Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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8:00am CDT

K-1 Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Math Centers

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT

This session is for Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers ONLY.

Join Sue O’Connell, author of Math in Practice and creator of the Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Centers to explore a variety of engaging, hands-on tasks that elevate math practice from worksheets to games and interactive activities. Discover how carefully-crafted centers help your students master their priority standards related to numbers and operations. See how grade-specific center tasks can reinforce foundational skills, encourage strategic thinking, and support all learners in developing confidence with numbers. During this session, you will engage in a variety of math centers and each participant will receive a set of Navigating Numeracy center tasks to use with students in their classrooms following the session.

K-1 teachers who attend this session will receive a copy of the Print Pack of the Navigating Numeracy Centers for their grade level. These will be ordered and delivered following the training to ensure you receive the appropriate materials for your grade. Manipulatives will not be included, only the print materials.

Presenters

Sue O'Connell

Hand2Mind Educational Specialist, Hand2Mind

Sue O’Connell has years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher, math coach, and math speaker/consultant. Sue is the lead author of Heinemann’s Math in Practice series (2016), Math by the Book series (2021), and numerous other professional books that support the teac... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room 20

Math

Level Elementary Teachers

8:00am CDT

AMSTI 4-5 NUMBERS: Decimals (Completion of Day 3)

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

Room B - 9th Grade Academy

**Note: This session is a second part to the 4-5 AMSTI NUMBERS Fractions and Decimals sessions that were offered during the school year. Since those sessions did not get to the decimals component, this session will focus on decimals.

This 1 day module focuses on the connection between fractional and decimal representations and operations with decimals.

Presenters

Candyce Tracy

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Kristi Ellard

AMSTI K-5 Math Specialist, AMSTI

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

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

AMSTI K-2 Geometry

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

Room C - 9th Grade Academy

**Note: AMSTI Math Foundations Training (K-5 or 6-12) is a REQUIRED prerequisite to be able to attend and participate in this course.

This one-day session focuses on identifying, analyzing, composing, and decomposing
shapes and laying the foundation for early fractional reasoning in K-2. Participants will
learn that geometry in K-2 is much more than identifying shapes as they explore the
learning progressions related to geometric reasoning, discover the power of purposeful
geometry experiences in the classroom, discuss strategies to incorporate geometry
into the full academic year, and analyze evidence of students understanding to inform
planning of next instructional steps.

Presenters

Brooke Love

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

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

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

AMSTI K-5 Math Foundations Training

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

Room D - 9th Grade Academy

This 1-day session is a prerequisite for AMSTI K-5 math content area trainings. It
focuses on an overview of pedagogical strategies, the student and teacher math
practices, and the power of collective teacher efficacy. Participants will analyze
evidence of student understanding to inform planning of next instructional steps.

Presenters

Jaymie Gregg

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

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

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

AMSTI NUMBERS 3-5 Fractions and Decimals (Day 2 of 3)

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

Room A - 9th Grade Academy

*Note: If you enroll in this session, you must attend ALL 3 full days of the sessions to receive credit.

This 3-day module focuses on fractional equivalence, fraction magnitude, operations, and the connection between fractional and decimal representation, and operations with decimals. Days 1 and 2 will highlight fractions and day 3 will highlight decimals.

Presenters

Andrea Robinson

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Becky Soumeillan

AMSTI Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

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

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

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

Cafeteria/Auditorium

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
Cafeteria/Auditorium

9:00am CDT

Canva Essentials Skills

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

Room 251

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

Corissa Tymafichuk

Canva Learning Consultant, Canva Education

Corissa is a Canva Learning Consultant who empowers educators to unlock creativity and engagement in the classroom through Canva Education. She is a former secondary education teacher with experience in literacy coaching and supporting English language learners. Corissa is excited... Read More →

