Much of today’s classroom practice is shaped by norms from an industrial-age model of education, often resulting in learning environments where students mimic rather than think. In this workshop, participants will explore over 15 years of research on transforming classrooms into spaces that foster deep student thinking. Through interactive experiences and practical examples, educators will learn strategies to move from task completion to meaningful engagement and critical thinking.

Participants will:

• Recognize what thinking looks like in a math classroom; 
• Understand what it takes to foster student thinking in math; 
• Begin the process of building a thinking classroom; and 
• Support teachers in creating and sustaining thinking classrooms.

Many teachers are simply and understandably burning out! The fire and passion that once sparked for teaching are simply becoming extinguished. Is it any wonder? All teachers are being asked to do is appropriately manage students while engaging the brains of those students in quality curriculum. They are also asked to meet the physical, social, and emotional needs of those same students and all while simultaneously attempting to maintain some semblance of a quality personal life. In this highly-engaging workshop, educators will not only learn how to restore their passion for teaching, they will also explore 12 brain-based principles for avoiding burnout, increasing optimism, and supporting physical well-being.

Participants will:

• Identify the factors that contribute to teacher burnout and learn how to determine purpose and restore the passion inherent in the profession;
• Discover the correlation between humor, optimism, games, and increased immunity;
• Value the importance of quality nutrition, exercise, and sleep to support physical well-being; and
• Create a classroom that engenders optimal student success. 

Bring your team, or collaborate with new colleagues, as you engage in an interactive simulation designed to teach the implementation of the Standards for Professional Learning. Throughout this experience, participants will make decisions and immediately see the outcomes—spoiler alert: not every choice positively impacts educators and students. Explore what it takes to provide high-quality professional learning that drives visible growth in educator knowledge, skills, and practice. See the Standards in action and reflect on how to operationalize them within your own districts and schools.

Participants will:

• Engage in a simulation game developed by WestEd and Learning Forward to build capacity in implementing the Standards for Professional Learning;
• Identify and make key implementation decisions that support high-quality professional learning;
• Deepen understanding of how these decisions impact outcomes through immediate feedback; and 
• Commit to applying their learning in their own districts and schools.

Explore meaningful, collaborative strategies for evaluating the impact of professional learning programs and experiences that target context-specific improvements. Learn how to use AI tools to determine the effects of professional learning on teaching practices and student learning outcomes. Finally, develop efficient procedures for gathering crucial evidence on those experiences to verify results and guide future improvements.

Participants will:

• Explore the evidence-based factors that contribute to the effectiveness of professional learning;
• Learn the five levels of evidence that are essential in evaluating professional learning practices and experiences;
• Consider different AI tools for gathering crucial evaluation evidence; and
• Develop strategies for planning effective professional learning experiences that impact teaching practices and result in improved student performance.

Transforming teaching and learning in schools and districts doesn’t happen by accident; it calls upon educators to make instructional choices grounded in a robust understanding of how learning happens. Join two experts from the field of applied learning science as we bridge research to practice, examine foundational findings from cognitive science that can be applied in real classrooms, and empower teachers to foster more inclusive, impactful learning environments.

Participants will:

• Articulate a simple model of the mind to ground understanding of how learning happens;
• Identify key learning science principles that ensure instructional effectiveness and equity;
• Analyze identified components of successful evidence-to-practice implementation in teacher induction and professional learning; and
• Develop a Theory of Change plan that begins to outline initial steps for building capacity for evidence-informed professional learning in your school or district.

Examine how leaders can design schools that center voice, identity, and belonging while coaching for agency among both students and educators. Explore the Pedagogies of Voice framework and leadership strategies that cultivate agency and support participation for all in learning. Apply practical tools for professional learning and instructional leadership that help educators leverage the framework to build classrooms and school cultures where voice drives learning.

Participants will:

• Analyze how student voice, identity, and belonging influence agency and learning outcomes, and identify leadership moves that cultivate these conditions across classrooms and schools;
• Apply the Pedagogies of Voice framework to design professional learning and coaching structures that support educators in cultivating agency for both students and teachers;
• Develop practical strategies for coaching educators to strengthen disciplinary thinking and equitable participation through voice-centered instructional practices; and 
• Design actionable next steps for implementing voice-driven learning cultures within their own schools or districts.

