, Navigating Relationships, and Professional Applications of Play. Spencer is also the University of Arizona’s Alcohol and Other Drugs and Harm Reduction Specialist.

Healthy Play programs guarantee laughter, build trust, support innovation, and reduce stress while generating a lot of fun! Spencer will remind us that play and humor are the most natural and enjoyable ways to accomplish any objective.

4:45 Wrap up and Adjournment

Thursday, September 26, 2024

8:45 AM Opening

Dr. Dante Dixson

9:00-10:00 AM Keynote -Hope for Equity

Keynote: Dr. Dante Dixson- Michigan State University, “HOPE

for Equity”

Kids at Hope, Arizona State University, School of Community Resources

and Development and Arizona School Administrators are pleased to

announce that Dr. Dante D. Dixson, principal investigator of The Hope

Laboratory at Michigan State University will be this year’s MASTERS

Institute’s Keynote Speaker and Workshop Facilitator.

Dr. Dixson’s keynote, entitled HOPE for Equity, will outline how hope—

one’s ability to envision a better tomorrow combined with the belief

that they can make it a reality—for minoritized and disadvantaged

students are depressed by society and their academic environments (e.g.,

poverty, stereotypes, racism). In addition, Dr. Dixson will highlight how

hope is related to a host of other influential academic perceptions, as

well as how these relationships can be leveraged to close the

achievement gap. Finally, he will discuss how quick and effective

interventions can be leveraged to increase equity in education.

10:00 AM-10:15 AM Break

10:15-noon – The HOPE LAB in Action

The HOPE LABORATORY in Action – Facilitated by Dr. Dante Dixson

Dr. Dixson will bring you into the workings of The Hope Laboratory in several ways. First, he will discuss typical issues with intervention implementation. Second, he will discuss various broad hope-based interventions and the key components of developing one’s hope intervention. Finally, via a hands-on demonstration, Dr. Dixson will discuss the cutting-edge, research-based hope intervention his lab is pioneering to change students' academic trajectories.

Noon-1:30 PM Break

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM - Mindful Resilience: Strengthening Ourselves From the Inside Out– 

Dr. Nika Gueci, Executive Director, Arizona State University - University Engagement: Center for Mindfulness, Compassion, and Resilience.

When we are exhausted, lonely, and lacking hope, caring for ourselves can feel like another “to-do” on our full plate. How can we bolster our own well-being so that we may more effectively support others? 

The intersection between hope, mindfulness, and compassion can provide foundational tools to build strength within ourselves and our communities. This session offers practical, evidence-based strategies for participants to enhance their capacity, foster hope, and enhance a culture of acceptance within their communities. In learning these strategies for resilience, participants will be better equipped to support the children, youth, and families they serve.

Dr. Nika Gueci 

2:30 PM-3:00 PM Networking Break with Ice Cream Truck 

3:00 PM – 4:15 PM HOPE Talks It's like TED Talks - but with HOPE as its theme, Storytelling can engage, influence, teach, and inspire listeners.

4:15 Wrap-Up and Adjournment 

5:30 PM –  Mexican Fiesta

Friday, September 27, 2024

8:00 AM Load Buses (Meet outside of Embassy Suites) 

Site Visit –HOPE in ACTION- Edison School – Joseph Fuentes, Principal 

Edison School - believes that EVERY CHILD IS CAPABLE OF SUCCESS, NO EXCEPTIONS!
804 N. 18th St.
Phoenix, AZ 85006

 11:30 AM Depart for Arizona Supreme Court 

1501 W. Washington St. Phoenix, AZ 

12:15 PM- Hosted Lunch, Arizona Supreme Court, Juvenile Justice Services Division

1:00 PM - Closing Program Session- We Don't Give Up on Kids, nor do we Tolerate Anyone who Does - Facilitated by the Arizona Supreme Court's Juvenile Justice Services Division

2:30 PM Return to Hotel

3:00 PM Institute Adjourns