2026 Engage Learning Conference

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 206

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Join us for a collaborative exploration of how generative AI is reshaping the educational landscape. This session will focus on the "human-in-the-loop" philosophy. You will learn how to write prompts that maintain your professional voice while scaling your impact - from differentiated instruction to data-driven decision making.

Speakers

Drew Jackson

Technology Coordinator - MBHS, Mountain Brook Schools

I was a Mathematics teacher for 8 years at Mountain Brook Junior High. After that, I was honored to accept a position as Assistant Principal at Shades Valley High School for 2 years. Now, for the last three years, I have been the technology coordinator for Mountain Brook High... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 206

Educational Technology

9:45am CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKERS: The Savvy Playbook: Leadership Moves That Actually Work (Panel) (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Library

What does it take to teach, learn, and lead in one of the most disruptive eras in education? Join ISTE CEO Richard Culatta as he moderates an honest conversation with the co-authors of The Savvy EdTech Leader. In this engaging, story-rich session, nationally recognized edtech leaders share real-world lessons from navigating complexity, driving innovation, and leading through constant change. Expect candid insights, practical strategies, and leadership moves you can apply immediately to thrive in today’s evolving K–12 landscape. Walk away with lessons that go beyond frameworks and lead to practice with impact.

Speakers

Sheryl Abshire

Sheryl is the recently retired Chief Technology Officer for the Calcasieu Parish Public Schools in Lake Charles, Louisiana where she built and led the district’s innovative technology department for over 20 years. She has served as a catalyst for technology integration throughout... Read More →

Richard Cullatta

CEO, ISTE+ASCD

Richard Culatta is an internationally recognized innovator and learning designer. As the CEO of ISTE+ASCD, Culatta is focused on supporting education changemakers to create equitable and engaging learning experiences for students around the world.Prior to joining ISTE+ASCD, Culatta... Read More →

Diane Doersch

Director of Technology for Verizon Innovative Learning Schools, Digital Promise

Diane W. Doersch is the Director of Technology for the Verizon Innovative Learning schools (#DPVILS) program and works at Digital Promise. She was formerly a Chief Technology & Information Officer of a large Wisconsin School District. As a former teacher, she has been involved in... Read More →

Donna Williamson

Project Director, CoSN

Donna Williamson has made a significant impact in the field of educational technology with her extensive experience and numerous leadership roles. Beginning her career as a technology leader and teacher, she later served as the Technology Director (CTO) for Mountain Brook Schools... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Library

Educational Technology

9:45am CDT

Student Engagement and 21st Century Skills and Learning in School With STEM Programs (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 217

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Educators struggle to maintain a "hook" that translates into 21st-century competencies like critical thinking, collaboration, and media literacy. This session solves the "engagement cliff" by integrating storytelling and real-world application into technical tracks. We address how to use TV Broadcasting and Podcasting to give students a platform to document their FIRST Robotics or Coding journey. Furthermore, we examine how to address the gender gap through Girls Who Code and how to leverage AI and Game-Based Development to make Data Science and Networking feel like a creative endeavor rather than a chore.

Speakers

Sandra Paul

Retired Director Of Information Technology at Township of Union Public Schools

Prior to becoming a school district administrator, Sandra Paul, was a technology teacher at St. Peter and Paul High School in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands from 1993 to 1996 as well as teaching introductory technology courses for the business department at University of the Virgin... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 217

Educational Technology

9:45am CDT

Take Control with Hapara: The Basics on Boosting Student Engagement Online

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 218

Limited Capacity seats available

Discover how to leverage Hāpara to create more engaging, focused, and intentional digital learning experiences for your students. In this session, you’ll explore practical strategies for maximizing Chromebook use in your classroom while maintaining student accountability and attention. We’ll dive into key features such as sharing student links efficiently, understanding the difference between focused and filtered browsing sessions, and navigating Hāpara’s updated layout with confidence. Walk away with actionable tips and tools to streamline your workflow and keep students on track and actively learning.

Speakers

Sharon Mumm

Amy Anderson

Technology Coordinator, Crestline Elementary - Mountain Brook Schools

Amy Anderson is a professional educator and current Technology Coordinator at Crestline Elementary School, where she provides leadership for technology integration and manages instructional operations. With an Educational Specialist degree in Instructional Technology and certifications... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 218

Educational Technology

9:45am CDT

Teacher Talk: Beyond the Quiz - Kahoot! For Every Learning Moment

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

INCubator (Room 214)

Limited Capacity seats available

Join this interactive session and hear from a fellow educator as she shares tips and best practices on how to leverage Kahoot! in the classroom.

Speakers

Brandy Smith

Teacher, Hotville Middle School/Kahoot!

Brandy Smith is a 6th grade U.S. History teacher at Holtville Middle School in Elmore County, where she has taught for 12 years. She is committed to helping students engage with history and develop skills that support their learning beyond the classroom.

She and her husband, Kevin, have 13-year-old twin boys who will be entering high school this August... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
INCubator (Room 214)

Educational Technology, Student Engagement

9:45am CDT

When, How & Why: Unlocking the Writing Feedback Loop With MagicSchool

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

CT (Room 235)

Limited Capacity filling up

Join the MagicSchool AI team and explore the pedagogy behind MagicSchool's Writing Feedback Loop — when it's the right tool, how to integrate it meaningfully, and why timely feedback accelerates student growth. Participants will walk away with a practical framework for making feedback purposeful rather than perfunctory.

