innovate25: Full Schedule

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8:00am CST

The Sixth Fitness: No Matter What and Why It's Time to Get F.R.E.S.H.!

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am CST

Learn: Discover the neuroscience behind motivation and how activating your brain's anterior midcingulate cortex can fuel willpower, tenacity and a lifelong passion for learning. David will explore how associating learning with success can transform your perspective and help overcome challenges.

Engage: Experience an energizing and interactive session that will reframe how you view learning. Through dynamic storytelling and thought-provoking insights, David will inspire you to see the connection between curiosity, perseverance and achievement in both personal and professional growth.

Apply: Gain strategies to cultivate a winning mindset in your students by linking learning to moments of triumph and success. Empower them to turn today's challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities, fostering resilience and a love for discovery that will last a lifetime.

Speakers

Stephanie Boyce

Chief Educational Officer, The FRESH Classroom

Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce is an Edupreneur driven by her passion to reshape the educational landscape by making culturally responsive teaching a way of life.For the last decade, Boyce has focused her studies and work on matters of racial justice and equity for historically marginalized... Read More →

David Preston

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:00am - 8:30am CST
Grand Pavilion Marriott St. Louis Airport

Session Type Featured Spark

8:40am CST

Family Engagement for Growth and Belonging

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:05am CST

Salon 2

Learn: Discover the impact of family and community involvement on student success and explore various strategies for fostering meaningful connections. Explore effective, actionable methods for welcoming parents and community members into schools in a way that is both frequent and productive.

Engage: Participate in activities designed to map out your current family and community engagement efforts. Identify what is working well, uncover areas needing improvement and collaborate with colleagues to share insights and ideas. Use planning tools and resources to develop ideas that build upon your school’s existing practices.

Apply: Gain a framework to create or enhance a family engagement plan tailored to the unique needs of your school and a clear path for strengthening partnerships that support growth, belonging and the overall success of your students.

Speakers

Jess Payne

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:05am CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Belonging Culture

Audience All K-12 Educators, Building Principals
Session Type Ignite
School / Company MNPS

8:40am CST

Passports, Playlists and Passions... Personalized Learning Projects

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:05am CST

Salon 2

Learn: Explore three innovative personalized learning projects designed to foster connection and belonging within your classroom community. Discover the importance of these projects in promoting empathy and engagement among students.

Engage: Review templates developed from real classroom experiences, including creation tools and grading rubrics. "Stop and jot" your ideas and then collaborate with peers from similar grade levels or subject areas (e.g., high school social studies, high school ELA, or third grade) to brainstorm how to adapt these projects for your own classrooms.

Apply: Customize the provided templates to suit your specific content area and identify how these projects can integrate into your curriculum, ultimately creating a classroom environment that nurtures belonging and empathy while actively engaging students in meaningful learning experiences.

Speakers

Lori Rejent

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:05am CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Belonging

Audience All K-12 Educators, Classroom Teachers, Library Media Specialists
Session Type Spark
School / Company Brentwood Schools

8:40am CST

Unpacking the F.R.E.S.H. Approach to Culturally-Responsive, Standards-Based Instruction

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST

Salon 5

Learn: Take a deep dive into the principles behind culturally responsive, standards-based (CRSB) instruction and how to integrate into the F.R.E.S.H. framework. Explore the “why” and “what” of CRSB instruction and understand its crucial role in fostering student success in diverse classrooms.

Engage: Through collaborative exercises and targeted discussions, analyze real-world scenarios that illustrate the impact of culturally responsive strategies. Engage in dialogue with peers, share insights and experiences related to implementing CRSB instruction enhancing your understanding of its practical applications.

Apply: Gain actionable ideas for integrating culturally responsive elements into your lesson planning. With guided discussions and collaborative activities, develop a clear understanding of how to identify and apply strategies that align with academic standards, making learning more meaningful for students from all backgrounds.

