2026 Engage Learning Conference

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.  

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. 

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. 

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.

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.

Based on the text, Training Design, Delivery, and Diplomacy by Keith Young and Tamarra Osborne, instructional leaders, coaches, and administrators will learn a framework for building professional development for teachers. Participants will explore how to best design professional learning, deliver engaging experiences for adult learners, and navigate the interpersonal dynamics that determine impact. The session will also highlight insights and practical lessons learned from Madison City Schools’ implementation of this framework with their instructional partners.

Leadership isn’t found in a framework; it’s forged in real moments. Join this dynamic conversation with two seasoned K-12 edtech leaders as they unpack what leading with authenticity, humor, and heart looks like in practice. From navigating crises to building strong teams, this session blends storytelling with actionable strategies. Expect candid insights, a few laughs, and leadership lessons you won’t find in a textbook.

Authentic leadership begins with alignment, when who you are privately reflects how you lead publicly. What if your greatest leadership strength isn’t a new skill, but becoming the same leader everywhere you go? In this engaging session, you’ll explore what it means to lead consistently and with integrity across every environment, at work, at home with your family, and in your community. Through story‑driven teaching, guided reflection, and interactive application, you’ll discover how personal alignment fuels trust, influence, and lasting impact. The goal of this session is to help leaders bridge the gap between intention and action by developing self‑awareness, authenticity, and alignment that strengthen both professional performance and personal relationships. You’ll leave renewed, grounded, and ready to live and lead full circle in all areas of life.