Building Better Humans: The Power of Prosocial Education
Jen Foster and Haylee Anderson, eMINTS

Learn: Discover evidence-based prosocial education strategies that can be used with any age and content area. Examine successful Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classrooms project data to gain insights into enhanced student climate and increased student engagement.  

Engage: Discuss experiences and challenges related to student behavior and classroom management to discover new strategies. Analyze case study scenarios of prosocial strategies and discuss the implications and potential applications in your own setting.

Apply: Gain specific, implementable strategies for integrating prosocial elements into your existing curricula and concrete examples of how these principles can be applied in various educational settings.

Code.org Programs for Your School

Andy Tiepen, Code.org

Learn: Discover the expansive, free curriculum offered by Code.org, created to make computer science education accessible in every classroom. Attendees will explore the K-12 resources that align with state standards, focusing on foundational digital skills and computer science principles.
Engage: Through interactive discussion, participants will examine how Code.org’s curriculum integrates with their own teaching goals and classroom settings. We’ll also dive into available support, including teacher training funded through DESE, ensuring a fully supported rollout of these resources.
Apply: By the end of this session, participants will be prepared to bring Code.org's curriculum into their schools. They will leave with actionable steps and knowledge on accessing the resources, securing teacher training, and engaging students in computer science.

Creating Songs for STEM Success with STEMusic!
Keynote Speaker Roy Moye III

Learn: Discover how music can enhance STEM education! Explore the power of creating songs as a tool to reinforce key concepts, making learning both memorable and engaging.

Engage: Dive into a hands-on STEM activity, then work in groups to create a simple, catchy song about the STEM principles you explored. Through collaboration, experience the excitement of combining learning with creativity and discover firsthand how music can deepen understanding and retention in any subject area.  

Apply: Each group will showcase their song teaching a STEM concept, modeling how this approach can spark interest and aid retention for students. Gain a memorable strategy to energize learning in your classroom.

Future-Ready Classrooms: Harnessing AI and Discovery Education to Tailor Learning
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how to combine Discovery Education with free AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to create personalized learning experiences, streamline lesson planning and boost student engagement. Get insights into practical strategies for customizing learning pathways, generating quizzes and designing full learning modules.

Engage: Participate in hands-on demonstrations to see AI tools in action, adapting content and generating lesson ideas tailored to your classroom needs. Share ideas and collaborate with peers to brainstorm innovative ways to integrate AI into your teaching practices.

Apply: Gain actionable strategies and an exclusive preview of Discovery Education’s upcoming AI-powered assessment tools. Whether you’re an AI novice or an experienced user, you’ll be ready to use these tools to save time and elevate your teaching.

Getting Excited About Overexcitabilities: Harnessing the Energy of the Exceptional Learner
Carly Mansfield and Jennifer Moore, Kirkwood School District

Learn: Gain a comprehensive understanding of Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities Theory and its relevance to the characteristics of exceptional learners. Delve into each overexcitability, connecting theoretical concepts to real-life experiences.

Engage: Actively discuss overexcitabilities and identify your own, experiencing "OE Breaks" to understand the energy release associated with each type. This session emphasizes experiential learning over passive listening.

Apply: Move beyond theory to practical insights on creating conducive learning environments that support emotional well-being and concentration. Gain strategies for fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation in gifted students, including routines, activities and tools to manage overstimulation and enhance learning experiences for those with overexcitabilities.  

Igniting Student Interest in Careers with Discovery Education
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how Discovery Education Experience supports career exploration from kindergarten through high school. Explore engaging tools like career path quizzes and career-focused resource collections to inspire students about their future possibilities.

Engage: Participate in an interactive career path quiz to align your interests with potential careers and discuss ways to implement similar activities with your students. Collaborate with peers to explore curated career-focused resources and strategies for integrating them into your teaching.

Apply: Gain practical methods for sharing career-focused collections within Discovery Education Experience and actionable strategies to guide students on their career journey and spark excitement about their future aspirations.

Teaching Outside the Box
Cassi Flores and Amy Spears, Francis Howell School District

Learn: Explore collaborative strategies for designing highly engaging, educational experiences using breakout boxes. Discover the fundamentals of crafting immersive learning experiences that captivate and challenge students.

Engage: Participate in a hands-on breakout box activity. Share feedback and insights to understand the impact and potential of these interactive learning tools.

Apply: Gain the knowledge and confidence to create your own breakout box activities, whether independently or in collaboration with fellow educators, ready to implement innovative and engaging lessons in your classroom.

The Wonderful Fitness: How to Become Awestruck & Awesome with Open-Source Learning

Keynote Speakers David Preston & Taylor Hughes

Learn: Discover how curiosity, awe and wonder can transform learning experiences and reignite student motivation. Gain insights from two of our keynote speakers on the science behind engagement, including its impact on neurotransmitters and cognitive processing.

Engage: Participate by using the chat feature to share ideas, ask questions and engage in live discussions with experts and fellow attendees. During the Q&A portion, take the opportunity to explore strategies to combat cynicism and spark excitement in the classroom.

