Events and Keynotes
A detailed schedule of events, keynotes, and what to expect at the 2021 BOOST Conference.
*Please note this schedule is subject to change
TUESDAY, APRIL 27
Pre-Conference Academies
Framework for Understanding Poverty 
Dr. Ruby K. Payne, Founder, aha! Process, Highlands, TX
9:00AM - 4:00PM (Includes lunch and materials)
Explore class differences and 10 actions you can implement in your classroom or program to improve the success of low-SES students. This workshop is based on Dr. Ruby K. Payne’s book A Framework for Understanding Poverty, which has sold more than 1.5 million copies.
Educators who participate in this training will:
- Use concrete instructional strategies to help students from poverty
- Understand hidden rules of economic class and effects on behaviors and mindsets
- Develop stronger relationships with students to impact behavior
- Reduce discipline referrals
Growth Heartset® - A Culture of Caring
Stu Semigran, President & Co-Founder; Bryn Drescher, Facilitator, EduCare, Van Nuys, CA
11:00AM - 5:00PM (includes lunch and materials)
It has been said, “whoever our students may be, whatever subject we teach, ultimately we teach who we are.” Enjoy learning EduCare’s 8 Skills for Heartset® Education and develop a personal "Growth Heartset”. A growth heartset becomes a way of being… a way of teaching that sparks our students’ own SEL. This highly interactive session focuses on creating communities of caring from the “inside out” with connection, empathy, and love, all based on EduCare’s field-tested ACE Program that has reached nearly 50,000 students in the U.S. and internationally. Participants learn strategies of self-awareness (mindfulness), emotional self-management (or self-care), relationship building, and empathic listening and ways for developing students. Read more.
Promoting Safety, Inclusion, and Well-Being for LGBTQ+ Youth 
Dr. Vincent Pompei, Director, Youth Well-Being Project, Human Rights Campaign Foundation, Washington, D.C.
11:00AM - 3:00PM (Includes lunch and materials)
We have seen tremendous strides toward LGBTQ equality and yet current data reveal serious challenges faced by LGBTQ youth, including rejection, bullying, and a lack of support from educators. This pre-conference will cover the current state of LGBTQ youth, build cultural competency, and review best-practices and resources that make a positive difference. Participants will hear directly from a national expert on school safety and inclusion for LGBTQ youth, a parent of a transgender child, and a few LGBTQ students. Interactive activities, opportunities to practices new skills, and time for small group discussion will be provided. If you desire to become an emerging expert and become a stronger advocate for change, this pre-conference is for you. Read more
STEM Studio - TGR Foundation 
David Tong, Director, TRG EDU: Create, TGR Foundation, Irvine, CA
11:00AM - 5:00PM (Includes lunch and materials)
DESIGN. INNOVATE. COLLABORATE. Imagine a place where creativity and innovation are paramount. Where teachers take on the role of students, delving into hands-on STEM activities. A place where inquiry-based learning leads to real-world applications. Where like-minded educators gather to collaborate and take risks. This is STEM Studio: an immersive experience in STEM education based on a transformational educational philosophy facilitated by TGR EDU: Create. Join us in this pre-conference session to explore strategies that will enhance your curricula and prepare your students for careers in STEM. Read more
Visit our Pre-Conference Academies page for details.
BOOST Conference Orientation
BOOST Conference Orientation will take place every hour.
1:00PM, 2:00PM, 3:00PM, 4:00PM
Palm Springs Convention Center Lobby
BOOST Conference Attendee Promising Practices: How to Navigate the Conference and Make the Most of Your Professional Development Experience
Are you new to BOOST? Have you attend BOOST in the past but need a refresher? Stay up-to-date on attendee promising practices during our on-site orientation to help you maximize your time and learning before the conference, during the conference and how to stay connected post-conference. Topics covered:
- Preparing for the conference
- How to get involved and play a leadership role at BOOST
- Tips on Networking
- Navigating the Exhibit Hall
- Determining the best learning opportunities for your professional development needs
- How to use the conference app to maximize your conference experience and much, much more!
