Regional and National Conference Sessions

This dare-we-say fun session debunks common cybersecurity myths and uncovers the realities of today’s threats. We’ll dive into the hot-button issues of 2025, share actionable insights, and reveal how one Washington district implemented MFA for students (gasp!). You’ll have data, facts, and real-world examples to take back to your teams.

Presented at the 2025 COSN Conference in Seattle, WA as a panel guest of Clever

In today’s fast-paced, tech-driven world, students are often bombarded with digital distractions and demands, leading to increased stress and burnout. But technology doesn’t have to be the enemy of mental health—it can also be a powerful ally. This session will explore how educators can integrate mindfulness and wellbeing practices using digital tools, helping students manage stress, improve focus, and build emotional resilience. The session will showcase various digital apps and platforms designed to promote mindfulness, time management, and relaxation, including tools for meditation, stress reduction, and daily check-ins. It will also address the balance between screen time and mental health, offering strategies to ensure that technology is used to refresh rather than overwhelm students. We'll examine the intersection of mindfulness and technology, traditionally seen as opposites, and how digital tools can support a culture of mental wellness in the classroom.

Presented at the 2025 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA as a Featured Speaker Session

When school and district leaders step into the classroom, they strengthen the connection between leadership and the real-world challenges that educators and students face every day. This session will explore the value of leadership engagement in the classroom, focusing on how leaders can use these opportunities to stay grounded in current instructional needs, build relationships with students, and model key educational priorities. Hear how the Director of Technology and Innovation at North Kitsap School District is partnering with elementary teachers to deliver engaging lessons rooted in picture books on digital citizenship and responsible tech use. This approach not only enhances student understanding of responsible technology use but also keeps leadership aligned with the authentic challenges faced in today's digital-first learning environments. By actively participating in instruction, leaders can directly observe classroom dynamics, tech integration challenges, and student behavior—leading to more informed, effective decision-making and stronger initiatives.

Presented at the 2025 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA as a Featured Speaker Session

In an increasingly digital learning landscape, safeguarding student data is more important than ever. This session will explore best practices for protecting sensitive information, ensuring compliance with privacy regulations, and educating students about the fundamentals of cybersecurity. With a growing number of students and educators accessing online platforms and cloud-based services, schools must adopt robust cybersecurity measures to prevent unauthorized access, breaches, and data loss. As a case study, this session will highlight how the North Kitsap School District has successfully implemented Clever MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) to protect student accounts. Clever MFA not only serves as a tool for enhancing account security, but it also provides a natural launchpad for engaging students in deeper discussions about online safety and cybersecurity. By tying together real-world practices with classroom education, schools can teach students essential digital literacy skills while maintaining a secure learning environment.

Presented at the 2025 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA as a Featured Speaker Session

Adolescence is a critical period of brain development, and understanding how the adolescent brain works is key to managing student behavior. This session will explore the neuroscience behind adolescent behavior, using the Conscious Discipline brain states model to explain why students act the way they do. Educators will gain insights into how brain states—Survival, Emotional, and Executive—affect behavior, and how to identify the underlying causes when students are stuck in reactive states. With increasing use of digital devices, students are becoming wired for instant gratification, leading to what is often referred to as “dopamine addiction.” Through this session, educators will build their capacity to understand the “why” behind student behaviors, especially in the context of heavy technology use. More importantly, participants will leave with practical strategies for helping students recognize and regulate their own emotions and behaviors, fostering greater ownership over their actions in the classroom.

Presented at the 2025 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA as a Featured Speaker Session

Explore how AI can serve as a strategic partner in designing instructional frameworks and district-wide initiatives. By leveraging AI tools, you can streamline planning, generate innovative ideas, and create adaptable, evidence-based strategies that align with your educational goals. 

Presented at the 2025 AI Innovation Summit in Seattle, WA 

Step into the future of educational leadership with AI as your collaborative coach. Explore how AI can enhance your capacity to reflect, plan, and lead, offering examples of tools that support smarter, more purposefuly, reflection into action. 

Presented at the 2025 AI Innovation Summit in Seattle, WA 

Explore and analyze practical applications of AI to enhance teaching and learning experiences and administrative practices. Learn how to integrate AI effectively into your professional practices to support student engagement, save time, and increase efficiency. 