Apply: Gain practical tactics to foster curiosity-driven learning in any subject. Use these strategies to create an environment where “I wonder…” leads to deeper thinking, engagement and lasting learning.

A Healthy Balance: Tech vs. Tradition
Sophie Chambers, Chillicothe R-II School District

Learn: Explore how to achieve a healthier balance between technology and traditional skills in your classroom. This session addresses concerns about excessive screen time and the impact on essential soft skills, drawing from discussions held within my school district.

Engage: We will cover diverse topics, including virtual reality, traditional geography skills, handwriting versus speech-to-text, library resources, and the importance of face-to-face communication. Attendees will have opportunities for Q&A throughout the presentation to foster engagement.

Apply: Participants will receive a T-chart to assess their current balance between technology and traditional skills, along with actionable strategies for reinforcing soft skills in their classrooms. Leave with practical ideas to enhance your curriculum and promote student success in both realms.

Building Better Humans: The Power of Prosocial Education
Jen Foster and Haylee Anderson, eMINTS

Learn: Discover evidence-based prosocial education strategies that can be used with any age and content area. Examine successful Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classrooms project data to gain insights into enhanced student climate and increased student engagement.

Engage: Discuss experiences and challenges related to student behavior and classroom management to discover new strategies. Analyze case study scenarios of prosocial strategies and discuss the implications and potential applications in your own setting.

Apply: Gain specific, implementable strategies for integrating prosocial elements into your existing curricula and concrete examples of how these principles can be applied in various educational settings. 

Creating Songs for STEM Success with STEMusic!
Keynote Speaker Roy Moye III

Learn: Discover how music can enhance STEM education! Explore the power of creating songs as a tool to reinforce key concepts, making learning both memorable and engaging.

Engage: Dive into a hands-on STEM activity, then work in groups to create a simple, catchy song about the STEM principles you explored. Through collaboration, experience the excitement of combining learning with creativity and discover firsthand how music can deepen understanding and retention in any subject area.  

Apply: Each group will showcase their song teaching a STEM concept, modeling how this approach can spark interest and aid retention for students. Gain a memorable strategy to energize learning in your classroom.

Digital Heroes: Cisco’s GPS for Genius Hour
Arthur Vambaketes, Ferguson-Florissant School District / Cisco Corporation

Learn: Discover Cisco’s Global Problem Solvers (GPS) program as a powerful framework for Genius Hour, guiding students to tackle real-world issues. Learn how GPS cultivates critical thinking and digital storytelling to address local, national and global challenges.

Engage: Through live polls, collaborative brainstorming and Q&A, actively explore digital storytelling techniques and educational tools to enrich student-led projects. Small group discussions will foster idea-sharing and practical insights.

Apply: Gain ready to implement Genius Hour projects with Cisco's GPS resources, using digital storytelling to empower students to address contemporary challenges with creativity and precision.  

Improving Instructional Alignment Through Lesson Internalization
Tiffany Patton, Riverview Gardens School District

Learn: Discover how to use a lesson internalization protocol to enhance collaborative planning and instruction in critical content areas. This session targets districts using scripted lessons or those focused on developing teacher-created lessons, providing strategies applicable even in non-mandatory lesson planning environments.

Engage: Analyze video clips from lesson internalization meetings and examine protocols from various districts. Engage in discussions with peers and small groups to share insights and key takeaways throughout the session.

Apply: Gain hands-on experience with a planning template to guide portions of a lesson internalization protocol and how to implement these strategies in your school fostering best practices and instructional alignment.  

Procedures that just make sense!
Emily Hilligoss, EducationPlus

Learn: Explore the foundational procedures that make daily decision-making more efficient and effective for educators at every stage of their career. Gain insights into how thoughtful routines can support teachers, build consistency and free up cognitive space to focus on what truly matters—student success. Learn strategies to help leaders, mentors and coaches differentiate support for staff and foster a culture of growth, even during challenging times.

Engage: Participants will actively engage through the Chat feature to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences. During the Q&A portion of the panel, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights directly from experienced leaders and experts. This collaborative approach ensures you leave with practical, personalized strategies.

Apply: Gain a tool kit of actionable ideas to implement in your school immediately. Create a plan for introducing or refining key procedures that resonate with both new and veteran educators. Develop a road map for differentiated professional support that meets your team’s unique needs and keeps everyone motivated through the toughest stretches of the school year.

Rounding Revelations: Navigating Instructional Rounds
Jennifer Ferguson, Missy Roux, and Lindsay McCracken, Special School District

Learn: Delve into the practice of Instructional Rounding as implemented in the Mehlville and Affton school districts, and discover its positive impacts in special education. Discover how Instructional Rounding can foster a culture of continuous learning, strengthen educator capacity and promote a community of personalized professional growth.

Engage: Participate in hands-on activities, partner and group discussions, and interactive Q&A session. Through these collaborative experiences, gain deeper insight into how Instructional Rounding supports educator and student development.

