Join us for the Wednesday opening session with an unforgettable keynote from Joe Sanfelippo, a nationally recognized speaker, author, and recently retired superintendent with over 26 years of experience in education. Known for his quick wit, heartfelt stories, and contagious energy, Joe brings both humor and depth to his message—reminding educators just how much they matter. His keynote will leave you feeling seen, celebrated, and recharged for the work ahead. Following his talk, Joe will join Holly Martin, Staff Development Specialist and Mason Martin, Mountain Brook High School studentfor afireside chat exploring how students can learn, teachers can teach, and leaders can lead in a world where the future is uncertain and ever-changing. Together, they will dig into what it means to prepare students for jobs that don’t yet exist—and how educators can stay grounded and empowered in the process. You won’t want to miss this energizing and thought-provoking start to day two of the ENGAGE Conference!
Take a break, grab a (free!) lunch, and enjoy some time to relax and recharge during our ENGAGE Conference lunch session. This midday gathering is the perfect opportunity to connect with colleagues, spark new ideas through casual conversation, and expand your professional network. You'll also hear brief remarks from our generous conference sponsors who help make this event possible. And don’t rush off—door prizes will be up for grabs, so you just might head back to your next session with a little something extra! Whether you're meeting someone new or catching up with a longtime friend, this lunch is all about good food, great company, and a little fun along the way.
This presentation will focus on the benefits of hosting a "publishing party" to celebrate student writing. Participants will hear quotes from students about why they enjoy publishing parties, the structure of a publishing party, and how to set up a publishing party.
Join us for an engaging session that dives into the world of executive functioning skills and their crucial impact on student academic performance and behavior. We will explore how deficits in these skills can hinder motivation and success, and identify practical school and non-school activities to help improve executive functioning.
In the second part of the presentation, discover the transformative potential of Neurofeedback, a state-of-the-art, non-invasive method for training the brain to function more effectively. Participants will learn how brain waves affect daily tasks and how Neurofeedback can optimize these brain activities for better self-regulation and achievement.
Communication with colleagues, parents, students, and communities at large is crucial to school success, yet the modes of communication have become so vast and so easy that true communication has become diluted, and may even be considered a lost art. Even though there are thousands of ways an educator can communicate, have you ever wondered what the pillars of effective communication are? Come join this session to learn about and brainstorm how educators can communicate in ways that bring out the best in others. We’ll look at case studies, talk through “bedside manner,” and also analyze strategies from some of the best communicators.
In this session, participants will explore practical strategies for fostering positive and effective communication with parents. Through real-life examples, this session will cover email templates, tips for phone conversations, and best practices for initiating open, respectful dialogues. Attendees will leave equipped with actionable tools to enhance their parent interactions and strengthen school-home partnerships.
Do you feel like you are merely surviving? Does your work-life balance not feel like a balance at all? This session explores current trends in education affecting teacher well being, builds a space to talk through solutions (including simple strategies and research based practices), and provides tools for advocating for better balance in schools.
Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are gaining attention as a tool for improving student behavior and supporting teacher well-being, but what does the research really say? This session will explore the current evidence base for mindfulness in schools, including findings from two studies conducted by the presenter on using MBIs to support student behavior. Participants will engage in brief mindfulness activities to experience their potential benefits firsthand. The session will also provide practical, research-informed strategies for integrating mindfulness into the classroom setting. Attendees will leave with useful tips and strategies to support students’ emotional regulation and foster their own well-being in the classroom.
Unlock the full potential of your instructional design with this engaging session! Dive deep into four transformative engagement strategies that will enhance your approach to teaching and learning. This session offers practical insights and hands on techniques from Marzano, a leading researcher in education, to foster dynamic, learner centered environments. Participants will explore innovative ways to captivate students' attention, promote active participation, and create meaningful learning experiences. Whether an experienced educator or new to the field, this session will equip attendees with tools to elevate your teaching, boost student engagement, and achieve better learning outcomes. Join us to transform your instructional design and inspire your students like never before.
Nick Saban is widely regarded as the greatest college football coach of all time. But, perhaps his greatest contribution comes not from the awards and accomplishments but from the consistent lessons he preaches in between plays. In this presentation, participants will outline the surprising parallels between Saban’s approach and the pedagogical methods that enhance our teaching practice. Among others, attendees will lean into the core of Saban’s philosophy—focusing on the process over the product. Motivating, convincing, or cajoling capable but complacent athletes…sound familiar? That’s not that unlike teachers emphasizing the journey of learning over the immediate results of grades. Through interactive discussions, participants will walk away with strategies to apply these coaching principles to foster a classroom atmosphere that values growth and development over mere outcomes. Roll (Tide) on over and learn what Saban has to say about Teaching!
