Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

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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

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
Library

9:00am CDT

Collaboration over Chaos: Simple Systems for Powerful Group Leanring

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

The Librarian’s Secret Stash: Meeting Standards with Picture Books

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

Room 207

Join a school librarian for a deep dive into the stacks! Discover how to leverage the library's most versatile tools, picture books, to target rigorous state standards. You’ll leave with a librarian-curated book list and a suite of lesson blueprints designed to make your state standards shine through visual storytelling.

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 →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 207

ELA Reading

Level Elementary Teachers, Librarians

9:00am CDT

Formative Assessment with Pear Deck

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

Room 96

Learn how to engage and assess your students using Pear Deck! Create interactive slide decks that students will love to interact with while delivering content or for gauging learning.

Presenters

Allie Schultze

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 96

Google Technology

Level All Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

9:00am CDT

Illuminated Learning: Engaging Students with Blacklight Activities

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT

Room 45 - Art Room

In this interactive workshop, educators will discover how blacklight activities can boost student engagement across subjects. Learn the science behind UV light, explore creative lesson ideas, and see hands-on demos with fluorescent materials, invisible ink, and glow-in-the-dark elements. After exploring classroom applications, participants will take part in a printmaking activity under blacklight and experiment with a variety of fluorescent and neon art materials. Teachers will leave with practical, ready-to-use strategies, along with a product list and links to all materials used in the workshop.

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 →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 45 - Art Room

Arts ELA Math Science Social Studies STEM/STEAM

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

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

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

10:00am CDT

Google Gemini: Your Classroom Assistant

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

Room 96

Dive into the features of Google Gemini, an AI chatbot that can help you create plans, assist in designing instruction, and customize your bot to meet your needs.

Presenters

Allie Schultze

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 96

Google Technology

Level All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

10:00am CDT

The Teacher’s Spellbook: Google Scripts + Gemini Edition

Wednesday July 15, 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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 3

Technology

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

11:00am CDT

Digital Literacy for Secondary Students

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

Room 5

The current requirements for Digital Literacy in the Alabama ELA course of study and how to move beyond them to help students navigate a web of AI fakes and misinformation. Widely useful for any course that requires students to complete online research assignments and even for teachers and administrators who need an updated understanding of source reliability.

Presenters

Michelle Stockman

Teacher, Robertsdale High School

I am currently serving as a senior English and AP English Language teacher at Robertsdale High School, but I have taught ELA in grades 6-12 in both Alabama and Tennessee during my time as a teacher. I have also served as a Reading Intervention teacher and mentor on the elementary... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 5

Artificial Intelligence Digital Citizenship ELA Reading Science Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Librarians

11:00am CDT

From Gloom to Bloom: Four Strategies for Building Positive Learning Spaces

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

Room 214

Discover four research-based strategies to energize your classroom by cultivating joy and emotional well-being. This fast-paced session blends Prosocial Education, active learning experiences, and classroom management strategies to boost engagement and improve classroom climate. Leave with practical techniques to foster positivity, strengthen relationships, and support learner success.

Presenters

Haylee Anderson

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS National Center

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 214

Community Building eMINTS Health/ Wellness

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, 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

ESL Resource Teacher, Daphne High 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

12:00pm CDT

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

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

Room 202

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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 202

Behavior

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

12:00pm CDT

AI-Powered Studying with NotebookLM

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

Room 96

Unleash the power of your personalized and protected AI assistant with NotebookLM. Find out how to create accessible study guides and learning aides for you and your students.

Presenters

Allie Schultze

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 96

Google Technology

Level All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

The Essential Teacher Tech Toolbox

Wednesday July 15, 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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 207

Artificial Intelligence Digital Citizenship Technology

Level Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Librarians

1:00pm CDT

5 Ways to Get Students Involved in a Cooperative Team

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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 214

Community Building Community Engagement eMINTS

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

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 first year teaching 6th grade after spending several years in 3rd grade, where I developed a deep passion for understanding how students learn to... Read More →

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

Community Building Community Engagement Technology