Apply: Reflect on the impacts of Instructional Rounding and begin planning how to incorporate this practice in your own setting. Gain actionable ideas for implementing Instructional Rounding to cultivate a supportive and growth-oriented culture within your educational community.  

Supercharge Learning with a Professional Mindset
Drew McAllister, Parkway School District and John Omoresemi, St. Charles County CAP

Learn: Explore key elements of career readiness that have proven successful in diverse educational settings. Identify modules and mini-lessons that connect curriculum to profession-based relevance, tailored to fit your unique classroom context.

Engage: Collaborate with shoulder-partners to practice various strategies, contribute questions that guide the workshop’s direction, and co-create a list of valuable resources and ideas. This collaborative approach will enable you to expand on resources shared while addressing real-world applications.

Apply: Gain a co-created toolbox of resources and a clear action plan. Spend the final moments of the session sketching and sharing a personalized approach to integrating these tools into your next units, preparing you to connect learning with meaningful career readiness outcomes.  

Unlocking Student Engagement with Discovery Education
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how Discovery Education Experience supports career exploration from kindergarten through high school. Explore engaging tools like career path quizzes and career-focused resource collections to inspire students about their future possibilities.

Engage: Participate in an interactive career path quiz to align your interests with potential careers and discuss ways to implement similar activities with your students. Collaborate with peers to explore curated career-focused resources and strategies for integrating them into your teaching.

Apply: Gain practical methods for sharing career-focused collections within Discovery Education Experience and actionable strategies to guide students on their career journey and spark excitement about their future aspirations.

Feeding the Learning Brain
Denise Ford, Kirkwood School District

Learn: Discover how teachers can leverage their unique position to positively influence students' brain development. This session will explore research in mind, brain, and education, providing practical strategies to enhance learning, memory, critical thinking, and confidence in the classroom.

Engage: Participants will be actively involved through movement, curiosity, humor, play, music, and interactive discussions, making the learning experience enjoyable and memorable.

Apply: Walk away with a wealth of immediately applicable, low-cost strategies to nurture every student's brain and engage their interest daily. Understanding how the brain learns will transform your teaching practice and enrich your own learning experience as well.  

Future-Ready Classrooms: Harnessing AI and Discovery Education to Tailor Learning
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how to combine Discovery Education with free AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to create personalized learning experiences, streamline lesson planning and boost student engagement. Get insights into practical strategies for customizing learning pathways, generating quizzes and designing full learning modules.

Engage: Participate in hands-on demonstrations to see AI tools in action, adapting content and generating lesson ideas tailored to your classroom needs. Share ideas and collaborate with peers to brainstorm innovative ways to integrate AI into your teaching practices.

Apply: Gain actionable strategies and an exclusive preview of Discovery Education’s upcoming AI-powered assessment tools. Whether you’re an AI novice or an experienced user, you’ll be ready to use these tools to save time and elevate your teaching.

From One-Size-Fits-All to Learner-Centered: Using Your LMS to Support UDL

April Burton, Francis Howell School District

Learn: Discover how to harness the features of your learning management system (LMS) to support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and create more inclusive, accessible learning experiences. Explore insights from a district collaboration with the DESE AEM Cohort, demonstrating how UDL principles were translated into actionable goals to make the LMS a tool for diverse learners.

Engage: Explore district-created UDL resources and experiment with tools in an Open Canvas Course designed around UDL principles. Gain insights into how other districts are addressing barriers to learning and making their LMS more inclusive.

Apply: Put UDL into action by mapping UDL principles to your LMS, adapting shared Canvas examples, and developing personalized implementation goals that make your LMS a dynamic platform for learner-centered education.  

Igniting Student Interest in Careers with Discovery Education
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how Discovery Education Experience supports career exploration from kindergarten through high school. Explore engaging tools like career path quizzes and career-focused resource collections to inspire students about their future possibilities.

Engage: Participate in an interactive career path quiz to align your interests with potential careers and discuss ways to implement similar activities with your students. Collaborate with peers to explore curated career-focused resources and strategies for integrating them into your teaching.

Apply: Gain practical methods for sharing career-focused collections within Discovery Education Experience and actionable strategies to guide students on their career journey and spark excitement about their future aspirations.

Improving Instructional Alignment Through Lesson Internalization

Tiffany Patton, Riverview Gardens School District

Learn: Discover how to use a lesson internalization protocol to enhance collaborative planning and instruction in critical content areas. This session targets districts using scripted lessons or those focused on developing teacher-created lessons, providing strategies applicable even in non-mandatory lesson planning environments.

Engage: Analyze video clips from lesson internalization meetings and examine protocols from various districts. Engage in discussions with peers and small groups to share insights and key takeaways throughout the session.

Apply: Gain hands-on experience with a planning template to guide portions of a lesson internalization protocol and how to implement these strategies in your school fostering best practices and instructional alignment.  