Speakers

Stephanie Boyce

Chief Educational Officer, The FRESH Classroom

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST
Salon 5 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Belonging Design Culture

Session Type Ignite

8:40am CST

Task Talk

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST

Lindbergh

Learn: Discover quick and effective strategies for designing tasks that boost student engagement. Explore practical approaches that can be applied across various subject areas.

Engage: Take part in a hands-on, station rotation discovery model. This interactive setup will guide participants in creating a high-quality task tailored to their subject area and instructional goals.

Apply: Gain ready-to-use sample tasks that can be implemented immediately in the classroom, ensuring an impactful takeaway for engaging students.

Speakers

Robyn Haug

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST
Lindbergh Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Ignite
School / Company Clayton School District

8:40am CST

Immersive Learning through Augmented Reality

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST

Salon B

Learn: Discover how augmented reality (AR) can transform learning experiences, offering students unique opportunities to explore concepts and engage with content in innovative ways. Gain insight into how AR can be effectively integrated across subjects, from science to social studies and more, using iPads.

Engage: Participate in an interactive session where you’ll explore AR applications, engage in hands-on demonstrations, and collaborate with peers to brainstorm ways to align AR activities with your curriculum goals.

Apply: Walk away with actionable strategies and best practices for incorporating AR into your teaching. Learn how to design immersive AR experiences that captivate students while enhancing their understanding of complex concepts across various subject areas.

Speakers

Brent Catlett

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST
Salon B Marriott St. Louis Airport

Integration Technology

Session Type Ignite
School / Company Apple

9:10am CST

Embracing the Mess: Transforming Classroom Chaos into Student Engagement

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am CST

Salon 2

Learn: Discover how creative play can boost student engagement and recall by embracing messy, hands-on learning experiences. Explore effective classroom management strategies to maintain order while fostering a productive and stimulating environment.

Engage: Participate in discussions and activities that demonstrate how messy projects encourage deeper student reflection. Discover how these approaches inspire students to talk, write and think critically about their learning experiences.

Apply: Gain practical methods to integrate messy, creative projects across core subjects like science, history and language arts. Gain tools to connect art and creativity to academic goals, reinforcing the educational value of hands-on, interdisciplinary learning.

Speakers

Bryson Reid

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Culture

Audience All K-12 Educators, Building Principals, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Specialist / Encore
Session Type Spark
School / Company Premier Charter School

9:10am CST

Get Excited about Overexcitabilities: Harnessing the Energy of the Exceptional Learner

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am CST

Salon 3

Learn: Gain a comprehensive understanding of Dabrowski's Overexcitabilities Theory and its relevance to the characteristics of exceptional learners. Delve into each overexcitability, connecting theoretical concepts to real-life experiences.

Engage: Actively discuss overexcitabilities and identify your own, experiencing "OE Breaks" to understand the energy release associated with each type. This session emphasizes experiential learning over passive listening.

Apply: Move beyond theory to practical insights on creating conducive learning environments that support emotional well-being and concentration. Gain strategies for fostering self-awareness and emotional regulation in gifted students, including routines, activities and tools to manage overstimulation and enhance learning experiences for those with overexcitabilities.

Speakers

Carly Mansfield

Gifted Specialist, Kirkwood Schools

Carly Mansfield is a dedicated Gifted Specialist at the Kirkwood School District, bringing over 20 years of teaching experience to her role. She has taught elementary education, middle school social studies, served as a building STEM coordinator, and now focuses on gifted education... Read More →

Jennifer Moore

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:10am - 9:35am CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Wellness Belonging

Audience All K-12 Educators, Building Princiapsl, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Specialist / Encore
Session Type Spark
School / Company Kirkwood School District, Kirkwood School District

10:10am CST

Adapting Innovations to All Learners

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 10:35am CST

Salon 3

Learn: Discover strategies for engaging SPED students through innovative methods and technology. Explore approaches to making lessons accessible and engaging for all learners, focusing on inclusivity and adaptability.

Engage: Participate in hands-on adaptive innovation lessons that demonstrate how to effectively engage diverse learners. Through these interactive examples, you’ll gain insight into techniques that make technology and innovation accessible to SPED students.

