Call for Presenters
2026 Conference Theme: The Journey to an Empowered Future
Thanks for your interest in presenting at this year’s conference! The proposal period is now closed. Selected presenters will hear from the conference team during the week of February 23rd!
The 10th annual Dismantling Systemic Racism Conference, sponsored by the State Education Resource Center (SERC) in collaboration with The SERC Foundation, Inc., focuses on ways to support, promote, and develop racial equity in education. The conference aids educators, families, and community leaders to better serve Connecticut’s students through advocacy and the development, implementation, and sustainability of innovative and culturally relevant programming.
In order to eliminate racially disparate outcomes, the focus is on all students but particularly Black and Brown students as well as multilingual students and students with disabilities.
This Call for Presenters is intended to solicit dynamic, thought-provoking presentations addressing the multifaceted ways race and systemic racism impede our students’ outcomes and limit opportunities for success in academics, social development, health, and family engagement. Proposals should relate to the conference theme of The Journey to an Empowered Future and will be reviewed based on the following criteria:
- Clearly connected to current theory, research, or practice in the field
- Strongly aligned to the theme of the conference
- Appropriate levels of engagement and interaction
- Representation of student voice
- Well-written and coherently described
It is anticipated that more than 500 people will participate in this full-day conference. Participants may include general and special educators, administrators, high school students, family members, community members, business leaders, and all who play a role in a student’s life.
Each breakout session will be approximately 90 minutes long. Presenters will receive a discounted conference admission price.
Before attempting to complete this Call for Proposals it is suggested applicants compile the following required information in a separate document and then cut and paste content into the form fields. This form must be completed in one online session.
- Your personal and work contact information
- A brief autobiography (75 word maximum)
- Personal and work contact information and biographies for up to two (2) co-presenters (if applicable)
- Title of Session (150 character maximum)
- Presentation Outcomes (150 word maximum)
- Presentation Content and Methods (500 word maximum)
- Research/Evidence Base (300 word maximum)
- Presentation Description (100 – 150 words)
If this presentation is selected, SERC reserves the right to edit and publish this information for use in marketing and in the conference program.