Speakers

Amie Cumming

Senior Account Executive, MagicSchool AI

Amie Cumming, a lifelong educator, has left an enduring mark on education throughout her illustrious career. With over two decades as a classroom teacher, she shaped countless young minds before transitioning to school and district leadership. In her role as Director of Student... Read More →

Elise Seymour

Senior Solutions Architect, MagicSchool AI

Elise Seymour is a Senior Solutions Architect at MagicSchool AI, where they focus on driving innovation in the SaaS education space. Previously, Elise served as the Regional Director of Educational Partnerships at RethinkEd and held various roles within the organization, including... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
CT (Room 235)

Educational Technology, Student Engagement

9:45am CDT

Many Ages, All at Once: Supporting Asynchronous Development in Gifted Learners (Grades K-8)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 221

Limited Capacity seats available

Join us for "Many Ages, All at Once: Supporting Asynchronous Development in Gifted Learners," a 30‑minute session that explains why gifted students can show advanced thinking alongside lagging skills in other areas. Participants will explore the neuroscience behind brain development timing and learn to recognize asynchronous development in gifted students. Leave this session with classroom-ready strategies to support uneven growth across cognitive, emotional, executive, social, creative, and motor domains.

Speakers

KATIE MEYERPETER

Beth Freeman

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 221

Instructional Design

9:45am CDT

Math as a Language: Facilitate Learning Through the 8 Student Mathematical Practices (Grades K -5)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 219

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Our purpose is to help guide mathematics instruction by treating math as a language — explicitly teaching vocabulary, making time for math discussions, and routines that make the eight Standards for Mathematical Practice effective to mathematicians of any age! Attendees will leave with real classroom examples of implementation and ready-to-use guides to help students explain, reason, and generalize with confidence.

Speakers

Anna Gray Joyner

Becca Pigg

Second Grade Teacher, Crestline Elementary

Becca Pigg is a 12-year educator who currently teaches second grade. She has had experience with teaching first and third grades as well. With a Master’s in Education with a focus in Elementary Education and background in working with many students in inclusion classroom and struggling... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 219

Instructional Design

9:45am CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: Make Excellence the Norm: Strengthening Tier I Instruction Across Every Classroom (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Band Room

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Make Excellence the Norm is an energizing, classroom-centered session focused on strengthening Tier I instruction so more students succeed the first time. Grounded in research form high-performing schools and filled with real examples from everyday classrooms, this session explores what it takes to align expectations, sharpen practice, and create consistency across teams.

Speakers

Allyson Apsey

Director of Client Relations, Creative Leadership Solutions

Allyson Apsey has been an award-winning principal and passionate educator for over 27 years. Having served as a teacher and principal at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, she has a unique perspective on the full spectrum of student development and school improvement... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Band Room

Instructional Design

9:45am CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: Teach Thinking, Not Tactics (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 207

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This session explores strategies for helping students learn how to think rather than just what to do. Participants will discover ways to design lessons that promote critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and independent decision-making, equipping students to apply knowledge in any context.

Speakers

Mark Gibson

Assistant Principal, Smyrna Primary School

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 207

Instructional Design

9:45am CDT

Using Building Thinking Classrooms in Grades K-2

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 204

Limited Capacity filling up

This session will inform and empower early elementary teachers in using the structures and routines developed in Peter Liljedahl's book, Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics. Teachers might think that the problem solving, routines, and structures described in Building Thinking Classrooms work best in upper grades; however, participants will see how K-2 students can benefit tremendously from tackling rigorous problems on whiteboards in collaborative groups. Participants will see how students grow in their ability to problem solve, persevere, and apply math concepts and skills. Students also learn to share, to work well together, and to have productive mathematical discussions. Participants will experience the problem-solving process using the routines and structures described in the book, gain access to Building Thinking Classroom lessons created by teachers and math coaches, and learn how to begin using these lessons in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Shannon Millhouse

Jill Vaughan

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 204

Instructional Design

9:45am CDT

Anywhere But School: Gaining Insights from Other Industries (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 118

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

The Power of Cognitive Disinhibition
Cognitive Disinhibition is a pretty fancy term for actively refusing to focus on one thing. We’ve come to believe the secret to building better schools is in studying anything but schools. This session is focused on some structures we’re developing and insights we’ve gained to unlock our own potential by finding inspiration in everything from beekeeping to musical production.

Speakers

Nathan Pitner

Ashely Crossno

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 118

Leadership

9:45am CDT

Bridging the Gaps: Engaging Communities for Lifelong Learning (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 101

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will explore innovative approaches to community engagement through educational initiatives. Strategies and resources will address how to increase meeting the needs of diverse populations. This presentation will provide practical strategies for educators, administrators, and community leaders to effectively connect with underrepresented groups, cultivate partnerships, and create programs that resonate with community members. Participants will leave with actionable steps to design inclusive, relevant, and sustainable educational programs that promote lifelong learning and foster stronger community ties. With the rapid pace of societal change, community education plays a pivotal role in ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities for all age groups. This session will equip participants with the tools and knowledge to make education more accessible and impactful within their communities. By addressing educational disparities, fostering partnerships, and designing inclusive programs, attendees will be able to create sustainable initiatives that promote lifelong learning and community engagement.

Speakers

TOYAL MCLAIN

Assistant Principal, P.D. Jackson Olin High School

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 101

Leadership

9:45am CDT

From Behavior to Brain: Understanding and Supporting Student Regulation (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 220

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

What if the behaviors that frustrate you most are actually predictable—and changeable—once you understand the brain behind them? Join us for an engaging session designed to equip educators with a practical, neuroscience-informed understanding of how brain development and regulation directly influence behavior, emotional regulation, and overall student well-being.

This session integrates current research in brain development with applied insights from QEEG (quantitative electroencephalography) neurofeedback. The goal is to help educators move beyond surface-level behavior management and toward a deeper understanding of why students behave the way they do—and what can be done to support more regulated, engaged learning environments.

Speakers

Katie Chapman

Alice Churnock

Owner, Board Certified in Neurofeedback, BrainCore of Birmingham

With more than twenty years of experience in the counseling realm with adolescents, Alice recognized the need for clients of all ages, to have an alternative to medication for the symptoms of focus and attention, anxiety, mood and sleep difficulties. She brought the first QEEG neurofeedback... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 220

Professional Learning

9:45am CDT

Leading with Love: The Power of Care, Connection, and Consistency (Grades 9-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 107

Limited Capacity seats available

What if the key to higher achievement isn’t more pressure—but more connection?