Apply: Gain strategies to transform your own lessons for SPED students, enabling you to integrate innovative tools and approaches that meet the needs of all learners in your classroom.

Speakers

Melissa Tackett

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 10:35am CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Belonging

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Spark
School / Company Orchard Farm

10:10am CST

Feeding the Learning Brain

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 10:35am CST

Salon 5

Learn: Discover how teachers can leverage their unique position to positively influence students' brain development. This session will explore research in mind, brain, and education, providing practical strategies to enhance learning, memory, critical thinking, and confidence in the classroom.

Engage: Participants will be actively involved through movement, curiosity, humor, play, music, and interactive discussions, making the learning experience enjoyable and memorable.

Apply: Walk away with a wealth of immediately applicable, low-cost strategies to nurture every student's brain and engage their interest daily. Understanding how the brain learns will transform your teaching practice and enrich your own learning experience as well.

Speakers

Denise Ford

Gifted Teacher, Kirkwood School District

Passionate about Gifted Education, innovation, creativity, and learning.

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 10:35am CST
Salon 5 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Wellness

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Spark
School / Company Kirkwood School District

10:10am CST

Embracing AI in Education—Challenges, Myths, and Opportunities

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST

Salon 4

Learn: Uncover the transformative potential of AI in education, from reshaping traditional teaching methods to supporting differentiated instruction. Panel experts will share perspectives on high-impact AI tools, practical applications and how to discern value amidst an ever-growing landscape of AI resources.

Engage: Participate in the discussion by using the Chat feature to ask questions, share insights and connect with both panelists and peers. A dedicated Q&A segment will allow you to explore specific questions, including how AI can enhance your role and support your teaching goals.

Apply: Gain actionable knowledge of current high-impact AI tools and examples of their use in educational settings. Learn strategies for leveraging AI to meet diverse student needs and enrich learning outcomes in ways that align with your teaching style and classroom objectives.

Speakers

Becky VanSant (Fort Zumwalt- MS)

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Integration Culture Leadership

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Ignite

10:10am CST

Best Practices for Integrating and Enhancing Creativity in the Classroom

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST

Salon B

Learn: Explore how fostering creativity supports essential skills like problem-solving, analytical thinking, and collaboration. Gain clarity on what creativity looks like in the classroom and discover how iPads can serve as powerful tools to cultivate it.

Engage: Participate in interactive discussions to share ideas, challenges, and strategies for weaving creativity into your curriculum. Experience examples of creative classroom activities and collaborate with fellow educators to brainstorm innovative approaches.

Apply: Leave with practical methods to integrate creativity into your teaching practice using iPads. Equip yourself with techniques to inspire your students, encourage out-of-the-box thinking, and enhance learning outcomes across subjects.

Speakers

Brent Catlett

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Salon B Marriott St. Louis Airport

Integration Design

Session Type Ignite
School / Company Apple

10:10am CST

Code.org Programs for Your School

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST

Salon A

Learn: Discover the expansive, free curriculum offered by Code.org, created to make computer science education accessible in every classroom. Attendees will explore the K-12 resources that align with state standards, focusing on foundational digital skills and computer science principles.

Engage: Through interactive discussion, participants will examine how Code.org’s curriculum integrates with their own teaching goals and classroom settings. We’ll also dive into available support, including teacher training funded through DESE, ensuring a fully supported rollout of these resources.

Apply: By the end of this session, participants will be prepared to bring Code.org's curriculum into their schools. They will leave with actionable steps and knowledge on accessing the resources, securing teacher training, and engaging students in computer science.

Speakers

ITC

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Salon A Marriott St. Louis Airport

Integration Technology Belonging

Session Type Ignite
School / Company ITC

10:10am CST

A Healthy Balance: Tech vs. Tradition

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST

Salon 3

Learn: Explore how to achieve a healthier balance between technology and traditional skills in your classroom. This session addresses concerns about excessive screen time and the impact on essential soft skills, drawing from discussions held within my school district.

