JRGC 2022 RESOURCES
Thank you for attending the 2022 Jostens Renaissance Global Conference! See highlights of all your favorite events of this year’s JRGC and hear from attendees on why they loved their experience.
Thanks to the many AMAZING educators who presented during this year’s breakouts. Below are their videos and presentations, as well as other resources available for viewing. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact [email protected].
RALLY TIME
Wasn’t the Renaissance Rally RAD?
Click HERE to check out the full Renaissance Rally script!
Breakout Presentations
The following presentations were provided by educators who presented at JRGC. If you presented and do not see your presentation here, we’d love to post it and provide to your fellow attendees. Email [email protected] to submit your presentation.
Renaissance Rallies 101
Content Area: Rally
Presenter: Terresa Amidei
Build relationships and community with a Renaissance Rally! We’ll cover the basics and offer tips and suggestions to make your rallies fun and meaningful.
Every Hour is “Happy Hour”
Themes: Staff, Culture & Climate
Presenter: Leslie Bartow
Our “Culture Crew” will share ideas, tips, tricks, and more to help build teacher-administrator relationships, create a positive and ongoing school climate and culture, and reach and recognize all members of your school family with fun ways to make every hour happy hour at your school.
Earn Your Claws
Content Area: Staffulty Recognition, Student Engagement, Student Recognition, Culture & Climate
Presenter: Kristin Been
We’ll share ideas to help bring Staffulty and students together to build a stronger culture through friendly competition, student engagement, and student/Staffulty recognition, all while shaping the environment of your school community.
More Than Mental Health Awareness Week – SEL in Action!
Content Areas: Student Engagement, Culture & Climate, Connection, SEL, Equity
Presenter: Mark Brown
Over the past year, the topics of mental health and SEL have become buzzwords. As we move forward and transition back into full-time school, it is important that we as leaders and as individuals learn how to normalize the conversation around mental health, and understand that through utilizing SEL strategies, we can normalize the conversation around mental health for both students and educators.
Accept University: School Culture Built on Authentic Social-Emotional Care
Content Areas: Renaissance Culture & Climate, Connect, SEL
Presenter: Jamie Brown
Accept University brings character education and social-emotional learning together to intentionally help students and educators go “below the waterline.” We will model how to develop authentic relationships through interactive, collaborative small and large team and relationship-building scenarios that will empower participants to find (and accept) their identity while walking in someone else’s shoes.
How to Get Your Kids to Dream Bigger
Content Areas: Student Engagement
Presenter: John Bush
Does participation in your Honors and AP Classes reflect the diversity of your total school enrollment? If not, this will be the session for you. We will discuss strategies and methods to increase participation rates for historically underserved groups. Additionally, we will discuss strategies and supports to raise student achievement and attendance rates to increase pathways for all students.
Establishing and Growing School Spirit
Content Area: Student Engagement, Renaissance Culture & Climate, Look
Presenter: Mendi Camacho
Attendees will learn how we have carried on traditions that are 100 years old, while also incorporating new ways to boost school spirit.
How to Establish a Leadership/Renaissance Class
Content Area: Student Engagement, Renaissance Culture & Climate, Look
Presenter: Mendi Camacho
This session will offer teachers a look into the dynamics of how to set up and run a Leadership/ Renaissance class. With over 20 years of experience teaching this course, I will provide tips and tricks to make sure the year runs smoothly and efficiently without too much stress on the teacher.
Classroom Management Strategies for Building Relationships and Ownership
Content Areas: Student Engagement, Connections
Presenter: Dr. Tara Campbell
Relationships begin in the classroom and are enriched when there is a genuine sense of student ownership and voice. Let’s talk about a few simple strategies that create an atmosphere for building relationships, student ownership and acceptance, and efficiency in the classroom.
Educational Equity: A Journey
Content Areas: Student Engagement, Connections, Equity
Presenters: Dr. Tara Campbell & Dwight Carter with Dr. Shameka Gerlad
What does educational equity mean? What does it look like in your classroom or school, and what could it look like? We’ll answer these questions, share why it matters, and provide tips to help you get started or make course corrections along the way.
Jostens Renaissance Programs that Address the Changing Landscape of Our Schools
Content Areas: Look, Staff, Build, Student Recognition, Student Engagement, Ren Culture & Climate, Connection, SEL, Equity
Presenter: Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder
How do you make Renaissance magic happen in the changing landscape of diverse demographics? Has your school changed from a “traditional” white suburban or rural culture to a more racial, ethnically, or socioeconomically diverse mix of students? We’ll explore how to help your alumni, community, and local businesses get on board with supporting your new school landscape and your Jostens Renaissance activities.
