The Good, The Bad and the Beautiful of Student Led Academic Teaming (SLAT)
Step into the student experience in this hands-on session focused on Student-Led Academic Teaming (SLAT). Participants will actively engage in a SLAT lesson using practical SLAT tools, experiencing firsthand how student ownership and collaboration come to life. Together, we’ll examine non-examples alongside strategies that worked—and those that worked exceptionally well—in both Science and ELA classrooms. A model lesson will anchor the session, with real classroom examples highlighted throughout. The experience concludes with an open, collaborative discussion, leaving educators with concrete strategies and confidence to bring high-impact student-led teaming back to their classrooms.
Dawn Rodman
Graduate of University of North Texas, Interdisciplinary Studies, Minor: Elementary Ed, 1995
I started teaching in 1995 as a third grade DOD teacher at Robins AFB, Ga for 3 years and taught for 1 year as a third grade teacher in Fairfax County Schools, Va before we moved again. As a military wife and mom I held down the fort as my husband deployed and we changed stations and I stayed at home with my children for 12 years. We finally landed in Navarre, FL where I went back into teaching in 2012. I have been teaching 5th grade for the past 14 years with 11 of those as an ELA specific teacher.
Rebecca Neu
Rebecca Neu is an educator and military veteran from Gulf Breeze, Florida, with a unique background that blends leadership, service, and classroom experience. After a 21-year military career, she transitioned into education, where she spent 11 years teaching 5th grade science in Santa Rosa County. Rebecca brings a practical, mission-driven approach to professional learning, drawing on her experience in both structured leadership environments and diverse classroom settings to support and inspire fellow educators.
Clarita Thompson
Clarita Thompson is a School Leadership Coach with Instructional Empowerment. Clarita works with district and school leaders to provide professional learning and coaching to school leaders to drive change in teacher practices, student achievement and instructional effectiveness. She also coaches the school leadership team to successfully lead the implementation of the Model of Instruction as evidenced through trend data of successful MOI implementation and its impact on achievement gap data.
Prior to joining IE, Clarita served as a public-school teacher, Instructional Coach, Assistant Principal, Academic Dean, and Principal in Texas. While serving in these roles, Clarita established systems enhancements, improved the climate and culture for students and staff, and systematically and continuously, monitored instructional and managerial processes to ensure that program activities were related to program outcomes and used these findings to target areas of improvement.
Clarita earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Commerce and Business Administration from The University of Alabama, a Master of Education in Education Administration from Grand Canyon University, and a Principal Certification from Lamar University.
Session Details
District Name: Santa Rosa County Schools
West Navarre Intermediate School
Elementary (K–5)
Audience: Teacher
Difficulty Level: Novice