FORWARD: From Polarization to Progress

Join us for a free, interactive workshop and connection session to learn and practice strategies to navigate high-conflict environments, rebuild trust, and foster healthy dialogue. Turn high-stakes tension into productive collaboration.

Who this workshop is for:

• Nonprofit and social enterprise leaders
• Educators and school leaders
• Graduate students and higher education professionals

What to Expect:

• A great discussion on leading in today’s politically challenging environment. We will learn for Colorado’s former Commissioner of Education on how she navigated a politically split board and led the state through politically challenging times like the COVID pandemic. You’ll hear concrete strategies about how to navigate conflict and political polarization.

What you will do:

• You’ll reengage and refresh the skills needed to keep your work focused on what is important rather than getting derailed by constant disruptive conflict. You’ll meet and network with folks across the Denver metro area working toward a better future.

Meet Your Facilitator, Dr. Katy Anthes

Commissioner of Education in Colorado from 2016-2023, Dr. Katy Anthes is widely respected for her commitment to listen to diverse perspectives and her legacy of developing solutions that are founded on productive middle ground. Continuously keeping students’ best interests as her top priority, she focuses on providing high quality expertise and support to policymakers, districts and educators working to enhance student achievement. As Commissioner, Anthes worked with the Colorado State Board of Education, the Legislature and the Governor to craft and implement a vision of education for Colorado. She led the Colorado Department of Education, an $8 billion dollar agency, dedicated to helping districts achieve great things for students. During her time as Commissioner, she served on the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) Board of Directors, the Education Commission of the States (ECS) Steering Committee, and Chiefs for Change.

Dr. Anthes led CDE from 2011 to 2023, serving as Chief of Staff, Interim Associate Commissioner for Achievement and Strategy and Executive Director of Educator Effectiveness. As the ED of Educator Effectiveness, she led CDE’s efforts to support and retain highly effective educators in Colorado. In her previous position as a partner with the Third Mile Group, Anthes led and researched major education initiatives for state, district, and national organizations on a variety of education issues. Her projects included the Colorado School Leadership Academy Board, the Expanded Learning Opportunities Commission and the evaluation of district education programs across the state.

Prior to founding the Third Mile Group, she achieved seven years of research, policy work and leadership experience at the Education Commission of the States focusing on school and district leader effectiveness. Anthes holds a Ph.D. in public policy and a master’s degree in public affairs from the University of Colorado Denver. She did her undergraduate work at the University of Oregon.

About Social Venture Partners Denver

SVP Denver is the metro area's premier community of engaged philanthropists who provide pro bono consulting, advising, training, and impact investing opportunities to early stage nonprofits and social enterprises. In its 25-year history, SVP Denver has helped scale over 400 organizations through more than 20,000 hours of pro bono support and $25M invested.

About Public Education Business Coalition

PEBC believes that each and every child deserves a great educator. PEBC works in Colorado and across the nation to prepare outstanding new teachers, support practicing educators and leaders to become exceptional, and shape policies that foster vibrant growth and lasting student success.

About University of Colorado Denver's School of Public Affairs

The University of Colorado Denver School of Public Affairs advances principles of democracy, equity and justice to improve societal well-being. To do this, SPA prepares and inspires leaders to serve the public good, conducts research and shares evidence-based knowledge to understand and improve social processes and governance structures, and partners with others to create collaborative solutions for challenging societal problems and to help our communities thrive.

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