Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

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8:00am CDT

i-Ready for Leaders: Keeping the Momentum with i‑Ready: What’s New for Back‑to‑School (Admin and Coaches)

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am CDT

Leaders reflect on successes and challenges in their i‑Ready implementation while learning about new Back‑to‑School enhancements. Participants explore key data tools and planning resources to strengthen implementation and inform next steps.
Session outcomes include: reflect on i‑Ready implementation successes and challenges, learn what’s new in i‑Ready for Back‑to‑School, and build an action plan to strengthen implementation.

Presenters

Tracy Varnadore

Curriculum Associates/i-Ready Professional Learning Specialist, Curriculum Associates/i-Ready

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 10:00am CDT
Room 243

Assessment Data Math

Level Administrators

8:00am CDT

ACT AIM Reading Training (Pre-Registered Participants ONLY)

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 3:30pm CDT

Room G - 9th Grade Academy

ACT AIM Reading Training (2 days- Pre-Registered Participants ONLY)

Presenters

TBD TBD

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 3:30pm CDT
Room G - 9th Grade Academy

Assessment

Level Administrators, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Special Education

9:00am CDT

Creating Assessments with DnA Item Bank and Flexible Assessments

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 268

Learn the basics of creating a DnA assessment by pulling items from an item bank and using filters such as Standards and Depth of Knowledge, as well as learn the basics of creating a DnA assessment using an existing assessment.

Presenters

Fabiola Doria

Field Consultant II, Renaissance

Fabiola Doria is a Field Consultant II as part of the Renaissance Customer Education team and delivers high quality presentations on Renaissance products. She has her Bachelors degree in Biology from The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, and her Masters degree in Educational... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 268

Assessment Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

9:00am CDT

You Can't Teach A Nervous System That's On Fire: Understanding Student Dysregulation in the Age of Social Media

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Library

Something has shifted in our classrooms. Educators across grade levels and subject areas are reporting the same thing: students who cannot focus, cannot regulate, cannot tolerate uncertainty, and cannot connect the way they once could. And most professional development has responded by adding more — more curriculum, more programs, more policy, more things for already-exhausted educators to implement.

This session takes a different approach entirely.

You Can't Teach a Nervous System That's On Fire is a deep, honest, and surprisingly hopeful look at what is actually happening to the students sitting in our classrooms — through the lens of neuroscience, social media research, and the realities of growing up in an era of unprecedented collective overwhelm.

Participants will leave with:

A clear, accessible understanding of how chronic social media consumption is affecting the adolescent nervous system

The ability to recognize and reframe specific student behaviors through a neurological lens — transforming how they see and respond to their most challenging students

Practical, evidence-informed strategies to support student regulation that require no new budget and no additional programs

Language and tools to share with parents navigating these same challenges at home

This is not a session about blaming phones, diagnosing students, or adding to anyone's workload. It is a session about understanding — because when you truly understand what you are looking at, everything about how you show up changes.

And that changes what is possible in the room.

Presenters

Kristi Bush

Keynote Speaker, Social Media Safety Educator, KNB Communications

Kristi Bush serves as a national education consultant and social media safety advocate. She is a licensed social worker with greater than 20 years of clinical practice and health care experience. She attended Troy and Auburn University where she studied social work and counseling... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Library

9:00am CDT

ParentSquare - Level Up Your Communication: Going Above and Beyond with Family Engagement

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 252

Ready to boost your family's engagement and excitement? In this interactive session, we’ll show you how to streamline communication and boost family engagement using Groups, Post Add-Ons, and Appointment Sign-Ups. Walk away with simple, powerful tools to connect with families and staff—without adding more to your plate.

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 252

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

9:00am CDT

Interact Differently: Reimagining Teaching with Interactive Displays & Digital Signage

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 93

Today’s classrooms require more than just a display — they require tools that actively engage students, support teachers, and create more dynamic learning environments. In this session, educators will explore how interactive displays and digital signage can transform the way teaching and learning happen in the classroom and across campus. Attendees will walk away with practical tips, creative classroom use cases, and simple strategies for using built-in tools from Clear Touch to increase collaboration, participation, and instructional impact.