Recommended book (optional): https://www.corwin.com/books/pedagogies-of-voice-288927

Support skilled teachers in mentoring colleagues by applying a structured Mentoring Cycle that strengthens new teacher practice. Examine and apply strategies for diagnosing mentees’ needs, providing targeted coaching, and monitoring progress to measure growth and impact. Learn and practice skills to build strong, trust-based relationships and communicate effectively with beginning teachers. Apply adult learning theory and insights into the new teacher mindset to the mentoring role, and design a mentoring support plan that accelerates knowledge, skills, and instructional growth.

Participants will:

• Learn the “why” behind mentoring and the impact mentoring can have on new teachers;
• Understand and apply mentor roles, responsibilities, expectations, and key attributes in their work with new teachers;
• Recognize and apply strategies from the Mentor Cycle framework for developing new teachers’ knowledge and skills; and
• Apply tools and strategies that establish trust between a mentor and a new teacher to build strong, learning-focused relationships.

Classrooms are busy places—students are engaged, teachers are working hard, and lessons move forward. But do students truly know what they are learning, why it matters, and how they will know they’ve succeeded? Explore how teacher clarity shifts instruction from task completion to deep learning. Examine how learning intentions, success criteria, relevance, and aligned assessment increase achievement and engagement, and leave with practical strategies to design clearer lessons and support clarity through coaching, planning, and leadership.

Participants will:

• Understand the research behind teacher clarity and its impact on student achievement, engagement, motivation, and self-regulation;
• Analyze the core components of teacher clarity—learning intentions, success criteria, relevance, and aligned assessment—and distinguish clarity from compliance-based practices;
• Apply a clarity framework to lessons, units, or systems, strengthening alignment between standards, instruction, and evidence of learning; and
• Develop an actionable next step to refine classroom practice, enhance PLC conversations, or embed clarity into schoolwide improvement efforts.

Are you looking to design high-quality, interactive, and relevant professional learning that can escalate changes in educator practice leading to improved student outcomes? Explore the specific learning needs of adults while experiencing a plethora of highly engaging processes to ensure those needs are met, all while extending your understanding of quality professional learning design. Collaborate with peers using a learning design template that can up your game in quality design.

Participants will:

• Explore a framework for designing and facilitating powerful professional learning that is directly aligned to the Standards for Professional Learning;
• Experience a learning environment that meets the physical, social/relational, and learning needs of adults;
• Engage with facilitators as they model brain-friendly strategies that capture and hold learners' attention and increase retention; and
• Apply tools for the future design of high-quality professional learning.

Transform the way adults experience learning in this interactive session! Using the “Know, Do, Feel” framework, participants will explore key types of adult learning and design experiences that are engaging, relevant, and actionable. Bring a professional learning experience you’ve designed—or are preparing—to refine it with dedicated reflection, feedback, and structured processing. You’ll also learn strategies to intentionally build and sustain a culture of learning across teams, classrooms, or organizations, leaving with a strengthened professional learning plan ready to implement.

Participants will:

• Identify key types of adult learning and apply them to professional learning design;
• Use the “Know, Do, Feel” framework to create engaging and actionable learning experiences;
• Refine a professional learning experience through reflection, feedback, and structured processing; and
• Develop strategies to intentionally build and sustain a culture of learning in teams, classrooms, or organizations.

The true power of coaching lies in coaching the person, not the problem. When coaches help clients surface and explore their deep-seated beliefs, they unlock meaningful insights and innovative thinking—leading to new approaches to challenges and lasting changes in behavior. Experienced coaches will strengthen their ability to consistently create high-trust conversations, recognize opportunities for shifts in thinking, and move beyond surface-level dialogue to foster meaningful changes in educator practice.

