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PPF Consulting founder Katy Swalwell, Ph.D. specializes in supporting schools and districts interested in instructional, curricular, and systemic equity and excellence.
Regardless of the service she provides, Katy is committed to encouraging critical friendship and reflection, nurturing growth and curiosity, centering those who have been marginalized, analyzing power dynamics, and making connections to the local context. With humor, humility, and humanity coupled with research and expertise, Katy helps clients across the United States build anti-oppressive, democratic schools and classrooms. |
- Interactive Workshops
Sustained professional development built around engaging job-embedded tasks is one of the most effective ways to shift policies and practices within an organization. Workshops are customized for the needs of your school, district, or organization and range from general overviews of equity in schools to specific topics and practical tools. We recommend interactive workshops that extend over time that help participants apply what they are learning to their daily work. Frequently requested workshop topics include:- Cultivating Strong Belonging in Schools
- Building Communities of Care & Concern with Staff & Students
- Teaching Controversial Issues
- Facilitating Difficult Conversations
- Planning Inquiries That Matter
- Avoiding the Pitfalls of Problematic Curriculum
- Collecting & Analyzing Data for Equity
- Curriculum
Does your curriculum need a fresh set of eyes from an anti-oppressive, equity-based perspective? Do you need new curriculum that better reflects the needs of your students or helps take your organization to the next level? Could your teachers use tools that help them teach more inclusive and accurate content? Katy is ready to help with an emphasis on inquiry and interdisciplinary learning that supports creative, critical thinking and equips students to be strong members of a diverse democracy grappling with significant challenges. Custom-designed curriculum and supplemental materials available in English and Spanish.
- Equity Audits
Whether small-scale reviews of systems-level quantitative data or broad-scale analyses that include focus groups and interviews, equity audits are a great way to identify disparities and design effective strategic plans that maximize schools' limited resources. We recommend supplementing this work with professional development that builds in-house capacity for future audits and supports interpretation of the data through an equity lens. - Keynote Addresses
To kick off events, anchor a luncheon, or inspire staff throughout the academic year, Katy is available for memorable presentations that inspire and inform. Just reach out to discuss what specific topics you would like addressed and what your goals are for the presentation. Whether the audience is just a few people on Zoom or hundreds in an auditorium, Katy's approach is personable, memorable, and engaging. - Coaching
Individual or small group sessions provide targeted support for making policies and practices more equitable. Options include regular 1-on-1 virtual conversations or on-call support as issues arise. - Book Clubs
Tap Katy to facilitate book clubs for any of the books she has helped author:
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CLIENT TESTIMONIALS
"We heard from many in our district that this was the best curriculum they had ever seen. People clapped and cheered out loud when I said the curriculum was fully bilingual. They LOVED the units." --District leader
"I want to say that, in my opinion, today’s equity training was, hands down, the BEST so far. It was explained well, was upbeat, and gave instantly useful language and ideas that can be implemented & practiced immediately by our teachers to create equity in our classes. My attention was on the presentation the whole time."
—Webinar participant
"What an excellent presentation! I learned more than any other PD in my 25 years!" —Webinar participant
"This was honestly one of the best PDs I've ever had. Bring her back!" —Webinar participant
"Best presenters we've had in years! Thank you!" —Workshop participant
"Super inspiring and practical presentation!"—Workshop participant
"Thank you for walking along side us and helping our team become stronger." —Workshop participant
"Continuing to open my mind and heart to others, making me a more sensitive, aware teacher has been a gift. Continuing my lifelong journey of discovery and self responsibility has been an eye-opening experience." —Workshop participant
"This has been, by far, the most sincere focus on this topic since the district has made it a priority. It's nice to have people who have actual data and experiences talk on this topic rather than simply a mandatory PowerPoint read during a staff meeting." —Workshop participant
"For two years, our school contracted with Dr. Swalwell as we made social justice education more central to our students' learning. It was the best decision we could have made. Dr. Swalwell's research expertise in social justice teaching and learning in elite schools combined with her innate ability to engage faculty, staff, school leaders, and parents made her invaluable to the process. For Dr. Swalwell, the importance of the work comes first; consequently, 'Katy' became a household name on campus and someone faculty, staff, and administrators grew to trust, relate to, and learn from." --Independent School Administrator
"When was the last time teachers wanted PD to continue? We're advocating with district leadership for more workshop time with Katy next year."
—Workshop participant
"I want to say that, in my opinion, today’s equity training was, hands down, the BEST so far. It was explained well, was upbeat, and gave instantly useful language and ideas that can be implemented & practiced immediately by our teachers to create equity in our classes. My attention was on the presentation the whole time."
—Webinar participant
"What an excellent presentation! I learned more than any other PD in my 25 years!" —Webinar participant
"This was honestly one of the best PDs I've ever had. Bring her back!" —Webinar participant
"Best presenters we've had in years! Thank you!" —Workshop participant
"Super inspiring and practical presentation!"—Workshop participant
"Thank you for walking along side us and helping our team become stronger." —Workshop participant
"Continuing to open my mind and heart to others, making me a more sensitive, aware teacher has been a gift. Continuing my lifelong journey of discovery and self responsibility has been an eye-opening experience." —Workshop participant
"This has been, by far, the most sincere focus on this topic since the district has made it a priority. It's nice to have people who have actual data and experiences talk on this topic rather than simply a mandatory PowerPoint read during a staff meeting." —Workshop participant
"For two years, our school contracted with Dr. Swalwell as we made social justice education more central to our students' learning. It was the best decision we could have made. Dr. Swalwell's research expertise in social justice teaching and learning in elite schools combined with her innate ability to engage faculty, staff, school leaders, and parents made her invaluable to the process. For Dr. Swalwell, the importance of the work comes first; consequently, 'Katy' became a household name on campus and someone faculty, staff, and administrators grew to trust, relate to, and learn from." --Independent School Administrator
"When was the last time teachers wanted PD to continue? We're advocating with district leadership for more workshop time with Katy next year."
—Workshop participant
ACCOUNTABILITY
Katy's ethics of accountability focus on serving as a conduit for as many resources as possible by 1) building intentionally diverse facilitation teams and collaboration partnerships, 2) consistently attributing ideas / activities to their sources and lifting up the work of minoritized scholars and educators, and 3) directing a portion of earnings and time to organizations dedicated to deepening equity and justice, especially those in her home community.