Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

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8:00am CDT

2019 ALCOS: Mathematics Overview (6-12) (AMSTI - TEAMS approved)

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT

This 3-hour session that focuses on understanding the new 2019 Alabama Course of Study: Mathematics and its conceptual framework: Position Statements, Mathematical Teaching Practices, Student Mathematical Practices and the 6-12 Content Areas. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in deeper learning as they analyze learning progressions and determine how to incorporate the mathematical practices throughout math instruction.

Presenters

Teressa Rocker

AMSTI Specialist, AMSTI

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room F - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

8:00am CDT

AMSTI K-5 Math Alabama Course of Study Training

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT

Room B - 9th Grade Academy

K-5 Mathematics Foundational Training session is a pre requisite for this session. This
3-hour session is a dive into the Alabama 2019 Course of Study: Mathematics where
participants will explore the conceptual framework of the ALCOS (four critical
components: Position Statements, Student Math Practices, Math Teaching Practices,
and the Alabama Content Standards). Participants will become familiar with the
structure of the ALCOS, discover themes and learning progressions, and uncover
connections and relationships between components that are critical for effective
elementary mathematics instruction.

Presenters

Jennifer Fagerstrom

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

I am passionate about building educator confidence, strengthening instructional systems, and ensuring all students experience meaningful mathematics learning. My career has progressed from classroom teacher to building-based math coach to multi-district mathematics specialist, giving... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room B - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

2026-2027 District Math PLC (days 1 and 2)

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

Room C - 9th Grade Academy

This session is for Baldwin County teachers who have already preregistered. The Baldwin County Math PLC meets five times during the 2026-2027 school year and is ALSDE TEAMS approved PD. July 15-16 are the first two of five meeting dates. The District Math PLC focuses on becoming better math teachers by (1) effectively implementing the mathematical teaching practices, (2) digging deep into math content, (3) collaborating with fellow math teachers, and (4) using current math research to inform and provoke action.

Presenters

Scotty Keenan

Secondary Curriculum Supervisor, Central Office Staff

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Room C - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

8:00am CDT

AMSTI 3-5 Measurement, Data, and Geometry

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

Room D - 9th Grade Academy

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

This one-day session focuses on deepening conceptual knowledge through the use of
various models of representation for teaching and learning geometry, measurement,
and data analysis. Participants will engage in various activities that will build students'
understanding of geometry, measurement, and data analysis.

Presenters

Jaymie Gregg

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Wednesday July 15, 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 3 of 3)

Wednesday July 15, 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 Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Position at Company ABC.

Becky Soumeillan

AMSTI Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Room A - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

8:00am CDT

Math and Science: Go Figure! (6-12) (AMSTI - TEAMS approved)

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

Room E - 9th Grade Academy

This one-day session focuses on connecting the mathematical teaching practices
(MTPs) and the science and engineering practices (SEPs). Participants will collect data
using hands-on activities, use mathematics to analyze, graph, and make informed
predictions based on data while connecting to both math and science standards.

Presenters

Lou Richardson

AMSTI -ASIM Physics Specialist, AMSTI

Emily Black

Math Specialist, AMSTI

Wednesday July 15, 2026 8:00am - 3:00pm CDT
Room E - 9th Grade Academy

Math Science

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

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

Every Student Engaged, Every Lesson--A Taste of Kagan Cooperative Learning

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

Room 271

This session is a dynamic, hands-on session designed to give teachers, district leaders, and school leaders a firsthand look at the power of Kagan Cooperative Learning. Led by a certified Kagan trainer, participants will experience first-hand the power of structuring learning intentionally. Come learn how to transform student engagement by replacing Call On One with structures that engage EVERY learner.

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 →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 271

Arts Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, 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

9:00am CDT

Concrete to Clear: Building Fraction & Decimal Understanding with Manipulatives in Grades 3-6

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am CDT

Room 8

Develop fraction and decimal understanding in grades 3–6 through hands-on learning. This session explores how manipulatives help students visualize relationships, build connections between fractions and decimals, and develop flexible, conceptually grounded number sense beyond memorization. Teachers who attend this session will receive a 4-pack of the Hand2Mind Build-a-Grids to use in their classrooms.

