In this session, participants will have the opportunity to refresh their understanding of the R&D cycle, identify the current state of their journey on campus, and reflect on how to strengthen the use of R&D to move innovation forward.

Presented by Celestina De La Garza and Kelly Hung

Immerse yourself in a transformative session that empowers educational leaders to leverage research on educator well-being for sustained success. This dynamic experience invites leaders to explore the impact of internal self-reflection on transforming practices. Discover how to bolster staff well-being, foster a culture of equity and excellence in classrooms, and navigate challenges with resilience. Engage in reflective practices crafted to cultivate strengths and identify areas for growth in adult well-being. Walk away equipped with actionable strategies that not only establish areas of improvement but also fuel a resilient, impactful, and thriving educational environment."

Presented by Willie Brewster and Jarad Davis

Join us for a dynamic and interactive session that delves into the intersection of innovative discipline models and the LEAPS framework, fostering inclusivity and innovation within educational settings. This session is tailored for educators, administrators, and stakeholders who are eager to transform their discipline and behavior systems into catalysts for positive change.

Presented by Frank Jemison and Amore Porter

This session will stress the importance of iterating our implementation by utilizing community voice. This could include using surveys, interviews, or the Leaps to garner voice and best practices for using it to turnkey positive changes in your implementation. 

Presented by Christian Martinez-Canchola and Amore Porter

Learn how we can strengthen coalition between schools and districts. Specifically, how we can help school leaders manage change from the seats they find themselves in and how to influence those around them to support redesign and implementation to ensure equitable and extraordinary learning for all students.

Presented by Andy Schaefer

Most HQIM curricula focus on whole group instruction. Most blended learning programs focus on online learning. We have learned that in addition to these two modalities, students need more opportunities for small group instruction, peer learning, independent learning, goal conference, and tutoring. But how do we fit all this in? And how do you get good at it? This session will have multiple options to make sure your HQIM and blended learning can be friends in ways relevant to you.

Presented by Leanna Lantz and Anirban Bhattacharyya

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to drastically change how humans learn together and how traditional “schools” are designed.  AI can help us deeply personalize learning, clarify and enhance the critical role of human educators, and offer access to rich content and experiences for all. What are the opportunities? What are the risks? Where do we have experiments happening? Hear from Corey Brady, Assistant Professor of Mathematics Education and Learning Sciences at SMU, Cara Jackson, Chief Technology Officer in Mesquite ISD and George Tang, Managing Director at Educate Texas to discuss the opportunities, risks and share ideas.

Presented by Corey Brady, Cara Jackson, George Tang

Middle schools everywhere are struggling to meet the academic and social needs of students, making it hard to prepare them for the next step of college and career readiness in high school and beyond. The effects of the pandemic, social media and school shootings have exacerbated the challenges adolescents experience during this tender stage of growth and development. How might we reimagine the middle school experience to catalyze the trajectories of young people? Join Chelsea Jeffrey, the Chief Regional Impact Officer for the Commit Partnership to discuss the root causes to the Middle School challenge and to brainstorm innovative solutions.

Presented by Chelsea Jeffrey

Innovative district schools have emerged through the creativity and leadership of educators across Texas. In many cases, these schools have informal understandings with current district leadership who allow them to operate differently. In some cases, schools have secured more formal commitments to school autonomy. These formal structures may include performance contracts, independent governing boards, and/or pursuit of Texas Partnerships (SB1882) as ways to codify and protect innovative models that are working for students. Join Empower Schools and CAST Schools for a lively workshop focused on the spectrum of different formal and informal ways to secure and sustain the autonomy you need to innovate toward the LEAPs for 21st century learning, even in the face of School Board and district leadership turnover.

Presented by Alyssa Morton, Jeanne Russell

In this session we will make connections between global trends and the current state of K-12 Computer Science education in Texas. We will share about the innovative work being done in Central Texas and explore how building a strong Computer Science ecosystem can increase access to Computer Science education for young people across Texas communities.

Presented by Anirban Bhattacharyya and Briana Castaño

The Whole Child Model makes students’ socio-emotional growth foundational to everything a school does. It is a trauma-informed, social-emotional learning model rooted in an understanding that children’s academic success is inextricably linked to their overall well-being, and in the belief that we can—and must—attend to the development of the whole child. The model helps students build the intra- and inter-personal skills they need to regulate their emotions, manage stress, and handle conflicts productively. It does this through a multi-tier system of supports that together develop a safe and warm school environment for everyone—including students and their families. Learn about this innovative model in this session.

Presented by Katie Bowen

Change is hard. Discover how to conquer the challenges of change in educational settings. Join our interactive session to explore a proven, evidence-based strategy for overcoming inertia and resistance to new ideas. In this session, we utilize simple frameworks that uncover the “what” and the “how” behind making change stick. Say goodbye to surface-level compliance and embrace a journey towards impactful, long-lasting transformation.

Presented by Dale Schmidt