innovate25: Full Schedule

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8:00am CST

The Sixth Fitness: No Matter What

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

Way to get out of bed this morning! You don't have to like the task to crush it. Discover the neuroscience behind motivation and how activating your brain's anterior midcingulate cortex can fuel willpower, tenacity and a lifelong passion for learning. Explore when positive psychology works and when hating the game, and even hating the players, can transform our learning perspectives and help us overcome barriers to achievement. Cultivate a winning mindset and lead your learning community from the front by understanding real triumph. Turn today's challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities by 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
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Session Type Featured Spark

8:30am CST

St. Louis Podcast

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CST

‎ Half Coast Booth 1

Some of your favorite podcasters will be recording from #innovate25 on the main level. Stop by to share what you’re learning at the conference, and you might be featured on your favorite podcast about your #innovate25 experience.

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CST
‎ Half Coast Booth 1 Marriott St. Louis

Podcast Row

Session Type Podcast

8:30am CST

Lindenwood School’s Back in Session

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm CST

‎ Podcast Row Booth 4

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm CST
‎ Podcast Row Booth 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Podcast Row

Session Type Podcast

8:30am CST

Show-Me Education

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm CST

‎ Podcast Row Booth 3

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm CST
‎ Podcast Row Booth 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Podcast Row

Session Type Podcast

8:30am CST

Valley Park Voices

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm CST

‎ Podcast Row Booth 2

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:30am - 12:00pm CST
‎ Podcast Row Booth 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Podcast Row

Session Type Podcast

8:40am CST

David Preston Book Signing

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:00am CST

exhibitor expo

Visit David Preston outside of salon 2 for a book signing!

Speakers

David Preston

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:00am CST
exhibitor expo Marriott St. Louis Airport

Book Signing

8:40am CST

Family Engagement for Growth and Belonging

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

Salon 3

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 3 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

Unified Arts Curriculum Coordinator, Music Specialist, Brentwood School District

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
Resource Page https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1GBmj1ahrhp5u3_PvQqsGr_Rwv3G5XFIkhQ8VDC7ZsNo/edit?gid=0#gid=0

8:40am CST

Maker Strategies to Energize Instruction

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

Salon A

Learn: Through practical examples, learn pragmatic strategies and powerful principles that will empower you to shift your students from technology consumers to technology creators – all in the context of a standards-based curriculum.

Engage: Create a project that you can take with you. Brainstorm strategies for upgrading a content topic by incorporating a maker project.

Apply: Gain concrete activity suggestions that you can modify to your context and broader inspiration that you can use to make projects of your own.

Exhibitors

Challenger Learning Center - St. Louis

Erin Tyree

The Challenger Learning Center-St. Louis’ mission is to inspire the future generation of innovators through immersive STEM experiences. We accomplish this through simulated space missions in our realistic spacecraft environment, science and engineering explorations delivered across... Read More →

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

Design

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 4

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 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Belonging Design Culture

Session Type Ignite

8:40am CST

Science Education is Evolving

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

Salon C

Learn: Examine how recent shifts in science education practices are changing teachers' approach to their instruction. Learn from science teaching experts on how new initiatives are building on what we already know about best practice and the impact of these initiatives.

Engage: Connect with the conversation through questions and sharing personal comments using the chat feature. Dig deeper into the topics by using the Q&A segment to ask about topics such as 3-Dimensional teaching, Sense-Making and using science phenomena.

Apply: Discover an updated view on modern science teaching practices. Gain an informed understanding of how science education will continue to evolve in the next several years and build new perspectives on how to think about science ed and where to find resources that support the work.

Speakers

Adam Scimone

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

Design

Audience All K-12 Educators, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Technology Directors
Session Type Panel
School / Company EducationPlus

8:40am CST

Task Talk

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

Salon 1

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

Director of Assessment and Professional Learning, School District of Clayton

Robyn Haug is a veteran classroom teacher with over twenty years of experience in K-12 classrooms. After stepping out of the classroom for four years to work as a secondary instructional coach on aligning grading and professional learning practices across a building and a district... Read More →

Task Talk Innovate 25.pptx pdf

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

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

8:40am CST

Elevate Your Teaching with AR app Reality Composer

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

Salon B

Learn: Transform your classroom with Augmented Reality! During this session we will introduce the power of AR in education. Learn to use Apple's Reality Composer to create immersive learning experiences.

Engage: Explore the pedagogical benefits of AR, from boosting engagement to fostering deeper understanding.

