Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

11:00am CDT

Game On: Fostering Collaboration and Critical Thinking Unplugged

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

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

2:00pm CDT

Kagan Meets AI: Cooperative Learning in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

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

Room 3

Artificial intelligence tools are quickly becoming part of today’s classrooms—but how do we ensure students remain active thinkers rather than passive consumers? This session explores how educators can combine AI tools with Kagan Cooperative Learning structures to increase engagement, collaboration, and critical thinking. Participants will experience practical classroom activities where AI helps generate prompts, discussion topics, and review questions that students process through cooperative structures. Walk away with ready-to-use ideas for blending emerging technology with proven instructional strategies.

Presenters

Makenzie Cunningham

Building Based Math Coach, Rosinton Elementary

Makenzie Cunningham is the Building Based Math Coach at Rosinton with 12 years of experience in education. She has taught second, third, and fourth grades, as well as special education for pre-K through first grade. Makenzie has completed both Kagan Coaching and Instructional Coaching... Read More →

Monday July 13, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm CDT
Room 3

Artificial Intelligence Community Engagement

Level Elementary Teachers

10:00am CDT

The Teacher’s Spellbook: Google Scripts + Gemini Edition

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

Room 3

Step into The Teacher’s Spellbook and discover how to transform your daily tasks into automated “magic” using Google Apps Script and Google Gemini. This session is designed for educators with little to no coding experience who want to save time, reduce repetitive work, and streamline classroom and administrative workflows.

Participants will explore how Google tools like Sheets, Forms, and Slides can be enhanced with simple scripts to automate tasks such as sending emails, organizing data, generating reports, and creating presentations. The real “cheat code” of the session is learning how to use Google Gemini to write these scripts—no coding background required.

Through real-world examples, including large-scale event management and classroom applications, attendees will leave with practical strategies, ready-to-use prompts, and the confidence to begin automating their own workflows immediately.

Presenters

Miranda Mosley

Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, MCPSS

Tuesday July 14, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 3

Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

11:00am CDT

TEAMS Contracts-What You Need to Know

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

Room 3

Learn more about the TEAMS contract process

Presenters

Jonathan Crawford

Human Resources Supervisor, Central Office Staff

Tuesday July 14, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am CDT
Room 3

PLCs Science

Level Middle Teachers, High Teachers

12:00pm CDT

Not One More Thing: Embedding Kagan Structures into Instruction

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

Room 3

Teachers often feel overwhelmed by new strategies layered on top of existing expectations. What if engagement didn’t require adding one more thing to your plate? In this interactive session, participants will learn how Kagan cooperative learning structures can replace traditional instructional routines within lessons. Discover simple “structure swaps” that transform lecture, questioning, and practice into highly engaging learning experiences. Teachers will leave with practical strategies that increase participation and accountability—without increasing planning time.

Presenters

Makenzie Cunningham

Building Based Math Coach, Rosinton Elementary

Tuesday July 14, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm CDT
Room 3

Community Engagement ELA Math Reading Science Social Studies

Level Elementary Teachers

10:00am CDT

The Teacher’s Spellbook: Google Scripts + Gemini Edition

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

Room 3

Presenters

Miranda Mosley

Instructional Technology Resource Teacher, MCPSS

Wednesday July 15, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am CDT
Room 3

Technology

Level Administrators, Central Office, All Teachers, Counselors, Librarians, Special Education, Registrars

12:00pm CDT

Magical Strategies for Modern Classrooms with Magic School

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

Room 3

This workshop will focus on the in's and out's of Magic School. You will learn to navigate the platform and explore core features designed to save you time. Figure out how easy it is to generate lesson plans, assessments, and engaging materials in minutes. Lastly, we will learn how to easily adapt instruction for diverse learners without the extra workload. This session is geared toward teachers at all levels/contents.

Presenters