Engage: We will cover diverse topics, including virtual reality, traditional geography skills, handwriting versus speech-to-text, library resources, and the importance of face-to-face communication. Attendees will have opportunities for Q&A throughout the presentation to foster engagement.

Apply: Participants will receive a T-chart to assess their current balance between technology and traditional skills, along with actionable strategies for reinforcing soft skills in their classrooms. Leave with practical ideas to enhance your curriculum and promote student success in both realms.

Speakers

Sophie Chambers

Gifted Instructor, Chillicothe R-II School District

STEAM Club Facilitator; Innovation & Learning Coach for PK-5th Grades; Gifted Instructor for K-8th Grades; METC 2018 Spotlight Educator; Presenter at METC (2 yrs), ISTE (2 yrs), MOREnet (1 yr), MSBA (1 yr), District PD (5 yrs); Chillicothe EdCamp Co-Founder; Grant Recipient from MPER... Read More →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:10am - 11:00am CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Integration Wellness Culture

Audience All K-12 Educators, Building Principals, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Library Media Specialists, Technology Directors, Specialist / Encore
Session Type Ignite
School / Company Rhilicothe R-II School District

11:10am CST

Bringing F.R.E.S.H. to Life – Designing Culturally-Responsive, Standards-Based Lessons

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST

Salon 5

Learn: Explore how to apply the F.R.E.S.H. approach in real classroom scenarios. Discover methods to develop Fun, Relevant, Engaging, Standards-Based and Higher Order lessons that elevate student learning and engagement.

Engage: Participate in interactive exercises designed to craft your own F.R.E.S.H. activities while collaborating with peers. By sharing examples from the field and engaging in group discussions, gain valuable insights into creating impactful lesson plans that resonate with diverse learners.

Apply: Gain a designed personalized F.R.E.S.H. activity tailored to your curriculum in addition to the skills to integrate the F.R.E.S.H. principles to implement inclusive and engaging lessons in your classroom enhancing the educational experience for all students.

Speakers

Stephanie Boyce

Chief Educational Officer, The FRESH Classroom

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon 5 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Culture Belonging Design

Session Type Ignite

11:10am CST

Building a Comprehensive Behavioral Support System: From Strategy to Implementation

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST

Salon 4

Learn: Understand the essential components of a district- or building-wide behavioral support system and how to ensure it meets the diverse needs of all students. Explore real-world examples of effective implementation across schools and districts, and discover strategies for building a culture of consistent behavioral expectations and support.

Engage: Join a panel of administrators, behavior specialists and district leaders as they share their experiences and best practices. Use the Chat feature to collaborate with peers, share ideas and ask questions. Participate in a dedicated Q&A session to address your specific concerns and challenges in developing or refining a behavioral support system.

Apply: Discover how to initiate or improve a behavioral system in your district or building. Gain practical tools to monitor fidelity, assess effectiveness and maintain consistency across diverse learning environments while fostering a supportive culture for students and staff.

Speakers

Marissa Geyer

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Culture Belonging Leadership

Audience All K-12 Educators, Administrators
Session Type Ignite

11:10am CST

Reviving Literacy: Innovative Strategies for Elementary Student’s Reading & Writing Success

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST

Salon A

Learn: Discover how to incorporate students' personal vocabulary and experiences into literacy instruction, making the learning more meaningful and relevant. Identify various literary structures found across curriculums and learn how to use these structures to enhance students' reading and writing skills. Explore how dictation technology can be leveraged to support struggling readers and writers in capturing their thoughts and ideas.

Engage: Participate in interactive activities that model classroom practices and foster a positive learning environment. Create your own literary examples and experiment with dictation technology on your own device to understand its application for students.

Apply: Gain practical examples of literary structures and techniques for integrating students' personal language into literacy instruction. Reflect on how to use dictation technology to support struggling students and leave with strategies that can be transferred directly into your teaching practice.