Presented at the 2025 AI Innovation Summit in Seattle, WA 

Being "All In!" requires an equitable system purposefully designed to see and support all students. In this session, hear how North Kitsap School District, at both the district and school level, is breaking down systemic barriers and using academic, social and emotional, and climate and culture data to build an MTSS system that creates a sense of safety and belonging, is inclusive and provides equitable access to support.

Presented at the 2024 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA

Join a discussion with Google Champions from North Kitsap, Vancouver, and Olympia School Districts, freshly returned from the Future of Education Google Champions Symposium in Sunnyvale, CA. The conversation will explore of a future where student-centered learning takes the lead role and assessment connects to real-world skills. The conversation will explore innovative disruptions, highlighting how tools like generative AI are not merely changing, but expanding the horizon of possibilities for students. Engage in a dialogue that’s both reflective and forward-looking, as we explore strategies and envision an educational future that’s responsive, empowering, and full of potential for every learner.

Presented at the 2024 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA

This session is designed for educators looking to seamlessly integrate Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Communication, and Creativity with innovative technology tools in their instructional design. Participants will explore and discuss high-impact strategies that promote active student engagement and contribution. As we whisk through the content, educators will discover how to concoct the perfect blend of the 4 Cs with technology, creating a smoothie of student engagement that is both nutritious and delicious for the mind. With a balanced mix of theory, collaboration, and practice, participants will leave with a blender full of practical insights and tools to immediately enhance and energize their student engagement. 

Presented at the 2024 NCCE Conference in Seattle, WA

Being "All In!" requires an equitable system purposefully designed to see and support all students. In this session, we will share how North Kitsap School District, at both the district and school level, is breaking down systemic barriers and using academic, social and emotional, and climate and culture data to build an MTSS system that creates a sense of safety and belonging, is inclusive and provides equitable access to support. 

Presented at the 2023 Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA) Summer Conference in Spokane, WA

From coast to coast, educators are expressing the profound need to address a variety of student social and emotional needs, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. By gaining a greater understanding of the brain science behind behavior, participants will gain skills to help them see beyond the behavior while helping students build their own emotional resilience. This two-hour workshop will explore how to harness the power of a variety of trauma-informed, technology-enhanced strategies to better help students take charge of their own emotional health and regulation.

Presented at the Olympic Educational Service District Education Technology SpecTECHular in Bremerton, Washington

From coast to coast, educators are expressing the profound need to address a variety of student social and emotional needs, especially following the Covid-19 pandemic. By gaining a greater understanding of the brain science behind behavior, participants will gain skills to help them see beyond the behavior while helping students build their own emotional resilience. This two-hour workshop will explore how to harness the power of a variety of trauma-informed, technology-enhanced strategies to better help students take charge of their own emotional health and regulation.

Presented at the 2023 NCCE Conference in Tacoma, Washington

According to the CDC, over half of all U.S. children have experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect, violence, or changing household circumstances. By gaining a deeper understanding of the physiological impact of trauma on the brain, educators will be better suited to meet the needs of these students. The use of digital resources to facilitate reflection, mindfulness, and self-empowerment allows teachers to create a healing environment that ensures all students are able to flourish.   

Presented as a virtual workshop at the 2022 NCCE Conference

Creativity combined with authenticity is the perfect recipe for meaningful learning at the highest level of critical thinking and engagement. Tap into the power of authentic audiences while learning about digital resources and tools that can take student content creation into a global community.  

Presented at METC20 in St. Charles, MO as a featured METC Spotlight Educator session

According to the CDC, over half of all U.S. children have experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect, violence, or changing household circumstances. By gaining a deeper understanding of the physiological impact of trauma on the brain, educators will be better suited to meet the needs of these students. The use of digital resources to facilitate reflection, mindfulness, and self-empowerment allows teachers to create a healing environment that ensures all students are able to flourish.   

Presented as an METC Spotlight Educator extended double-session at METC20 in St. Charles, MO 

Voice and choice shouldn’t just be for students. Hear how to take personalized professional learning from a dream to a reality. Through professional learning projects, educators are given time to learn what they want and how they want through the use of digital tools, coaching, and job-embedded support.  

Presented at METC20 in St. Charles, MO as a featured METC Spotlight Educator session

Personalized learning is in classrooms across the nation, but many districts are struggling to provide aligned and accountable personalized professional development for teachers. Hear how an METC18 session on personalized PD at a small elementary school in Kansas led to interstate educator collaboration and impacted the professional learning of more than 200 secondary educators in Missouri’s largest school district. Through professional learning projects, educators are given time to learn what they want and how they want through the use of digital tools, coaching, and job-embedded support. 

