Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

10:00am CDT

Math Talk That Works: Building Language into Every Math Lesson in K-6

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT

English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, we’ll look at easy, practical ways to weave language supports into your daily math routines using the WIDA language standards. Walk away with ready-to-use strategies and examples to boost both math and language learning.

Presenters

Danielle White

ALSDE ESL Education Specialist, ALSDE ESL Department, Region 10

Monday July 13, 2026 10:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 20

ELL Math

Level Elementary Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Field Trip Mastermind: Planning, Paperwork, and Preparation

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

Room 20

Planning a field trip—especially an overnight trip—requires thoughtful organization, clear communication, and strong systems. In this practical session, educators will learn how to confidently plan and manage both local day trips and more complex multi-day overnight field experiences. Participants will explore step-by-step planning strategies for transportation, budgeting, paperwork, chaperone coordination, student supervision, and day-of logistics. Special attention will be given to the additional layers involved in overnight travel, including room assignments, extended schedules, safety planning, and communication with families. Attendees will leave with practical timelines, organizational tools, and teacher-tested tips to simplify the planning process and ensure field trips run smoothly from the first permission slip to the final bus ride home.

Presenters

Brittany Antinarella

Gifted Teacher, Fairhope West Elementary

I am a Project Jubilee teacher at Fairhope West Elementary. I love making things pretty, traveling, my planner, yoga, spending time with my family and friends, reading, and learning new things.

Monday July 13, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 20

Professionalism Safety

Level All Teachers

1:00pm CDT

Math Language Traps for English Language Learners in K-6

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room 20

English learners have to juggle learning math and a new language at the same time. In this session, participants will look at math tasks through the lens of language traps. Teachers will learn practical strategies for identifying and addressing a number of hidden barriers that interfere with an English learner’s ability to access the task and demonstrate their understanding.

Presenters

Danielle White

ALSDE ESL Education Specialist, ALSDE ESL Department, Region 10

Monday July 13, 2026 1:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 20

ELL Math

Level Elementary Teachers

8:00am CDT

K-1 Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Math Centers

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT

Room 20

This session is for Kindergarten and 1st grade teachers ONLY.

Join Sue O’Connell, author of Math in Practice and creator of the Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Centers to explore a variety of engaging, hands-on tasks that elevate math practice from worksheets to games and interactive activities. Discover how carefully-crafted centers help your students master their priority standards related to numbers and operations. See how grade-specific center tasks can reinforce foundational skills, encourage strategic thinking, and support all learners in developing confidence with numbers. During this session, you will engage in a variety of math centers and each participant will receive a set of Navigating Numeracy center tasks to use with students in their classrooms following the session.

K-1 teachers who attend this session will receive a copy of the Print Pack of the Navigating Numeracy Centers for their grade level. These will be ordered and delivered following the training to ensure you receive the appropriate materials for your grade. Manipulatives will not be included, only the print materials.

Presenters

Sue O'Connell

Hand2Mind Educational Specialist, Hand2Mind

Sue O’Connell has years of experience as an elementary classroom teacher, math coach, and math speaker/consultant. Sue is the lead author of Heinemann’s Math in Practice series (2016), Math by the Book series (2021), and numerous other professional books that support the teac... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 8:00am - 11:00am CDT
Room 20

Math

Level Elementary Teachers

11:00am CDT

From Routine to Results: Intentional Scheduling in the ELA Classroom

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

Room 20

Are your lessons strong individually but sometimes feel disconnected across the week? This session explores how an intentional classroom schedule can transform daily instruction into a cohesive learning cycle that builds literacy skills with purpose and consistency. Designed specifically for secondary ELA teachers, this presentation introduces a structured weekly framework: vocabulary development, grammar instruction, targeted ELA skill teaching, authentic reading application, and collaborative practice through stations.

Participants will learn how predictable instructional routines reduce cognitive load, increase student independence, and strengthen skill retention while simplifying long-term planning. Through practical examples, classroom snapshots, and implementation strategies, teachers will leave with a clear model they can adapt immediately to their own classrooms—without sacrificing flexibility or creativity.

Whether you are refining your current pacing or looking for a sustainable instructional structure, this session will help you make every instructional day intentional and connected to student growth.

Presenters

Hollye Dueitt

Teacher, Bay Minette Middle

I am certified in English Language Arts and General Social Science, and this is my 12th year teaching. My favorite content to teach is British Literature, and I absolutely loved writing research papers in college. I have three amazing children, and my husband and I have been married... Read More →

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 20

Differentiation ELA Reading

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

12:00pm CDT

2-3 Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Math Centers

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room 20

This session is for 2nd and 3rd grade teachers ONLY.

Join Sue O’Connell, author of Math in Practice and creator of the Navigating Numeracy Learning Progression Centers to explore a variety of engaging, hands-on tasks that elevate math practice from worksheets to games and interactive activities. Discover how carefully-crafted centers help your students master their priority standards related to numbers and operations. See how grade-specific center tasks can reinforce foundational skills, encourage strategic thinking, and support all learners in developing confidence with numbers. During this session, you will engage in a variety of math centers and each participant will receive a set of Navigating Numeracy center tasks to use with students in their classrooms following the session.

2-3 teachers who attend this session will receive a copy of the Print Pack of the Navigating Numeracy Centers for their grade level. These will be ordered and delivered following the training to ensure you receive the appropriate materials for your grade. Manipulatives will not be included, only the print materials.

Presenters

Sue O'Connell

Hand2Mind Educational Specialist, Hand2Mind

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 20

Math

Level Elementary Teachers

9:00am CDT

Field Trip Mastermind: Planning, Paperwork, and Preparation

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

Room 20

Presenters

Brittany Antinarella

Gifted Teacher, Fairhope West Elementary

I am a Project Jubilee teacher at Fairhope West Elementary. I love making things pretty, traveling, my planner, yoga, spending time with my family and friends, reading, and learning new things.

Wednesday July 15, 2026 9:00am - 9:50am CDT
Room 20

Professionalism Safety

Level All 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

1:00pm CDT

Maximizing Intervention Periods with Student Data to Improve Academic Achievement

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

Room 20

This presentation will focus on utilizing prior student data points from the Pre-ACT, ACT, and other assessment platforms to build a school wide ACT study plan during student "intervention/skinny" periods. The attendees will learn to how to collect and analyze data and how to group student data sets to optimize student learning and engagement during ACT prep. Attendees can expect to have an action plan that includes: data collection/analysis, committee formation, creating planning time, teacher selection, and student and teacher incentives for ACT preparation, growth, and achievement.

Presenters

Monica Shaner

Curriculum Leader, Spanish Fort High

Zachary Wenzel

Assistant Principal, Spanish Fort High

I am currently an assistant principal at Spanish Fort High School. I have over ten years of experience in education. My background is in data management and analysis. I am currently working on my doctorate in educational leadership at the University of South Alabama. The focus of... Read More →

Wednesday July 15, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm CDT
Room 20

Data Leadership PLCs