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.  

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.

Innovative classrooms can look engaging while producing little real learning. This session helps educators identify why instruction stalls and how to reset classroom culture, procedures, and lesson design without abandoning student-centered practices. Participants will explore practical strategies for restoring clarity, making student thinking visible, and rebuilding classrooms where learning and confidence can thrive.

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.