Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

10:00am CDT

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT

Teachers are asked to communicate more than ever — but often with too many tools and not enough time.

This session focuses on how to simplify communication with students, families, and coworkers using one consistent approach. We’ll cover when to post, when to message, how to avoid duplication, and how to make sure families actually receive and respond.

The goal is simple: save time, reduce frustration, and make communication feel manageable — while improving connection with the families who need it most.

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare | Former Chief Information Officer, Hoover City SchoolsWith over 20 years in K-12 education and technology leadership, Bryan brings a practical, student-centered approach to every conversation. He led one of Alabama’s most innovative tech departments... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement

Level All Teachers

10:00am CDT

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

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am 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 →

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 271

Arts Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Special Education

11:00am CDT

Unlock the Power of Kami

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 254

Join us to discover how Kami empowers every learner by turning everyday lessons into interactive experiences. During this hands-on session, we will explore the tools together and learn how to easily enhance lessons you are already teaching in the classroom. You'll leave with ideas that will support students throughout the learning journey and make student engagement soar.

Presenters

Janet Burnett

Teacher Success Manager, Kami & Book Creator

Janet Burnett is a Teaching & Learning Coordinator for Kami and Book Creator, but also a lifelong educator. With 28 years of experience in education as a teacher and Technology Specialist, she is passionate about helping teachers “power-up” daily lessons while bringing joy to... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 254

Assessment Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies Technology

Level All Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

11:00am CDT

Multiple Intelligence Mania

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am 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

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 5

Community Building Community Engagement Differentiation

Level All Teachers

11:00am CDT

Game On: Fostering Collaboration and Critical Thinking Unplugged

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 3

Join me to learn about unplugging in order to get your game on. Analog games promote social engagement by encouraging students to interact, collaborate, and adapt to group dynamics while working through shared challenges. They build student agency by allowing learners to make meaningful choices, learn from low-stakes failure, and receive immediate feedback that guides future decisions.

Presenters

Diana McNaughton

Curriculum Leader, Elberta High

I am a seasoned eMints certified educator with over 20 years of experience in the field. I am currently the Curriculum Leader and 504 Facilitator at Elberta High School. My educational philosophy is rooted in the belief that prioritizing investments in students establishes a solid... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 3

Community Building Differentiation eMINTS

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

11:00am CDT

If I Knew Then What I Know Now

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT

Room 207

If I could go back 13 years and hand myself a survival guide, this would be it. Whether you are just starting your journey and looking for a roadmap, or a seasoned veteran ready to trade old habits for fresh joy, the secret to longevity in education isn't working harder, it’s working happier.
From the classroom to the library, we’ll explore a curated collection of 'wish I’d known' tips that bridge the gap between surviving and thriving. We’ll cover everything from stress-free management hacks to building a professional tribe that keeps you inspired. Come learn how to implement the small, high-impact shifts that lead to big wins for your sanity, your students, and your soul.

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 →

Monday July 13, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 207

Community Building eMINTS Health/ Wellness Technology

Level Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, Librarians

12:00pm CDT

Let the Games Begin: Simple Strategies to Increase Student Engagement

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 206

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 →

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 206

Artificial Intelligence Assessment Community Building Community Engagement Differentiation eMINTS Technology

Level All Teachers

12:00pm CDT

In District Fundraising for Clubs/Teams

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm 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

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 255

12:00pm CDT

Math Therapy: Adding Confidence, Subtracting Fear

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 269

How often have you heard someone say "I am bad at math"? In this session we will discuss what 'Math Therapy' is and how it looks inside your math classroom. We will explore math trauma, where is comes from, and the impact it has on our students. What can we do to help these students to believe and achieve! We will discuss some small changes that we can make inside our classroom to help support out students and build that math confidence. Come explore the 5 steps to helping student build a better relationship with math!

Presenters

Melissa Sessions

Teacher, Daphne Middle School

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 269

Behavior Community Building Math

Level All Teachers

12:00pm CDT

One Tool, Less Work

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 201

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement

Level All Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Set the Stage, Spark the Learning: Space + Strategy for Student Engagement

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT

Room 16

Bring learning to life! Discover how to turn standards into high-energy, engaging experiences through strategic instruction, flexible spaces, and impactful room transformations. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas that amplify student voice, support all learners, and make engagement the norm, not the exception.

