CXDT | The Eye of the Storm - Seeing Opportunities to Innovate through Tragedy with Dr. Angie Besendorfer
The 2011 Joplin, MO tornado was a catastrophic EF5 rated multiple-vortex tornado that struck late in the afternoon of May 22nd, 2011. It was the deadliest tornado to strike the US since 1947 and the seventh-deadliest overall. Reaching a maximum width of nearly 1 mile during its path, it’s devastating effects killed 158 people, injured some 1,150 others, and caused damage amounting to a total of $2.8 billion. During this time Dr. Angie Besendorfer was Assistant Superintendent of Joplin Schools. In the blink of an eye she had to institute a plan to respond and support her students, employees, and her community. However, the second challenge was how she would then lead through the aftermath. How will teachers get paid? Where will students attend school? How do we recover important files and data? How do we support people through the emotional tragedy and support them as they accept the new normal? Finally, how can we improve as we recover to be stronger and better. These were all questions that had to be addressed. On April 18th Dr. Besendorfer will share with you how she led through the Joplin crisis and share about how they put Joplin back together by holding hands with the world. She will share insight on how she now approaches the threat of tornadoes both in her work life as a leader and in her personal life.
Dr. Angie Besendorfer is the chancellor of WGU Missouri, the state’s online, competency-based university. She has spent 23 years in the field of education, implementing innovative and technology-focused learning strategies. Before joining WGU Missouri, Besendorfer was the assistant superintendent of Joplin Schools for eight years leading advancement in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and facilities. Her service has focused on high needs students and communities across Missouri as teacher, principal, director of special services and superintendent.
Among the innovations Besendorfer has championed is a focus on digital learning. She took the lead in the Joplin district’s recovery after an EF-5 tornado hit 10 schools. As the leader in designing and building cutting-edge new schools, Besendorfer guided the community to re-imagine high school education, questioning things like “why should it take the same number of minutes to learn algebra as biology or art appreciation?”
Besendorfer has keynoted and been a featured presenter at national and international conferences on a wide range of topics including education innovations, competency-based learning, disaster preparedness and 21st Century Education. She has served her community through chamber membership, board appointments and community organizations including Rotary.
Besendorfer is a wife and mother to two daughters and lives in Lee’s Summit, Missouri.
Date and Time
Wednesday Apr 18, 2018
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM CDT
April 18th, 2018
11:45-12:00pm
Location
Central Exchange
1020 Central
KC, MO
Fees/Admission
$0.00 Members
$35.00 Non-Members
Contact Information
Kaylah Perry
Send Email