Student Growth Through Jostens Renaissance and Multi-Tier Systems of Support
Content Areas: Look, Staff, Build, Student Recognition, Student Engagement, Ren Culture & Climate, Connection, SEL, Equity
Presenter: Dr. Michelle CarneyRay-Yoder
This course offers a district-wide perspective on how to use Jostens Renaissance in conjunction with Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) to drive student growth in academics, attendance, and discipline.
Belonging Through a Culture of Dignity
Content Areas: SEL, Ren Culture & Culture, Staff
Presenters: Dwight Carter & Julie Diaz
In today’s high-demand, high-stress education culture, it’s easy to get bogged down by initiatives, mandates, and other constraints. Society has become more complex, which can impact our mental health and wellbeing. Still, there are two things we can control: our attitude and actions. Learn five key principles to improve culture from the inside out.
Confessions of a First Year Renaissance Advisor
Content Areas: Staff, Connection, Student Recognition
Presenters: Sammi Cervantez
Are you a novice Renaissance advisor? If so, we need to chat. Join me as I reflect on the good, the bad, and everything in between on my journey as a first year Renaissance advisor. Leave with practical tips and tricks to empower you as you navigate the waters of the 6 Rs of Renaissance: Respect, Recognize, Reward, and Reinforce through Relationships to get Results.
Live Above the Line: How Our Thinking Governs Our Experience
Content Areas: Staff, SEL, Ren Culture & Climate
Presenter: Tom Cody
Don’t miss this session, especially if your thinking has turned negative during the past two extremely difficult years. This session focuses on becoming aware of our inner life so we know when it is working and when it is not working. We’ll explore the conditions that come up in our life that invite us to go Below the Line, recognize indicators warning us of negativity, learn how to handle tough conditions with more grace and dignity, and find ways to trampoline back Above the Line.
Stay in Your Lane: School Culture Starts with You
Content Areas: Staff, SEL, Ren Culture & Climate
Presenter: Tom Cody & Dr. Darrin Peppard
This is a Game Changer! The road to positive school culture has certainly been bumpy during the past couple of years. Sometimes the noise, the traffic, and even our fellow passengers can make even the best road trip a challenge. Join Darrin and Tom for an engaging, one of-a-kind session that will help you pack your car with everything you need for this important ride. Take charge of your journey!
Getting Started with Renaissance – Middle School Edition
Content Areas: Building, Look, Renaissance Culture & Climate
Presenters: Elizabeth Dalzell
Are you new to Renaissance? Work in a middle school? Join Staffulty from Las Palmas Middle School and Horizon Middle School (Platinum School of Distinction) as we share insights into how our schools launched and built their programs. We will share implementation ideas and talk about our successes and some “failures” (learning opportunities). You will leave with a better understanding of how to start and grow your program.
Administrative Perspective on Renaissance
Content Areas: Building, Look, Renaissance Culture & Climate
Presenters: Elizabeth Dalzell
Join Horizon Middle School’s assistant principal to hear our perspective on how Renaissance can make a difference in the culture and climate of your school. We were a “watch” school for turnaround status with the state; now our school meets or beats state test score averages, we decreased our behavioral referrals, and we increased student achievement, earning the Jostens Renaissance Platinum School of Distinction for a second year.
Maintaining Momentum: Renaissance & Feeder Schools
Content Areas: Building, Look, Renaissance Culture & Climate
Presenters: Elizabeth Dalzell
Horizon Middle School has used Renaissance to dramatically renew and transform their culture and climate over the past 8 years, and they brought Renaissance values and ideas with them. Staff from both schools will share how they have worked together for five years to reward and recognize students as they move into high school, and how they make the most of the feeder relationship.
Inside Out Culture
Content Areas: Staff, Ren Culture & Climate, Student Engagement
Lauran DeForke
Where does culture start to grow within your building, and how can you be a part of it?
Ideas Ideas Ideas: Rally Edition
Content Areas: Staff, Rally, Build
Presenters: Tina Dietrich and Steve Bollar
Renaissance Rallies are a way for students and Staffulty to come together to celebrate students’ accomplishments for academics and character. Steve and Tina have decades of combined experience organizing and leading rallies in their schools and will share everything you need to know to make yours awesome!