Speakers

Amber Ernst

Maggie Bunten

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon A Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Technology

Session Type Ignite
School / Company eMINTS

11:10am CST

MTSS with the Head and the Heart

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST

Salon 1

Learn: Discover how the SSD MTSS Facilitator Team has effectively embedded cognitive, affective and tangible aspects of Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) into their coaching and learning practices. Gain insights into how to support leaders in fostering a holistic approach to MTSS implementation.

Engage: Engage in exploration of the crosswalk matrices, MTSS playbook and other resources, plus, have meaningful conversations with peers and facilitators to explore practical ways to incorporate effective tips, strategies and practices into your own work. Collaborative dialogue will enhance understanding and inspire actionable ideas.

Apply: Gain information and resources that best fit contextually into your school systems to make data based decisions around equitably supporting all students within their settings ensuring that both cognitive and emotional aspects are considered in their MTSS systems.

Speakers

Breeya Perry

Trish Diebold

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Leadership Culture

Session Type Ignite
School / Company Special School District

12:10pm CST

Building Better Humans: The Power of Prosocial Education

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST

Salon A

Learn: Discover evidence-based prosocial education strategies that can be used with any age and content area. Examine successful Prosocial and Active Learning (PAL) Classrooms project data to gain insights into enhanced student climate and increased student engagement.

Engage: Discuss experiences and challenges related to student behavior and classroom management to discover new strategies. Analyze case study scenarios of prosocial strategies and discuss the implications and potential applications in your own setting.

Apply: Gain specific, implementable strategies for integrating prosocial elements into your existing curricula and concrete examples of how these principles can be applied in various educational settings.

Speakers

Jen Foster

Sr. Program Coordinator, eMINTS National Center

Jen Foster has been harnessing the power of technology to support instruction for more than 20 years. Over the last 12 years, Jen has provided professional development to a wide variety of educators, school administrators, instructional coaches, etc. to enhance and grow their tech... Read More →

Haylee Anderson

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon A Marriott St. Louis Airport

Culture Belonging

Session Type Ignite
School / Company eMINTS

12:10pm CST

Building Thinking Classrooms: Transforming Math Education Through Collaboration and Understanding

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST

Salon 4

Learn: Gain insights from experienced educators as they share their journey of implementing the Building Thinking Classrooms (BTC) framework in math education. Panelists will discuss what initially inspired them to adopt BTC, the challenges they faced and the transformative impact it has had on their teaching and student learning. This session will explore key aspects of BTC, including the mindset shifts, classroom management strategies and relationship-building techniques that contribute to its success.

Engage: Throughout the session, participants will use the chat feature to ask questions, share reflections and exchange ideas with panelists and fellow attendees. A live Q&A segment will provide an opportunity to delve deeper into topics like overcoming initial hurdles, refining practices and fostering collaborative learning in math classrooms.

Apply: Gain practical insights and advice to start your own BTC journey or enhance your current practices. Whether you're a BTC novice or looking to refine your approach, you'll gain actionable strategies for creating a thinking-centered environment that engages students, builds problem-solving skills, and transforms your math instruction.

Speakers

Tim Levine (Webster Groves- HS)

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

Audience All K-12 Educators, Math, Elementary
Session Type Ignite

12:10pm CST

Unlocking Student Engagement with Discovery Education

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST

Salon 1

Learn: Discover how Discovery Education Experience simplifies lesson planning and enhances student engagement. Explore standards-aligned resources and tools for PreK-12 that support dynamic and interactive teaching.

Engage: Participate in a collaborative challenge to “Escape the Discovery Education Room” with your peers, solving clues while exploring innovative tools and strategies. This interactive activity showcases how Discovery Education can transform the learning experience in your classroom.

Apply: Gain actionable strategies and fresh ideas to integrate Discovery Education resources into your lessons, empowering you to captivate students and streamline planning. Prepare to implement these tools and elevate your teaching!

Speakers

Discovery

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Culture

Session Type Ignite

12:10pm CST

Video Lesson Teaching

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST

Salon 2

Learn: Explore how to effectively use video to record and teach lesson demonstrations that can be uploaded to a dedicated YouTube channel. Discover how recorded lessons can capture students' attention through step-by-step modeling for projects, skill development or desired behaviors.