Presenters

Angie Meredith-Ridgeway

hand2mind Educational Specialist, hand2mind

I am passionate about mathematics education – especially at the elementary and middle school level. As a previous awardee of the Presidential Award for Excellence in Science and Mathematics Teaching, Georgia Roundtable Award for Excellence in Math Teaching, as well as the Award... Read More →

Mandi Boyd

Hand2Mind Rep, Hand2Mind

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room 8

Math

Level Elementary Teachers

10:00am CDT

In District Fundraising for Clubs/Teams

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

Room 255

Baldwin County Public School’s After School Care program introduces the In-District Contract. These contracts allow high school and middle school organizations to earn funds by making presentations and teaching lessons to elementary school students during the After School program. These contracts are available for summer, fall, and spring semesters, offering opportunities for all groups to earn money for their organizations and recruit future members.

Presenters

Jacque Helms

ASC Coordinator, Central Office Staff

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 255

10:00am CDT

Session 1 | The Foundation: Integers & The Two-Step Bridge

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

Room 93

Focus: Level 1 – Integers and Two-Step Equations: Stop relying on "Keep-Change-Change" and other shortcuts that leave students confused. In this session, we’ll use bingo chips and unifix cubes to make positive and negative values concrete. We will then transition these visual "zero pairs" directly into solving two-step equations. You’ll walk away with a toolkit to help students see the balance before they ever write an x (variable).

A Note on Attendance: We’ve designed this series to grow with your students. If you teach upper elementary, Session 1 provides everything you need to transform your foundational math instruction. For secondary educators, this session is the "must-have" first step in a journey that bridges the gap from basic integers to multi-step equations.

Presenters

Daphne Lincoln

Math 8 Teacher, WJ Carroll Middle School

The 2026-2027 school year will be my 34th year in education dispersed between Mobile and Baldwin Counties--public and private. I have served in many capacities from teaching 3rd grade through Honors Algebra I. I hold degrees from the University of South Alabama, various other Professional... Read More →

Kaitlyn Cowan

Teacher, Foley Middle School

I am finishing up my third year of teaching mathematics and am passionate about creating engaging, student-centered learning experiences. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Math Education and my Master of Education in Learning Design and Technology from the University of West Alabama.Before... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 93

Differentiation Math

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

11:00am CDT

Session 2 | Scaling Up: The Logic of Multi-Step Equations

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

Room 93

Focus: Level 2 – Multi-Step Equations: When equations get longer, students often get lost in the "clutter." We’ll explore how to use manipulatives to represent distribution and combining like terms without losing the conceptual "why." This session focuses on moving students from physical objects to pictorial representations, ensuring they understand the movement of terms across the equals sign as a logical necessity rather than a magic trick. Stop the 'magic tricks' and start the logic: Learn how to make the movement of terms across an equation make sense to every student. This is Session 2 of our three-part series. While stand-alone attendance is possible, educators will find the most success by starting with Session 1 and following the instructional bridge through to the end.

Presenters

Daphne Lincoln

Math 8 Teacher, WJ Carroll Middle School

Kaitlyn Cowan

Teacher, Foley Middle School

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 93

Differentiation Math

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

ACAP Bootcamp: Mastery in Motion

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

Room 252

In this session, participants will explore an ACAP Bootcamp model in which students are strategically grouped across classrooms and rotate through a series of focused instructional stations led by multiple teachers. Each data-driven station is designed to address a specific ACAP-aligned standard or skill, allowing students to engage in concentrated practice through varied instructional approaches that directly address student needs and support improved performance on the ACAP assessment.

Presenters

Tyler Barber

Teacher-Math, Daphne Middle School

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 252

Assessment Community Building Data Differentiation ELA Math PLCs Science Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Using Amplify to Facilitate Visual Patterns, Number Talks, and Problem Solving in the Secondary Mathematics Classroom

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

Room 93

This session is primarily tailored for 6-12 math teachers but benefit can be found for all math educators with some modifications for earlier grades. We will use Amplify to focus on warmups that involve visual patterns and number talks that help students to connect visual patterns to their mathematical expressions. The number talks will help students develop numeracy skills and compare their ways of thinking with their peers to help them learn to work flexibly and efficiently with numbers. These tasks will be easy for students to start but encourage deeper thinking and can lead to deeper understanding of more advanced solutions.