Apply: We'll provide hands-on Reality Composer instruction and share practical AR examples across subjects, empowering you to integrate AR into your curriculum and elevate your teaching.

Speakers

Apple

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

Premier Charter School

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

9:30am CST

Snack in exhibitor expo

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:30am - 10:10am CST

exhibitor expo

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:30am - 10:10am CST
exhibitor expo Marriott St. Louis Airport

Snack

9:35am CST

Stephanie Boyce Book Signing

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:35am - 9:55am CST

exhibitor expo

Visit Stephanie Boyce in the foyer between salons 1 - 5 for a book signing!

Speakers

Stephanie Boyce

Chief Educational Officer, The FRESH Classroom

Tuesday February 25, 2025 9:35am - 9:55am CST
exhibitor expo Marriott St. Louis Airport

Book Signing

10:00am CST

Inside Voice Podcast

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:00am - 12:45pm CST

‎ Half Coast Booth 1

Tuesday February 25, 2025 10:00am - 12:45pm CST
‎ Half Coast Booth 1 Marriott St. Louis

Podcast Row

Session Type Podcast

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

Innovations Technology Teacher, Orchard Farm

I teach curious K-4 STEM leaders in Orchard Farm School District in a special area class called Innovations. My class fosters creative thinking, utilizes technology, and helps students discover their potential to question, test, and design. I am passionate about inclusive STEM opportunities... Read More →

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

exhibitor expo open

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

exhibitor expo

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

10:10am CST

Responding to Inappropriate Behavior: Proactive Strategies and Effective Responses

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

Salon 1

Learn: Explore proactive approaches to prevent inappropriate behaviors before they start by understanding the root causes and triggers. Panelists will share insights into the function of behavior and how applying function-based thinking can lead to more effective and compassionate responses.

Engage: Engage in live discussions through the chat feature, sharing ideas and questions with the experts and fellow participants. Take part in a dynamic Q&A session where you can ask specific questions about strategies for addressing unexpected behaviors and building systems that support positive outcomes.

Apply: Gain practical strategies and tools for responding to unexpected student behaviors with empathy and structure. Discover actionable ideas for creating supportive systems in your classroom or school that mitigate challenging behaviors and promote a positive learning environment.

Speakers

Lindsay Schmidt

EducationPlus

Lindsay serves districts by helping to develop behavioral systems of support, facilitate professional development for beginning teachers and is an ISTE Certified Educator and Trainer. Lindsay has worked in education for over 17 years as a Classroom Teacher, Consultant and Professional... Read More →

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

Belonging

Audience All K-12 Educators, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Technology Directors
Session Type Panel
School / Company EducationPlus

10:10am CST

Feeding the Learning Brain

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

Salon 2

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 - 11:00am CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Wellness

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

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: Understand why creativity is essential for problem-solving, analytical thinking and collaboration in today’s classrooms. Explore the challenges of defining and fostering creativity as part of the learning process.

Engage: Join an interactive discussion on best practices for integrating creativity into your school’s curriculum. Share ideas and examples with peers on how iPad can support innovative teaching and learning strategies.

Apply: Gain practical tips for embedding creativity into lessons across various subject areas. Use iPad tools to empower students to think critically, collaborate effectively and express their ideas in unique ways.

Speakers

Apple

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

Learning Technology Center

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

Embracing AI in Education—Challenges, Myths, and Opportunities

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

Salon C

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

Erin Lawson

Education Plus

Erin serves EdPlus member districts by developing tailored learning opportunities and professional development programs. Erin has 20 years of education experience in a variety of roles including 6th-grade teacher, district technology coach and Director of Professional and Program... Read More →

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

Integration Culture Leadership

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Ignite, Panel

10:10am CST

Physical Fitness: How to Train your Body with Open-Source Learning (3 of 4 in OSL Series)

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

Salon 4

Learn: Discover how Open-Source Learning not only builds knowledge and skills but also fosters self-awareness and personal growth. Understand why learning is an endurance sport that requires physical and mental stamina.

Engage: Explore simple, no-cost practices—including exercise, rest and nutrition—that boost cognitive and physical energy for learning. Participate in hands-on activities designed to fuel both your brain and body.

Apply: Practice techniques during the session that you can immediately use to enhance focus and energy. Gain actionable strategies to share with your students and classroom community for sustained learning success.

Attendance of this session will earn you an NFT-backed digital badge; and earn a grand slam badge by attending all 4 sessions.

