innovate25: Full Schedule

8:40am CST

Digital Heroes: Cisco's GPS for Genius Hour

Monday February 24, 2025 8:40am - 9:05am CST

Learn: Discover Cisco’s Global Problem Solvers (GPS) program as a powerful framework for Genius Hour, guiding students to tackle real-world issues. Learn how GPS cultivates critical thinking and digital storytelling to address local, national and global challenges.

Engage: Through live polls, collaborative brainstorming and Q&A, actively explore digital storytelling techniques and educational tools to enrich student-led projects. Small group discussions will foster idea-sharing and practical insights.

Apply: Gain ready to implement Genius Hour projects with Cisco's GPS resources, using digital storytelling to empower students to address contemporary challenges with creativity and precision.

Speakers

Arthur Vambaketes

Educator, Ferguson Florissant School District

Arthur Vambaketes has taught American History and Computer Science in the St. Louis region for over 15 years.. He has lived in the St. Louis area for all of his life. Arthur attended St. Mary’s elementary school in Alton and completed his secondary education at Alton High School... Read More →

DECK Digital Heroes pdf

Monday February 24, 2025 8:40am - 9:05am CST
Salon 3 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Technology Culture

Audience Building Principals, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches
Session Type Spark
School / Company Ferguson Florissant School District / Cisco Corp.

8:40am CST

Unlocking Student Engagement with Discovery Education

Monday February 24, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am 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

Monday February 24, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST
Salon 1 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Culture

Session Type Ignite

11:10am CST

Supercharge Learning with a Professional Mindset

Monday February 24, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST

Salon 2

Learn: Explore key elements of career readiness that have proven successful in diverse educational settings. Identify modules and mini-lessons that connect curriculum to profession-based relevance, tailored to fit your unique classroom context.

Engage: Collaborate with shoulder-partners to practice various strategies, contribute questions that guide the workshop’s direction, and co-create a list of valuable resources and ideas. This collaborative approach will enable you to expand on resources shared while addressing real-world applications.

Speakers

Drew McAllister

John Omoresemi

Monday February 24, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Design Culture

Audience All K-12 Educators
Session Type Ignite
School / Company Parkway School District, St. Charles County CAPS

11:10am CST

Procedures that just make sense!

Monday February 24, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST

Salon C

Learn: Explore the foundational procedures that make daily decision-making more efficient and effective for educators at every stage of their career. Gain insights into how thoughtful routines can support teachers, build consistency and free up cognitive space to focus on what truly matters—student success. Learn strategies to help leaders, mentors and coaches differentiate support for staff and foster a culture of growth, even during challenging times.

Engage: Participants will actively engage through the Chat feature to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences. During the Q&A portion of the panel, you’ll have the opportunity to ask questions and gain insights directly from experienced leaders and experts. This collaborative approach ensures you leave with practical, personalized strategies.

Apply: Gain a tool kit of actionable ideas to implement in your school immediately. Create a plan for introducing or refining key procedures that resonate with both new and veteran educators. Develop a road map for differentiated professional support that meets your team’s unique needs and keeps everyone motivated through the toughest stretches of the school year.

Speakers

Emily Hilligoss

EducationPlus

Monday February 24, 2025 11:10am - 12:00pm CST
Salon C Marriott St. Louis Airport

Leadership Culture Design

Audience Administration, K-12 Educators
Session Type Ignite, Panel

12:10pm CST

Building Better Humans: The Power of Prosocial Education

Monday February 24, 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

Monday February 24, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon A Marriott St. Louis Airport

Belonging Culture

Session Type Ignite
School / Company eMINTS

12:10pm CST

Rounding Revelations: Navigating Instructional Rounds

Monday February 24, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST

Salon 2

Learn: Delve into the practice of Instructional Rounding as implemented in the Mehlville and Affton school districts, and discover its positive impacts in special education. Discover how Instructional Rounding can foster a culture of continuous learning, strengthen educator capacity and promote a community of personalized professional growth.

Engage: Participate in hands-on activities, partner and group discussions, and interactive Q&A session. Through these collaborative experiences, gain deeper insight into how Instructional Rounding supports educator and student development.

Apply: Reflect on the impacts of Instructional Rounding and begin planning how to incorporate this practice in your own setting. Gain actionable ideas for implementing Instructional Rounding to cultivate a supportive and growth-oriented culture within your educational community.

Speakers

Jennifer Ferguson

Missy Roux

Lindsay McCracken

innovate 25 Instructional Rounding.pptx pdf

Monday February 24, 2025 12:10pm - 1:00pm CST
Salon 2 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Leadership Culture

Audience Building Principals, Classroom Teachers, Curriculum Coordinators, Instructional Coaches
Session Type Ignite
School / Company Special School District, Special School District

1:30pm CST

The Sixth Fitness: Exploring the Big Questions of Open-Source Learning for Fun & Profit & Solving Every Problem Ever

Monday February 24, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm CST

Salon 4

If you have ever sat in a class or a faculty meeting and asked yourself, "When are we going to learn?" the answer is NOW and this keynote is for YOU. Open-Source Learning is an educational philosophy that celebrates the humane, optimizes the digital, and connects both the people and the dots in service to preparing for an increasingly complex and uncertain future. Learn how Open-Source Learning accounts for every great teaching practice in history and invites you to develop your own. Discover the transformations that take place when students become learners and pursue interdisciplinary goals through unique personal explorations that go beyond traditional classroom experiences. Dive into the five fitnesses of Open-Source Learning, and then you'll unlock the Sixth Fitness to validate and launch your own action plan. Transform the way you view your life and your teaching – and the work starts now, with a deceptively simple question: What do you want to learn?

Speakers

David Preston

Monday February 24, 2025 1:30pm - 2:20pm CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Technology Leadership Culture

Session Type Keynote

2:30pm CST

Creating Songs for STEM Success with STEMusic!

Monday February 24, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST

Salon 4

Learn: Discover how music can enhance STEM education! Explore the power of creating songs as a tool to reinforce key concepts, making learning both memorable and engaging.

Engage: Dive into a hands-on STEM activity, then work in groups to create a simple, catchy song about the STEM principles you explored. Through collaboration, experience the excitement of combining learning with creativity and discover firsthand how music can deepen understanding and retention in any subject area.

Apply: Each group will showcase their song teaching a STEM concept, modeling how this approach can spark interest and aid retention for students. Gain a memorable strategy to energize learning in your classroom.

Speakers

Roy Moye III

Monday February 24, 2025 2:30pm - 3:20pm CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Technology Culture Belonging

Session Type Ignite

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

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

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 →

Tuesday February 25, 2025 8:40am - 9:30am CST
Salon 4 Marriott St. Louis Airport

Belonging Design Culture

Session Type Ignite

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

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

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

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

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

12:10pm CST

Building Better Humans: The Power of Prosocial Education

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

Salon A

Speakers

Jen Foster

Sr. Program Coordinator, eMINTS National Center

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

Unlocking Student Engagement with Discovery Education

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

Salon 1

Speakers

Discovery

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

Design Culture

Session Type Ignite

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