Tuesday

Breakout Sessions

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

Session One

10:40 AM - 11:30 AM

  • Stephanie Cardella | Executive Director of Pathways & Innovation, LEAP Innovations

    Have you heard about the LEAP Learning Framework? Come join us to unpack the framework and deeply understand personalized learning from the learner's point of view. Together, we’ll explore ownership and agency in a modern learning environment, and what these guidelines look like in action, supporting your convergence journey. Walk away with new insights and instructional strategies to bring back to your classroom.

  • Julie Michel & Alisha Jahreis | Middle School Educators | Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School, Douglas County School District, NV

    Join us for an engaging session designed to help secondary educators transform their classrooms and unlock every student’s potential. We will embrace modern teaching strategies that focus on personalized learning and student mastery with emphasis on boosting student engagement, Student metacognition, creating roadmaps across subject ares and Standards Referenced Grading techniques. Transform your teaching. Empower your students.

  • Brian Smith, Falcon Zone Superintendent, District 49, CO

    Tim Scheck, Falcon Zone Academic Administrator, District 49, CO

    Providing teachers with quality instructional feedback is critical when implementing your instructional model. Come to hear about Falcon Zone's journey of innovating a teacher evaluation rubric that received approval from their state's education agency for meeting or exceeding the standards. Falcon Zone has implemented this rubric while also launching a new electronic self-reflection system that helps teachers set instructional goals that can be supported by administrators and instructional coaches. The system aligns to coaching and reflection tools within the Modern Teacher platform and provides a road map for teachers to navigate as they implement modern personalized learning at scale.

  • Danielle Amador | 1st Grade Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Alex St John | Kindergarten Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    When students take ownership of their learning, engagement soars, confidence grows, and their voices take center stage. In this session, explore how Student-Led Conferences transform the traditional conference model, empowering students to reflect on their progress, set goals, and lead meaningful conversations about their learning journey. Discover practical strategies, real-world examples, and actionable steps to implement student-led conferences in your school—fostering deeper engagement, accountability, and authentic student voice.

  • Alisa Pfeil | 4th Grade Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Neida Arellano | 3rd Grade Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Elements of an EPIC Classroom will present authentic examples and ideas for student data binders, student-created class visions, codes, and behavioral/procedural/academic SOPs. Attendees can use real-world examples and experiences as inspiration or a launching pad to implement elements on their first day back in the classroom.

  • Jennifer Moss | Manager of State and Strategic Partnerships, Discovery Education

    This engaging session focuses on creating customized learning paths for students using Discovery Education's innovative resources. We'll explore strategies for integrating digital tools that cater to diverse learning styles and promote student engagement. Discover practical tips for personalizing education, ensuring every student reaches their full potential in the classroom and beyond.

Session Two

11:40 AM - 12:30 PM

  • Laura Spencer | Chief Academic Innovation Officer, Elite Academic Academy

    Ignite the joy of learning and unlock the innovative potential of the Alpha Generation by harnessing the power of empathy! In a world increasingly reliant on artificial intelligence, this interactive session explores how human connection, amplified by AI tools, can spark curiosity and cultivate a thriving learning environment. Discover practical strategies for using AI to enhance your emotional intelligence, understand student needs through sentiment analysis, and practice challenging conversations with AI-powered simulations. Foster a culture of innovation through empathy and AI-driven insights to ignite the joy of learning for the Alpha Generation.

  •  Ashley Koontz | 4th Grade Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Stacia Almeida | 1st Grade Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Students take charge of their learning journey with personalized data notebooks and unpacked standards. By tracking their progress and understanding the expectations for each standard, students develop a clear picture of their strengths and areas for growth. Using individualized learning plans, they assess their own performance, set meaningful goals, and choose targeted areas to work on. This student-centered approach fosters self-reflection, accountability, and a growth mindset, empowering every learner to achieve their full potential.