Presenters

Sarah Nisewonger

Third Grade Teacher, Fairhope East Elementary

Sarah Nisewonger has been teaching for 12 years. After spending 11 years teaching first grade, she recently completed her first year as a third grade teacher at Fairhope East Elementary. She is EMINTS and Kagan trained, STEAM certified and attended the Ron Clark Academy, an experience... Read More →

Tori Erdossy

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 16

Community Building ELA eMINTS Math Reading Science Social Studies STEM/STEAM Technology

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

12:00pm CDT

7 Challenges that Showcase STEM in the Middle Grades (4-8)

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 254

Discover seven classroom-tested STEM missions designed to shift students from passive observers to active problem-solvers with minimal setup and maximum curiosity. In this session focused on middle grades (4-8) learning, participants will explore and adapt 7 ready-to-implement STEM challenges that directly connect math/science concepts to Alabama's new 2025 Digital Literacy & Computer Science (DLCS) Standards. These intentionally designed student activities promote collaboration and build skills like computational thinking, iterative processing, and real-world application of learning. This session will include time for unpacking grade level standards to make meaningful connections, trying out STEM challenges that increase student engagement, and collaborating on how to customize a STEM experience that lets students apply their math, science and engineering skills.

Presenters

Timothy Johnson

Regional Technology Specialist, Alabama Technology in Motion, Region 10

Angela Clark

Regional Technology Specialist, Alabama Technology in Motion, Region 7

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 254

Coding Community Building Makerspace Math Robotics Science Technology

Level Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, Librarians, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Fantastic 5-Minute Tips Ready to Use in Your Classroom!

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 214

Looking for some simple, effective strategies and routines that will enhance your classroom during the upcoming school year? Did you know that eMINTS has a ton of free tips, resources and strategy cards on various topics including technology integration, building classroom culture, and using reflective practice with students? Come experience the tips live and in person, and then feel free to use them all year long!

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 →

Doug Caldwell

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS

Inspiring education with digital learning!

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 214

Community Building Community Engagement eMINTS

Level All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Show Me The Money, We Up Next

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm 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 →

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm 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

1:00pm CDT

Consistency Wins: Building a Districtwide Communication System That Works

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 201

Strong schools don’t just communicate more — they communicate consistently.

In this session, district and school leaders will explore how to create a unified communication approach that reaches every family, reduces staff confusion, and builds trust across the community. We’ll walk through practical ways to align principals, central office teams, and school staff around one system, clear expectations, and simple workflows that actually get used.

This is not about adding another tool. It’s about using one system well — so families know where to look, staff know what to do, and communication works when it matters most.

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement Professionalism Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office

1:00pm CDT

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

Monday July 13, 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 →

Monday July 13, 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

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

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 271

Presenters

Aaron Diaz

Director of Implementation Support, Kagan Publishing and Professional Development

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 271

Arts Community Building ELA ELL Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Special Education

2:00pm CDT

What’s Next with eMINTS: Updates & Opportunities

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 214

Are you a veteran of eMINTS? Or, considering joining the next training cohort? This workshop is meant for both teachers that have already been through eMINTS training and also for those that have been considering joining. We will “sample” the latest materials, resources, and then experience three of our newest hands-on topics that are featured in or inspired by our most recent grant research.

Presenters

Haylee Anderson

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS National Center

Doug Caldwell

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS

Inspiring education with digital learning!

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 214

Behavior Community Building ELA eMINTS Social Studies Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers

2:00pm CDT

One Tool, Less Work

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 201

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement

Level All Teachers

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

Library

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
Library

9:00am CDT

One Tool, Less Work

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

Room 201

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement

Level All Teachers

9:00am CDT

ParentSquare - Level Up Your Communication: Going Above and Beyond with Family Engagement

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

Room 252

Ready to boost your family's engagement and excitement? In this interactive session, we’ll show you how to streamline communication and boost family engagement using Groups, Post Add-Ons, and Appointment Sign-Ups. Walk away with simple, powerful tools to connect with families and staff—without adding more to your plate.

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 252

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

10:00am CDT

Nurturing Norms: Crafting Classroom Community with Confidence

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

Room 214

This session empowers educators to create structured yet flexible classroom environments by providing a comprehensive understanding of classroom norms. Through interactive and practical activities, participants will explore the what, why, and how of norm-setting, fostering a positive learning atmosphere that enhances student engagement and academic success. The hands-on approach ensures that educators leave with actionable strategies ready for immediate application in their educational settings.

Presenters

Haylee Anderson

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS National Center

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 214

Behavior Community Building eMINTS Health/ Wellness

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

10:00am CDT

ParentSquare - Level Up Your Communication: Going Above and Beyond with Family Engagement

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

Room 252

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 252

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

11:00am CDT

ACAP Bootcamp: Mastery in Motion

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

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 252

Assessment Community Building Data Differentiation ELA Math PLCs Science Social Studies

Level Middle Teachers

11:00am CDT

One Tool, Less Work

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

Room 201

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement

Level All Teachers

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

12:00pm CDT

Collaboration over Chaos: Simple Systems for Powerful Group Leanring

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

ParentSquare - Game Plan for Groups: Athletics & Activities Edition

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

Room 91

Coaches and club leaders—this one’s for you. Learn how to set up and manage your team using Groups, from adding guest users to organizing practices and games with the calendar. We’ll also cover post permissions and powerful add-ons so you can keep everyone informed, engaged, and ready for game day. Bring all of your questions and let's go!