BOOST Swim Club
1:00PM - 5:00PM
Renaissance Hotel Pool
Not attending a Pre-conference Academy? No problem. Catch some rays, good vibes, and gear up for the conference. Dance to the grooves of our resident DJ, play water games, and ride the bull during this pre-conference networking mixer! Sunscreen not included.
BOOST Golf Outing at Indian Canyons Golf Resort
Check-in: 1:00PM
Tee Time: 1:30PM
This event hosted by Bill Fennessy, Director of Community Partnerships and Work-based Learning at Think Together.
Cost: $45
Indian Canyons Golf Resort has been the jewel of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley since 1961. Once a private club named Canyon Country Club, this 36-hole facility was a favorite haunt of Hollywood celebrities like Frank Sinatra, Bob Hope, and Jackie Gleason. Former U.S. Presidents Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lyndon B. Johnson, and Ronald Reagan also walked these fairways. The course is set on 550 acres on the Agua Caliente Indian Reservation. The BOOST golf event will take place at the South Course.
The "golf package" includes 18-hole South Course greens fee, cart fee, discounted club rentals, and a token for range use prior to play, for just $45 per player. Players are required to bring their own balls. Arrange transportation on your own, or carpool with other players. We encourage you to secure designated transportation (Uber/Lyft/Taxi) if you plan to drink. The deadline to register is April 23, 2021, click here to register for this event.
Welcome Reception And Hat COntesT
5:30PM - 6:30PM
Renaissance Hotel Pool and Rocks Lounge
The BOOST Welcome Reception is truly a day to celebrate in Palm Springs with colleagues from all over the globe. Join us for our early evening reunion and welcome reception poolside. Connect with colleagues and make new friends while the sun sets against the San Jacinto mountains. A perfect way to start the conference!
Be entered into 1 of 3 different Hat Contest categories: Most Glamorous, Best Theme, and Most Creative during the Welcome Reception. BOOST is continuing our creative and fun tradition at our Annual Opening Reception so get ready to celebrate in style. Show up at the opening poolside reception on Tuesday evening and show off. Don’t forget to bring a hat! Glamorous headpieces, outrageous-themed headwear, fancy floral arrangements, sports-themed caps, or boost your company/agency flair!
Hat Contest Judging will take place between 5:30-5:50PM
Hat Contest Winners will be announced at 6:00PM
Must be present the entire time during judging and announcements to win.
LIVE DJ SET FEATURING DJ WALT WHITE
escape room
Sunday - Thursday, 6:00PM - 9:30PM
Escape Room Palm Springs
A fun and exciting team-building experience where you and your team will work together to achieve a common goal, and in doing so, bond, strengthen your relationships and improve communication and teamwork. Each game is 60-minutes in length and includes an orientation and debriefing after each game. Who will escape first?
The Escape Room will be offering a special rate of $20 per attendee per game throughout the entire week of the BOOST Conference. *You must be registered for the conference and your account paid in full to register your team for an escape room experience and receive the BOOST Conference price of $20 per game. *To book an escape room experience, visit http://escapePS.com using the promo code IAMBOOST to book online OR call/text 310-850-0475 and mention the promo code IAMBOOST to book by phone. Credit card payments preferred.
*Space is limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Room Palm Springs is located at 2500 North Palm Canyon Drive B3, Palm Springs, CA 92262. BOOSTers are responsible for their own transportation.
Pop-Up Dinners
6:30PM - 9:30PM
Meet in the Renaissance Hotel lobby
Looking for dinner plans while at the BOOST Conference? Want to meet and network with new, awesome, and like-minded BOOSTers? Join our Pop-up Dinners for just that purpose! Space is limited, please click the links below to register for a BOOST Pop-Up Dinner. *Please note that you must be registered to attend the 2021 BOOST Conference with your account paid in full in order to register for a Pop-Up Dinner.
Pop-Up Dinners TBA
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28
Breakfast with Exhibitors
7:30AM
Palm Springs Convention Center Exhibit Hall
Mingle with our exhibitors and enjoy a healthy breakfast in the Exhibit Hall. It's a great way to start your day!
