Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

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10:00am CDT

How to Start a Podcast for Your School or Program.

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

This PD session will provide a beginner-friendly overview of how to start a podcast. Participants will learn the basic equipment needed, simple recording and editing tools, tips for planning content, and ways to publish and share episodes. The session is designed to help educators feel confident taking the first steps in creating a podcast for their classroom, program, or personal interests.

Presenters

Morrell Baxter

CTE Supervisor, Central Office Staff

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 96

CTE Digital Citizenship STEM/STEAM Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Counselors

10:00am CDT

Flip the Script: Assessment Remix

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 206

Tired of the "teach to the test" cycle? Join us for a hands-on exploration of assessment strategies that reflect what your students know. In this session, we’re ditching the Scantron and Google Form in favor of high-engagement alternatives. We will dive into the versatility of Choice Boards, the storytelling power of Podcasts, and the visual synthesis of One Pagers. You’ll also learn how to spark deep classroom discourse with Parlay Ideas and empower students with the “You Write the Test” approach. Leave with a digital toolkit ready to transform your next unit.

Presenters

Nikki Minoso

Teacher, ELA, Spanish Fort High

Allison Fisher

English Teacher, Daphne High School

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 206

Differentiation Digital Citizenship ELA Reading Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

10:00am CDT

MagicSchool Teacher Level 1: From First Login to First Win: Building a Strong MagicSchool Rollout for Back to School

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 92

New to MagicSchool? This beginner-friendly, level one training session for teachers is designed to help you hit the ground running. Learn how to use MagicSchool to quickly generate lesson plans, differentiate instruction, support diverse learners, and streamline everyday tasks. Walk away with simple, high-impact workflows you can use immediately—no prior experience required.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

PD & Community Specialist, MagicSchool

Destinie Thomas is a Professional Development and Community Specialist at MagicSchool, where she helps educators discover how AI can make teaching more joyful, efficient, and equitable. She has spent her career creating engaging learning experiences—whether coaching teachers, leading... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 92

Digital Citizenship ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

10:00am CDT

Digital Literacy with MagicSchool: Building Skills for Elementary and Secondary Learners

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 5

Discover how MagicSchool empowers teachers to teach essential digital literacy skills across grade levels—from responsible AI use and digital citizenship to evaluating online sources and understanding algorithmic thinking. Learn practical strategies for integrating MagicSchool tools into your curriculum to help students become critical consumers and creators in an AI-driven world. Leave with ready-to-use lessons and resources for both elementary and secondary classrooms.

Presenters

Jenny McAllister

Ed Tech, Central Office Staff

Hello! My name is Jenny McAllister. I'm a fifteen-year veteran middle school science teacher who recently left the classroom to join Ed Tech. I'm the point of contact for Pear Deck, BrainPOP, and Magic School (secondary). This fall, I will be leading the STEAM cohort for BCBE and... Read More →

Dr. Patrice Williams

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 5

Digital Citizenship Technology

Level All Teachers

11:00am CDT

The Discussion Revolution: Building Student Agency, One Round Table at a Time with Parlay Ideas

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 206

Transform your classroom from a teacher-led lecture into a vibrant, student-driven community with Parlay Ideas. In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore the Parlay Universe to find ready-made prompts that spark critical thinking and dive into the Written Round Table to see how anonymous peer feedback empowers even your quietest students. You’ll experience a Live Round Table firsthand to see how real-time data and discussion mapping can facilitate civil discourse and provide instant engagement analytics. Join us to learn how to step back as a lecturer and step up as a coach, using Parlay to make every student’s voice visible and every discussion measurable.

Presenters

Nikki Minoso

Teacher, ELA, Spanish Fort High

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 206

Assessment Differentiation Digital Citizenship ELA Professionalism Reading Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

1:00pm CDT

The Essential Teacher Tech Toolbox

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 207

Is your 'tab anxiety' real? In this fast-paced, high-impact session, we’re opening the ultimate digital toolbox designed for the modern educator. We are diving straight into the essential, 'can’t-live-without' tools that streamline your workflow, automate the boring stuff, and spark instant engagement. Whether you’re a tech-pro or just trying to survive the next bell, you’ll walk away with a curated kit of digital shortcuts to make your teaching life smoother, faster, and much more fun.

Presenters

Jacquelyn Wilson

Library Media Specialist, Stonebridge Elementary

I am the Library Media Specialist at Stonebridge Elementary. I have been an educator for 13 years. In our school library, I like to promote a culture of reading while also including a variety of makerspaces and research lessons. I am a National Board Certified Teacher and I also facilitate... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 207

Artificial Intelligence Digital Citizenship Technology

Level Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Librarians

2:00pm CDT

Basics to Breakthroughs: Designing intentional learning with Kami

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 254

Join us to explore how to strategically leverage Kami’s features to create highly engaging, personalized learning experiences. In this hands-on session, you will learn to create custom content scaffolding and provide critical, in-the-moment student support. We will discuss how to use Kami tools to tailor the environment for every learner. You’ll leave with a versatile toolkit of instructional strategies and a proven roadmap for fostering student independence.

Presenters

Janet Burnett

Teacher Success Manager, Kami & Book Creator

Janet Burnett is a Teaching & Learning Coordinator for Kami and Book Creator, but also a lifelong educator. With 28 years of experience in education as a teacher and Technology Specialist, she is passionate about helping teachers “power-up” daily lessons while bringing joy to... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 254

Assessment Chromebook Digital Citizenship ELA ELL Guided Reading Math Reading Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

2:00pm CDT

MagicSchool Student Level 2: Deeper Learning with AI-Powered Support

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 92

Take student learning to the next level with MagicStudent. In this session, participants will explore more advanced ways students can use AI to strengthen critical thinking, refine writing, and engage in meaningful problem-solving. Learn how to guide students in using AI for feedback, revision, and deeper understanding—while reinforcing academic integrity. Walk away with practical strategies to help students use MagicStudent as a true learning partner.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

PD & Community Specialist, MagicSchool

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 92

Digital Citizenship ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

2:00pm CDT

Retro Report: Bringing Real-World Relevance to Science, History, and ELA

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 206

How does a 40-year-old news story help a student understand today’s biology lab, tomorrow’s history essay, or next week’s novel? Join us for a hands-on exploration of Retro Report, a free library of short-form documentaries that bridge the gap between historical events and modern-day impacts. Whether you are a Science teacher exploring the ethics of medical breakthroughs, a History teacher connecting past policies to current headlines, or an English teacher analyzing bias and narrative structure, Retro Report offers the primary source material you need. We will dive into their subject-specific collections, explore ready-to-use lesson plans, and learn how to use investigative storytelling to build critical thinking and media literacy skills in every classroom.

Presenters