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

ACT AIM Reading Training (Pre-Registered Participants ONLY)

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 3:30pm CDT

Room G - 9th Grade Academy

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

Presenters

Dorothy LeBlanc

ACT AIM Facilitator, Mastery Prep

Dorothy LeBlanc is an educator with more than 20 years of experience as a middle school and high school teacher, instructional coach, and professional learning facilitator. She has taught English Language Arts, Mathematics, Business, and Social Studies while supporting teachers in... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 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

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

Wednesday July 15, 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 →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Cafeteria/Auditorium

9:00am CDT

Collaboration over Chaos: Simple Systems for Powerful Group Learning

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 252

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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 252

Behavior Community Building eMINTS

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

9:00am CDT

Class Bank: Building Responsibility Through Classroom Economics

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 16

A classroom economy system can transform student motivation, responsibility, and financial literacy. This session introduces Class Bank, a structured classroom economy framework where students earn, save, and spend classroom currency while practicing real-world decision-making skills. Participants will learn how to implement and manage a classroom economy without adding extra workload.

Presenters

Stacey Tatum

6th Grade Science/Social Studies, Elberta Elementary

Hello! My name is Stacey Tatum, and I am a 6th Grade Science and Social Studies teacher at Elberta Elementary School. This year marks my second year teaching 6th grade after spending several years in 3rd grade, where I developed a deep passion for understanding how students learn... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 16

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

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

9:00am CDT

Show Me the Money, We Up Next

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am 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 →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am 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

9:00am CDT

Interact Differently: Reimagining Teaching with Interactive Displays & Digital Signage

Wednesday July 15, 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

Wednesday July 15, 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

How to Start a Podcast for Your School or Program.

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT

Room 95

Covering all the ins and outs of getting started with a school podcast

Presenters

Morrell Baxter

CTE Supervisor, Central Office Staff

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 95

CTE Digital Citizenship STEM/STEAM Technology

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

10:00am CDT

Where to Begin with National Board Certification

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 207

Are you ready for the ups, downs, thrills, and chills of becoming an NBCT? Join us for an informative session on the National Board Certification process. This session will cover key aspects of the program, its benefits, and practical tips for success.

Presenters

Jaime Tillman

Curriculum Leader, Daphne Middle School

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 →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 207

Continuing Education Professionalism

Level All Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

10:00am CDT

Four Strategies to Foster Human-in-the-Loop Critical Thinking

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 214

Discover four practical strategies that help learners use AI to think more critically…not just rely on it for answers. In this interactive session, you’ll explore how to use AI as a thought partner, spot misinformation, promote ethical use, and strengthen human‑in‑the‑loop reasoning. Leave with ready‑to‑use strategies that bring responsible, ethical, and creative AI informational literacy to your learning space.

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 →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 214

CTE eMINTS Technology

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Librarians

11:00am CDT

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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 252

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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 252

Data Differentiation Leadership PLCs Professionalism

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

12:00pm CDT

National Boards? Yes, You Can!

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 91

Attendees will receive information on the process of achieving National Board Certification. You will learn how to navigate the NBCT site, download materials for your area of certification, and plan work for your components. Details on component weights and scoring, available resources, and tips and tricks will be shared from a National Board certified teacher.

Presenters

Shay Stewart

Assistant Principal, Summerdale School

I began my teaching career in Baldwin County as a French teacher at Robertsdale High School in 1993. Since 2002, I have been an ESL Resource Teacher. My passion is to support ELs in their language and content learning and to help teachers learn scaffolds that accommodate English learners... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 91

Assessment Continuing Education

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

1:00pm CDT

One Screen to Run the Room: Engagement and Management Made Simple

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 16

Managing transitions, attention, and pacing can make or break a lesson. Classroom Screen provides a simple digital solution for timers, directions, grouping tools, and engagement supports. In this session, teachers will learn how to streamline routines, increase student independence, and create visually structured learning environments.

Presenters

Stacey Tatum

6th Grade Science/Social Studies, Elberta Elementary

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 16

Community Building Community Engagement Technology

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

1:00pm CDT

CTE Updates and Review

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 95

Reviewing all things CTE especially Curriculum Rules for CCR.

Presenters

Morrell Baxter

CTE Supervisor, Central Office Staff

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 95

CTE

Level Administrators, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Career Tech Teachers, Counselors

Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference - GRITC 2026

8:00am CDT

Dorothy LeBlanc

9:00am CDT

Kristi Bush

9:00am CDT

Annie Freeman

9:00am CDT

Stacey Tatum

9:00am CDT

William Bryant

9:00am CDT

Madison Hunt

9:00am CDT

Morrell Baxter

10:00am CDT

Jaime Tillman

Jacquelyn Wilson

10:00am CDT

Haylee Anderson

11:00am CDT

Nancy Caruthers

Annie Freeman

12:00pm CDT

Shay Stewart

1:00pm CDT

Stacey Tatum

1:00pm CDT

Morrell Baxter

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