Is STEM for me?
Adam Scimone, EducationPlus

Learn: Explore how STEM principles can integrate into all disciplines, including PE, Art, Debate and other specialist areas. Gain insights into how STEM-focused teaching transcends traditional subject boundaries and supports innovative learning across the curriculum.

Engage: Use the Chat feature to ask questions, share ideas and engage with both panel experts and fellow educators. During the live Q&A segment, address specific challenges like assessing STEM work and supporting STEM initiatives in non-STEM subjects.

Apply: Gain practical strategies to embed STEM in your teaching, no matter your subject. Learn ways to support STEM initiatives while meeting grading and assessment requirements, ensuring you contribute to a holistic learning environment for all students.

Labor-Based Grading in Secondary Education

Brandy Simmons, Dupo School District 196

Learn: Explore an introduction to labor-based grading, an innovative assessment model that shifts focus from outcomes to student effort and growth. Discover the educational advantages this approach offers for both students and educators, grounded in research by Joe Feldman, Asao B. Inoue, and Matthew Gomes.

Engage: Participate in online polls and Q&A sessions designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of labor-based grading practices. Engage with peers and ask questions as you explore real-world applications of this grading model.

Apply: Gain actionable knowledge and initial strategies to implement labor-based grading in your own classroom fostering a more equitable and supportive assessment environment for all students.  

Emily Hilligoss, EducationPlus

Learn: Explore the foundational procedures that make daily decision-making more efficient and effective for educators at every stage of their career. Gain insights into how thoughtful routines can support teachers, build consistency and free up cognitive space to focus on what truly matters—student success. Learn strategies to help leaders, mentors and coaches differentiate support for staff and foster a culture of growth, even during challenging times.

Engage: Participants will actively engage through the Chat feature to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences. During the Q&A portion of the panel, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights directly from experienced leaders and experts. This collaborative approach ensures you leave with practical, personalized strategies.

Apply: Gain a tool kit of actionable ideas to implement in your school immediately. Create a plan for introducing or refining key procedures that resonate with both new and veteran educators. Develop a road map for differentiated professional support that meets your team’s unique needs and keeps everyone motivated through the toughest stretches of the school year.

Reviving Literacy: Innovative Strategies for Elementary Student’s Reading and Writing Success

Maggie Bunten, eMINTS

Learn: Discover how to incorporate students' personal vocabulary and experiences into literacy instruction, making the learning more meaningful and relevant. Identify various literary structures found across curriculums and learn how to use these structures to enhance students' reading and writing skills. Explore how dictation technology can be leveraged to support struggling readers and writers in capturing their thoughts and ideas.

Engage: Participate in interactive activities that model classroom practices and foster a positive learning environment. Create your own literary examples and experiment with dictation technology on your own device to understand its application for students.

Apply: Gain practical examples of literary structures and techniques for integrating students' personal language into literacy instruction. Reflect on how to use dictation technology to support struggling students and leave with strategies that can be transferred directly into your teaching practice.  

Students and AI—Myths, Misconceptions, and Classroom Realities
Lindsey Weatherby, Special School District/Lindbergh Schools

Learn: Examine the evolving role of AI tools in student learning and uncover the myths that often accompany their use. From concerns about cheating to fears that AI stifles creativity, panelists will provide evidence-based insights to challenge these misconceptions and highlight how AI can enhance critical thinking, collaboration and innovation in the classroom.

Engage: Join the conversation through the Chat feature to share your perspectives, ask questions and discuss how students are currently using AI tools. Participate in a dynamic Q&A session where panelists will address concerns and provide examples of responsible and effective student-centered AI integration.

Apply: Explore practical examples of AI tools that students can use to support learning and creativity in real time. Learn how to empower students to use AI responsibly to solve problems, explore new ideas and develop critical skills for the future. Gain strategies for creating classroom policies and activities that encourage ethical and innovative use of AI.

Students Leading Their Learning

Marie Schroeder, Orchard Farm School District

Learn: Discover how to design, implement and teach students to create their own personal learning hubs. These hubs can focus on a single content area or serve as a tool across multiple subjects, empowering students to organize and manage their learning.

Engage: Actively explore the structure and benefits of a learning hub, with dedicated time to develop your own hub template. Collaborate with peers and experiment with different components to create a model tailored to your classroom needs.

Apply: Gain a completed or partially developed hub, along with the knowledge to guide students in building their own. Be equipped to implement this tool in your classroom, fostering student ownership and supporting independent, organized learning.  

Supercharge Learning with a Professional Mindset
Drew McAllister, Parkway School District and John Omoresemi, St. Charles County CAP

Learn: Explore key elements of career readiness that have proven successful in diverse educational settings. Identify modules and mini-lessons that connect curriculum to profession-based relevance, tailored to fit your unique classroom context.

Engage: Collaborate with shoulder-partners to practice various strategies, contribute questions that guide the workshop’s direction, and co-create a list of valuable resources and ideas. This collaborative approach will enable you to expand on resources shared while addressing real-world applications.