This engaging session explores the powerful link between students’ social-emotional well-being and academic success. Grounded in research and real-world practice, participants will examine how emotional safety, positive relationships, and intentional “love-first” leadership create classrooms where students thrive.

Through interactive activities like relationship mapping, case studies, and strategy modeling, attendees will gain practical tools to build emotionally safe, high-expectation learning environments. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to increase engagement, reduce behavioral challenges, and strengthen school culture—ready to immediately apply what they’ve learned.

Speakers

Victoria Segres-Davis

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 107

Student Engagement

9:45am CDT

Leading Without Burning Out: Strategies for Building Capacity and Multiplying Leadership (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT

Room 114

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Stop doing it all and start multiplying your impact. True sustainable leadership comes from empowering others, not taking on more yourself. When leaders focus on building capacity and multiplying talent, they prevent burnout, strengthen teams, and create lasting impact. In this session, you will learn how to increase impact without increasing stress through interactive activities and proven multiplier leadership strategies. Drawing on insights from Liz Wiseman’s "Multipliers," you will gain practical tools to unlock team potential, build capacity, and lead sustainably–all while protecting your own capacity and avoiding burnout.

Speakers

Angelin Ponraj

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am CDT
Room 114

Wellness and Wellbeing

9:45am CDT

From Classroom to TED Stage: Amplify Your Ideas and Your Students' Voices

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 11:45am CDT

Black Box

Limited Capacity seats available

Please note this is a two-hour session.

TED is coming to the Engage Conference and bringing a film crew! Join the TED-Ed team and learn how you can create a TED-style talk and be a TEDx speaker. During this session, you will have the opportunity to be a part of a special video filmed and created by the TED team to be highlighted on the main TED stage. You will interact and learn from previous TEDxYouth@MBJH speakers and team members and discover how your "ideas can change everything".

Participants will have an opportunity to learn presentation skills, develop their own talk, Step into a one-of-a-kind professional learning experience with The Idea Workshop, led by the team from TED-Ed. Designed for educators, this highly interactive session guides participants through the powerful process behind crafting, refining, and sharing ideas that matter.

Rooted in the storytelling framework used in TED Talks, The Idea Workshop helps you uncover your core message, clarify your thinking, and shape ideas into compelling, meaningful narratives that resonate with others. Along the way, you’ll engage in reflection, collaboration, and practical exercises that build confidence in communicating ideas with purpose and impact.

Participants will also experience student talks and explore how to support students in developing stronger ideas and communicating them effectively. This exclusive ENGAGE experience offers a rare opportunity to learn directly from the TED-Ed team—and to walk away with not just inspiration, but practical strategies to elevate student voice and storytelling in your classroom.

Speakers

Athena Lao

Senior Program Manager, TED-Ed

Athena Lao is a Senior Program Manager at TED-Ed, where she co-leads the development of a global professional learning program supporting educators in sharing their best ideas with the world. Her career spans teaching, college counseling, consulting for school districts and nonprofits... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 9:45am - 11:45am CDT
Black Box

Instructional Design, Student Engagement

10:50am CDT

Upgraded Eduvision Features – Embedded Quizzes, AI Integration, Screen Capture, and Interactive Tutorials (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:05am CDT

Math Lab

Limited Capacity seats available

Eduvision has heard your feedback and has released new features to enhance instructional video usage in your classrooms. Come learn about the new embedded quizzes (similar to EdPuzzle) and how you can harness built-in AI power to generate questions at appropriate points in your video in seconds! You can also create helpful interactive, step-by-step tutorials in their latest Screen Capture and Tutor Pro features.

Speakers

Amy Anderson

Technology Coordinator, Crestline Elementary - Mountain Brook Schools

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:05am CDT
Math Lab

Educational Technology

10:50am CDT

From Draft to Done: Using Writing Feedback Rooms in MagicSchool to Transform Student Writing

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

CT (Room 235)

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

The team at MagicSchool AI will take you through a hands-on deep dive into MagicSchool's Student Writing Feedback Room and Class Writing Feedback tools. Participants will experience the workflow as both teacher and student, practice setting up feedback parameters, and leave with ready-to-use classroom strategies.

Speakers

Amie Cumming

Senior Account Executive, MagicSchool AI

Elise Seymour

Senior Solutions Architect, MagicSchool AI

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
CT (Room 235)

Educational Technology

10:50am CDT

Kahoot! Unlock the Power of AI

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

INCubator (Room 214)

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Join this session lead by the people from Kahoot! Participants will explore Kahoot! tools that make lesson preparation more efficient, with AI-assisted creator tools, slide sync, and lecture mode.

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
INCubator (Room 214)

Educational Technology

10:50am CDT

Layering Lessons- Adding Depth and Strategies That Enhance Engagement (Grades 7-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 201

Limited Capacity filling up

The purpose of my presentation is to offer teachers quick, applicable, and engaging tools and techniques which provide a layer of depth to their lesson plans. Key takeaways will include exposure to simple methods and tools that can be integrated into lessons that teachers already utilize. The tools that I will present, when integrated, will impact teachers and students alike. Teachers will have ideas of how to integrate simple tools and techniques that can be utilized as integral formative assessments. Students will be engaged in multiple modalities and will have a more layered opportunity for learning. The presentation will be a "show and tell" of sorts.

Speakers

Michelle Holdbrooks

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 201

Educational Technology

10:50am CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKERS: The App-ocalypse Is Over: From App Chaos to Clarity (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Library

Description: Is your district overwhelmed by digital tools? Join this session to learn practical strategies for streamlining app management while safeguarding student data and aligning with curriculum goals. Discover how successful districts vet, approve, and monitor apps using transparent processes and stakeholder collaboration. From AI to ROI, leave with tools, frameworks, and guiding questions to improve your ed tech governance. Stop the app chaos and start managing with clarity, purpose, and district-wide alignment.

