APS Rising Back to School Conference

Event Details

On August 4, 2025. teachers and staff came from every school in the district to the first-ever APS Rising professional development event at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The conference was the result of a collaboration with the Albuquerque Teachers Federation and was attended by about 6,000 people. 

Not only was this the first time all teachers have been brought together for professional development, but it is the first time teachers have had the opportunity to learn from other teachers. Sessions included Chromebooks in the Classroom, Gamification, Building a Learning Environment, Fibonacci and the Pythagorean Theorem, Classroom Management, and Outdoor Learning. There were also sessions from curriculum partners, district resource teachers, and community partners such as Explora. 

The conference opened with speakers Ellen Bernstein, Tim Keller, and Dr. Gabriella Blakey and ended with an invitation to a Thought Exchange in which teachers shared their experiences in the district with thoughtful feedback for district leaders. 

There were also students helping welcome teachers back with marching band and orchestra performances, mascots, and student volunteers. 

The event was a huge success and plans are already in place to do it again next year. The district will continue to use teacher feedback to drive professional development offerings to continue the tradition of excellence across the district.