Connecting Bridges Leaders
The 2026 Virtual Leadership Institute (VLI) is a three day professional learning experience for Bridges® instructional leaders focused on strengthening implementation through shared learning, practical strategies, and meaningful connection.
Learn Together.
Lead Together.
Whether you’re sustaining a Bridges adoption or just getting started, VLI is designed to help you by building the habits, practices, and systems that support strong instruction.
Register today!
June 23–25, 2026
Online via Zoom
$275 per person
Limited to 300 participants
Grounded in expertise
The Virtual Leadership Institute brings together Bridges leaders from across the country to learn with and from one another, and from experts in the field. VLI is designed for district and school administrators, instructional leaders and coaches, and educators supporting Bridges implementation.
From inspiration to implementation.
Participants can choose from over 20 interactive sessions focused on Bridges implementation, including:
Implementing Bridges with integrity.
Developing and enacting a shared vision of instruction.
Planning effectively for high-quality instruction.
Understanding how students learn in a Bridges classroom.
Keynote Speakers
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Victoria Jacobs
ENRICHING PROBLEM-SOLVING CONVERSATIONS WITH “INSIDE” QUESTIONS
Vicki Jacobs is the Yopp Distinguished Professor of Mathematics Education at the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Through her research, Vicki hopes to make mathematics classes places where children and teachers enjoy exploring mathematics and where sensemaking is valued. Multiple strategies are encouraged, and lessons are vibrant spaces full of mathematical talk. -
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Nicole Garcia
GENERATIVE COACHING CONVERSATIONS: HELPING TEACHERS HEAR FEEDBACK AND IMPROVE PRACTICE
Nicole Garcia is the Associate Director of TeachingWorks and a Lecturer in Teacher Education at the University of Michigan. Her work focuses on the design and implementation of practice-based approaches to the professional development and training of K-12 teachers, with a focus on mathematics teaching and learning. -
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Meghan Shaughnessy
GENERATIVE COACHING CONVERSATIONS: HELPING TEACHERS HEAR FEEDBACK AND IMPROVE PRACTICE
Dr. Meghan Shaughnessy is an assistant professor of mathematics education at Boston University. Her research focuses on equitable mathematics instruction, specifically approaches to supporting the professional learning of teachers, from initial training to advanced practices.
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DeAnn Huinker
MATH LEARNING TRAJECTORIES: UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPMENTAL WORLD OF YOUNG LEARNERS
DeAnn Huinker is a professor of mathematics education in the Department of Teaching and Learning and directs the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Center for Mathematics and Science Education Research (CMSER). Dr. Huinker teaches courses in mathematics education with emphasis on current issues, and practices in the teaching and learning of mathematics at the early childhood, elementary, and middle school levels.
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Melissa Hedges
MATH LEARNING TRAJECTORIES: UNDERSTANDING THE DEVELOPMENTAL WORLD OF YOUNG LEARNERS
Dr. Melissa Hedges is a curriculum specialist who supports K-5 and K-8 schools for the Milwaukee Public Schools.
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Mike Steele
PACING DISCOURSE-RICH LESSONS
Mike Steele is a math education researcher focused on teacher knowledge and teacher learning. He is the Past President of the Association of Mathematics Teacher Educators, Editor in Chief of the journal Mathematics Teacher Educator, and member of the NCTM Board of Directors.
Your questions, answered.
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The Virtual Leadership Institute is designed for coaches, curriculum specialists, grade level teacher leaders, administrators, interventionists, and district leaders supporting the implementation of Bridges in Mathematics.
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Attendees will learn productive and practical practices for supporting the implementation of Bridges in Mathematics and receive virtual access to all of the sessions from the institute for professional learning purposes for 6 months.
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Attendees who participate in the Virtual Leadership Institute synchronously have the opportunity to attend up to 16 hours of training. Recordings of all of the sessions will also be available for participants to view asynchronously on the Whova platform.
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To register for the Virtual Leadership Institute (VLI) open this link and follow the prompts. Note that you will need to create an account if you, your school, or district do not already have one established.
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Yes. When you purchase registrations on the MLC’s online store, you have the option to add multiple attendee names.
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Yes. While there is no cap on the number of participants for any individual session, we ask VLI attendees to register for individual sessions on the Whova platform to ensure facilitators can prepare an appropriate number of digital resources, such as shared slides. Nearly every session will appear on the program twice, to provide flexibility for participants planning their institute experience. Once the Whova platform is launched in May, we’ll provide more information about registering for individual VLI sessions.
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If this happens, please do not complete your checkout. Email a copy of your school or district’s tax exemption certificate to mlcinfo@mathlearningcenter.org. We will work with our accounting department to update your information. Once updated, we will reach out to you about the update and any additional steps needed to complete registration.