Apply: Leave with a co-created toolbox of resources and a clear action plan. Spend the final moments of the session sketching and sharing a personalized approach to integrating these tools into your next units, preparing you to connect learning with meaningful career readiness outcomes.

Teaching Outside the Box

Cassi Flores and Amy Spears, Francis Howell School District

Learn: Explore collaborative strategies for designing highly engaging, educational experiences using breakout boxes. Discover the fundamentals of crafting immersive learning experiences that captivate and challenge students.

Engage: Participate in a hands-on breakout box activity. Share feedback and insights to understand the impact and potential of these interactive learning tools.

Apply: Gain the knowledge and confidence to create your own breakout box activities, whether independently or in collaboration with fellow educators, ready to implement innovative and engaging lessons in your classroom.  

Unlocking Student Engagement with Discovery Education
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how Discovery Education Experience supports career exploration from kindergarten through high school. Explore engaging tools like career path quizzes and career-focused resource collections to inspire students about their future possibilities.

Engage: Participate in an interactive career path quiz to align your interests with potential careers and discuss ways to implement similar activities with your students. Collaborate with peers to explore curated career-focused resources and strategies for integrating them into your teaching.

Apply: Gain practical methods for sharing career-focused collections within Discovery Education Experience and actionable strategies to guide students on their career journey and spark excitement about their future aspirations.

The Wonderful Fitness: How to Become Awestruck & Awesome with Open-Source Learning

Keynote Speakers David Preston & Taylor Hughes

Learn: Discover how curiosity, awe and wonder can transform learning experiences and reignite student motivation. Gain insights from two of our keynote speakers on the science behind engagement, including its impact on neurotransmitters and cognitive processing.

Engage: Participate by using the chat feature to share ideas, ask questions and engage in live discussions with experts and fellow attendees. During the Q&A portion, take the opportunity to explore strategies to combat cynicism and spark excitement in the classroom.

Apply: Gain practical tactics to foster curiosity-driven learning in any subject. Use these strategies to create an environment where “I wonder…” leads to deeper thinking, engagement and lasting learning.

A Healthy Balance: Tech vs. Tradition
Sophie Chambers, Chillicothe R-II School District

Learn: Explore how to achieve a healthier balance between technology and traditional skills in your classroom. This session addresses concerns about excessive screen time and the impact on essential soft skills, drawing from discussions held within my school district.

Engage: We will cover diverse topics, including virtual reality, traditional geography skills, handwriting versus speech-to-text, library resources, and the importance of face-to-face communication. Attendees will have opportunities for Q&A throughout the presentation to foster engagement.

Apply: Participants will receive a T-chart to assess their current balance between technology and traditional skills, along with actionable strategies for reinforcing soft skills in their classrooms. Leave with practical ideas to enhance your curriculum and promote student success in both realms.

AI Tools for Teachers: Boosting Student Engagement and Learning

Lindsey Weatherby, Special School District /Lindbergh Schools

Learn: Delve into the latest and most effective AI for all students but especially those who require additional support.

Engage: Take part in a hands-on, station rotation discovery model to create high-quality task(s) tailored to your subject area and instructional goals.

Apply: Gain new found insights that are ready to be applied into your classroom fostering an open-minded approach to integrating AI responsibly.  

Code.org Programs for Your School

Andy Tiepen, Code.org

Learn: Discover the expansive, free curriculum offered by Code.org, created to make computer science education accessible in every classroom. Attendees will explore the K-12 resources that align with state standards, focusing on foundational digital skills and computer science principles.
Engage: Through interactive discussion, participants will examine how Code.org’s curriculum integrates with their own teaching goals and classroom settings. We’ll also dive into available support, including teacher training funded through DESE, ensuring a fully supported rollout of these resources.
Apply: By the end of this session, participants will be prepared to bring Code.org's curriculum into their schools. They will leave with actionable steps and knowledge on accessing the resources, securing teacher training, and engaging students in computer science

Creating an Effective Assessment System: Utilizing Pear Assessment to Drive Student Outcomes

Ryan Hetchler, Go Guardian

Learn: Discover how Merlyn, a voice-enabled AI assistant, revolutionizes classroom management and instruction by integrating seamlessly into daily teaching tasks. Learn how Merlyn supports real-time curiosity, engagement, and classroom focus, while maintaining strict K-12 privacy standards.
Engage: Experience how Merlyn functions in a classroom setting through live demonstrations and real-world examples. Explore interactive discussions on how Merlyn can address classroom challenges like managing devices, setting timers, and fostering engagement.
Apply: Walk away with actionable insights to implement Merlyn in your classroom. Gain practical strategies to enhance focus, improve classroom behavior, and create more opportunities for impactful teaching moments with this innovative tool.

Creating Songs for STEM Success with STEMusic!
Keynote Speaker Roy Moye III

Learn: Discover how music can enhance STEM education! Explore the power of creating songs as a tool to reinforce key concepts, making learning both memorable and engaging.