Speakers

David Preston

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

Technology

Session Type Ignite

11:00am CST

Lunch in exhibitor expo

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:00am - 1:00pm CST

exhibitor expo

Pick up your lunch in the exhibitor expo anytime between 11:00 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Take to a session or go to the Lindbergh Room on the 9th floor for a quiet place to eat.

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:00am - 1:00pm CST
exhibitor expo Marriott St. Louis Airport

Lunch

11:10am CST

Connecting Your Content with Design Thinking

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 11:35am CST

Salon 3

Learn: Explore the five stages of design thinking—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test—to understand how they can be applied to encourage creativity, collaboration and problem-solving in K-12 education. Gain insights into how design thinking connects with your content to create deeper, more engaging learning experiences.

Engage: Participate in interactive discussions and activities that model the design thinking process. Collaborate with peers to brainstorm ways to incorporate design thinking into your classroom, while sharing ideas and challenges with fellow educators.

Apply: Develop a plan to integrate design thinking into your curriculum. Gain actionable strategies, resources, and a clear vision to make this innovative process a cornerstone of your teaching practice.

Speakers

Kara Sanders

My name is Kara Sanders and I am the makerspace teacher at Gotsch Intermediate School in the Affton School District. I started with a simple classroom makerspace in my 5th grade classroom. Fast forward a few years and I am the makerspace teacher for the building. I have been in this... Read More →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 11:35am CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

Audience Classroom Teachers, Specialist / Encore
Session Type Spark

11:10am CST

Meeting All Students Where They Are

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

Salon 1

Learn: Explore the evolving role of differentiation in today’s classrooms and the essential practices that allow educators to meet the unique needs of every student. Panelists will discuss how to identify where students are in their learning journey, common roadblocks teachers face with differentiation, and practical remedies to overcome these challenges.

Engage: Use the chat feature to share your ideas and experiences with differentiation. During the Q&A portion, ask the panelists specific questions about strategies, resources, and data tools to support personalized learning in your district or classroom.

Apply: Gain actionable strategies to overcome common differentiation challenges; methods to effectively collect and utilize data to understand student needs; resources and tools to help craft differentiated lessons; and insights on how to create a classroom culture that values and supports individualized learning paths. Leave inspired and equipped to better meet your students where they are, ensuring every learner can grow and succeed.

Speakers

Renee Trotier

Tanya Garcia

St. Louis RPDC Educational Consultant, EducationPlus

Tanya Garcia serves our member districts by developing tailored learning opportunities and professional development programs and working with area districts to provide supports for effective teaching and learning. Throughout her 15 years in education, Tanya has served in various roles... Read More →

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

Belonging

Audience Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Technology Directors, K-12 Educators, Building Princiapsl
Session Type Panel
School / Company EducationPlus

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 4

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 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Culture Belonging Design

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

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

A Healthy Balance: Tech vs. Tradition

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

Salon B

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 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon B 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

Let's Talk about Building an Effective School Culture

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

Salon C

Learn: Explore the key elements that define a positive school culture and climate, as shared by experienced panelists from diverse educational backgrounds. Gain a deeper understanding of how school culture influences student success, teacher satisfaction and community engagement.

Engage: Participate by using the chat feature to share ideas, ask questions and engage in live discussions with experts and fellow attendees. During the Q&A portion, take the opportunity to ask specific questions about challenges or strategies related to fostering a thriving school culture.

Apply: Gain actionable insights and strategies to overcome common misconceptions about building a strong school culture, address resistance to change when implementing improvements, effectively use data points to assess and measure school culture, and learn how to foster collaboration among leaders, teachers and parents to create a unified, supportive environment.

Speakers

John Converse

Director of Restorative Practices, EducationPlus

John Converse is a restorative practitioner who brings 19 years of educational experience to life in his interactions with others. He has a set of skills that foster belonging and connection through the art of restorative practices. He is a certified trainer with the International... Read More →

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

Leadership

Audience All K-12 Educators, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches, Technology Directors
Session Type Panel
School / Company EducationPlus

11:10am CST

MTSS with the Head and the Heart

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

Salon 2

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 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Leadership Culture

Session Type Ignite
School / Company Special School District

11:10am CST

Grow stamina and creativity using the design process/makerspace

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:35pm CST

Salon 3

Learn: Discover the five stages of the design thinking process and their relevance to fostering creativity, problem-solving and collaboration in K-12 education. Explore real-world examples of how design thinking can transform learning experiences and inspire student engagement across various subjects and grade levels.

Engage: Participate in hands-on activities that will guide you through the design thinking process, from identifying problems to brainstorming solutions and creating prototypes. Work collaboratively with peers to experience how the design process builds student stamina, critical thinking and innovation.