Engage: Utilize project materials, acquired skills and a cell phone camera to practice teaching and demonstrating a lesson that will be uploaded to your YouTube channel created for this purpose.

Apply: Gain skills to launch your own YouTube video lesson demonstration to support students who may struggle, provide resources for absent learners and maximize preparation time during lessons, especially when teaching multiple classes back-to-back.

Speakers

Vielia Jeffries-Evans

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Technology

Audience Specialist / Encore
Session Type Ignite
School / Company University City School District

12:10pm CST

The Sixth Fitness: Become a Lead Learner

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST

Salon 5

Learn: Discover the transformative role of becoming a lead learner in the Open-Source Learning model. Dr. David Preston will guide you through the principles of full engagement, vulnerability and restorative dialogue that empower educators to inspire learners by example.

Engage: Participate in reflective exercises and discussions that help you uncover opportunities for personal growth and empathetic facilitation. Collaborate with fellow participants to explore strategies for building meaningful connections and fostering resilience in learning environments.

Apply: Gain actionable steps to embody the lead learner mindset. You’ll gain clarity on how to model risk-taking and vulnerability while supporting your students' learning journeys, ensuring every moment becomes an opportunity for growth and discovery.

Speakers

David Preston

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon 5 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Technology Leadership

Session Type Ignite

12:10pm CST

Improve Curriculum and Instruction with Pear Deck by Go Guardian

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST

Salon B

Learn: Explore how Pear Deck by Go Guardian enhances classroom learning through an integrated suite of tools designed for instruction, engagement, assessment, and intervention. Understand how these tools are rooted in learning science and tailored for K-12 classrooms.

Engage: Discover best practices for using Pear Deck to actively engage students, gather real-time feedback, and assess understanding. Engage in interactive demonstrations that highlight how Pear Deck can transform your teaching approach and improve student outcomes.

Apply: Leave with practical strategies and the confidence to incorporate Pear Deck into your curriculum. You’ll learn how to utilize the platform’s features to enhance instruction and support student learning, helping both teachers and students reach their full potential.

Speakers

Ryan Hetchler - Go Guardian

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon B Marriott St. Louis Airport

Integration Design Technology

Session Type Ignite
School / Company CDW

12:40pm CST

Holistic Harmony: E.A.S.E. (Embracing Wellness, Advocating Equity, Sustaining Culture, Enhancing Empowerment)

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:40pm - 1:05pm CST

Salon 3

Learn: Discover the interconnectedness of wellness, equity and culture through the lens of holistic harmony. Explore insights into how these elements can work together to foster an empowering educational environment that supports the whole child.

Engage: Participate in interactive discussions, reflection exercises and real-life case studies to dive deeper into the principles of holistic wellness. Collaborate with peers to explore diverse perspectives and develop a shared understanding of the impact of equity and cultural celebration in the classroom.

Apply: Gain practical tools and strategies designed to help you cultivate a classroom atmosphere that prioritizes student wellness, embraces equity and celebrates cultural diversity. Be prepared to implement actionable changes that create a more inclusive, supportive and vibrant learning space for all students.

Speakers

Nana Becoat

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:40pm - 1:05pm CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Wellness Culture

Audience All K-12 Educators, Classroom Teachers
Session Type Spark
School / Company Hazelwood School District

1:30pm CST

Making AI Your F.R.E.S.H. Classroom Assistant

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm CST

Grand Pavilion

Learn: Discover a 3-step strategy for leveraging AI to enhance student engagement with culturally responsive content. Explore how to utilize AI tools for creating station activities, weekly lessons and customized resources that address diverse student interests and needs.

Engage: Experience a demonstration of the AI strategy and practice crafting classroom activities using AI tools. Engage in collaborative discussions to share ideas and insights with fellow educators.

Apply: Be equipped to apply the 3-step strategy to streamline lesson planning, increase efficiency and create F.R.E.S.H. lessons and activities that are both relevant and engaging for all students.