Wave the wand of Magic School AI to transform lesson planning, differentiation, and many other tasks into a faster, more efficient process. This powerful tool helps educators save time by generating materials, streamlining communication, and much more! Join this session to discover how to "magically" lighten your workload and focus on what matters most - your students. Bring something you would want to work your magic on and leave feeling like a true wizard.
Presenters will describe their class's school business "Spartan Sips" using a slideshow, video, and social media- including how to start, what you'll need, and benefits to the students and school. Presenters will then have a question and answer session for specific questions and concerns. Lastly, attendees will be given time to preplan using the presenters and fellow attendees as resources.
Do your students bathe in the awkward silence of open-ended questions? Are discussions tepid, boring, dull? In this presentation, participants will learn how to use the 16 Desires Theory of American psychologist Steven Reiss to have better classroom discussions, write better papers, and even understand their students and themselves a little better. Why did Nemo touch the "butt?" Was he motivated by acceptance? Independence? Vengeance? And why did Marlin so strongly object? How can an understanding of this theory provide a framework for better discussions of conflict whether that conflict lies between the pages of a novel or in the cafeteria of a middle school?
This session will focus on the availability, descriptions, and contents of substances on gas station shelves that mimic hard core drugs and have detrimental effects on student mental and behavioral health. This session is relevant to any educator, administrator, or parent.
A competitive robotics program can create an exciting learning environment for your students. Students around the world use the engineering design process to design, build, and program robots to play a game that is created by VEX. Students learn through productive struggle and "play" to bolster their engineering, physics, and computer science knowledge. Soft skills like teamwork, interview skills, working within a budget and timeframe, as well as other soft skills that employers value highly are naturally developed through this process.
Writing assessments can be tedious and exhausting. With the right kind of prompt, it is possible to cut your assessment-writing time dramatically. Drew Lasater has created AI prompt templates for first drafts of formative assessments that cut his test-writing time by transforming it into test-editing time. Attendees will learn the basics of building a good AI prompt and what pitfalls to avoid in the process.
Data drives instructional decisions, but how do we determine which data is most useful? How can we effectively analyze trends and patterns to inform instruction? Join us for an engaging discussion on practical strategies for leveraging data—including ACAP, iReady, ACT, and more—to support teachers and enhance student learning. Enjoy a meal while gaining valuable insights and actionable tips for making data work for you!
In this interactive session, we will explore 3-Act Tasks designed to spark curiosity and promote critical thinking in elementary math classrooms. Participants will engage in hands-on activities that demonstrate how to implement these tasks effectively, encouraging students to analyze problems, develop strategies, and collaborate with peers. We will discuss the components of the tasks, including the use of real-world scenarios, student-led inquiry, and the importance of mathematical communication. Join us to discover how to create an engaging and dynamic math environment that fosters a love for learning and empowers students to become confident problem solvers!
Join us for "Seesaw Superstars: Empowering Student Creativity!" in this engaging session where educators will explore the Seesaw platform to amplify student voices and foster creativity. Participants will learn how to create dynamic, student-centered activities that encourage learners to express themselves through various multimedia tools. Together, we'll unlock the potential of Seesaw to transform classroom engagement and inspire students to take ownership of their learning journey!
Participants will learn about a shared approach to providing tiered intervention across classes. Highlights will include procedural components including: data collection, building groups, sharing progress, and determining programming. Time will be spent discussing how all learners' needs are considered within this model. Attendees will have the opportunity to share their experiences with tiered intervention and problem-solve as a group.
Have you ever wondered why it's so easy to work with some coworkers, but so difficult to work with others? The Enneagram is a personality model that is broken up into 9 different personality types. In this session, participants will take the Enneagram personality test, discuss the 9 different personality types, look into how/why the different personalities work well together in the work field and how/why they might clash or struggle to work well at other times. Participants will spend time digging deeper into strategies that help build a positive working environment and a strong/collaborative community!
Fostering a thriving culture requires a strategic blend of instructional intelligence—effective teaching strategies, data-driven decision-making, and inclusive pedagogy—and socioemotional intelligence—self-awareness, empathy, relationship-building, and emotional regulation. When these elements work together, they create an environment where individuals feel engaged and supported, leading to improved learning outcomes and overall well-being. This presentation explores practical strategies for integrating both forms of intelligence, emphasizing leadership modeling, professional development, and reflective practices. By prioritizing both instructional effectiveness and emotional well-being, organizations can cultivate a sustainable, high-performing culture that empowers individuals to grow and succeed.
