Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

arrow_back View All Dates

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

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

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 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 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

11:00am CDT

Let the Games Begin: Simple Strategies to Increase Student Engagement

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

Room 20

In this session, you will learn quick and easy activities to use in any classroom to boost student engagement. This session will be interactive! You will have a time to try out some of the activities you will be learning about.

Presenters

Monica Shaner

Curriculum Leader, Spanish Fort High

Hello, I am Monica Shaner, the Curriculum Leader at Spanish Fort High School. With sixteen years experience in education, my focus is on academic growth and achievement through problem-based learning, differentiated instruction, and data driven resources. I strive to support teachers... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 20

Artificial Intelligence Assessment Community Building Community Engagement Differentiation eMINTS Technology

Level All Teachers

11:00am CDT

CAPP Process

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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 255

Community Engagement

Level Administrators, Counselors

12:00pm CDT

Multiple Intelligence Mania

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

Room 5

Engage and build confidence in your students through using Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory in your classroom! This workshop will teach you how you are smart, ways to incorporate MI to what you are already teaching in class, and strategies to differentiate your classroom so all learners to feel success. Leave with tons of Multiple Intelligence ideas ready to use!

Presenters

Laura Morin

Gifted Teacher, Magnolia Elementary

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 5

Community Building Community Engagement Differentiation

Level All Teachers

12:00pm CDT

RTI Scheduler: Tips, Tricks, and Tea

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

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 95

Community Engagement Data Differentiation PLCs Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

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