Buckner Education LLC

🌟 Will you be in Abu Dhabi for the 6th Incluzun Summit on the 21st? 🌟

We’re thrilled to share that our founder, Joy Buckner, will be taking the stage at this year’s Incluzun Summit! 🎤✨ Joy will be joining an incredible lineup of speakers to discuss inclusive practices and share evidence-based tools, strategies, and technologies designed to support the diverse needs of learners.

This summit is a fantastic opportunity to connect with passionate educators, leaders, and practitioners dedicated to creating equitable and accessible learning environments. 💡🌍
👉🏽 Spaces are limited, so don’t wait—request your spot today:

https://forms.gle/TLDdUrQL3EGsMWXS7Incluzun

We’re excited to connect with you, exchange ideas, and collaborate on making inclusion the standard! ✨🤝🏽

🌟 Ending 2024 on a High Note! 🌟

Earlier this week, I had the absolute pleasure of spending my final training day of 2024 with the amazing staff at Dubai International Private School (Al Quoz Branch).

Professional development leading into an extended holiday like Winter Break is a bit like a box of chocolates 🍫—you never know what you’re going to get. Let’s be real: teachers are tired, the holidays are calling, and workshops might be the last thing on their minds. But this energetic bunch proved me wrong in the best way possible!

They dove into our workshop on Visible Thinking and Measuring Progress with both feet, bringing enthusiasm, curiosity, and collaboration to the table. It was truly inspiring to see their commitment to growth and their students, even in the home stretch of the year. 🙌🏾✨

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Akram Zayour and Deborah Anne Mustafa for your leadership and for welcoming me into your school for this incredible session, and of course for your guidance and support in making this session happen. Your collaboration and vision truly made this workshop impactful. 💡

Another big shoutout to the amazing team at Panworld Education for making this workshop possible and for your continued partnership. 👏🏾

Here’s to educators who never stop learning and growing! Cheers to the holiday break you’ve all earned and the difference you’ll continue to make in 2025. 🏔️❄️☕

👉🏾 What professional development experiences have left a lasting impact on you? I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!

Wishing everyone a restful and rejuvenating Winter Break! ❄️✨🛋️

🌟 Let’s Talk Neurodiversity! 🌟

I’m so excited to announce the launch of The Joy of Neurodiversity podcast is just around the corner! 🎉✨

This podcast is dedicated to celebrating the beauty, creativity, and strength that neurodivergent thinkers bring to the world. 🧠

💡 Through authentic conversations and inspiring stories, my mission is to shift perspectives, foster understanding, and uplift the voices of neurodiverse individuals. Together, we’ll explore how embracing our unique minds can unlock incredible potential and joy. 💖

While I already have some amazing guests lined up 🎙️, I’m casting the net wider and looking for others who are ready to share their journey. Whether you’ve found power in your neurodivergence, overcome challenges, or have wisdom to share, I’d love to hear your story! 💬✨

If you’re interested in being a guest on an episode, please complete the interest form using the link below or send me a DM. Your story could inspire countless others to embrace their unique gifts. 🌈

Let’s shine a light on the JOY that neurodiversity brings! 🌟

Together, we can empower, educate, and create a world where every mind is celebrated. 🙌🏽

📥 Link to interest form: ​​https://forms.gle/YErUH8bG3FiHQAsx6
💌 DM me if you’d like more details!

I can’t wait to start this journey with all of you. Stay tuned for updates and sneak peeks! 🎧💖

🌍✨ Advancing Equity and Inclusion at the 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress ✨🌍

Last week, our founder had the privilege of attending the 3rd UNESCO World OER Congress at the World Trade Center, where the focus was on Digital Public Goods: Open Solutions and AI for Inclusive Access to Knowledge.

As a guest of the inspiring Dr. Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, she had the opportunity to hear her speak on a powerful panel addressing Harnessing OER and Generative AI for Digital Inclusion. Topics included:

🌟 Open Solutions for Gender Parity
🌟 AI for Good and Standardization of Digital Inclusion
🌟 Open AI and Language Inclusion

It was incredible to learn from industry leaders like Kevin Chan, Director for Global Policy Strategies at Meta Platforms in Canada, and Seizo Onoe, Director of the Telecommunication Standardization Bureau, alongside Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka. Their insights into leveraging AI for equity and access reinforced how innovation can drive meaningful change. 💻🌍

At Buckner Education, we are committed to advancing inclusive education for all learners. Seeing how AI can promote inclusion—whether through fostering language access, creating opportunities for underserved populations, or standardizing digital tools—reminds us why this work is so critical.