It’s All Elementary
Content Areas: Staff, Build, SEL, Student, Connections
Presenters: Tina Dietrich
Jostens Renaissance is a perfect fit for your elementary school! Come let us tell you how we got started, what we do to keep it going, and how we keep our program fresh and exciting. Don’t shy away when you see “elementary.” We have ideas for everyone!
How to Bring SEL to Your School
Content Areas: Staff, Build, SEL, Student, Connections
Presenters: Tina Dietrich and Steve Bollar
We all know what SEL is, but how do you make it work in your school? Join us for ideas and lessons to take back to your school. We will help you help your students and Staffulty develop healthy skills and behaviors to support relationships, strengthen decision-making skills, and improve self-esteem. We will also provide some activities that require little to no prep!
The Middle School Renaissance Action Team: Who is Involved?
Content Areas: Build, Student Recognition, Student Engagement
Presenter: Adam Erickson
Wondering how to get your Renaissance or ASB class more involved with your awards nights or assemblies? Still have teachers or administrators presenting the awards to kids? Come learn how to change all that up and let your students take over the whole process, from planning to speeches to presentations! It’s their program, after all!
Setting the Stage for a Student-Run Renaissance Awards Night
Content Areas: Build, Student Recognition, Student Engagement
Presenter: Adam Erickson
Wondering how to get your Renaissance or ASB class more involved with your awards nights or assemblies? Still have teachers or administrators presenting the awards to kids? Come learn how to change all that up and let your students take over the whole process, from planning to speeches to presentations! It’s their program, after all!
Using Journalism Storytelling to Boost Recognition
Content Areas: Staff, Student Recognition, Connect
Presenter: Scott Geesey
Recognition isn’t just about telling someone you noticed them doing something good; it’s about giving them a moment in the spotlight, and also conveying your values to your school community. Your yearbook and newspaper staff are your allies in recognizing as many students as possible, and we’ll discuss how to make it easy for them to celebrate students and Staffulty effectively, as well as using social media and other methods.
Building a Unique Experience for Your Littles and Middles
Content Areas: Build, Rally, Connect
Presenter: Brian Green
If you have the unique pleasure of working with littles and middles, you are often wondering how you can bring Renaissance to the K-8 world. You will walk away from this session with ideas for building a unique experience for your students. I will also share challenges and successes I have encountered while kickstarting a Renaissance program during a COVID year.
Fundraising 101
Content Areas: Build
Presenter: Samantha Grimes
It takes money to run a successful Renaissance program, and in this session, we will show you quick and easy ways to raise money for your program. We will focus on how to earn thousands of dollars by doing a fun Color Run (5K). Our Color Runs average $4,000-$6,500!
How to Execute a Renaissance Rally
Content Areas: Rally, Student Engagement
Presenter: Samantha Grimes
Whether you are thinking about having a short Renaissance rally or are ready to take your rally to the next level, you don’t want to miss this session. Greenbrier High School has some of the best Renaissance rallies in the country. We have produced ten rallies, and some have lasted for more than 2 1/2 hours! We will show you our themes, game ideas, unique types of recognition, and much more. You will learn what we have done well and what we learned to do better!
Senior Decision Week
Content Areas: Student recognition, staff recognition
Presenter: Samantha Grimes
Celebrate seniors, staff, colleges and jobs all in one wonderful and festive week!
How to Cultivate and Grow Culture and Climate on Campus
Content Areas: Look, Ren Culture & Climate
Presenter: Joe Grossi
Commitment To Graduate (C2G(R)) is a quick “go to” Renaissance initiative that can be implemented this coming school year to keep kids engaged and focused on the goal. We’ll share activities and examples from schools in Southern Arizona that are connecting students and improving graduation rates with C2G.
Smiles All Year: Begin with a Bang to Get Smiles from Start to Finish
Content Areas: Rally, Ren Culture & Climate, Student Engagement
Presenters: Megan Hardy
Our team’s goal is to create a climate and culture that is inviting and exciting. We have achieved that with a fun back-to-school bash on the first day of school, rallies instead of ceremonies, a Senior Sunrise & Sunset, “hat court,” an Easter egg hunt, and much more. This session will break down each of these activities and describe how they improve student/Staffulty relationships.