BOOST Conference Orientation
7:30AM
Palm Springs Convention Center Lobby
The last BOOST Conference Orientation session will take place this morning at 7:30AM in the Palm Springs Convention Center Lobby.
BOOST Conference Attendee Promising Practices: How to Navigate the Conference and Make the Most of Your Professional Development Experience
BOOST Blood Drive with Lifestream
8:00AM - 1:00PM
Palm Springs Convention Center
Join us at BOOST and donate blood this year for a worthy cause! We are partnering with LifeStream to bring their donor truck to Palm Springs with one valued mission that we support - to help save lives by connecting donors and patients through the gift of blood.
LifeStream is a non-profit 501(c)(3) blood center founded in 1951 as the Blood Bank of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. In 2008, the organization’s name was changed to better reflect the breadth of services offered and its expanding geographical service area. Today, LifeStream provides blood products and services to more than 80 Southern California hospitals and medical facilities in six counties. To fulfill patient need, LifeStream must collect 600 blood donations daily.
Conference Opening & General Session
8:45AM - 9:45AM
2021 OSTI (Out-of-School Time Innovations) Awards
In loving memory of our friend, leader, mentor, and colleague, Mary Jo Ginty, Los Angeles County Office of Education
Mizzen by Mott: Powering Those Who Empower Kids
How can we boost learning opportunities for the 10 million youth in afterschool programs around the country? Mizzen by Mott is a new app that provides high-quality learning content for the afterschool field. Leveraging Mott Foundation relationships with organizations like NASA and Jazz at Lincoln Center, Mizzen powers STEM learning, literacy, SEL, and 21st-century skills. From building rockets to exploring elements of improv, Mizzen activities will challenge, delight and inspire awe. Developed with and for afterschool professionals, Mizzen also features Pro Tips and tools. And, through support from the Mott Foundation, it’s free to afterschool professionals. Join us to learn about Mizzen and help shape the future of afterschool!
BOOST Break with Exhibitors & Meet the Authors
9:45AM - 10:15AM
Join your colleagues in the Exhibit Hall for networking and lots of awesome raffle prizes! Mingle with Exhibitors and have the opportunity to learn about the latest resources, curriculum, and services to enhance your program. See your conference program for the Meet the Authors schedule.
Lunch & GENERAL SESSION
12:30PM - 1:30PM
Palm Springs Convention Center
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, MD, MPH, FAAP
Dr. Nadine Burke Harris is an award-winning physician, researcher, and advocate dedicated to changing the way our society responds to one of the most serious, expensive and widespread public health crises of our time: childhood trauma. She was appointed as California’s first-ever Surgeon General by Governor Gavin Newsom in January 2019. Her career has been dedicated to serving vulnerable communities and combating the root causes of health disparities. She is the Founder of the Center for Youth Wellness, an organization leading the effort to advance pediatric medicine, raise public awareness, and transform the way society responds to children exposed to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and toxic stress. Dr. Burke Harris’ TED Talk, “How Childhood Trauma Affects Health Across the Lifetime” has been viewed more than 6 million times. Her book “The Deepest Well: Healing the Long-Term Effects of Childhood Adversity” was called “indispensable” by The New York Times. She is the recipient of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism in Medicine Award presented by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Heinz Award for the Human Condition. Click here to learn more about Dr. Nadine Burke Harris.
Do you have a question for Dr. Nadine Burke Harris that you would like addressed during her keynote at the BOOST Conference? The BOOST Leadership Team will be choosing relevant and thoughtful submissions to guide Dr. Burke Harris' keynote address on Wednesday, April 28. Submit your question here by April 1, 2021.
BOOST Break with Exhibitors & Meet the Authors
1:30PM - 2:30PM
Join your colleagues in the Exhibit Hall for snacks, networking, and lots of awesome raffle prizes! Mingle with Exhibitors and have the opportunity to learn about the latest resources, curriculum, and services to enhance your program. See your conference program for the Meet the Authors schedule.
BOOST Live Networking Reception
4:45PM - 6:00PM
GeminelleDuck Duck BOOST Relay Race
6:00PM
Renaissance Hotel Pool
Oh yes, it’s a new twist on the classic Duck Race! Get your ducks in a row and cheer on our duck racers in the Duck Duck BOOST Relay Race in the pool! Who will be the lucky duck?!