A heartfelt thank you to Dr. Mlambo-Ngcuka for the opportunity to champion the causes we hold dear and for her ongoing mentorship of our founder. Her leadership continues to inspire the work we do at Buckner Education every day. 🙏🏾💐
What excites you most about the future of AI and digital inclusion? Let us know in the comments!

🚀 What a Day at the ! 📚✨

Yesterday was truly one for the books! 🖊️ Sharing my keynote on Neurodiversity and my journey as a student with Dyslexia was a humbling moment that reminded me why we do this work. 💡 Connecting with passionate educators from across the UAE was the cherry on top 🍒—their drive to create transformative change in literacy is nothing short of inspiring! 🙌🏽

A huge thank you to Leisa and the incredible Teach Middle East team for hosting me. 🌟 To everyone who stopped by to chat, your kind words and insights made the day unforgettable. 💬💛

The passion in the room yesterday was palpable, and I can’t wait to share more reflections soon. Stay tuned for insights and takeaways that you won’t want to miss! 🎤📝

Let’s keep championing literacy and inclusivity together! 💪🏽✨



🖼️ Drop your favorite moment or takeaway from the conference below! ⬇️ Let’s keep the conversation going! 🗣️

📢 Exciting News from Buckner Education!

Our founder, Joy Buckner, will be delivering a Keynote Speech at the upcoming Middle East Language and Literacy Conference! 🙌🏾

Joy’s keynote will dive into her personal literacy journey as a neurodivergent learner, sharing powerful lessons and strategies she’s discovered along the way. Her mission is to challenge misconceptions about dyslexia and inspire educators to embrace the beauty of diverse minds in the classroom. 🌟📚

This event is a wonderful opportunity to connect with passionate educators, and we’re looking forward to seeing some familiar faces and meeting new ones. If you’re attending, be sure to stop by and say hello—we’d love to connect with you! 💬✨

A special thank you to Leisa Grace and the incredible Teach Middle East team for inviting Joy to share her story and insights with this inspiring community.

✨ At Buckner Education, we champion any work that sheds light on dyslexia and neurodiversity, and Onyinye Udokporo’s Dyslexia and Me does just that with remarkable authenticity. 📚

We’re thrilled to support a story that resonates so deeply with our mission and values, especially as it highlights the experience of a woman of color navigating her journey with dyslexia. Stories like Onyinye’s foster understanding and bring greater visibility to the challenges and strengths of neurodiverse individuals. 🌟

We encourage our community to explore this book and celebrate voices that make a difference in education. Together, let’s keep opening doors to awareness and inclusion. 🙌🏾

✨ What an unforgettable experience in Al Ain! ✨

Our founder, Joy, had the pleasure of facilitating an unforgettable workshop in Al Ain alongside Zoubiya Ahmed from Highbright Education. Together, they engaged with an incredible group of passionate teachers and leaders who brought such dedication to every moment. The passion and commitment in the room were truly inspiring.

Being in Al Ain was a beautiful reminder of the importance of stepping back, immersing ourselves in new environments, and finding that essential balance between work and life. Huge thanks to Zoubiya and the entire school community for welcoming us so warmly. Al Ain’s charm, authenticity, and warmth made this journey truly special! 🌍❤️

🌟✨ During this Festival of Lights, may your hearts be filled with joy and your homes be brightened with love. ✨🌟

May your loved ones experience the triumph of light over darkness. We hope this Diwali brings new beginnings, illuminating your path with hope, happiness, and joy, guiding you toward prosperity and peace.

Let’s embrace the spirit of unity, love, and gratitude during this special time. Wishing you a beautiful and blessed Diwali!

From the Team at Buckner Education! 🪔💖

🌟 Cultivating Student Critical Thinking through Engaging Thinking Routines 🌟

Buckner Education, in partnership with Pan World Education, recently led a workshop with the dedicated teachers at Dubai International Private School Garhoud, focusing on Thinking Routines inspired by Harvard's Project Zero. The commitment of these educators to fostering critical thinking was truly inspiring!

This interactive session provided practical insights on embedding core thinking routines into daily classroom practices, equipping teachers with powerful tools to deepen student learning and understanding. A special thank you to the leadership team at DIPS Garhoud for their dedication to teacher development and their commitment to creating enriched learning experiences for students.