Welcome to the Family! Kick Start Your Freshmen Orientation
Content Areas: Connect
Presenter: Lizzie Herring
Liven up your freshman orientation by creating an engaging and exciting atmosphere that will make your incoming freshmen class glad to be joining your school community. This session will include suggestions for making the orientation 100% student-led.
A Plan to Address Community Stress Before the Day Even Begins
Content Areas: Renaissance Culture & Climate, Connect, SEL, Staff, Look, Student Engagement
Presenter: Kevin “KJ” Johnson
Join us for a discussion about how to create opportunities to decrease anxiety and toxic stress for our community before they even walk through our doors. This session will be interactive so we can learn from each other; please be ready to share your ideas within both small and larger groups. Please bring a notepad or note-taking device.
Social Media 101: Tell Your Story and Connect Your Community
Content Areas: Connect
Presenter: Kristen Johnson
We’ve all heard the advice to “use social media” to share what we’re doing, but what does that really mean? Jostens’ social media guru Kristen Johnson will share the most effective ways to use the different platforms to reach different audiences, the importance of telling your story in an authentic way, and tips and tricks for getting the most views and clicks.
The Power of Positive Reinforcement
Content Areas: Staff, Student Engagement, Connect, SEL, Renaissance Culture & Climate
Presenters: Jennifer Jennings and Kaiti Jones
Looking for ways to motivate students, or recognize Staffulty or students in a fun, easy way? Need to improve your school’s climate and culture? We will share dozens of ideas that we have implemented successfully.
Rock Star Staffulty Meetings
Content Areas: Staff, Build, Ren Culture & Climate
Presenter: Rhett Ladner
Want to transform your Staffulty meetings into a “happening event” that everyone looks forward to? This session will provide many ideas for making your meetings inspiring, engaging, and memorable, including the Green Room professional development video series and plenty of tried-and-true Renaissance recognition activities.
Renaissance From the Chair
Content Areas: Rally, Build, Ren Culture & Climate,
Presenter: Rhett Ladner and Eric Lillis
We all wish for someone “in charge” who believes in Renaissance and school culture efforts. But how can district leaders make the most of that opportunity? Two longtime Renaissance educators share a wealth of ideas for using leadership positions to inspire Staffulty members to change the world one student at a time, from implementation to the five-year plan that keeps it going strong.
Defender PRIDE: Bringing Students and Teachers Together
Content Areas: Ren Culture & Climate, Connect
Presenter: Andrea Landis
We’ll share examples of student and teacher-led initiatives that create a positive school climate and culture at a rural High School in Pennsylvania.
We Are Family: Creating a Classroom That Feels Like Home
Content Areas: Connect
Presenter: Lindsay Long
The fortunate among us view family as something that supports you, cheers you on, picks you up when you fall, and pushes you to become your best self. Each student needs a home away from home – a place where connections are made between teacher and student, and student to student. A place where mistakes are accepted and growth is celebrated. We’ll explore how to create this atmosphere in our classrooms.
Messages that Matter, Building Community, & Shaping Your Culture on Campus
Content Areas: Renaissance Culture & Climate, Connect, SEL, Equity
Presenter: Jennifer Martinez
This session will share and model activities we have done school-wide to engage our student body while leading with empathy and continuously working to cultivate a community of caring and belonging. We have found that infusing SEL and equity goals with a spirit of generosity brings our school community together, and will share activities that have done this for us. You will walk away with resources including instructions for implementing these activities, and you’ll have a chance to win prizes that will spark ideas!
Building Bridges and Burning Ships
Content Areas: Build, Renaissance Culture & Climate, SEL
Presenters: Dr Darrin Peppard and Bradlee W. Skinner
The world around us and the landscape of education is changing faster than ever. In this session Dr. Darrin Peppard and Bradlee W. Skinner will help you navigate the challenges you may be facing at your schools by knowing when to bridge the divides of past success and new goals for the future and when to leave our failures behind and not look back.
Game Changers: 43 Impactful Tips for Awesome School Culture and Climate
Content Areas: Build, Student Recognition, Staff Recognition, Renaissance Culture & Climate,
Presenters: Dr. Darrin Peppard
This session will bring powerful ideas you can do on any budget! Lead your school with a culture focused on relationships, make the look of your school personalized, and give meaningful recognition to students and Staffulty! Buckle up for this high-speed #RoadToAwesome school culture and climate adventure!