  • Jennifer Kelly | Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Amanda Wolfe | Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Discover how our school has created a love for learning through Explorations. Explorations is a time when students get to choose from classes hosted by teachers who are passionate about a variety of topics such as fashion design, cooking, sports, drawing, etc. During this time, students get to practice real-world skills, explore hobbies, build relationships across the school, and gain confidence. In this session, you will learn about the different types of Explorations offered at our school, how we set them up, some examples of what happens during Explorations, and hear quotes from students about how much they love Explorations.

  • Seann O'Connor | Principal of Falcon High School, District 49, CO

    Jen Newberg | Instructional Coach at Falcon High School, District 49, CO

    A focus on building a modern learning culture in secondary schools. Share the process used at Falcon High School to establish Roadmaps as a case study. Explore what it could look like and discover ways to bring it "home" to your school.

  • Reema Pulsifer | Vice Principal of Churchill High School, Douglas County School District, NV

    Rachel Knight | Vice Principal of Churchill High School, Douglas County School District, NV

    Struggling with low turnout at school events? Churchill County High School was too—until we ignited curiosity and joy through innovative strategies tailored for the Alpha Generation. By embedding employability skills into our PBIS framework, we transformed attendance, achieving over 70% participation and fostering meaningful connections. Discover how our student-led conferences sparked collaboration among students, families, and educators. This session offers actionable strategies, from schedules to communication templates, to help you reimagine family engagement. Leave inspired with the tools to ignite innovation, strengthen your school community, and turn your next event into a celebration of connection and success.

  • Shannon Brown | Director of Education Services, Douglas County School District, NV

    Leslie Peters | Assistant Director of Education Services, Douglas County School District, NV

    Lyndsey Bednar | Professional Learning Facilitator, Douglas County School District, NV

    Lauren Spires | EPIC Instructional Coach, Douglas County School District, NV

    Blaine Spires | Elementary Principal, Douglas County School District, NV

    April Crandall | High School Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Hailey Sebahar | Director of Marketing, Douglas County School District, NV

    Learn about how Douglas County School District brought their Portrait of a Learner to life through student, community and teacher symposiums. Hear about how the district portrait team collaborated to make the portrait not just a poster on a wall, but something alive in all schools as well as the greater Douglas County community. You will gain insights into the reason behind the work as well as ideas on how you might leverage or refine portrait work in your own districts or schools.

  • Raphael Raphael | Assistant Professor, University of Hawaii at Manoa

    This interactive session introduces a culturally responsive coaching model developed through a successful Department of Education grant in Hawaii. Originally designed to support teachers working with high percentages of Native Hawaiian students, this evidence-based model is broadly relevant to all educators. While the session will briefly address the culturally responsive teaching model of writing and AI-assisted filmmaking developed during the project, the primary focus will be on how the coaching model can be used informally or formally, regardless of subject area, to support teachers. Attendees will gain actionable strategies to apply this transformative model in their own schools, empowering educators to spark curiosity, foster joy, and drive innovation in their teaching practices

  • Jennifer Moss | Manager of State and Strategic Partnerships, Discovery Education

    This engaging session focuses on creating customized learning paths for students using Discovery Education's innovative resources. We'll explore strategies for integrating digital tools that cater to diverse learning styles and promote student engagement. Discover practical tips for personalizing education, ensuring every student reaches their full potential in the classroom and beyond.

Session Three

1:40 AM - 2:30 PM

  • Jason Pennington | Director of Innovative Teaching and Learning, El Reno Public Schools

    Back to the Future of Teaching presentation will give teachers, 7 principles of great teaching and learning strategies for the future. We will look at how education was in the past and how these new strategies will ensure great teaching and learning in your classroom. This will be a presentation with 7 guiding principles to be implemented in your classroom, along with great videos and quotes to make you a better teacher in the future.