Presenters

Ashley Burton

Secondary Mathematics and Computer Science Teacher, Robertsdale High School

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 93

Differentiation Math STEM/STEAM Technology

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Play-Doh to Polygons: Making Math Stick in Upper Elementary

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

Room 207

Manipulatives aren’t just for primary grades. They are a powerful tool for building deep mathematical understanding in upper elementary as well. In this session, participants will explore how hands-on materials like play-doh, Magna-Tiles, and magnetic blocks can support conceptual learning in grades 4–6.
Through real classroom examples and practical strategies, teachers will learn how to help students move from concrete models to abstract thinking while increasing engagement and confidence in math. This session is ideal for upper elementary and middle school teachers looking to go beyond procedures and strengthen true understanding.

Presenters

Courtney Cunningham

Teacher, Rosinton Elementary

I am a sixth-grade math teacher at Rosinton Elementary School in Baldwin County, Alabama. I am passionate about creating engaging, student-centered learning experiences that combine collaboration, technology, and real-world problem solving. I am currently pursuing advanced studies... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 207

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

Every Student Engaged, Every Lesson--A Taste of Kagan Cooperative Learning

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 271

Presenters

Aaron Diaz

Director of Implementation Support, Kagan Publishing and Professional Development

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 271

Arts Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

Thinking About Thinking: Math Routines and Word Problems in Grades 2-5

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 251

Teachers in grades 2-5 will learn about fractions on the number line, word problem strategies, and get a peak into what a Thinking Classroom looks like.

Presenters

Cynthia Griffin

Math Coach, Pine Grove Elementary

I have been teaching for 21 yrs. I am Building Based Math Coach at PGES. This is my 3rd yr. as the math coach and I am so excited to continue our math journey with the teachers and students.

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 251

Math

Level Elementary Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Concrete to Clear: Building Fraction & Decimal Understanding with Manipulatives in Grades 3-6

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Room 8

Presenters

Angie Meredith-Ridgeway

hand2mind Educational Specialist, hand2mind

Mandi Boyd

Hand2Mind Rep, Hand2Mind

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Room 8

Math

Level Elementary Teachers

12:00pm CDT

ACT Math Part 1: Teacher Experience (TEAMS Approved)

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room F - 9th Grade Academy

This three-hour session focuses on aligning math instruction with the ACT assessment and providing a systematic approach to maximizing student achievement. Participants will review valuable information about the ACT, explore test-taking strategies and resources including online calculator practice that can be used during testing, and experience creating ACT-like questions for use during classroom instruction to prepare students to take the ACT math assessment.

Presenters

Teressa Rocker

AMSTI Specialist, AMSTI

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room F - 9th Grade Academy

Math

12:00pm CDT

AMSTI K-5 Math Alabama Course of Study Training

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room B - 9th Grade Academy

Presenters

Jennifer Fagerstrom

AMSTI K-5 Math Mentoring Specialist, AMSTI

Wednesday July 15, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room B - 9th Grade Academy

Math

Level Elementary Teachers, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Session 3 | The Final Boss: Fractions & Meaningful Synthesis

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

Room 93

Focus: Level 3 – Fraction Coefficients & Pulling it All Together: Fractions are often the point where student confidence—and procedural memory—crumbles. In this final session, we use our established visual models to demystify reciprocal operations and fractional coefficients. Please note: This is the third session in a sequence; educators will benefit most by starting with Session 1 (“The Foundation”) to ensure they see the full conceptual bridge from basic integers to these complex multi-step solutions.

Presenters

Daphne Lincoln

Math 8 Teacher, WJ Carroll Middle School

Kaitlyn Cowan

Teacher, Foley Middle School

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 93

Differentiation Math

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Math in Action - Kagan Engagement

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

Room 91

My session is geared toward K-6 BCBE teachers. I will share how I use Kagan engagement strategies in the kindergarten classroom. The presentation will include several examples of math instruction as well as ways to incorporate the engagement strategies in ELA.

Presenters