Speakers

Stephanie Boyce

Chief Educational Officer, The FRESH Classroom

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm CST
Grand Pavilion Marriott St. Louis Airport

Technology Leadership Culture

Session Type Keynote

2:30pm CST

Day in the Life of a Discovery Education Teacher

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST

Salon 1

Learn: Explore how Discovery Education Experience can enhance every part of your school day, from sparking curiosity with immersive videos and virtual field trips to providing engaging, standards-aligned content for lesson planning.

Engage: Bring your laptop and dive into hands-on activities that demonstrate how to use Discovery Education for transitions, recess or downtime. Collaborate with fellow educators to uncover creative ways to integrate these tools seamlessly into your daily routines.

Apply: Gain strategies to captivate students and extend learning beyond the classroom by sharing resources with students and families. Whether you’re new or experienced with Discovery Education, you’ll gain practical tools to elevate your teaching and engage your students.

Speakers

Discovery

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Technology

Session Type Ignite

2:30pm CST

Is AI Transformational?

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST

Salon 2

Learn: Discover the latest AI tools and their potential applications in the classroom. Discover cutting-edge technology and showcase how AI can create new learning opportunities, sparking innovation for both educators and students.

Engage: Actively experiment with AI tools while engaging in thought-provoking discussions on the broader impact of AI on education. Collaborate with peers to explore AI's role in transforming the learning experience.

Apply: Gain practical ideas and strategies for leveraging AI in your classroom. Be prepared to create transformative learning experiences that harness AI's potential to engage and inspire students.

Speakers

Bob Deneau

Chief Information Officer, Rockwood School District

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Leadership Technology

Audience All K-12 Educators, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Technology Directors
Session Type Ignite
School / Company Rockwood School District

2:30pm CST

AI Tools with Students

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST

Salon 5

Learn: Delve into the latest and most effective AI for all students but especially those who require additional support.

Engage: Take part in a hands-on, station rotation discovery model to create high-quality task(s) tailored to your subject area and instructional goals.

Apply: Gain new found insights that are ready to be applied into your classroom fostering an open-minded approach to integrating AI responsibly.

Speakers

Lindsey Weatherby

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST
Salon 5 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Technology

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Ignite
School / Company Special School District

2:30pm CST

Create an AI Transformation vision for your school/district

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST

Salon B

Learn: Discover the essential components of an AI Transformation vision, including strategies for data protection, fostering student well-being, and preparing staff and students for AI integration. Gain insights into best practices for creating a forward-thinking plan that balances innovation with responsibility.

Engage: Collaborate with peers through interactive discussions to identify common challenges and share ideas. Participate in guided exercises to outline initial steps for building an AI vision tailored to your school or district's unique needs.

Apply: Leave the session equipped with a structured framework for developing a comprehensive AI Transformation vision. Gain practical steps to kick-start your journey, from addressing readiness gaps to planning for implementation and monitoring progress effectively.

Speakers

Tom Ashley

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST
Salon B Marriott St. Louis Airport

Leadership Technology Integration

Session Type Ignite
School / Company CDW

3:00pm CST

The Perfect Pairing: SOS Strategies & Discovery Education Resources to Boost Engagement and Critical Thinking

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:25pm CST

Salon 1

Learn: Explore Discovery Education’s SOS Instructional Strategies and how they can transform classroom engagement. Discover how these strategies promote critical thinking, collaboration and literacy skills across all subjects using Discovery Education’s rich content library.

Engage: Experience hands-on demonstrations of SOS strategies, paired with Discovery Education resources, to see how they foster active learning. Collaborate with fellow educators to brainstorm creative ways to implement these strategies in your own classroom.

Apply: Gain ready-to-use tool kit of strategies that inspire collaboration, critical thinking and deeper engagement with content. Empower your students to participate actively and meaningfully across all subject areas.

Speakers

TBD

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:00pm - 3:25pm CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Spark
School / Company Discovery Education