School Culture & Social Emotion Learning: A Road to Awesome Journey
Content Areas: SEL, Renaissance Culture & Climate,
Presenters: Dr. Darrin Peppard
Why does it always have to be about what they do wrong? Why can’t it be about what they do right?! These two questions transformed a leader, energized a team, and drove a school to a big shift in culture and climate through Jostens Renaissance. We know that school culture is an essential element in the social and emotional well-being of students, but often SEL and school culture are disconnected. We’ll make that connection and share ways to use them to transform your school.
Leadership Is Not One Size Fits All
Content Areas: Build, Renaissance Culture & Climate, Connect, Look, Student Engagement
Presenters: Rita Pintaville
“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” -William Shakespeare Whichever way you landed in leadership, this is a look at fun and practical ways to be successful on your campus with tips for both Staffulty and students. Any level can benefit from this interactive presentation and come away with quick and easy ways to involve staff and students in building a great climate and culture.
A Guide to Renaissance Resources
Content Areas: Build, Ren Culture & Climate, Student Engagement
Presenters: John Roh and Alanna Walen
Have you checked out JostensRenaissance.com lately? Not only are there new features like Success and Getting Started, but everything on the site is easier to find with the Renaissance RX page and the new MegaMenu! We’ll discuss new additions like the Green Room professional development series and share how to make the most of student resources like The Harbor and the Leadership Curriculum. We’ll also give updates on upcoming live and virtual events and other Renaissance news.
Connecting Renaissance and P.B.I.S.
Content Areas: Build, Renaissance Culture & Climate
Presenters: John Roh
We will explore the connection between Renaissance and PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention Systems) and how they complement each other, especially at the Tier One (primary) level, to help transform your school’s climate and culture. Participants will be shown how the tools and resources of Renaissance can enhance the implementation of PBIS, and examples from schools that have successfully combined Renaissance and PBIS will be shared.
Renaissance: How Does it Help the Staffulty?
Content Areas: Staff, Renaissance Culture & Climate, SEL
Presenters: Dr. James Spencer
There is absolutely no question that a good Renaissance program really helps our kids – but does it help and make a difference for the Staffulty? The answer is YES! Having an awesome climate and culture within a school makes a huge difference with respect to both teacher and staff retention.
Building Culture: Eating an Elephant 201
Content Areas: Look, Staff, Build, Ren Culture & Climate
Presenters: Ginger Stovall and Conner Mattingly
The school culture elephant is large and cannot be eaten in one setting. After this session, you will no longer be asking yourself how to take the elephant of Renaissance back to your school, but instead will be asking where are your fork and knife so you can get started! This session is the complete take-out menu. We will show you rapid-fire style how we took this full course meal and put it away!
My Pep Talk Turned into a Pep Rally REMIX
Content Areas: Rally, Connect, Ren Culture & Climate
Presenters: Ginger Stovall and Conner Mattingly
I LOVE Spirit Week and that’s my peppin’ problem! Learn about how we went from fewer than 100 students participating in Spirit Week to over 1200 by integrating academic and athletic rallies, student voting on themes, capture the flag games, daily competitions, best dressed awards, donations, and more! Bonus Track: Hear all about our running scoreboard, lunchroom shenanigans, and nighttime rallies!
Celebrating Students, Staffulty and Stakeholders
Content Areas: Staff, Student Recognition, Renaissance Culture and Climate
Presenters: Janelle Victory and Jen Perea
Recognition is the foundation of improving school climate and culture. Identifying the attributes and actions you respect and reinforcing them is a key component to thriving as a Renaissance school. Join us as we share our story and highlight our successes in recognizing and rewarding our students, Staffulty, and stakeholders which led us to becoming a Platinum School of Distinction.
Finding Loonies and Toonies in Your Fundraising
Content Areas: Connect, Build
Presenters: Melissa Wright and Elizabeth Folkins
Learn how one Canadian high school maximizes their time and effort in fundraising. You will leave this session with simple, low time investment ideas that give consistent returns.
Storyteller Award-Winning Video
Congratulations to the winner of the School Culture Make That Change Video Contest: Powell High School in Powell, TN! Hear the inspiring story of their late Spanish teacher, Mr. Eric Robertson, and how these students are living out what he taught them.
Renaissance Anthem
Click for the Renaissance Anthem in MP3 format – To download: When on the song page, right click and select ‘Save as…’
Click to download the lyrics to the Renaissance Anthem