Presenters

Madison Hunt

Account Manager, Clear Touch

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 93

CTE Data Math PLCs Reading Robotics Science Social Studies Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Pre-K Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Special Education

9:00am CDT

General PowerSchool Q&A

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 32

Get answers to your PowerSchool questions and learn how to make the most of its features.

Presenters

Joseph Marshall

Enterprise Systems Professional, Other

Enterprise Department

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 32

Data Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, 504 Coordinators, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

9:00am CDT

PowerSchool SIS Basics / Tips and Tricks

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 28

Learn the essentials and expert tips to navigate PowerSchool SIS efficiently.

Presenters

Joseph Marshall

Enterprise Systems Professional, Other

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 28

Data Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, 504 Coordinators, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

9:00am CDT

Teach Smarter, Not Harder: Curriculum‑Aligned Content with Discovery Education

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 255

Discover how Discovery Education simplifies planning with ready‑to‑use, standards‑aligned videos, activities, and lesson supports across all subjects K-12. Walk away with resources you can teach with tomorrow.

Presenters

Tomi Rush

Sr. Partner Success Manager, Discovery Education

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 255

ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

9:00am CDT

Protecting Students in a Digital Age: Laws, AI-Generated Risks, and National Reporting Tools

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 267

This presentation is designed for educators, school administrators, counselors, school resource officers, and safety personnel to better understand the rapidly evolving threats involving online exploitation, sextortion, AI-generated explicit imagery, and child sexual abuse material (CSAM). The session combines the legal perspective of a prosecutor, the investigative perspective of an Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Investigator, and the prevention/intervention perspective of school safety leadership.

The presentation focuses on how generative AI and social media platforms are changing student victimization, what schools should do when incidents occur, and what state and federal laws apply to synthetic or AI-generated child sexual abuse material. It also provides practical reporting tools and response protocols schools can immediately implement.

Collaborative Guests for the presentation:

Cpl. David Tetreau
Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office
Investigator/ Digital Forensic Examiner

Assistant District Attorney Sydnee Corello
Baldwin County District Attorney’s Office

Presenters

Jeffrey Spaller

Safety & Security Supervisor, Baldwin County Central Office

Jeff Spaller is a retired Sergeant from the Baldwin County Sheriff's Office with extensive experience in school safety, community outreach, and law enforcement leadership. During his 25 year plus tenure, he served in multiple divisions and retired while leading and supervising the... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 267

Safety

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Central Office, Counselors

9:00am CDT

Accommodations for English Learners

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 19

This session focuses on selecting and using effective accommodations for English learners in both instruction and assessment. Participants will explore how to align accommodations to students’ language proficiency levels and consider how these supports can increase access to grade-level content. The session will also include examples of appropriate accommodations and guidance on selecting supports that match students’ instructional needs.

Presenters

Stephanie Montiel

ESL Supervisor, BCBE

I acquired my love for teaching while working in Paraguay as a Peace Corps volunteer. I hold a master's degree in English as a second language (ESL) and an education specialist degree in teacher leadership, both from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. I completed a schoo... Read More →

Danielle White

ALSDE ESL Education Specialist, ALSDE ESL Department, Region 10

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 19

Differentiation ELL

Level Administrators, All Teachers

9:00am CDT

Creating Safe & Supportive Environments through Effective Classroom Management

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 269

Classroom Management Strategies

Presenters

Kristie Shankles

MTSS-Specialist, ALSDE

Jonathan Thompson

HPE and AL-MTSS Specialist, ALSDE

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 269

Health/ Wellness Leadership

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers

9:00am CDT

Begin the Journey of True Instructional Leadership with "Discover Kagan"

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 271

Discover Kagan Cooperative Learning. Discover an approach to teaching and
learning that focuses on one core concept: Full Student Engagement. Kagan empowers
teachers to create full student engagement using Kagan’s research-based and classroom
proven cooperative instructional strategies. Instead of engaging one student at a time,
Kagan’s Everyone Answers! structures create an unparalleled level of engagement for every
student, every day. This high-leverage approach addresses eight pressing challenges district
leaders face today. Discover how Kagan helps districts: 1) reduce teacher burnout and
shortages; 2) increase achievement, reduce learning and achievement gaps; 3) drastically
cut disruptive behaviors and referrals; 4) enhance engagement, reduce distractions, and
student boredom; 5) reduce chronic absenteeism; 6) decrease assessment workload while
increasing authentic assessment; 7) improve student well-being; 8) meet the needs of all
learners. Discover what Kagan really is, how it addresses education’s pressing concerns, and
how Kagan works with districts. This Discover Kagan session is an opportunity for your
leadership team to come to consensus, deciding if Kagan is right for your district.