Speakers

Sheryl Abshire

Tim Clark

Vice President, K-12 Programs, 1 EdTech

As the Vice President of K12 Programs at 1EdTech, Dr. Tim Clark assists schools and districts in the adoption of 1EdTech standards and practices to enable interoperable digital learning ecosystems. He also provides strategic leadership for K12 in 1EdTech in collaboration with K-12... Read More →

Jeff McCoy

Chief Education Officer, ERDI

Prior to joining ERDI, Jeff was the Associate Superintendent for Academics at Greenville County Schools, the largest district in South Carolina. In this role, he spearheaded transformative initiatives in curriculum development, digital learning, and instructional leadership, impacting... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Library

Educational Technology

10:50am CDT

The MAGIC behind Reading Small Groups (Grades K-2)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 111

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In this interactive session, two kindergarten teachers share a highly effective small-group reading routine that leverages AI to create targeted decodable texts while keeping the rest of the class meaningfully engaged in literacy centers. Participants will see real classroom examples of AI-generated decodables, observe how small-group instruction is structured, and explore purposeful center activities that reinforce phonics, decoding, and comprehension skills. Attendees will leave with practical strategies, ready-to-use ideas, and confidence to integrate AI and intentional literacy centers into their own reading block.

Speakers

Mandy Mitchell

Kindergarten Teacher, Mountain Brook Schools

I am a kindergarten teacher and the creator behind a magical classroom known as "the Kingdom". I specialize in blending early literacy with hands-on learning, storytelling, and playful engagement to help young learners thrive. I love sharing creative, teacher-friendly ideas that make... Read More →

Jill Pike

K Teacher, Mountain Brook Elementary

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 111

Educational Technology

10:50am CDT

Exemplary Exit Tickets: Taking the Guess Work Out of Instruction (Grades 3-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 218

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Incorporating exit tickets into classroom practice offers a strategic approach to achieving clear instructional goals. By utilizing exit tickets, educators can gather immediate feedback on student understanding, allowing them to sort data efficiently and inform intentional planning. This method facilitates targeted instruction by highlighting areas where students excel or struggle, enabling teachers to adjust their strategies accordingly. As a professional development tool, exit tickets support continuous improvement in teaching practices, fostering an environment where data-driven decisions lead to enhanced student outcomes and more effective classroom management.

Speakers

Charity Motquin

Instructional Supervisor, Tanner High School

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 218

Instructional Design

10:50am CDT

Promoting Discourse and Productive Struggle in the Intermediate Math Classroom (Grades 3-9)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 116

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

What if real math growth happens when students are thinking out loud and productively wrestling with challenging ideas? In this engaging session, educators will explore practical, ready-to-use strategies that foster rich mathematical discourse, encourage risk-taking, and normalize struggle as part of learning. Through modeled routines and classroom-tested protocols, participants will gain concrete tools to shift the focus from answer-getting to reasoning, justification, and collaboration. Leave ready to build a math culture in which perseverance and deep thinking drive achievement.

Speakers

Catherine Byram

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 116

Instructional Design

10:50am CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKERS: Less Talk, More Action: Connecting Results to Practices (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Band Room

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

We often experience lots of talk about academic improvement, and ideas are tossed around as possible steps to address the problem, and then…nothing happens. We dive into new initiatives only to have them fizzle quickly when the next round moves in. It is time for less talk and more action. By using a three-step model of Challenge-Practice-Results for professional learning, we link student results to educator practices.

Participants will explore the concept of “Try-In instead of Buy-In,” learning how changes in beliefs follow experience, not persuasion. We will discuss the difference between clinical research and classroom-based action research and how educators can systematically test strategies in real time to improve learning, behavior, and attendance. Using real scenarios and real-time data, participants will identify a specific student challenge, select an aligned instructional or organizational practice, and determine measurable indicators of success.

Throughout the session, participants will actively engage in collaborative problem-solving, structured data analysis, and planning conversations modeled after effective PLCs, They will also leave with a completed sample implementation template and a drafted action plan ready to use in their classroom, school, or district.

Key takeaways include:
• Understanding how action research differs from traditional initiatives
• Using “Try-In” experiences to shift beliefs and practices
• Linking student outcomes directly to educator actions
• Identifying measurable indicators of success before implementation
• Leaving with a ready-to-implement action plan and template

The 3-step model of Challenge – Practice – Results increases teacher collective efficacy, strengthens PLC conversations, and leads to sustainable improvement because practices, not programs, become the driver of results.

Speakers

Emily Freeland

Director of Development, Creative Leadership Solutions

Emily Freeland, Ed.D. has over thirty-two years of experience, including administrative positions at the state, district, and school levels, as well as teaching science. Much of her work has been concentrated in schools identified as underperforming, where she supported the implementation... Read More →

Allyson Apsey

Director of Client Relations, Creative Leadership Solutions

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Band Room

Instructional Design

10:50am CDT

10 C’s of Leadership (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 220

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

A session dedicated to discussing and identifying the 10 C’s of Leadership. This presentation is not just for current or aspiring administrators - it is for anyone that “leads” students or staff.

Speakers

Wade Whitney

Education Consultant - Alabama, Performance Based Education Company

My name is Wade Whitney - I am an Educational Consultant with the Performance Based Education Company, based out of Starkville, Mississippi. PBEC is a well-respected professional development company that is currently supporting approximately 300 schools in both Alabama and Mississippi... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 220

Leadership

10:50am CDT

Parents Are Not Scary (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 206

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Don't be afraid to send that email! Borrowing ideas from public relations, psychology, and personal experiences as the parent of two children with learning differences, this session will focus on practical strategies to promote parent engagement, build rapport, and turn would-be adversaries into allies. Learn how to "win" open house, deal with conflict, and partner with parents in a manner that is collaborative not confrontational.