National Board Certification can be an overwhelming process without the right support and planning. Our panel features teachers who are in the middle of their journey and who have been certified for years. Join us for a panel discussion where we will provide tips for beginning certification, surviving the journey, finding support, weighing the benefits, and connecting with other NBCTs.
Who has time to read both personal and professional development books? Paul does. In this session, Paul will share three take aways from three books that you can use today to effect change to your classroom culture. He reads the books so you don't have to. Unless you want to.
During this session, educators will learn about current trends in legal, synthetic, and recreational drugs for sale in gas stations. Participants will learn about the dangerous side effects of these drugs. Examples of various concealments and stash compartment items and text message emojis will be shown. This presentation will also include descriptions on how to educate youth to recognize the deceitful and misleading product descriptions. Understanding that just because something is “legal” DOES NOT mean it is “safe”. Participants will be shown pictures of mislabeled, youth targeted advertisements to increase awareness. A variety of local and national resources for support and help will be provided.
Each attendee will get professional, personal and practical steps for self care. Participants will take part in collaborative discussions on how to avoid burn out, burn down, and growing weary. Mr. Cain is a stroke survivor who had to learn the hard way this important life lesson: "If you don't take care of yourself, you can't take care of anyone else."
LET'S GET READY TO RUMBLE! Join us for an AI smackdown. A panel of experts will share their best practices in AI to go from a featherweight to a heavyweight champion in creating engaging and rigorous instruction and streamlining their workflow. Participants will also be invited to join the ring by sharing their own knockout worthy AI strategies.
Attendees will engage in a Q&A session featuring two first-year teachers and an administrator. In this session, Donald will ask both Ann and Morgan a variety of questions about their perspectives and experiences as first-year teachers. The discussion will highlight their insights on various activities, lessons, and views on classroom lessons, with the goal of inspiring and influencing veteran teachers. Additionally, attendees will have the opportunity to ask their own questions.
This session will focus on enhancing the connection between writing and reading skills in young learners. Educators will explore effective strategies to create cross-curricular lessons that incorporate engaging literature and mentor texts when teaching writing. By utilizing these resources, teachers will learn how to design lessons that inspire creative writing. Educators will be empowered to implement innovative strategies that bridge the gap between reading and writing, ultimately enhancing student engagement and success in both areas. Join us to discover how to make writing instruction more dynamic and interconnected for young learners.
Many teachers of young students feel uncertain about their own writing skills, which can make teaching writing feel daunting. This session will provide practical strategies to build confidence and create a thriving community of young writers. Participants will explore how to establish a strong writing foundation at the start of the year, ensure daily writing opportunities, conduct effective writing conferences for students at all levels, and seamlessly integrate writing and grammar standards. Walk away with actionable ideas to inspire and empower students as writers from the very beginning.
Does a medical diagnosis ensure Special Education qualification? How much documentation do I need to refer a student? What is the role of a paraprofessional? Isn’t the IEP more of a suggestion? Can I modify the curriculum so it’s easier? It’s ok if I talk about the IEP with coworkers as long as we whisper, right? What can I do with all these behaviors I’m seeing? This kid could be getting all A’s if he tried harder, should I refer him? Don’t all kids in Special Ed need kind of the same thing? Can’t we put all kids with IEPs in one inclusion class?
This riveting presentation will have you on the edge of your seat. You will go back to your school armed with valuable information, including handouts and tools that you can share. Your faculty and staff will be so impressed with the SPED knowledge you have gained.
There is an assumption that students arrive to school with intact vision; however, students can pass a vision screening and still have visual processing challenges. It is estimated that 80% of learning is visual, so addressing visual concerns is of primary importance for successful learning. Participants in this course will leave with a new appreciation for visual differences that are not attributed to acuity alone. Recognizing visual processing differences in K-12 learners, knowing when to refer to a specialist and having tools that will make accessing academic information more visible to all learners are the objectives of this course.
We will wrap up the ENGAGE Conference with a high-energy closing session that brings everyone back together to celebrate the closing of an incredible two days of learning and making connections. This is your chance to hear from fellow participants as they share key takeaways, big ideas, and “aha” moments from the sessions they attended. It’s a time to reflect, be inspired by your peers, and get excited about what’s still to come. And yes—we will give away the last (and best) of the door prizes! Come ready to listen, laugh, and leave the conference recharged, reconnected, and ready to make an impact.