Presenters

Aaron Diaz

Director of Implementation Support, Kagan Publishing and Professional Development

Dr. Aaron Diaz has served as a bus driver, coach, teacher, assistant principal, and principal. He is passionate about improving pedagogy, teacher support, community engagement, relationshipbuilding, and strategic planning—especially through the use of Kagan Cooperative Learning... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 271

Leadership

Level Administrators, Central Office

10:00am CDT

Creating Assessments with DnA Item Bank and Flexible Assessments

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 268

Presenters

Fabiola Doria

Field Consultant II, Renaissance

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 268

Assessment Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

10:00am CDT

Nurturing Norms: Crafting Classroom Community with Confidence

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 214

This session empowers educators to create structured yet flexible classroom environments by providing a comprehensive understanding of classroom norms. Through interactive and practical activities, participants will explore the what, why, and how of norm-setting, fostering a positive learning atmosphere that enhances student engagement and academic success. The hands-on approach ensures that educators leave with actionable strategies ready for immediate application in their educational settings.

Presenters

Haylee Anderson

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS National Center

Haylee Anderson is currently an instructional specialist with eMINTS National Center. She has previously been a high school English and Spanish and a middle school ELA educator in Missouri. Her family is the most important thing in the world to her. She lives in Southwest Missouri... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 214

Behavior Community Building eMINTS Health/ Wellness

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

10:00am CDT

ParentSquare - Level Up Your Communication: Going Above and Beyond with Family Engagement

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 252

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 252

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

10:00am CDT

Pathways to Possibility: Career Exploration with Discovery Education

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 255

Get ready to spark curiosity and inspire tomorrow’s
workforce! In this interactive session, we’ll explore curated
career resources and student-driven career exploration
tools that make real-world learning come alive. See how
Discovery Education helps empower teachers, propel
student growth, and connect your classroom to exciting
career pathways. Walk away with ideas and resources to
help students dream big and take their first steps toward
the future they imagine.

Presenters

Tomi Rush

Sr. Partner Success Manager, Discovery Education

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 255

Continuing Education CTE

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Counselors

10:00am CDT

General PowerSchool Q&A

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 32

Get answers to your PowerSchool questions and learn how to make the most of its features.

Presenters

Joseph Marshall

Enterprise Systems Professional, Other

Enterprise Department

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 32

Data Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, 504 Coordinators, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

10:00am CDT

PowerSchool SIS Incidents

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 28

Manage and track student incidents with ease using Simple.

Presenters

Lance Lewis

Supervisor Registrar and SIS Operations, Other

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 28

Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Pre-K Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, 504 Coordinators, Career Tech Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

10:00am CDT

The Teacher’s Spellbook: Google Scripts + Gemini Edition

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 3

Step into The Teacher’s Spellbook and discover how to transform your daily tasks into automated “magic” using Google Apps Script and Google Gemini. This session is designed for educators with little to no coding experience who want to save time, reduce repetitive work, and streamline classroom and administrative workflows.

Participants will explore how Google tools like Sheets, Forms, and Slides can be enhanced with simple scripts to automate tasks such as sending emails, organizing data, generating reports, and creating presentations. The real “cheat code” of the session is learning how to use Google Gemini to write these scripts—no coding background required.

Through real-world examples, including large-scale event management and classroom applications, attendees will leave with practical strategies, ready-to-use prompts, and the confidence to begin automating their own workflows immediately.

Presenters

Miranda Mosley

Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, MCPSS

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 3

Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

10:00am CDT

i-Ready for Leaders: Keeping the Momentum with i‑Ready: What’s New for Back‑to‑School (Admin and Coaches)

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Room 243

Presenters

Tracy Varnadore

Curriculum Associates/i-Ready Professional Learning Specialist, Curriculum Associates/i-Ready

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 243

Assessment Data Math

Level Administrators

11:00am CDT

RTI Scheduler: Tips, Tricks, and Tea

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 95

Ready to slay your RTI schedule? Join Audrey, Anna, and me as we dive into the pros and cons of the RTI Scheduler! We’ll show you the tips, tricks, and little hacks that make scheduling less stressful and more strategic—so you can spend less time juggling and more time teaching. This session is perfect for BCBE teachers, but anyone who wants to work smarter (not harder!) with RTI will leave with practical, ready-to-use ideas. Come for the laughs, stay for the strategies, and leave ready to own your RTI game!