Speakers

Jill Wiggins

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 206

Professional Learning

10:50am CDT

UKE Can Do It! Building Community through Music Literacy in the K-6 Classroom

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 104

Limited Capacity seats available

This session aims to showcase the multitude of ways community can not only be taught, but experienced and ENSTILLED through engaging musical lessons that build from Kindergarten, all the way to fifth and sixth grade. Get ready to get up, get moving, sing, dance, and play through the lens of a general music classroom as we not only learn music, but EXPERIENCE it and all of the delicious hidden gems that come along!

Speakers

Tyler Pilz

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 104

Student Engagement

10:50am CDT

Engaged Faculty: Practicing With Our Faculty What We Preach To Our Faculty (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 208

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Administrators dedicate energy to ensuring instructional engagement for students—this session flips the lens to explore how we can intentionally design an engaging workplace for teachers. We'll translate student-engagement principles (attentiveness, commitment, persistence, meaningfulness) into actionable leadership practices, examine leverage points within an administrator’s control, and surface strategies from research and practitioner texts (e.g., Educator Bandwidth) to increase faculty well-being and instructional capacity.

Speakers

Lars Porter

Ashely Crossno

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 208

Wellness and Wellbeing

10:50am CDT

Take Care of YOU so You Can Take Care of Others (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT

Room 221

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

The purpose of this session is to give educators 5 practical tips for physical and mental health in a world that is often draining our reserves. The intended outcome is for educators to DAILY take care of themselves in order to take care of their students and their own families.

Speakers

Brian Cain

Dr. Tara Bensinger

Tuesday June 9, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am CDT
Room 221

Wellness and Wellbeing

12:00pm CDT

Lunch and A Fireside Chat with Richard Culatta and Holly Martin (Registration/RSVP Required for Lunch)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Gym

Lunch provided by: Dell Technologies, Gaggle, and Engaged Systems

Join us for lunch and a fireside chat with ISTE+ASCD CEO, Richard Culatta, and ENGAGE Conference Director, Holly Martin. This dynamic pair will discuss how educators can navigate the dueling priorities of developing future ready students, and the call for less screen time in the classroom. Richard and Holly will share perspectives, stories, and experiences, giving insight to how educators can enable students to thrive in a digital world. Additionally, audience members will have an opportunity to ask questions and engage with the speakers. Come ENGAGE in the conversation!

Speakers

Richard Cullatta

CEO, ISTE+ASCD

Sponsors

Dell

Engaged Systems

Gaggle

Tuesday June 9, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Gym

General

1:00pm CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: Leading the Whole Teacher: Creating Schools Where Educators Thrive (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Band Room

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This engaging and interactive session explores the six components of the whole teacher and practical strategies for creating a school environment where educators can truly thrive. Participants will reflect on what they need to feel connected, valued, and energized in their work - and how they can contribute to a culture that supports one another.

Speakers

Allyson Apsey

Director of Client Relations, Creative Leadership Solutions

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Band Room

Culture and Community

1:00pm CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: The Risk of Trying (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 207

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

What if students who don't try aren't unmotivated, they're just calculating risk?

Every time a student raises their hand or turns in work they care about, they're taking a risk. For many, that risk doesn't feel worth it.

This session flips how we think about "apathy" and shows what's rally going on beneath the surface. Through real stories and practical strategies, educators will learn how to make effort feel safe, valued, and worth it.

Speakers

Mark Gibson

Assistant Principal, Smyrna Primary School

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 207

Culture and Community, Student Engagement

1:00pm CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: With Purpose and Clarity: Integrating Five Essential Life Skills in Secondary Classrooms (Grades 6-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 118

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In many middle and high schools, essential life skills are treated as separate from academic instruction, addressed in advisory periods or in response to challenges. Yet adolescents develop these skills most powerfully when they are intentionally embedded within cognitively demanding and meaningful coursework.

This session supports secondary educators in integrating five high-impact essential life skills directly into their courses: growth mindset, self-discipline and self-motivation, student agency, perspective-taking, and teamwork and collaboration. Rather than adding another initiative, participants will explore how these skills can strengthen academic ownership, discourse, perseverance, and collective problem-solving across content areas.

Grounded in Resonance Education’s Integration Pathways (Physical Environment, Social Interactions, Instructional Practices, and Curricular Connections), this interactive session moves from theory to application.

Participants will:
- Analyze a course through the Integration Pathways lens
- Identify 3–4 priority essential life skills aligned to their content area and grade level
- Design a front-load and reflection strategy to intentionally reinforce those skills throughout the course.

Educators will leave with a practical integration plan and ready-to-implement strategies that clarify instructional priorities and make these critical life skills visible within daily academic practice. When these competencies are consistently reinforced with purpose, secondary classrooms become environments where students are better equipped to take ownership of their learning, demonstrate academic persistence, engage in thoughtful discourse, and collaborate productively. Growth in these skills will enhance their ability to navigate the real-world demands students will face beyond graduation.

Speakers

Krista Leh

Founder, Resonance Education

Dr. Krista Leh is the founder of Resonance Education, an educational consulting practice focused on designing coherent systems for learning, leadership, and instruction that support academic growth through meaningful social emotional development.Krista partners with schools and districts... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 118

Culture and Community

1:00pm CDT

Build It Right: Creating & Aligning MagicQuizzes to Standards

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

CT (Room 235)

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how to create high-quality, standards-aligned quizzes in MagicSchool quickly and effectively. This session covers question design, alignment strategies, and how to ensure your quizzes are measuring what actually matters for your students.

Speakers

Amie Cumming

Senior Account Executive, MagicSchool AI

Elise Seymour

Senior Solutions Architect, MagicSchool AI

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
CT (Room 235)

Educational Technology

1:00pm CDT

Maximizing the ParentSquare Studio Editor (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 111

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This workshop for all users will empower you to craft engaging newsletters and templates using ParentSquare Studio Editor tool, and how you can make your Posts pop. Learn the ins and outs of using the new collaboration feature. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned user, this workshop offers valuable insights, tips, and best practices to create visually appealing content to keep your school community engaged! You’ll leave equipped with the skills and knowledge to strengthen parent engagement, streamline communication, and effectively utilize Studio Editor.