  • Amanda Simon-Koeppen | Inclusive Education Teacher M.Ed Technology , Douglas County School District, NV

    Amy Kidman-Delaney | Assistant Director of Inclusive Education Dr., Douglas County School District, NV

    Cheryl Mayfield | Executive Director of Inclusive Education, Douglas County School District, NV

    Join us for "Empowering Educators: Embracing Technology and Neurodiversity for Inclusive Excellence," where we explore effective, evidence-based practices for supporting neurodiverse learners across K-12 education. As an inclusive education specialist, I will emphasize the critical role of differentiation and scaffolding in fostering an inclusive environment. Together with Amy and Dr. Mayfield, leaders in Douglas County School District's inclusive education initiatives, we will share practical technology tools and strategies that empower teachers and enhance learning outcomes. This session aims to inspire educators to embrace diversity and ensure that every learner feels valued, supported, and equipped for success.

  • Krystal Koontz | Middle School Social Studies Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    As teachers, the idea of creating and maintaining a class vision can often feel repetitive or disconnected from standards and learning. I'll share practical strategies that have worked in middle school social studies classes to keep the vision alive. Participants will learn how to:

    • Reference the vision when making choices about assignments and unpacking standards, while integrating the vision into daily teaching practices.

  • April Crandall | Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Meghan Nield | Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    This session will focus on empowering secondary students and educators in non-traditional settings through a unique approach to roadmaps. This individualized application will aid in goal-setting while creating specific, measurable steps for students, teachers, schools, and districts. Participants will learn about a variety of ways to implement this strategy and practice by creating a “reversed roadmap” for their own use.

  • Katy Gibe | 5th Grade Teacher , District 49, CO

    Kathy Beadles | 5th Grade Teacher, District 49, CO

    We will share our journey on how to use data notebooks, conferences, and student voice and choice to drive individualized instruction. We hope that sharing our process will inspire attendees on their own journey.

  • Bernadette Leonis-Fritsen | 2nd Grade Teacher at Minden Elementary School, Douglas County School District, NV

    Madison Hukkanen | 1st Grade Teacher at Minden Elementary School, Douglas County School District, NV

    Explore successful ways to build and sustain positive classroom culture and personalized learning by participating in daily Morning Meetings. Learn to build and sustain an environment in which students are encouraged to take risks in sharing about themselves as learners. Successful “messages” will be shared that lead to rich, authentic discussions around students identifying themselves as learners, and expressing how they see themselves as learners.

  • Amy Jackson | Kindergarten Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Heather Hoyle | EPIC Instructional Coach, Douglas County School District, NV

    Primary teachers (K-3) will leave with practical tools and actionable ideas to guide students in monitoring their own progress toward learning progressions. This will equip educators with a system called "Target Tubs" that will allow time to instruct in small groups, provide interventions or assess students while the rest of your class is independent in working towards achievement "badges" in their data notebooks.

  • Ann Chavez | President of Strategic Growth and Partnerships

    Sue Holmes | Vice President of Innovation and Impact, LEAP Innovations

    Keely Stern | Vice President of Research, Data and Strategic Partnerships, Resonant Education

    Join the LEAP Innovations team and our research partners from Resonant Education for an exclusive preview of our LEAP Personalized Learning Survey tool, validated to measure student and teacher perceptions of personalized learning practices. This session offers a unique opportunity to explore how this survey supports schools in gaining actionable insights to enhance teaching and learning practices and transform the student experience. This session is ideal for district and school leaders eager to stay ahead of the curve in personalized learning by elevating educator and learner voices. You will gain practical insights on the purpose, design, and benefits of the survey, including opportunities for your district.

Session Four

2:40 PM - 3:30 PM

  • Alyssa Park | Teacher, Douglas County School District, NV

    Heather Hoyle | EPIC Instructional Coach, Douglas County School District, NV

    This informative session will empower educators to enhance their instructional practices and deepen student understanding by using assessments aligned with learning progressions. Key highlights include understanding learning progressions, unpacking standards with purpose, and designing transformative assessments. Participants will also explore how to empower students to take ownership of their learning by engaging meaningfully with their progress and celebrating their growth. By the end of the session, educators will leave with actionable strategies and resources to create a seamless connection between standards, assessments, and instruction.