Presenters

Audrey Anna Rabalais

Curriculum Leader, Foley Middle

Anna Hunt

Curriculum Leader, Bay Minette Middle

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 95

Community Engagement Data Differentiation PLCs Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

11:00am CDT

Tiered Instruction: Igniting Curiosity

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 269

Explore Tier I Instruction Strategies for engagement.

Presenters

Kristie Shankles

MTSS-Specialist, ALSDE

Jonathan Thompson

HPE and AL-MTSS Specialist, ALSDE

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 269

Data Leadership PLCs

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers

11:00am CDT

PowerSchool SIS Reporting and SubReports

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 28

Dive into reporting features to gather valuable insights from PowerSchool SIS data.

Presenters

William Waldrop

Enterprise Systems Professional, Other

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 28

Data Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, 504 Coordinators, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

12:00pm CDT

Sugar and Spice...Not Always Nice: Understanding and Addressing Relational Aggression in Girls

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 254

This session provides school counselors, educators, and support staff with a practical understanding of relational aggression among girls, using key insights from the book, Queen Bees and Wannabes. Participants will explore the secret society of girls, how social dynamics, peer influence, and communication patterns impact behavior, and how adults can respond in ways that build connection, accountability, and healthy relationships.

Presenters

Sherry Rainbolt

Prevention and Support Supervisor, Central Office Staff

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 254

Behavior

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Pre-K Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

Big Feelings, Big Behaviors: Helping Students Reset in K–6

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 19

Big feelings. Big behaviors. Real solutions.

If you’ve ever felt your classroom shift in seconds from calm to chaos, this session is for you. Join us for an energizing, no-fluff deep dive into how to confidently handle escalating behaviors without power struggles, shutdowns, or lost learning time.

You’ll learn how to catch the early warning signs before things blow up, use game-changing de-escalation language that actually works, and put proactive strategies in place that help students regulate and refocus. Built for K–6 educators, this session is packed with real talk, real strategies, and ready-to-use teacher scripts you can take back and use immediately.

Walk in curious—leave feeling confident, equipped, and ready to take back your classroom.

Presenters

Angela Hurst

K3 Project Success Teacher, Pine Grove Elementary

I am a dedicated educator with 22 years of experience teaching 3rd and 4th grade. I currently serve as a Project Success Teacher, where I work closely with Tier 3 behavior intervention students to support their growth and success. I’m a proud wife to David and mom to DJ and Zach... Read More →

Savanah Miller

Special Education Teacher

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 19

Behavior Differentiation Safety

Level Administrators, Pre-K Teachers, Elementary Teachers, 504 Coordinators, Counselors, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

ParentSquare - Game Plan for Groups: Athletics & Activities Edition

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 91

Coaches and club leaders—this one’s for you. Learn how to set up and manage your team using Groups, from adding guest users to organizing practices and games with the calendar. We’ll also cover post permissions and powerful add-ons so you can keep everyone informed, engaged, and ready for game day. Bring all of your questions and let's go!

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 91

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Creating Assessments with DnA Item Bank and Flexible Assessments

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 268

Presenters

Fabiola Doria

Field Consultant II, Renaissance

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 268

Assessment Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

1:00pm CDT

ParentSquare - Data-Driven Communication & Secure Family Engagement

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 91

Designed for principals and administrators, this session focuses on turning insights into action. Explore how to leverage ParentSquare reports to monitor engagement and make informed decisions, while also learning how to securely share important documents with families. We’ll also cover best practices for launching StudentSquare at your site and how to use data to keep a real-time pulse on communication across your school. Walk away with practical strategies to communicate with confidence.

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 91

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Consistency Wins: Building a Districtwide Communication System That Works

Tuesday July 14, 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 →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement Professionalism Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office

1:00pm CDT

CAPP Process

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 255

Go over with referring administrator's the process on a referral to the CAPP program.

