Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

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10:00am CDT

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

Join our workshop to build confidence using Canva in your classroom. Learn how to navigate the Home screen, find and use templates, and share activities. We will dive into the Canva editor and explore tips and tricks to level up your designs. You’ll get hands-on experience using elements, animation, and more. Please bring your laptop for some hands-on learning!

Presenters

Sasha Goman

Canva Learning Consultant, Canva Education

Sasha is a Canva Learning Consultant, and she is a former secondary education teacher. She has a master's degree in Teacher Leadership from Northwestern University, where she studied professional development and coaching. She is excited to help teachers create more engaging and dynamic... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 251

Community Engagement Professionalism

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Librarians

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

12:00pm CDT

Field Trip Mastermind: Planning, Paperwork, and Preparation

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 20

Planning a field trip—especially an overnight trip—requires thoughtful organization, clear communication, and strong systems. In this practical session, educators will learn how to confidently plan and manage both local day trips and more complex multi-day overnight field experiences. Participants will explore step-by-step planning strategies for transportation, budgeting, paperwork, chaperone coordination, student supervision, and day-of logistics. Special attention will be given to the additional layers involved in overnight travel, including room assignments, extended schedules, safety planning, and communication with families. Attendees will leave with practical timelines, organizational tools, and teacher-tested tips to simplify the planning process and ensure field trips run smoothly from the first permission slip to the final bus ride home.

Presenters

Brittany Antinarella

Gifted Teacher, Fairhope West Elementary

I am a Project Jubilee teacher at Fairhope West Elementary. I love making things pretty, traveling, my planner, yoga, spending time with my family and friends, reading, and learning new things.

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 20

Professionalism Safety

Level All Teachers

1:00pm CDT

Show Me The Money, We Up Next

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

Room 269

This session will engage the participants to understand and learn their asking style. Where every level need the understanding of the importance of fundraising and introduce the exploring post and exploring club workforce development program of 6th-12th grade.

Presenters

William Bryant

Scout Executive/CEO, Mobile Area Council, Scouting America

William Bryant, Jr. is the Scout Executive/CEO Mobile Area Council, Scouting America. He is the immediate past Revenue and Membership Growth Coach for the National Office of the Boy Scouts of America. William is a Subject Matter Expert in Fund Development. In his over 15 years of experience, Willia... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 269

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Professionalism

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Pre-K Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Counselors

1:00pm CDT

Consistency Wins: Building a Districtwide Communication System That Works

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

Room 201

Strong schools don’t just communicate more — they communicate consistently.

In this session, district and school leaders will explore how to create a unified communication approach that reaches every family, reduces staff confusion, and builds trust across the community. We’ll walk through practical ways to align principals, central office teams, and school staff around one system, clear expectations, and simple workflows that actually get used.

This is not about adding another tool. It’s about using one system well — so families know where to look, staff know what to do, and communication works when it matters most.

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare | Former Chief Information Officer, Hoover City SchoolsWith over 20 years in K-12 education and technology leadership, Bryan brings a practical, student-centered approach to every conversation. He led one of Alabama’s most innovative tech departments... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement Professionalism Technology