Engage: Dive into a hands-on STEM activity, then work in groups to create a simple, catchy song about the STEM principles you explored. Through collaboration, experience the excitement of combining learning with creativity and discover firsthand how music can deepen understanding and retention in any subject area.  

Apply: Each group will showcase their song teaching a STEM concept, modeling how this approach can spark interest and aid retention for students. Gain a memorable strategy to energize learning in your classroom.

Digital Heroes: Cisco’s GPS for Genius Hour
Arthur Vambaketes, Ferguson-Florissant School District / Cisco Corporation

Learn: Discover Cisco’s Global Problem Solvers (GPS) program as a powerful framework for Genius Hour, guiding students to tackle real-world issues. Learn how GPS cultivates critical thinking and digital storytelling to address local, national and global challenges.

Engage: Through live polls, collaborative brainstorming and Q&A, actively explore digital storytelling techniques and educational tools to enrich student-led projects. Small group discussions will foster idea-sharing and practical insights.

Apply: Gain ready to implement Genius Hour projects with Cisco's GPS resources, using digital storytelling to empower students to address contemporary challenges with creativity and precision.

Engaging Early Learners

Apple Education

Learn: Examine what effective learning looks like for young students and how it aligns with their developmental needs. Explore how technology can be purposefully integrated to enhance learning experiences.
Engage: Participate in a discussion on the importance of using technology in ways that feel intentional, natural and age-appropriate for early learners. Share ideas and strategies with peers to meet the diverse abilities of young students.
Apply: Discover how iPad can empower your youngest learners to communicate, create and learn at their own pace. Gain practical approaches to incorporate technology into your classroom in meaningful ways.

From One-Size-Fits-All to Learner-Centered: Using Your LMS to Support UDL
April Burton, Francis Howell School District

Learn: Discover how to harness the features of your learning management system (LMS) to support Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and create more inclusive, accessible learning experiences. Explore insights from a district collaboration with the DESE AEM Cohort, demonstrating how UDL principles were translated into actionable goals to make the LMS a tool for diverse learners.

Engage: Explore district-created UDL resources and experiment with tools in an Open Canvas Course designed around UDL principles. Gain insights into how other districts are addressing barriers to learning and making their LMS more inclusive.

Apply: Put UDL into action by mapping UDL principles to your LMS, adapting shared Canvas examples, and developing personalized implementation goals that make your LMS a dynamic platform for learner-centered education.

Future-Ready Classrooms: Harnessing AI and Discovery Education to Tailor Learning
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how to combine Discovery Education with free AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT to create personalized learning experiences, streamline lesson planning and boost student engagement. Get insights into practical strategies for customizing learning pathways, generating quizzes and designing full learning modules.

Engage: Participate in hands-on demonstrations to see AI tools in action, adapting content and generating lesson ideas tailored to your classroom needs. Share ideas and collaborate with peers to brainstorm innovative ways to integrate AI into your teaching practices.

Apply: Gain actionable strategies and an exclusive preview of Discovery Education’s upcoming AI-powered assessment tools. Whether you’re an AI novice or an experienced user, you’ll be ready to use these tools to save time and elevate your teaching.

Igniting Student Interest in Careers with Discovery Education
Marissa Geyer, Discovery Education

Learn: Discover how Discovery Education Experience supports career exploration from kindergarten through high school. Explore engaging tools like career path quizzes and career-focused resource collections to inspire students about their future possibilities.

Engage: Participate in an interactive career path quiz to align your interests with potential careers and discuss ways to implement similar activities with your students. Collaborate with peers to explore curated career-focused resources and strategies for integrating them into your teaching.

Apply: Gain practical methods for sharing career-focused collections within Discovery Education Experience and actionable strategies to guide students on their career journey and spark excitement about their future aspirations.

Is STEM for me?
Adam Scimone, EducationPlus

Learn: Explore how STEM principles can integrate into all disciplines, including PE, Art, Debate and other specialist areas. Gain insights into how STEM-focused teaching transcends traditional subject boundaries and supports innovative learning across the curriculum.

Engage: Use the Chat feature to ask questions, share ideas and engage with both panel experts and fellow educators. During the live Q&A segment, address specific challenges like assessing STEM work and supporting STEM initiatives in non-STEM subjects.

Apply: Gain practical strategies to embed STEM in your teaching, no matter your subject. Learn ways to support STEM initiatives while meeting grading and assessment requirements, ensuring you contribute to a holistic learning environment for all students.

Perceptions and Influences: A Study on U.S. High School English Teachers’ Attitude Towards ChatGPT Integration in Instructional Practices

Cara Bertelmann, Nevada Virtual Charter School and Brandy Simmons, Dupo School District 196

Learn: Explore the findings of our nationwide survey involving 119 high school English teachers regarding their attitudes toward ChatGPT integration in instructional practices. Gain insights into ethical concerns, common usage patterns and current perceptions of ChatGPT in the classroom.