Presenters

Michael Cook

Director of Services, Drug Education Council

Married three children and six grand children. Retired from a 30 year career in Law Enforcement went to work with
The Drug Education Council in 2015 and now the director of services. Would love to talk to administrators about the CAPP program and the referral process.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 255

Community Engagement

Level Administrators, Counselors

1:00pm CDT

Strengthening Secondary MTSS Through High School PST and Grade Level PLC Collaboration

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 16

Discover how Robertsdale High redesigned its Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Problem Solving Team (PST) processes to strengthen Tier 1 instruction and guide targeted interventions through collaboration with Grade Level PLCs. Participants will explore how PLCs and PST teams analyze academic, attendance, and behavioral data through a shared problem-solving framework. The session highlights practical tools including meeting protocols, RTI-Scheduler integration, teacher feedback systems, and collaborative decision-making structures. Attendees will leave with replicable strategies for aligning PLC collaboration with MTSS systems to increase teacher ownership, strengthen collaboration, and improve student outcomes.

Presenters

Nancy Caruthers

Teacher, Robertsdale High School

Annie Freeman

Curriculum Leader, Robertsdale High School

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 16

Data Differentiation Google/Google Classroom Leadership PLCs

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Trauma-Informed Approach Overview: A Pathway Toward Student Success

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

TBA

This overview of trauma-informed education equips educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to cultivate a compassionate classroom culture. Participants will gain insights into the neurological, emotional, and social effects of trauma on learning.(Condensed Version)

Presenters

Kristie Shankles

MTSS-Specialist, ALSDE

Jonathan Thompson

HPE and AL-MTSS Specialist, ALSDE

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
TBA

Community Building Health/ Wellness Leadership

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers

1:00pm CDT

i-Ready For Leaders: Building a Strong Data Culture with i‑Ready (Admin & Coaches)

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room 243

Leaders explore strategies for strengthening a data‑driven culture while using i‑Ready to support both instructional decision‑making and student ownership of learning. Participants develop an action plan to help students track their progress and growth toward goals.
Session outcomes include strengthen a data culture using i‑Ready, increase student engagement through data tracking, and create a plan to support student monitoring and growth.

Presenters

Tracy Varnadore

Curriculum Associates/i-Ready Professional Learning Specialist, Curriculum Associates/i-Ready

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 243

Assessment Data Math

Level Administrators

2:00pm CDT

Creating Assessments with DnA Item Bank and Flexible Assessments

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 268

Presenters

Fabiola Doria

Field Consultant II, Renaissance

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 268

Assessment Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

2:00pm CDT

Canva Code and Magic Activities

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 251

Discover how Canva’s AI tools, Magic Activities and Canva Code (no coding knowledge required), can transform your classroom. In this session, you’ll explore how these innovative features make it easier than ever to create engaging instructional materials, streamline classroom management, and design interactive games and activities aligned with academic standards. Learn how to harness AI to promote higher-order thinking skills, encourage creativity, and save valuable planning time while making learning more dynamic and meaningful for your students. 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 →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 251

Community Engagement Leadership Coding

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Librarians

2:00pm CDT

From Data to Action: How the RHS Guiding Coalition Drives Learning, Leadership, and Results

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 16

Join the RHS Guiding Coalition as they share how they drive student learning by analyzing data using the “Here’s What, So What, Now What” framework and how that thinking translates into real decisions at the classroom and school level. Learn how the GC clarifies schoolwide priorities, keeps PLCs aligned to essential outcomes, and protects teams from initiative overload. Discover how they build capacity in teacher leaders, model effective collaboration, and share best practices across teams. The session will also highlight how the GC monitors work of the PLCs. Walk away with practical strategies to strengthen leadership, collaboration, and results in your own team or .

Presenters

Nancy Caruthers

Teacher, Robertsdale High School

Annie Freeman

Curriculum Leader, Robertsdale High School

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 16

Data Differentiation Leadership PLCs Professionalism

Level Administrators, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Special Education

2:00pm CDT

English Learner Data: What Leaders Need to Know

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 28

This session helps district and school administrators use English learner data to inform program planning and instructional support. Participants will review indicators related to English language development, academic outcomes, and program effectiveness, and explore how these data can inform decisions and strengthen services for ELs.

Presenters