We’re excited to see how these impactful strategies will shape classroom learning in the months to come! What are your favorite thinking routines? Let’s keep the conversation going in the comments! 💬👇🏽

🎉 Celebrating 4 Years of Buckner Education! 🎉

October 9th marked a truly special milestone—four years since Buckner Education began its journey! Time has flown by, yet each year has been filled with remarkable growth, challenges, and achievements. Leading Buckner Education has been one of the most challenging yet rewarding experiences. The insights, partnerships, and transformations have been beyond anything we could have envisioned.

Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this journey—your support and dedication make all the difference. Here’s to many more years of impact, learning, and shared success! 🌟

🎮✨ Empowering Minds, One Door at a Time! ✨🎮

I was consulting in a school in Dubai today, and THIS door stopped me in my tracks! 🚪🌟 It’s a beautiful reminder to our students that, like a game controller, they have the power to direct what truly matters—their words, choices, actions, thoughts, feelings, and boundaries. 🎮💡

In a world where so much feels out of control, we’re teaching students the most valuable life lesson: Focus on what’s within your reach. 💭💪🏾 By mastering their inner world, they gain the strength to navigate everything outside of them with confidence and resilience. 🌱🧠

And let this be a reminder to teachers and leaders, too. 💡 As educators, we often carry the weight of so much beyond our control. But just like our students, we must focus on what we can manage—our influence, our ability to inspire, and how we show up each day for the young minds in our care. 🌟✊🏾

Imagine the possibilities when both students and educators embrace this mindset! 💥 Together, we create environments where growth, compassion, and self-awareness thrive. 🌍💫

Let’s keep reminding each other of the power we hold within! 🙌🏾 How do you help your students (or yourself) stay grounded in what’s controllable?

Drop a comment below and let’s spark some inspiration! 🚀👇🏾

🎙️ So many of you have asked for the recording of my Women Wise podcast episode from last Wednesday, and I'm excited to share it with you all! This podcast was such a fantastic way to raise awareness about Dyslexia, and I truly hope it’s the first of many conversations I’ll have about normalizing speaking openly about neurodivergence. We have so much to share with the world, and it's time we embrace those unique perspectives! 💡

Huge thanks to Sara and Janine for being fabulous hosts—had such a great time chatting with you both! 💛✨ I’d love for you all to give it a listen, and let me know what you think in the comments below! 👇🏾

Follow the link to listen: https://youtu.be/9nKwIdMew6c?feature=shared

As we wrap up Dyslexia Awareness Week, let’s set the record straight! 👋🏾 I’m the face of Dyslexia, but I’m not…

I’m not confused. ❌

I’m not lazy. ❌

I’m not “just bad at reading.” ❌

I’m not looking for sympathy. ❌

I’m not “going to grow out of it.” ❌

Let’s bust some myths, shall we? 💥

💡 Myth: Dyslexia is just about mixing up letters.
Reality: It’s a whole lot more complex than that! Dyslexia affects how we process language, but trust me, we’ve got some superpowers to make up for it. 💪🏾

💡 Myth: People with dyslexia aren’t smart.
Reality: Excuse me?! We’re thinkers, innovators, and creators. Ever heard of Albert Einstein? Steve Jobs? Yeah, we’re in good company. 😉

💡 Myth: Dyslexia can be cured.
Reality: Nope, it’s not a disease! We don’t need curing; we need understanding and support. 🧠

💡 Myth: Dyslexia is rare.
Reality: Actually, about 1 in 5 people have it! We’re everywhere, and we’re changing the world,
one creative idea at a time. 🌎✨

Want to know more amazing people who are dyslexic/neurodivergent? Drop a comment below! 👇🏾 I promise we’re a fun crowd. 😎

We had a wonderful and impactful session with the KG2 - Grade 2 teachers at Al Riyadh Charter School in Abu Dhabi, focusing on assessments for Guided Reading. Their dedication to enhancing student literacy is truly inspiring, and the passion, curiosity, and commitment they bring to their work is evident. Over the next two weeks, we will continue to explore deeper strategies that will further enrich their guided reading practices and elevate student outcomes.

At Buckner Education, we value the opportunity to collaborate with educators who are eager to grow and refine their craft. We’re excited to see the lasting impact these teachers will have in their classrooms! 🌱📖

Educators, what are your favorite strategies for assessing progress in guided reading? Share your insights and tips below! Let’s continue learning together.

⏳ Just under an hour until podcast time, and I'm podcast ready—are you? 🎙️ We'd love to have you join us as we celebrate the "Joys" of Neurodivergence, and I share my personal journey with Dyslexia.

Don't miss out—follow the link below to register and listen in! 👇🏽

https://streamyard.com/watch/7P6H6gQB9qxu