Engage: Learn how English teachers are utilizing ChatGPT for personal planning and classroom instruction as you are guided through the process of creating a ChatGPT account. Learn how to differentiate lesson plans for various learning levels, develop new lesson plans and streamline administrative tasks. Depending on compurter availability, work independently or interact with demonstrations.

Apply: Get hands-on experience with ChatGPT as you explore its capabilities using your own classroom materials. Gain practical strategies for integrating ChatGPT into your teaching, along with take-home materials such as printouts and access to our presentation to support future application.  

Reviving Literacy: Innovative Strategies for Elementary Student’s Reading and Writing Success

Maggie Bunten, eMINTS

Learn: Discover how to incorporate students' personal vocabulary and experiences into literacy instruction, making the learning more meaningful and relevant. Identify various literary structures found across curriculums and learn how to use these structures to enhance students' reading and writing skills. Explore how dictation technology can be leveraged to support struggling readers and writers in capturing their thoughts and ideas.

Engage: Participate in interactive activities that model classroom practices and foster a positive learning environment. Create your own literary examples and experiment with dictation technology on your own device to understand its application for students.

Apply: Gain practical examples of literary structures and techniques for integrating students' personal language into literacy instruction. Reflect on how to use dictation technology to support struggling students and leave with strategies that can be transferred directly into your teaching practice. 

Students Leading Their Learning
Marie Schroeder, Orchard Farm School District

Learn: Discover how to design, implement and teach students to create their own personal learning hubs. These hubs can focus on a single content area or serve as a tool across multiple subjects, empowering students to organize and manage their learning.

Engage: Actively explore the structure and benefits of a learning hub, with dedicated time to develop your own hub template. Collaborate with peers and experiment with different components to create a model tailored to your classroom needs.

Apply: Gain a completed or partially developed hub, along with the knowledge to guide students in building their own. Be equipped to implement this tool in your classroom, fostering student ownership and supporting independent, organized learning.

Students and AI—Myths, Misconceptions, and Classroom Realities
Lindsey Weatherby, Special School District/Lindbergh Schools

Learn: Examine the evolving role of AI tools in student learning and uncover the myths that often accompany their use. From concerns about cheating to fears that AI stifles creativity, panelists will provide evidence-based insights to challenge these misconceptions and highlight how AI can enhance critical thinking, collaboration and innovation in the classroom.

Engage: Join the conversation through the Chat feature to share your perspectives, ask questions and discuss how students are currently using AI tools. Participate in a dynamic Q&A session where panelists will address concerns and provide examples of responsible and effective student-centered AI integration.

Apply: Explore practical examples of AI tools that students can use to support learning and creativity in real time. Learn how to empower students to use AI responsibly to solve problems, explore new ideas and develop critical skills for the future. Gain strategies for creating classroom policies and activities that encourage ethical and innovative use of AI.

What’s New in Education from Apple

Apple Education

Learn: Discover how great teaching combined with effective technology creates impactful learning experiences. Explore Apple’s latest products, tools and programs designed specifically for education.
Engage: In this interactive session, explore how Apple’s innovative solutions enhance productivity and collaboration in the classroom. Connect with peers and experts to discuss practical applications of these tools in education.
Apply: Gain actionable insights to integrate Apple technology into your teaching practice. Discover strategies to empower educators and students with tools that drive engagement and success.

AI Tools for Teachers: Boosting Student Engagement and Learning
Lindsey Weatherby, Special School District

Learn: Delve into the latest and most effective AI for all students but especially those who require additional support.

Engage: Take part in a hands-on, station rotation discovery model to create high-quality task(s) tailored to your subject area and instructional goals.

Apply: Gain new found insights that are ready to be applied into your classroom fostering an open-minded approach to integrating AI responsibly. 

Breaking Down the Myths and Misconceptions of Restorative Practice in the School Setting

John Converse, EducationPlus

Learn: Gain a clear understanding of restorative practices in education by exploring their purpose, principles and potential impact. Panelists will share what inspired them to embrace this approach and debunk common myths and misconceptions that may create resistance in schools.
Engage: Participate in dynamic discussions by using the chat feature to share your thoughts, ask questions and exchange ideas with experts and attendees. During the dedicated Q&A portion, ask specific questions about implementation and overcoming challenges.
Apply: Gain actionable insights to practical steps for introducing restorative practices in your school, strategies for supporting teachers resistant to this approach and evidence-based methods for tracking the impact of restorative practices. Discover real-life success stories to inspire your journey toward a restorative school environment.

Does Credit Recovery Need an EduTrain Approach?

Aaron Eusterwiemann, SchoolsPLP

Learn: Discover how SchoolsPLP's approach to Credit Recovery is different. The "Netflix Meets Education" learning approach engages today's learner. 
Engage: Explore the benefits of engaging a student from an "EduTrain" approach.
Apply: Gain practical strategies for implementing the "EduTrain" approach to ehance learning.

Enhancing Leadership Behaviors and PD Via Arts-Based Professional Learning

Daniel Jones, Riverview Gardens School District

Learn: Explore the transformative value of integrating the arts into leadership development and professional learning for principals and district-level administrators. Discover how Arts-Based Professional Learning (ABPL) can enhance your own leadership skills while also benefiting your teachers and school communities.