There are two ways to participate:
1. Duck Duck BOOST racing team fundraiser
Duck Duck BOOST is a fundraiser for the BOOST Conference Scholarship Fund. This fund was developed in order to provide financial assistance for a lucky duck to attend next year's conference. We are looking for 4 teams of 3 people to hop in the pool and splash to the finish. Duck Duck BOOST team members get extra exposure for their organizations and compete for a year’s worth of bragging rights. Each Duck Duck BOOST team will receive (1) social media recognition, including logos from each team member’s organization as well as promotion in (1) Conference Newsletter.
This event costs $300 per team and is held immediately following the BOOST Live Reception at the Renaissance pool. Get your team together and enter the race, we can't wait to watch you win!
Register your Duck Duck BOOST racing team here.
2. Bid on your favorite Duck Duck BOOST racing team for our 50/50 raffle
Duck Duck BOOST is also 50/50 fundraiser. Attendees can bid on their favorite duck racing team - 50% of the collected funds go towards the scholarship fund and 50% goes to the winning ticket holder. $5 BUCKS PER DUCK (cash only)! The race starts at 6PM at the Renaissance Hotel pool, go early to enter the raffle.
Questions about Duck Duck BOOST? Please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
BOOST Homecoming Party
7:00PM - 10:00PM
Rocks Lounge Terrace, Renaissance Hotel
*VIP tickets can be obtained at our Homecoming sponsor booths in the exhibit hall.
7:00PM-10:00PM - Homecoming Dance Party
9:30PM - Headphone distribution for Silent Disco ($5 for headphones, cash only and your license as collateral)
10:00PM - Silent Disco- The After Party
Homecoming Party Sponsors: Peach Jar, Inc., STEMfinity, School of Beats, DJ Walt White
THURSDAY, APRIL 29
Tour de BOOST Walk/Scavenger Hunt
6:45AM - 8:30AM
Palm Spring Convention Center, East Lawn
Join fellow BOOSTers on a fun Tour de BOOST walk and scavenger hunt around Palm Springs. This 3-mile hunt through scenic Palm Springs will lead you to some of Hollywood's most famous stars' Palm Springs getaways. Enjoy a beautiful Palm Springs morning, get some exercise, and best of all, connect with other BOOSTers as you figure out which Hollywood stars' homes you are going to visit!
All Tour de BOOST participants will meet in front of the Palm Springs Convention Center on the East Lawn. Please be prepared to complete paperwork and form your Tour de BOOST team at 6:45AM. Teams will receive their clues and start the race promptly at 7:00AM. Late arrivals cannot be accommodated. Please wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe shoes. One smartphone and Twitter account will be needed per team to complete the scavenger hunt. If you don't have your own, bring a friend! Complimentary bottled water and snacks will be provided.
All Tour de BOOST participants must pre-register for this event. To sign up, access your online BOOST registration account, select Tour de BOOST, and make your payment. To sign up at the conference, visit the BOOST Collaborative Booth (0101 & 0105) in the Exhibit Hall. $20 Tour de BOOST fees are non-refundable and all proceeds benefit our 2021 Giveback Organization.
Proceeds to benefit: FIND Food Bank
Morning Recess
7:00AM - 8:30AM
Palm Springs Convention Center, East Lawn
Get up! Wake up! Rejuvenate! Bring your friends (and meet new friends) at the Morning Recess session. Maximize your morning and set the tone for the day.
Breakfast with Exhibitors
8:00AM
Palm Springs Convention Center Exhibit Hall
Mingle with our exhibitors and enjoy a healthy breakfast in the Exhibit Hall. It’s a great way to start your day!