Sasha Goman

Canva Learning Consultant, Canva

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 251

Community Engagement Professionalism

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Librarians

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

MagicSchool Teacher Level 2: Level Up Your AI-Powered Teaching

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

Room 92

Ready to go beyond the basics? In this Level 2 session, educators will deepen their use of MagicSchool to design more targeted instruction, refine differentiation, and create higher-quality materials with greater efficiency. Learn how to customize outputs, build reusable workflows, and apply MagicSchool across planning, assessment, and student support. Walk away with advanced strategies that elevate your practice and maximize impact in the classroom.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Destinie Thomas is a Professional Learning and Community Engagement 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... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 92

ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies

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

9:00am CDT

K-6 Math Evidence Based Practice #3: Mathematical Language

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

Room 270

Join the the Office of Mathematics Improvement to take a dive into Evidence Based Practice #3, Mathematical Language. Build math language & understanding! Learn how to use visuals, manipulatives, and rich discourse to boost comprehension and confidence. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies to make math meaningful and accessible for all learners.

Presenters

Connie Arnold

OMI Region 10 Coordinator, Office of Mathematics Improvement

Connie Arnold is the Regional Coordinator for the Office of Mathematics Improvement (OMI) at the Alabama State Department of Education. With over 15 years of experience in education, she has served as a classroom teacher, librarian, and Secondary Math Specialist with the Alabama... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 270

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

10:00am CDT

MagicSchool Teacher Level 3: Transform Your Practice with Advanced AI Workflows

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

Room 92

Take your MagicSchool expertise to the next level. In this advanced session, educators will learn how to build and refine powerful, repeatable workflows that drive deeper learning, personalization, and efficiency across their practice. Explore strategic use cases for data-informed instruction, complex differentiation, and cross-role collaboration. Walk away ready to lead, model, and scale high-impact MagicSchool use across your school or district.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 92

ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Special Education

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

Tie Dye - Good Vibes

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 45 - Art Room

Learn to Tie Dye! Make and take your very own original tie dye!
This is great session for teacher teams, field trips, clubs, field day grade colors, or just a reward for the students you love!
Tie-Dye a class or the whole school!
We will show you how easy it is to set up and have PEACE that it's something everyone can accomplish with fun success!!

Please bring ONE 100% cotton T-shirt and drop in the bucket of solution that morning before you go to the other wonderful sessions,
so it will be ready for you to create your colorful creation!

Presenters

Joyce Garrison

teacher, Rosinton Elementary

Hello!I am excited to be returning to GRITC as a presenter!
I graduated with my bachelors of fine art and master's of education from the University of Montevallo, which is located in Montevallo, AL.
I am married and we live in Loxley. I teach elementary art and I absolutely love it... Read More →

Nancy Timmons

Middle School Art Teacher, Central Baldwin Middle

I have been teaching visual arts in Baldwin County for seven years, working with students from Pre-K through 8th grade. I studied art, religion, and philosophy at the University of West Florida and currently teach 8th grade art, where I enjoy blending creative skill-building with... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 45 - Art Room

Arts STEM/STEAM

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

11:00am CDT

5 Ways to Get Students Involved in a Cooperative Team

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

Room 214

Using cooperative learning in the classroom can be a challenge! Let’s break this down and discuss specific steps and examples that keep team members involved and working positively towards your lesson goals.

Presenters

Doug Caldwell

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS

Inspiring education with digital learning!

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 214

Community Building Community Engagement eMINTS

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

11:00am CDT

Unlocking Meaning: From the Word Level and Beyond

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

Room 267

This professional learning session is designed to support educators in understanding how meaning is constructed across multiple levels of reading – from the word and beyond. This session highlights the role of oral language, vocabulary, and background knowledge in supporting students’ ability to make meaning at the word, phrase, sentence, and paragraph levels. Educators will engage in practical strategies that demonstrate how these components work together to strengthen reading comprehension. Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of how to intentionally connect instruction at all levels, ensuring that literacy practices support all learners in becoming meaning-focused readers.

