Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

10:00am CDT

Schoology Unlocked: Making Technology Work for You

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

Schoology is more than a place to post assignments, it can be a powerful tool for engagement, differentiation, assessment, and instructional clarity. This session provides practical, classroom-tested strategies for maximizing Schoology in grades 7–12 across all subject areas. Participants will explore ways to streamline workflows, increase student accountability, use analytics to guide instruction, and design engaging digital learning experiences. Walk away with ready-to-implement ideas that support rigor, efficiency, and student success.

Presenters

Christine Hayes

Curriculum Leader, Daphne High School

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 16

Schoology Technology

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

11:00am CDT

Teaching Magic Without a Wand: AI Tools That Actually Save Time

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

Room 16

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing education, but many teachers are unsure where to start. This session introduces Magic School AI as a practical classroom and planning tool that supports differentiation, lesson design, assessment creation, and student engagement. Participants will explore real classroom examples and leave with ready-to-use AI prompts aligned to curriculum standards.

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 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 16

Artificial Intelligence Data Differentiation ELA ELL PLCs Reading Science Social Studies

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High 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

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

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

2:00pm CDT

Revolutionary Writing: Helping Students Think Through Sentences

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

Room 16

Strong writing begins with strong thinking. This session introduces the Writing Revolution (Hochman Method) and shows how explicit sentence-level instruction improves student writing across all subjects. Teachers will learn practical strategies that support struggling writers while strengthening academic writing for all learners.

Presenters

Stacey Tatum

6th Grade Science/Social Studies, Elberta Elementary

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 16

Differentiation ELA Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level All Teachers, Elementary Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers

11:00am CDT

Power of the PLC: Collaboration with 8th Grade Teachers. #StrongerTogether

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

Room 16

Baldwin County teachers from across the district who teach the same course will collaborate together. Collaboration topics may include quarters one to four, from activities, PLCs, preparing students for ACAP/ACT/AP assessments, curriculum/pacing guides, common formative assessments, IXL, AI, math strategic plan, or other topics. Please bring ideas to talk about or share with fellow 8th grade teachers.

Presenters

Ashley Burnett

Teacher, Elberta Middle

Hello,

My name is Ashley Burnett, and I've been teaching Math at Elberta Middle School for 4 years. My teaching career started in Katy, Texas where I taught 6th grade math for 4 years and Read 180 for 1 year. I have also taught Math and ELA in Escambia County, Florida for 3 years.
... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 16

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

1:00pm CDT

Strengthening Secondary MTSS Through High School PST and Grade Level PLC Collaboration

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

Room 16

Discover how Robertsdale High redesigned its Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) and Problem Solving Team (PST) processes to strengthen Tier 1 instruction and guide targeted interventions through collaboration with Grade Level PLCs. Participants will explore how PLCs and PST teams analyze academic, attendance, and behavioral data through a shared problem-solving framework. The session highlights practical tools including meeting protocols, RTI-Scheduler integration, teacher feedback systems, and collaborative decision-making structures. Attendees will leave with replicable strategies for aligning PLC collaboration with MTSS systems to increase teacher ownership, strengthen collaboration, and improve student outcomes.

Presenters

Nancy Caruthers

Teacher, Robertsdale High School

Annie Freeman

Curriculum Leader, Robertsdale High School

Tuesday July 14, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 16

Data Differentiation Google/Google Classroom Leadership PLCs

Level Administrators, All Teachers, Middle Teachers, High Teachers, Counselors, Special Education

2:00pm CDT

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

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

Room 16

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

Tuesday July 14, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 16

Data Differentiation Leadership PLCs Professionalism

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

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

10:00am CDT

History That Feels Real: Teaching Critical Thinking with Retro Report

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

Room 16

Students often struggle to connect historical events to modern issues. This session introduces Retro Report, a resource that uses journalism and documentary storytelling to connect past events to current conversations. Teachers will explore ready-to-use lessons that promote inquiry, media literacy, and civil discourse while aligning with social studies and literacy standards.

Presenters