Opening & General Session
8:45AM - 9:45AM
Palm Springs Convention Center
Dr. Bettina Love
Dr. Love is one of the field’s most esteemed educational researchers in the area of Hip Hop education. Her research focuses on the ways in which urban youth negotiate Hip Hop music and culture to form social, cultural, and political identities to create new and sustaining ways of thinking about urban education and intersectional social justice. Her work is also concerned with how teachers and schools working with parents and communities can build communal, civically engaged schools rooted in intersectional social justice for the goal of equitable classrooms. Click here to learn more
Do you have a question for Dr. Bettina Love that you would like addressed during her keynote at the BOOST Conference? The BOOST Leadership Team will be choosing relevant and thoughtful submissions to guide Dr. Love's keynote address. Submit your question here by April 1, 2021.
Evaluation Cabana Hosted by American Institutes for Research
9:00AM - 3:00PM
Renaissance Hotel Pool
For the fifth year in a row, AIR is hosting an Evaluation Cabana where you can meet one-on-one with one of AIR’s evaluation experts to discuss program evaluation and assessment. If you have ever wondered if your program is too new to evaluate or if an outside evaluator is needed, be sure to sign up.
Register for a complimentary 40-minute time slot on Wednesday in our poolside cabana at no additional cost (must be a registered conference attendee). Space is limited to six participants. Click here to register and reserve your time slot.
Some example questions are:
- Is my program too new to evaluate? How do I know where to start?
- Should I use grades and test scores to evaluate my program?
- How many participants do I need to have data to show an impact?
- Does an outside evaluator need to conduct my evaluation?
- How do I assess social and emotional skills?
Don't let these questions limit you!
As we know, quality programming and evaluation is the result of intentional planning, sharing, and reflection. Come see us in the cabana to learn more about developing, implementing, evaluating, and improving your afterschool program.
Networking Lunch & Meet the Authors
12:00PM - 1:00PM
Lunch will be served in the exhibit hall. Grab your lunch and take this opportunity to mix and mingle with exhibitors and participate in our Meet the Authors series throughout the exhibit hall.
BOOST Break with Exhibitors & Meet the Authors
2:30PM - 3:30PM
Join your colleagues in the Exhibit Hall for snacks, networking and lots of awesome raffle prizes! Mingle with Exhibitors and have the opportunity to learn about the latest resources, curriculum, and services to enhance your program. See your conference program for the Meet the Authors schedule.
Enjoy an hour of exclusive promotions and discounts from selected vendors in our Exhibit Hall. Shop 'Til You BOOST!
VillageFest Street Fair
6:00PM - 10:00PM
Downtown Palm Springs
Locals and tourists happily mingle at the Palm Springs VillageFest held year-round every Thursday evening on Palm Canyon Drive. An open-air street fair with more than 200 booths offering live music, fresh fruit stands, artists, craftsman, unique foods, and street entertainers to charm the crowd is a must for conference-goers. Admission is free and within walking distance from all of the BOOST conference hotels!
The Palm Springs Art Museum offers free public admission every Thursday evening from 4:00PM - 8:00PM during VillageFest! The Art Museum currently has 28 galleries, five art storage vaults, two sculpture gardens, four classrooms/resource centers, a 90-seat lecture hall, the 433-seat Annenberg Theater, a Museum Store and a Café in an architecturally significant building designed by architect E. Stewart Williams at the base of Mount San Jacinto. An adjacent Administration building contains offices and a 12,000-volume Library.
THINK RED Inspire & Paint
6:00PM - 8:30PM
Date Terrace at the Renaissance Hotel
Please join us for a fun event of painting while raising funds to benefit organizations that serve the San Diego HIV & AIDS community. This fun event will be guided by a professional artist and drag queen (Xrystal), Nathan Mohle from San Diego, CA.
To sign up, access your online BOOST registration account, select Think Red Inspire & Paint, and make your payment. 100% of the proceeds go to the San Diego non-profit Think Red Project.
TICKETS- $25
Ticket includes:
• 2 hours of professional painting instruction
• Use of acrylic paints, paintbrushes, canvas, and easel
• Canvas painting project to paint and take home
Drink specials will be available for BOOST attendees participating in this special event.