Apply: Create a personalized plan to integrate design thinking into your existing curriculum. Gain practical tools, strategies and resources to turn your classroom into a dynamic makerspace where students can explore, create and solve problems in meaningful ways.

Speakers

Kara Sanders

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:10am - 12:35pm CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

Audience Classroom Teachers, Specialist / Encore
Session Type Launch

11:40am CST

Integrating Design Thinking is Possible

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:40am - 12:05pm CST

Salon 3

Learn: Discover how the five stages of design thinking—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test—can transform learning experiences in the classroom. Gain insights into how this process fosters creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.

Engage: Participate in an interactive classroom example, where you'll work with fellow educators to develop innovative solutions to a real-world problem using the design thinking framework. Collaborate, share ideas and explore strategies to make this approach meaningful for your students.

Apply: Discover actionable strategies and inspiration to integrate design thinking into your teaching practice. Gain the confidence and tools to design engaging, student-centered learning experiences that empower and excite your learners.

Speakers

Kara Sanders

Tuesday February 25, 2025 11:40am - 12:05pm CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

Audience Specialist / Encore, Classroom Teachers
Session Type Spark

12:00pm CST

Inbox edu

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:00pm - 3:00pm CST

‎ Podcast Row Booth 4

Help reply to today's trends! Follow this link and complete the form to be a guest on the show!

Speakers

Jonathon Lee

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:00pm - 3:00pm CST
‎ Podcast Row Booth 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Podcast Row

Audience All K-12 Educators, Administrators
Session Type Podcast
School / Company EducationPlus

12:10pm CST

Launching Your Design Thinking or Makerspace

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 12:35pm CST

Salon 3

Learn: Explore the fundamentals of design thinking, including the five stages—Empathize, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test. Understand how this process promotes creativity, collaboration and problem-solving to address real-world challenges in the classroom.

Engage: Participate in interactive discussions and activities designed to generate practical ideas for integrating design thinking into your classroom. Share experiences and brainstorm solutions with fellow educators as you explore ways to guide students through innovative problem-solving.

Apply: Discover actionable strategies and resources to launch or enhance your design thinking or makerspace journey. Gain confidence to create dynamic, engaging learning experiences that inspire students to think like innovators.

Speakers

Kara Sanders

Tuesday February 25, 2025 12:10pm - 12:35pm CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

Audience Specialist / Encore, Classroom Teachers
Session Type Spark

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 C

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

Becky VanSant

Olivia Strazewski

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

Design

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

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

‎ Video On Demand

The On Demand session linked below will cover:

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.

Video Links:
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Speakers

VIELIA M JEFFRIES-EVANS

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

Design Technology

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

12:10pm CST

Pear Deck - Time Saving Techniques for Building Rigorous Engagement

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

Salon B

Learn: Discover how engagement, differentiation and rigor work together to drive student success. Explore the challenges teachers face in balancing these pillars while managing their workload.

Engage: Learn how Pear Deck supports teachers in creating high-quality learning experiences that keep students actively involved. Explore real examples of how technology can simplify lesson planning and instruction.

Apply: Discover practical strategies for using Pear Deck to enhance engagement, personalize learning and maintain rigor without adding extra stress. Gain tools to create dynamic, student-centered classrooms with ease.

Speakers

Ryan Hetchler - Pear Deck Learning

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

Technology

Session Type Ignite
School / Company CDW

12:10pm CST

Civic & Technological Fitness: How to Build and Steward Learning Networks Online and IRL with Open-Source Learning (4 of 4 in OSL Series)

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

Salon 4

Learn: Discover how Open-Source Learning fosters both skill development and self-awareness, helping us grow individually and collectively. Explore how neural, social, and online networks amplify learning and shape our understanding of the world.

Engage: Join a discussion on how collaboration accelerates learning, from building stronger social connections to leveraging online communities. Examine how culture, government systems, and AI influence information processing and knowledge sharing.

Apply: Gain practical strategies to nurture learning networks that empower both you and your students. Walk away with tools to foster connection, collaboration, and deeper learning in your classroom and beyond.

Attendance of this session will earn you an NFT-backed digital badge; and earn a grand slam badge by attending all 4 sessions.