Speakers

Rachel Fitzpatrick

Leah Saab

Haley Skipper

Abby Bontrager

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 111

Educational Technology

1:00pm CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKERS: Future-Proofing Tech Funding: E-Rate & Policy Essentials (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Library

Description: Stay ahead of shifting ed tech policy with the latest on Erate, FCC rulings, and challenges to USF. Explore how evolving policies on AI, cybersecurity, privacy (COPPA/FERPA), and digital equity impact your district’s funding strategy. Learn how to align purchases with E-rate rules, leverage Title I/IV and state broadband funds, and prepare for new grant opportunities. This session gives CIOs, tech directors, and IT leaders actionable strategies to improve compliance, brief stakeholders, and lead with confidence.

Speakers

Sheryl Abshire

John Harrington

CEO, Funds for Learning

John D. Harrington is the CEO of Funds For Learning, a leader in K-12 educational technology dedicated to bridging the digital divide through innovative technology solutions. Under his leadership, the company supports 5.2 million K-12 students at more than 12,000 schools and library... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Library

Educational Technology

1:00pm CDT

StudentSquare Session (Grades 7-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Math Lab

Limited Capacity seats available

This session introduces staff to StudentSquare, the powerful student-facing side of ParentSquare designed to bridge the communication gap. We will move beyond simple messaging to explore how this tool can foster student agency, accountability, and engagement. Participants will learn how to leverage StudentSquare for real-time announcements, club updates, and classroom reminders, all while maintaining a secure and professional digital environment. We’ll also share "day-one" strategies to help students transition from passive recipients to active participants in their school community.

Speakers

Drew Jackson

Technology Coordinator - MBHS, Mountain Brook Schools

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Math Lab

Educational Technology

1:00pm CDT

What's New at Kahoot!

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

INCubator (Room 214)

Limited Capacity filling up

Join this session hosted by Kahoot! to discover the latest releases, including new AI tools, slide upload, and lecture mode.

Speakers

Brandy Smith

Teacher, Hotville Middle School/Kahoot!

Autumn Robinson

Project Manager, US Events, Kahoot!

Autumn Robinson is the Events Project Manager for U.S. Events at Kahoot!, where she designs and leads impactful experiences that connect educators with tools that make learning more engaging and accessible. She began her career in education at a national nonprofit after earning her... Read More →

Ammon Smith

Senior Account Executive, Kahoot!

Ammon Smith is a Senior Account Executive for Kahoot!, specifically working with K-12 partnerships. He has worked in Edtech for 10 years and loves being able to support student growth by providing educational resources. He grew up in a household with parents who are both educators... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
INCubator (Room 214)

Educational Technology

1:00pm CDT

Changing Math Mindsets Creative Math in Motion (Grades K-8)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 114

Limited Capacity filling up

If you are looking for help, or strategies, to help students feel confident in math and no longer be afraid of making mistakes- this session will provide those strategies for you! If you are looking for activities to get students up and moving to do the math- this session will provide those activities for you! This session will share, in action, strategies I have learned and applied from the book: Building Thinking Classrooms in Mathematics, Grades K-12, by Peter Liljedah. I will share a practice I do in my classroom called "Quint Groups". This idea originated from my previous math coach, Shannon Millhouse. With the help from my math coach and strategies from BTC, I have created a variety of classroom activities and strategies I would love to share with you. I have created my own version of Quint Groups to have order and follow a routine so that students get up and move while doing their math, but without the chaos. Students are truly engaged and LOVE my Quint Groups. It builds their confidence and their ability to defend their math. This session will provide you with recourses, activities, strategies, and ideas you can implement in your classroom the very next day.

Speakers

Mica Nichols

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 114

Instructional Design

1:00pm CDT

Create a Community of Problem Solvers with Word Problem Workshop (Grades K-5)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 101

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Solving word problems and applying math concepts and skills are typically the most challenging areas of math for students. This session will provide teachers with valuable instructional routines and structures that will help them build a true community of problem solvers. The primary resource is Word Problem Workshop by Mona Lehl which describes in detail these five routines: Launch, Grapple, Share, Discuss, and Reflect. We will discuss how to find the "just-right" problems that meet students where they are and also offer them a chance to stretch; how to run effective small groups around solving word problems; and how to track student progress. Participants will spend time evaluating student work to decide which students they would ask to share their work and why. Participants will also look at student work to determine next instructional steps. Participants will leave informed and equipped to effectively start these routines in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Shannon Millhouse

Katherine Stubblefield

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 101

Instructional Design

1:00pm CDT

Creative Writing in Every Classroom: Practical Routines for Any Content Area (Grades 3-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 221

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Creative writing isn’t “extra”—it’s a powerful tool for deep learning in every subject. In Creative Writing in Every Classroom, participants will experience low-prep, content-driven routines that work in math, science, history, electives, and beyond—without turning class into ELA. Teachers will try strategies as learners, then adapt them to their own standards, from math story studios to history one-act plays and science narratives. Leave with a ready-to-use routine menu and a simple implementation plan that boosts rigor, motivation, and authentic understanding across disciplines.

Speakers

Andrew Cotten

Teacher, Mountain Brook Schools

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 221

Instructional Design

1:00pm CDT

Elevate Your Classroom! Strategies to Increase Engagement (Grades K-2)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 107

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Have you ever felt stuck in a rut with the way you run your classroom? You're not alone. It is easy to simply run on auto-pilot with the ever growing and looming to-do lists we seem to accumulate in education. If you are looking for some fresh ideas to switch up your routines and increase engagement, we invite you to join us for a spark session where we will share techniques and strategies we learned from some well known educators at the Elevate Your Classroom Conference in June 2025. Attendees will leave with ideas to try in the coming school year as well as a list of resources that have helped us bring more energy into our daily lessons.