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 91

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

12:00pm CDT

Ignite Your Classroom with PBLs

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT

Room 93

Create community, improve communication skills, and incorporate problem-solving through engaging project-based learning lessons. PBLs are a great way to build creativity in students and cover many standards at once. They connect to real-world occupations and inspire students' futures. These lessons make learning fun and more memorable. They are easy to develop for your classroom no matter which subject you teach. For this 2-hour session, we will use Gemini's GEMs as AI helps us to build a PBL unit to use in your classroom next year.

Presenters

Laura Morin

Gifted Teacher, Magnolia Elementary

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 93

Arts Community Building Community Engagement Math Reading Science Social Studies STEM/STEAM Technology

Level All Teachers

1:00pm CDT

Math Therapy: Adding Confidence, Subtracting Fear

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

Room 17

Presenters

Melissa Sessions

Teacher, Daphne Middle School

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 17

Behavior Community Building Math

Level All Teachers

1:00pm CDT

Fantastic 5-Minute Tips Ready to Use in Your Classroom!

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

Room 214

Presenters

Doug Caldwell

Instructional Specialist, eMINTS

Inspiring education with digital learning!

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 214

Community Building Community Engagement eMINTS

Level All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

ParentSquare - Data-Driven Communication & Secure Family Engagement

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

Room 91

Designed for principals and administrators, this session focuses on turning insights into action. Explore how to leverage ParentSquare reports to monitor engagement and make informed decisions, while also learning how to securely share important documents with families. We’ll also cover best practices for launching StudentSquare at your site and how to use data to keep a real-time pulse on communication across your school. Walk away with practical strategies to communicate with confidence.

Presenters

Scott Hardison

Training Specialist, ParentSquare

I am a Training Specialist at ParentSquare. My role is to educate ParentSquare customers on how to best utilize the product for effective school-to-home communication.

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 91

Community Building Community Engagement Leadership Technology

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

1:00pm CDT

Consistency Wins: Building a Districtwide Communication System That Works

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

Room 201

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement Professionalism Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office

1:00pm CDT

Trauma-Informed Approach Overview: A Pathway Toward Student Success

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

TBA

This overview of trauma-informed education equips educators with the knowledge and tools necessary to cultivate a compassionate classroom culture. Participants will gain insights into the neurological, emotional, and social effects of trauma on learning.(Condensed Version)

Presenters

Kristie Shankles

MTSS-Specialist, ALSDE

Jonathan Thompson

HPE and AL-MTSS Specialist, ALSDE

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
TBA

Community Building Health/ Wellness Leadership

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers

2:00pm CDT

One Tool, Less Work

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT

Room 201

Presenters

Bryan Phillips

Regional Sales Director, ParentSquare

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 201

Community Building Community Engagement

Level All Teachers

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

Library

Presenters

Kristi Bush

Keynote Speaker, Social Media Safety Educator, KNB Communications

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

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

Show Me The Money, We Up Next

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

Room 269

Presenters

William Bryant

Scout Executive/CEO, Mobile Area Council, Scouting America

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

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

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

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

Room 271

Presenters

Aaron Diaz

Director of Implementation Support, Kagan Publishing and Professional Development

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

10:00am CDT

In District Fundraising for Clubs/Teams

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

Room 255

Presenters

Jacque Helms

ASC Coordinator, Central Office Staff

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

11:00am CDT

Let the Games Begin: Simple Strategies to Increase Student Engagement

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

Room 20

Presenters

Monica Shaner

Curriculum Leader, Spanish Fort High

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

F.A.M.I.L.Y. - Fair Access, Meaningful Inclusion, Leadership, and You (Belonging)

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

Room 207

The goal of this research-informed session is to introduce Nancy Schlossberg’s concepts of marginality and mattering through demonstrating how they can transform K-12 practice for Hispanic (ELL) and African American Students. These concepts are crucial for understanding how people adapt and thrive in environments. Participants will learn accessible definitions of marginality and mattering and why they matter for student engagement, identity, and achievement. Furthermore, we will examine common classroom and school level indicators of marginality for Spanish speaking ELL’s, and black students through short case studies and reflect on how this looks in our schools. Lastly, the goal is to explore evidence-based strategies teachers, assistant principals, and supervisors can implement immediately to increase students’ sense of mattering such as family engagement practices, targeted mentoring, and peer network interventions.

Presenters

Sharrell Edmond

Assistant Principal, Foley High School

Sharrell Edmond is a native of Mobile, Al. She is a proud graduate of Auburn University. While on the plains, she was able to obtain both a B.A. in Spanish and a B.A. in Theatre. She returned to Mobile where she began her teaching career with MCPSS teaching both Spanish and theatre... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 207

Behavior Community Building ELL

Level Administrators, All Teachers, 504 Coordinators, Counselors, Special Education

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