Engage: Move beyond traditional professional development formats with engaging, hands-on activities that participants can introduce in their own schools. Experience interactive techniques such as sketching, role-playing, and mask-making, designed to enliven professional development and foster creativity.

Apply: Reflect on how to enhance your leadership behaviors through the arts and consider practical ways to incorporate ABPL into your school’s professional development programs. Gain innovative strategies and activities to enrich your leadership approach and inspire your teams.  

Procedures that just make sense!
Emily Hilligoss, EducationPlus

Learn: Explore the foundational procedures that make daily decision-making more efficient and effective for educators at every stage of their career. Gain insights into how thoughtful routines can support teachers, build consistency and free up cognitive space to focus on what truly matters—student success. Learn strategies to help leaders, mentors and coaches differentiate support for staff and foster a culture of growth, even during challenging times.

Engage: Participants will actively engage through the Chat feature to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences. During the Q&A portion of the panel, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights directly from experienced leaders and experts. This collaborative approach ensures you leave with practical, personalized strategies.

Apply: Gain a tool kit of actionable ideas to implement in your school immediately. Create a plan for introducing or refining key procedures that resonate with both new and veteran educators. Develop a road map for differentiated professional support that meets your team’s unique needs and keeps everyone motivated through the toughest stretches of the school year.

Rounding Revelations: Navigating Instructional Rounds
Jennifer Ferguson, Missy Roux, and Lindsay McCracken, Special School District

Learn: Delve into the practice of Instructional Rounding as implemented in the Mehlville and Affton school districts, and discover its positive impacts in special education. Discover how Instructional Rounding can foster a culture of continuous learning, strengthen educator capacity and promote a community of personalized professional growth.

Engage: Participate in hands-on activities, partner and group discussions, and interactive Q&A session. Through these collaborative experiences, gain deeper insight into how Instructional Rounding supports educator and student development.

Apply: Reflect on the impacts of Instructional Rounding and begin planning how to incorporate this practice in your own setting. Gain actionable ideas for implementing Instructional Rounding to cultivate a supportive and growth-oriented culture within your educational community.

A Healthy Balance: Tech vs. Tradition
Sophie Chambers, Chillicothe R-II School District

Learn: Explore how to achieve a healthier balance between technology and traditional skills in your classroom. This session addresses concerns about excessive screen time and the impact on essential soft skills, drawing from discussions held within my school district.

Engage: We will cover diverse topics, including virtual reality, traditional geography skills, handwriting versus speech-to-text, library resources, and the importance of face-to-face communication. Attendees will have opportunities for Q&A throughout the presentation to foster engagement.

Apply: Participants will receive a T-chart to assess their current balance between technology and traditional skills, along with actionable strategies for reinforcing soft skills in their classrooms. Leave with practical ideas to enhance your curriculum and promote student success in both realms.

Feeding the Learning Brain

Denise Ford, Kirkwood School District

Learn: Discover how teachers can leverage their unique position to positively influence students' brain development. This session will explore research in mind, brain, and education, providing practical strategies to enhance learning, memory, critical thinking, and confidence in the classroom.

Engage: Participants will be actively involved through movement, curiosity, humor, play, music, and interactive discussions, making the learning experience enjoyable and memorable.

Apply: Walk away with a wealth of immediately applicable, low-cost strategies to nurture every student's brain and engage their interest daily. Understanding how the brain learns will transform your teaching practice and enrich your own learning experience as well.  

Getting Excited About Overexcitabilities: Harnessing the Energy of the Exceptional Learner

Carly Mansfield and Jennifer Moore, Kirkwood School District

Learn: Gain a comprehensive understanding of Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities Theory and its relevance to the characteristics of exceptional learners. Delve into each overexcitability, connecting theoretical concepts to real-life experiences.

Engage: Actively discuss overexcitabilities and identify your own, experiencing "OE Breaks" to understand the energy release associated with each type. This session emphasizes experiential learning over passive listening.

Apply: Move beyond theory to practical insights on creating conducive learning environments that support emotional well-being and concentration. Gain strategies for fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation in gifted students, including routines, activities and tools to manage overstimulation and enhance learning experiences for those with overexcitabilities.  

Labor-Based Grading in Secondary Education"
Brandy Simmons, Dupo School District 196

Learn: Explore an introduction to labor-based grading, an innovative assessment model that shifts focus from outcomes to student effort and growth. Discover the educational advantages this approach offers for both students and educators, grounded in research by Joe Feldman, Asao B. Inoue, and Matthew Gomes.

Engage: Participate in online polls and Q&A sessions designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of labor-based grading practices. Engage with peers and ask questions as you explore real-world applications of this grading model.

Apply: Gain actionable knowledge and initial strategies to implement labor-based grading in your own classroom fostering a more equitable and supportive assessment environment for all students.