Speakers

Julie Cox

First Grade Teacher, Mountain Brook Schools

Jane Harvey

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 107

Instructional Design

1:00pm CDT

Strong Together: Blending Speech, Occupational Therapy, and Teaching to Support the Whole Child in Early Childhood Classrooms (Grades K-2)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 219

Limited Capacity filling up

What if therapy and instruction weren’t separate—but seamlessly aligned? In this powerful interdisciplinary session, an occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, preschool special educator, and parent share how to embed motor, language, regulation, and academic supports directly into everyday classroom routines. Through practical examples and real-life insight, participants will learn how to design environments and lessons that integrate therapeutic strategies into literacy, math, centers, and transitions. Walk away with ready-to-use tools and a whole-child framework that strengthens collaboration, maximizes instructional time, and improves outcomes for all learners.

Speakers

Claire Lampkin

Elizabeth Gwaltney

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 219

Instructional Design

1:00pm CDT

How To Know A Person: A Book Study on the Art of Seeing Others (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Dance Room

This session is an overview of How To Know A Person by David Brooks. We will discuss the book at large but also how the concepts in the book can relate to schools and classrooms.

Speakers

Donald Clayton

Dicky Barlow

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Dance Room

Student Engagement

1:00pm CDT

Putting Ed and Cate Back Into Educate (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 217

Limited Capacity seats available

Strong family–school partnerships don’t happen by chance—they’re built with intention. In this interactive session, educators and leaders will explore the powerful impact of meaningful family engagement on academic achievement, social-emotional growth, and school culture. Through hands-on reflection, communication revisions, and guided event planning, participants will identify barriers, design inclusive strategies, and create a personalized action plan. Leave with practical, ready-to-use tools to strengthen relationships and elevate student success.

Speakers

Jennifer Howard

Tuesday June 9, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 217

Student Engagement

2:05pm CDT

AI in the Art Classroom (Grades K-8)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 218

Limited Capacity seats available

This session is a discussion and practice of AI tools useful in the elementary and middle school art classroom. Presenters will demonstrate and share ways we use AI currently, and also explore possibilities for using AI in the future. The hope is that collectively as a group we can offer examples for how we can enhance current units or create new units that incorporate AI seamlessly.

Speakers

Courtney Holland

Laura Wilkerson

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 218

Educational Technology

2:05pm CDT

Clips that Click: Curating Streaming Content for the K–12 Classroom

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 201

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn practical tips for finding, vetting, and organizing streaming media—from subscription databases to free educational sites—so every clip you use aligns to standards and clear learning goals. This session will include a streamlined vetting checklist for paid and free resources, school-ready copyright and accessibility guidance, and strategies for pairing clips with quick, assessment‑aligned activities. Leave with a usable toolkit and planning shortcuts you can apply tomorrow to save prep time and boost student engagement.

Speakers

Annalisa Keuler

Librarian, Mountain Brook High School

I have been a school librarian since 2005 and before that I was an English teacher as well as a debate coach and literary magazine sponsor. My favorite part of my job is matching resources to students and teachers so they can find the information and solutions that work for them... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 201

Educational Technology

2:05pm CDT

Data That Drives: Using MagicQuiz Results to Power Your Instruction

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

CT (Room 235)

Limited Capacity filling up

Move beyond grading and into action. This session focuses on how to interpret MagicQuiz data, identify learning gaps, and use the results to make targeted, evidence-based instructional decisions that meet every learner where they are

Speakers

Amie Cumming

Senior Account Executive, MagicSchool AI

Elise Seymour

Senior Solutions Architect, MagicSchool AI

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
CT (Room 235)

Educational Technology

2:05pm CDT

Explore the Latest Kahoot! Features to Keep Students Engaged

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

INCubator (Room 214)

Limited Capacity filling up

Join this interactive session for a roundtable discussion on the future of the classroom and how Kahoot! supports teaching and learning for all students. Get a chance to ask questions, explore new features and walk away with practical tips on how to best leverage Kahoot! for your classroom.

Speakers

Brandy Smith

Teacher, Hotville Middle School/Kahoot!

Autumn Robinson

Project Manager, US Events, Kahoot!

Ammon Smith

Senior Account Executive, Kahoot!

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
INCubator (Room 214)

Educational Technology

2:05pm CDT

From Passive to Plugged In: Student Engagement with Magic School AI (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 101

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Help teachers use the Magic School AI chatbot to design and facilitate classroom experiences that increase student engagement and enable Depth of Knowledge (DOK) Levels 3–4: strategic reasoning, evidence-based analysis, and extended performance tasks.

Speakers

Bill Garner

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 101

Educational Technology

2:05pm CDT

Making an I.M.P.A.C.T. - Intentionality with Monitoring Programs, Apps, and Curriculum Tools (Grades K-8)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 104

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

As a part of the 2026 ALTIC Cohort, these presenters share their Impact Project’s roadmap that leads into practical steps teachers and school leaders can use to make purposeful choices about technology usage. Using ClassLink and Hapara analytics along with staff surveys and feedback, participants will learn how to remove implementation roadblocks, get teacher buy-in, and use agentic AI systems to move DOK level engagement towards levels 3 & 4 when using digital resources.

Speakers

Amy Anderson

Technology Coordinator, Crestline Elementary - Mountain Brook Schools

Chandlar Shields

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 104

Educational Technology

2:05pm CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: Making Sure Students are Future Ready in an AI World

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Band Room

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

In an AI-driven world, what does it truly mean for students to be future ready? Join Adam Phyall from All4Ed for a forward-thinking session that explores how educators can prepare students with the skills, mindsets, and agency needed to thrive. Discover practical strategies for integrating AI in meaningful ways while ensuring learning remains human-centered, relevant, and empowering for every student.