Presented at METC19 in St. Charles, MO and GOCSD Innovation Summit 2019 in Branson, MO and the 2019 International Baccalaureate Global Conference in July in New Orleans, LA

Designing dynamic lessons with modern tools can increase student agency and connect all content with critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. Inspired by the work of Weston Kieschnick, this session will explore a planning protocol template that grounds instruction in research-based strategies. Bring a lesson plan that you would like to take to the next level! 

Presented at the 2019 Blended and Personalized Learning Conference in Providence, RI and METC19 in St. Charles, MO

According to the CDC, over half of all U.S. children have experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect, violence, or changing household circumstances. By gaining a deeper understanding of the physiological impact of trauma on the brain, teachers will be better positioned to create a healing environment that ensures all students feel safe and are able to flourish by taking back their brain from their previous trauma. Attendees will leave with a solid foundational understanding of the brain-state model and a trove of resilience-building strategies and resources they can utilize the moment they are back in the classroom. 

Presented at METC19 in St. Charles, MO and GOCSD Innovation Summit 2019 in Branson, MO

Meeting the individual needs of a diverse educator population is no different than meaning the needs of a diverse student population. Educators need professional learning opportunities that are personalized, engaging, and relevant to the unique needs of their classroom and their students. Hear from four blended learning specialists how Springfield Public Schools, Missouri's largest school district, has tapped into the power of voice and choice and teacher leaders to provide numerous active and enjoyable professional learning opportunities as they have rolled out their IGNiTE teaching and learning initiative. From Appy Hours, Tech Tuesdays, Wired Wednesdays, and Final Fridays to Twitter chats and personalized workday-embedded training and support, teachers have numerous opportunities to excel and learn right along with their students. This emphasis on professional improvement is fostering a growth mindset culture for all stakeholders. Participants will also be invited to share their own personalized professional development structures, struggles, and successes. By tapping into the hive mind of the room, leaders will leave with a trove of ideas to take back to their own districts and adapt to meet the needs of their own educators. 

Presented at METC18 in St. Charles, MO

Recent polling data shows that students are becoming less engaged with their learning with each passing year. Providing students with meaningful and authentic learning opportunities that extend beyond the four walls of the classroom increases engagement while reinforcing that the knowledge they are building has a home in the real world. Combining authentic audiences with creative creation is the perfect recipe for meaningful learning at the highest level of critical thinking. This session will discuss the importance of authentic audiences while providing different resources and tools that teachers can use to take content creation into a global community.

Presented at the 2018 GOCSD Innovation Summit in Branson, MO

Transformative learning requires sound instruction coupled with an innovative spirit. Purposeful planning can increase student agency and connect all content with critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and creativity. This workshop will provide educators with a planning protocol that grounds instruction in research-based strategies supported with modern learning tools. Learners will leave with structures and tools that they can utilize the minute they get back into their classrooms.

Presented at METC18 in St. Charles, MO and the 2018 GOCSD Innovation Summit in Branson, MO

Effective feedback is essential for student growth, and the rise of digital tools has given teachers feedback possibilities like never before. By creating multiple feedback loops between students and teachers, learning can become energized and personalized for each student. Learn how you can use Canvas and Google to ensure your students have consistent and actionable feedback to drive their learning. This session is geared towards teachers who use the Canvas LMS.

Presented at the 2018 GOCSD Innovation Summit in Branson, MO

Effective feedback is essential for student growth, and the rise of digital tools has given teachers feedback possibilities like never before. By creating multiple feedback loops between students and teachers, learning can become energized and personalized for each student. Learn how you can use Canvas and Google to ensure your students have consistent and actionable feedback to drive their learning. This session is geared towards teachers who use the Canvas LMS.

Presented at the 2017 GOCSD Canvas User Group

When it comes to modern-day instructional coaching, the sky is the limit in regards to the multiple modes and models that can be utilized to meet teachers' needs. This session will show how the many resources in Canvas can be used synchronously and asynchronously to work with individuals and groups in collaborative planning, reflection, and problem-resolving. 

Presented at 2017 GOCSD Canvas User Group