Presenters

Jennifer Alberstadt

Regional Literacy Specialist, Alabama Reading Initiative

Amy Barker

Regional Literacy Specialist, Alabama Reading Initiative

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 267

ELA Reading

Level Elementary Teachers

11:00am CDT

K-6 Math Evidence Based Practice #4: Assessment and Feedback

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 12:50pm CDT

Room 270

Join the the Office of Mathematics Improvement to take a dive into Evidence Based Practice #4, Assessment and Feedback. Turn feedback into a game-changer! Learn how to use it as a tool for student ownership, motivation, and growth. Walk away with strategies to make feedback meaningful and impactful in your classroom.

Presenters

Connie Arnold

OMI Region 10 Coordinator, Office of Mathematics Improvement

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 12:50pm CDT
Room 270

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

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

Collaboration over Chaos: Simple Systems for Powerful Group Learning

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

Room 16

Effective collaboration does not happen by chance — it is intentionally designed through structured routines, purposeful tasks, and a classroom culture that values student thinking.

Participants will experience collaborative structures from a learner perspective and examine practical systems that support productive group work, including flexible grouping methods, role development, formative monitoring strategies, and reflection protocols.

Presenters

Annie Freeman

Curriculum Leader, Robertsdale High School

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 16

Behavior Community Building eMINTS

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

12:00pm CDT

Not One More Thing: Embedding Kagan Structures into Instruction

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

Room 3

Teachers often feel overwhelmed by new strategies layered on top of existing expectations. What if engagement didn’t require adding one more thing to your plate? In this interactive session, participants will learn how Kagan cooperative learning structures can replace traditional instructional routines within lessons. Discover simple “structure swaps” that transform lecture, questioning, and practice into highly engaging learning experiences. Teachers will leave with practical strategies that increase participation and accountability—without increasing planning time.

Presenters

Makenzie Cunningham

Building Based Math Coach, Rosinton Elementary

Makenzie Cunningham is the Building Based Math Coach at Rosinton with 12 years of experience in education. She has taught second, third, and fourth grades, as well as special education for pre-K through first grade. Makenzie has completed both Kagan Coaching and Instructional Coaching... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 3

Community Engagement ELA Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Elementary Teachers

12:00pm CDT

MagicSchool Student Level 1: Getting Started with AI for Learning

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

Room 92

New to MagicStudent? This introductory session helps students and educators understand how to use AI as a tool for learning, not shortcuts. Explore how MagicStudent can support brainstorming, studying, writing, and organization while promoting responsible and ethical use. Walk away with simple, practical ways to help students build confidence, stay engaged, and use AI to enhance—not replace—their thinking.

Presenters

Destinie Thomas

Professional Learning and Community Engagement Specialist, MagicSchool AI

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 92

ELA ELL Math Science Social Studies Technology

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

12:00pm CDT

2-3 Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Math Centers

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room 20

This session is for 2nd and 3rd grade teachers ONLY.

Join Sue O’Connell, author of Math in Practice and creator of the Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Centers to explore a variety of engaging, hands-on tasks that elevate math practice from worksheets to games and interactive activities. Discover how carefully-crafted centers help your students master their priority standards related to numbers and operations. See how grade-specific center tasks can reinforce foundational skills, encourage strategic thinking, and support all learners in developing confidence with numbers. During this session, you will engage in a variety of math centers and each participant will receive a set of Navigating Numeracy center tasks to use with students in their classrooms following the session.

2-3 teachers who attend this session will receive a copy of the Print Pack of the Navigating Numeracy Centers for their grade level. These will be ordered and delivered following the training to ensure you receive the appropriate materials for your grade. Manipulatives will not be included, only the print materials.

Presenters

Sue O'Connell

Hand2Mind Educational Specialist, Hand2Mind

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 20

Math

Level Elementary Teachers

1:00pm CDT

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

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