Speakers

Adam Phyall

Director of Professional Learning and Leadership, All4Ed

Dr. Adam Phyall is a former high school science teacher who recently served as the Director of Technology and Media Services for Newton County School System in Covington, GA. Since Adam got his first laptop in college, he has been hooked on the fantastic things that technology can add. Early in... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Band Room

Educational Technology

2:05pm CDT

Unlocking the Potential in Your PLC (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 220

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Looking for ways to be more responsive in your instruction? A professional learning community (PLC) is the next step in impacting your practice. Collectively, our experiences as educators are far greater than an individual's efforts. Work through the four essential questions for a PLC, and begin your next school year with actionable steps to work toward a goal. Participants will start small with identifying key standards, creating formative assessments, and sharing data in an efficient way.

Speakers

Johnna Noles

Cameron Gorham

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 220

Instructional Design

2:05pm CDT

What's Going On Up There?: The Teenage Brain and How We Can Work With It (Grades 6-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 116

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

This session translates current neuroscience about the adolescent brain into practical classroom strategies so educators can better engage and support teenagers. After a quick myth‑busting opener and short video visuals of neural wiring, attendees will learn key concepts—neurons and neurotransmission, dendritic growth and pruning, long‑term potentiation, limbic vs. prefrontal development, dopamine’s role, and teen sleep biology—and leave with concrete practices such as retrieval practice, spaced review, explicit scaffolding, emotion‑calming techniques, and sleep‑aware scheduling. Participants will gain confidence explaining accurate brain science to students and caregivers, implement at least two immediately usable strategies to strengthen learning and reduce conflict, and receive a curated list of resources and a one‑week action plan to try in their classrooms.

Speakers

Ginny Bakken

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 116

Instructional Design

2:05pm CDT

Wired to Play: Brain Science Every Early Childhood Teacher Should Know (Grades K-2)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 111

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Play isn’t a break from learning—it’s how young brains are built. In this engaging, research-based session, early childhood educators will explore accessible neuroscience insights (drawing from Not Just Cute, Little Brains Matter, and Early Childhood and Neuroscience) and discover why play is the foundation for executive function, language, and long-term academic success. Through reflection and a hands-on redesign activity, participants will apply brain-based principles to create developmentally aligned learning experiences. Leave equipped to confidently design powerful play—and clearly communicate its value to families and administrators.

Speakers

Sarah Richardson

Teacher, Mountain Brook Schools

Kelsey Frey

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 111

Instructional Design

2:05pm CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: Edit to Elevate: Simplifying School Leadership for Lasting Impact (Grades K-12)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Room 208

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Feeling buried under initiatives and nonstop demands? This energizing session introduces minimalist leadership and the 5R’s Framework—Reimagine, Remove, Repurpose, Reinvest, and Refine—to help school and district leaders declutter systems and refocus on what truly drives impact. Through case studies, collaborative protocols, and guided reflection, participants will analyze their current structures and identify what to streamline or release. Walk away with practical tools to reduce overload, align priorities, and create sustainable conditions for teacher growth, student learning, and a healthier school culture.

Speakers

Tamera Musiowsky

The Making of Minimalist Teachers in a "Maximumist" Society, ASCD Author

Tamera Musiowsky-Borneman is an international education adviser, teacher coach, and classroom teacher who has taught and led in Singapore, New York City, and Edmonton, Canada. She is a past president of ASCD Emerging Leaders Alumni Affiliate (ELASCD). She values simplicity and clarity... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Room 208

Leadership

2:05pm CDT

SPOTLIGHT SPEAKER: The Self-Authoring Leader: The Inner Work That Enables Outer Change

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Library

Before we can build deliberately developmental organizations, we must first understand our own developmental edge. This session creates space for the deep personal work that enables organizational transformation. Drawing from adult learning theory and the practices of high-performing leaders across disciplines, participates will explore how personal mastery becomes the foundation for collective efficacy.

Through reflective exercises and practical frameworks, leaders will identify their current plateau of mental complexity and map their own growth edges. We will examine the critical distinction between technical problems we can solve with existing expertise and adaptive challenges that require us to evolve our very own way of thinking. Participants will explore how the most effective leaders develop what master chefs call "palate" - the ability to discern subtle differences that make extortionary outcomes possible.

This session addresses the inherent tensions of leadership: maintaining authority while showing vulnerability, driving results while nurturing growth, and managing systems while remaining human. Participants will develop personal practices for resilience and renewal, creating their own "mise en place" - the daily rituals and reflection protocols that keep leaders grounded amid complexity. Special attention will be given to recognizing and interrupting patterns that limit both personal and organizational growth.

Leaders will leave with a personalized learning plan, practical tools for self-observation and reflection, and a deeper understanding of how continuous learning creates the conditions for others to flourish.

Speakers

Allison Rodman

Founder and Chief Learning Officer, The Learning Loop

Allison Rodman is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of The Learning Loop, an educational consulting organization that provides professional learning services to districts, schools, nonprofit organizations, and businesses internationally. This includes work with public, charter, and independent schools, over 20 archdioceses, and over 60 sites across the... Read More →

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Library

Leadership

2:05pm CDT

Low-Intensity Behavior Strategies and Resources (Grades K-5)

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT

Math Lab

Limited Capacity full
Adding this to your schedule will put you on the waitlist.

Student behavior is becoming more of a concern each year. Have students changed? Do we need to change how we approach behavior based on the data about the current student population? YES! Join us as we dive into mounds of recent research-based information about students in the general education setting with or without an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Most students with IEPs spend at least 80% of the day in the general education classroom. Appropriate behavior strategies can differ based on the function of the behavior, the unmet need, or what the student might be trying to communicate. Studies based on diagnoses such as ADHD and Autism help provide valuable information that can help steer educators toward which approach to try first. What does the research say about positive behavior supports vs. punishment. Why are certain strategies that were common practice 10-20 years ago no longer recommended? Wrapping your head around the appropriate way to approach behavior on a case by case basis can be overwhelming. Let us arm you with knowledge and resources to help you along the way.

Speakers

Shera Hudgins

Lauren Anson

Tuesday June 9, 2026 2:05pm - 3:05pm CDT
Math Lab

Professional Learning

2:05pm CDT

From "Bright" to Burnout: What Educators Can Do Differently (Grades K-12)