  • Patrick Peters | Principal, Author, and Teacher at Alpine County School District

    This session will focus on transforming the culture of education from one rooted in contentment and compliance to a mindset of commitment and courage. This shift encourages all individuals in education, regardless of role, to embrace the courage necessary to drive and sustain meaningful change. The presentation will highlight the importance of innovation and modernization as we move towards a more personalized learning experience for students, ensuring that education evolves to meet their unique needs.

  • Cari Muresan | Falcon Zone Community Liaison, District 49, CO

    Brian Smith | Falcon Zone Superintendent, District 49, CO

    Come to learn how Falcon Zone in Colorado Springs has brought the community driver to life with various strategies and initiatives practical for other districts to use. Falcon Zone has created a Community Liaison position to lead and manage these efforts. You'll be able to engage and ask questions of her during this session.

  • Pam Gilmartin | Principal at Jacks Valley Elementary School, Douglas County School District, NV

    Veronica Griffith | Vice Principal at Jacks Valley Elementary School, Douglas County School District, NV

    Service projects empower students with responsibility, engage their compassion, and offer them the chance to affect the lives of others. Modern learners are offered voice and choice to serve in their community. Service projects empower students to develop a sense of community responsibility, learn valuable life skills like teamwork and problem-solving, build empathy for others, and gain practical experience applying classroom knowledge to real-world situations, all while fostering a positive impact on their community. Please join us in how this can impact your school.

  • Dr. Sue Segura | Work Based Learning Coordinator, Churchill County School District

    Derild Parsons | Superintendent, Churchill County School District

    Tammy Westergard | Senior Workforce Development Librarian-in-Residence, Nevada Governor's Office of Economic Development

    In this hands-on presentation, we will explore effective strategies for establishing meaningful partnerships that support student career goals and create paid internship opportunities. These initiatives not only empower students to achieve their dreams but also contribute significantly to the economic growth and prosperity of our communities.

    Our focus will include actionable steps to:

    • Boost enrollment in trade schools and community colleges.

    • Facilitate pathways to high-paying, in-demand careers.

    Together, we'll examine how to build a framework that bridges education, industry, and economic development, ensuring sustainable outcomes for all stakeholders. Let's dive into this collaborative approach to shaping a stronger future for our students and our communities.

  • Rebecca Bibri | LEAP Innovations

    This 60 minute workshop empowers educators and non-profit leaders to harness the potential of AI in their unique contexts, transforming challenges into opportunities for deeper learning. Join us for an exhilarating hackathon-like experience where you'll journey from identifying a pressing educational problem to building a functional AI solution—all within a single hour. No prior experience in coding, software development, or app creation is required. All you need is a problem to solve and a willingness to explore the possibilities of AI in education. Our expert facilitators will guide you through the process of leveraging AI tools to enhance student engagement, personalize learning experiences, and boost educational outcomes. This hands-on workshop is designed to demystify AI, showcase its potential for deeper learning, and equip you with the skills to become an AI-savvy educator in the 21st-century learning environment.

    This is a repeat of Monday afternoon's session.

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Join us for pub-style trivia in the Terrace Lounge!

PD Pursuit: A Trivia Challenge for Educators

Carly Strauss | Professional Learning Facilitator, Douglas County School District, NV
Lyndsey Bednar | Douglas County School District, NV
Susan Nalder | Professional Learning Facilitator, Douglas County School District, NV

Test your knowledge and sharpen your skills in this engaging and interactive trivia challenge designed specifically for educators that want to spark curiosity and ignite joy! Yes, this workshop is designed in pub trivia fashion. Compete with peers, spark meaningful conversations, and discover new insights to elevate your impact as an educator. Whether you're an administrator, a teacher, instructional coach, a vendor or an aspiring school leader, this workshop offers a perfect blend of fun, learning, and collaboration to spark curiosity and ignite joy. Are you ready to rise to the challenge?