Think Red Project & Red Dress Party San Diego / www.reddresspartysd.com
Karaoke Party & Talent Show at Peabody’s CafE
7:30PM - 9:30PM
Peabody's Cafe, Palm Springs
Calling all BOOST superstars! It’s time to get down and get your groove on at the BOOST Talent Show! You can bring your team, your friends, or come and find your new crew. Sit back and relax, people-watch from the sidewalk patio, or join in the karaoke party and let your talent shine! Don’t forget to wear your BOOST name badge… drink specials will be available exclusively for BOOST attendees.
*Peabody’s is located at 134 S Palm Canyon Drive in downtown Palm Springs.
Poolside Dive-In Movie (Free event!)
8:00PM - 10:00PM
Renaissance Hotel Pool
Gather poolside in a chaise lounge or on a raft in the pool and watch the film on the big screen! Drink and appetizer specials will be available. Rafts and BOOST beach towels will be available for purchase at the BOOST Booth in the Exhibit Hall on Wednesday & Thursday only.
Bohemian Rhapsody is a foot-stomping celebration of Queen, their music and their extraordinary lead singer Freddie Mercury. Freddie defied stereotypes and shattered convention to become one of the most beloved entertainers on the planet. The film traces the meteoric rise of the band through their iconic songs and revolutionary sound. They reach unparalleled success, but in an unexpected turn Freddie, surrounded by darker influences, shuns Queen in pursuit of his solo career. Having suffered greatly without the collaboration of Queen, Freddie manages to reunite with his bandmates just in time for Live Aid. While bravely facing a recent AIDS diagnosis, Freddie leads the band in one of the greatest performances in the history of rock music. Queen cements a legacy that continues to inspire outsiders, dreamers and music lovers to this day.
FRIDAY, APRIL 30
BreakFEST
7:30AM
Rocks Lounge Terrace & Poolside
It's a new twist on breakfast! Meet us poolside for a breakfast festival experience with breakfast foods, poolside yoga with a live DJ, live screenprinting, and more! Coffee and breakfast items will be available for purchase. This is the perfect opportunity to say your farewells and connect before heading to morning workshops, closing & raffle.
Live Screenprinting with Warehouse 508
Poolside Yoga with Jenny & Live DJ featuring DJ Walt White
Join Jenny poolside for an uplifting yoga class and live DJ experience featuring DJ White. This sound, mind, and body experience with inspire you throughout your day. Namaste. All levels welcome. *Bring a yoga mat or towel if you have one.
GRAB & GO BREAKFAST MENU
Breakfast Burritos $7.50
Fruit Cups $6.00
Yogurt Parfait $8.50
Assorted Pastries $5.00
Cereal Cup $3.75
Drip 16oz Coffee $4.00
Bottled Juice $4.00
Soft Drinks or Water $4.00
Closing & Raffle
11:15AM - 12:00PM
Don't miss our fun and energetic conference closing with thousands of dollars worth of raffle prizes! Get your raffle tickets at the door for a chance to win!
Extra Credit
12:00PM
You have attended workshops, networking events, met with exhibitors - now what? Take this opportunity to intentionally connect with your colleagues and begin your action planning and next steps. We have complimentary meeting space for you and your team to retreat and begin the process to focus on ideas and setting goals for the end-of-year, summer, and upcoming school year.
BOOST Golf Outing at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort
Check-in: 1:00PM
Tee Time: 1:30PM
This event hosted by Bill Fennessy, Director of Community Partnerships and Work-based Learning at Think Together.
Cost: $45
Click here to for the registration form
Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort is one of the premier public golf resorts in Palm Springs, CA. Play golf within minutes from Palm Springs International Airport, downtown nightlife, and hotels in Palm Springs. Tahquitz Canyon, nestled in the San Jacinto mountain range, will provide the framework for incredible vistas while tales of the banished shaman, Tahquitz, will keep your imagination running wild. Golf Digest recently rated Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort as “One of the Best Places to Play” for golf resorts.
The "golf package" includes 18-hole green fees, golf cart, range balls, 2 drinks, and a 15% shop discount for just $45 per player. Arrange transportation on your own, or carpool with other players. We encourage you to secure designated transportation (Uber/Lyft/Taxi) if you plan to drink. The deadline to register is April 23, 2021.
Please note: Name badges are required to attend all BOOST Conference events including meals and workshops.