Speakers

David Preston

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

Technology Leadership

Session Type Ignite

1:00pm CST

exhibitor expo open

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CST

exhibitor expo

Tuesday February 25, 2025 1:00pm - 2:00pm CST
exhibitor expo Marriott St. Louis Airport

1:30pm CST

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

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

Salon 4

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
Salon 4 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 - 2:55pm 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 - 2:55pm CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Technology

Session Type Spark

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 4

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

Owner, Ctrl + Alt + Teach Professional Development

Lindsey Weatherby is a dedicated special education teacher with a passion for creating engaging, well-developed, and effective lesson plans that support all learners. With expertise in fostering critical thinking, she designs instructional activities that challenge students to infer... Read More →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Technology

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

2:30pm CST

Moving the Needle - AI and the Attainability of Instructional Best Practices

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

Salon B

Learn: Explore the key pedagogical practices—differentiation, high-quality instructional materials and personalized learning—that have the greatest impact on student outcomes. Understand why, despite years of training, these strategies often fall short in real classrooms.

Engage: Discuss the biggest barrier to implementing best practices... time. Examine how the expansion of generative AI presents new opportunities to streamline instruction and support educators at scale.

Apply: Discover how AI-driven tools can help bridge the gap between theory and practice, making effective teaching strategies more accessible. Gain actionable insights on integrating AI to enhance instruction and improve student outcomes.

Speakers

Ryan Hetchler - Pear Deck Learning

Tom Ashley

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

Technology

Audience Curriculum Coordinators, K12 Educators, Instructional Coaches, Technology Directors
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

Discovery

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

3:30pm CST

Cognitive Strategies to Increase Student Achievement

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST

Salon 3

Learn: Explore how cognitive engagement shifts the learning responsibility from teacher to student, fostering deeper understanding and retention. Understand the impact of active learning on student achievement and classroom energy.

Engage: Experience a variety of high-impact, low-prep strategies that can be applied across all content areas. Participate in hands-on activities that model these techniques in action.

Apply: Gain a toolkit of practical strategies to implement immediately, ensuring your students take an active role in their learning while you reclaim your energy and enthusiasm for teaching!

Speakers

Tanya Garcia

St. Louis RPDC Educational Consultant, EducationPlus

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Belonging

Audience All K-12 Educators

3:30pm CST

Maximizing Language Learning with AI: From Enhancement to Transformation

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST

Salon 1

Learn: Explore how AI tools can enhance language instruction for multilingual learners by generating instructional resources aligned with the WIDA Standards Framework. Gain insights into effective AI-generated prompts that produce examples, practice items and mentor texts to support language development.

Engage: Participate in hands-on demonstrations of AI-powered strategies that scaffold assignments and assessments, ensuring alignment with students' English proficiency levels. Collaborate with peers to explore AI’s potential in differentiating instruction for multilingual learners.

Apply: Gain practical AI-driven techniques and ready-to-use strategies for integrating AI into your language instruction. Empower your students with customized learning experiences that foster language growth and engagement.

Speakers

Rob Greenhaw

MELL Instructional Consultant, Education Plus

Rob serves EdPlus members by providing consultation to schools that are working to implement high-quality, comprehensive and collaborative educational programs for English Learners. Rob also conducts professional development workshops that focus on providing practical strategies to... Read More →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Belonging

Audience All K-12 Educators

3:30pm CST

#IYKYK: Supporting Students Who Already Know What You're Teaching

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST

Salon 2

Learn: Explore the challenge of engaging students who have already mastered the content. Discover research-based strategies for repurposing materials and designing enrichment opportunities that promote deeper learning.

Engage: Participate in discussions and activities that focus on offering student choice, fostering autonomy and sustaining motivation for advanced learners. Share experiences and collaborate on practical solutions with fellow educators.

Apply: Gain concrete techniques to differentiate instruction, create meaningful extension activities and ensure all students remain challenged and engaged in your classroom.

Speakers

Sherri Kulpa

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, EducationPlus

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

3:30pm CST

Making Change Less Messy: Using the Change Matrix for Big and Small Shifts

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST

Salon 4

Learn: Explore the Change Matrix as a simple yet powerful tool to help navigate transitions at any level. Understand how the Change Matrix can simplify both big and small shifts in schools while reducing stress and providing a smoother transition.

Engage: Participate in interactive discussions and activities that break down the Change Matrix into practical steps. Collaborate with peers to troubleshoot common challenges and brainstorm ways to make change feel more manageable.

Apply: Gain concrete strategies to implement the Change Matrix in your school or classroom. Whether you're launching a major project or making small instructional shifts, you’ll have the tools to navigate change with confidence and clarity.

Speakers

Erin Lawson

Education Plus

Tuesday February 25, 2025 3:30pm - 4:00pm CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design

Audience All K-12 Educators