The Dean’s Distinguished Speaker Series

UCLA Chancellor Gene Block and UCLA Wasserman Dean Christina Christie invite you to Neurodiversity and K–12 Education: Ensuring Equity in Learning for ALL Children featuring California Governor Gavin Newsom

IN CONVERSATION WITH:

Christina Christie, UCLA Wasserman Dean, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies

Annamarie Francois, Executive Director of UCLA Center X, UCLA School of Education and Information Studies

RSVP HERE

UCLA is honored to host this conversation with California Governor Gavin Newsom about his own experience as a dyslexic learner and how his life experiences have shaped his approach as a visionary leader on education issues.

Dean Christina Christie and Executive Director Annamarie Francois will interview Governor Newsom about his recently published book, Ben and Emma’s Big Hit, an empowering book about a young boy with dyslexia who discovers a new way to look at reading.

Across the nation and throughout California’s schools, about 25% of children and youth in every classroom have some type of neurodiverse learning need—dyslexia, dyscalculia, ADHD, anxiety disorder, ASD, executive function issues, trauma, etc. At the UCLA School of Education and Information Studies, we believe this is one of the most critical learning equity issues of our generation.

Early in his career, he founded PlumpJack Associates, which started as a wine shop in San Francisco and eventually grew to include wineries, restaurants, inns, and retail clothing shops all over California.

Christie previously served as Chair of the UCLA Department of Education and is a professor in the Social Research Methodologies Division. Christie focuses her research on evaluation as a method for facilitating social impact and change. She is leading the UCLA Ed & IS work to develop a leadership hub focused on the use of neuroscience research to shape more equitable K–12 learning opportunities.

Francois serves on the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and was previously Director of UCLA’s Teacher Education Program. Prior to joining UCLA faculty, Francois was a K-6 teacher and administrator with LAUSD. Francois collaborated in the design of UCLA Community School and Mann UCLA Community School, university-assisted public schools in high-needs communities in Los Angeles. She is lead investigator for numerous grant funded initiatives around innovation and research in equity-driven, content-focused educator learning.