Participants will:

• Clearly articulate the concept of “coaching the person, not the problem” and its potential to foster meaningful changes in thinking and behavior; 
• Increase their ability to recognize opportunities to invite clients to examine underlying beliefs during coaching conversations; 
• Learn strategies for deepening safety and trust in coaching interactions to create a receptive environment for exploring limiting beliefs; and 
• Practice using safe, respectful language when challenging assumptions and beliefs.

Develop clarity on the purpose and foundational steps for instructional coaches, with an emphasis on the importance of building relationships through coaching to enhance teacher practice. Explore strategies to improve instruction, promoting student growth and achievement for all learners. Collaborate and reflect with others to gain confidence in establishing impactful coaching relationships and driving instructional improvement in your setting.

Participants will:

• Define the purpose and responsibilities of instructional coaches; 
• Identify initial steps for building coaching relationships and fostering trust;
• Explore strategies for enhancing initial instruction to boost student growth and achievement; and
• Increase confidence and clarity in navigating the coaching role within current systems.

What does truly effective instructional coaching look like—and how does it translate into better outcomes for students? This session distills three decades of research and practice into a clear, actionable framework for coaching that works. Explore the beliefs that drive effective coaching, the skills that foster strong learning partnerships, and the expertise needed to support teachers’ growth. Be introduced to a simple, powerful coaching cycle that helps teachers adopt and refine new strategies to improve student engagement, achievement, and well-being. Leave with practical tools, proven strategies, and access to curated resources to support your next steps.

Participants will:

• Describe the core beliefs, skills, and knowledge that underpin effective instructional coaching;
• Apply a structured coaching cycle to support teachers in implementing and refining new instructional strategies;
• Identify practices that strengthen collaborative, trust-based coaching partnerships; and
• Access and utilize research-based resources to support ongoing coaching and professional learning.

While many systems are exploring AI, implementation is often disconnected and uneven. This interactive session supports leaders in moving from isolated efforts to a unified, systemwide approach, with multiple entry points designed to meet participants based on their current and desired level of AI implementation. Assess their current reality, design a professional learning continuum, and build a system that ensures consistent access across all classrooms and roles, sustained use, and meaningful impact on teaching and learning, aligned to the Standards for Professional Learning. Building on this foundation, participants will consider how this work can extend to students. Explore one district’s continuum for student AI use and its connection to the adult learning continuum, and discuss connections between educator and student use in their own systems.

Participants will:

• Assess current AI implementation and professional learning systems for coherence, access, and alignment to district priorities; 
• Develop a continuum of AI professional learning from awareness to integration;
• Explore how the educator AI continuum can lay the foundation for a student-facing AI continuum; and
• Build a system-level roadmap for aligned, sustainable AI implementation.

Is your leadership pipeline as strong as you think—or is it quietly leaking talent? Assess your current leadership development systems using practical tools and rubrics, identify gaps, and examine the evolving needs of leaders at every level. Through reflection, collaboration, and real-world application, uncover strategies to build internal capacity and grow your own leaders. Walk away with a clear picture of your pipeline and concrete next steps to strengthen and sustain it.

Participants will:

• Analyze their current leadership pipeline to identify strengths and gaps;
• Identify development needs at each leadership level, before and after role transitions;
• Use tools and rubrics to assess current capacity and plan for future leadership needs; and
• Exchange strategies and best practices with peers to strengthen leadership pipeline development.

Unlock the game-changing communication skills that will transform how you present, lead meetings, and deliver professional development. In this dynamic, hands-on session, you will dive deep into the key skills and techniques that build trust, strengthen rapport, elevate your listening abilities, and empower you to recover with grace when things don’t go as planned. By the end, you’ll have a powerful toolkit of actionable skills, strategies, and a ready-to-use template to implement for your next event.

Participants will:

• Uncover the skills and structures that impact the first 5-minutes;
• Explore listening and inquiry skills to strengthen relationships, build trust, and create a culture of inquiry; 
• Connect the importance of building community to learning; and
• Practice skills for credibility and rapport to build relationships and connect you and your passion to your audience.

Recommended book (optional): https://www.corwin.com/books/the-choreography-of-presenting-284395

Gain step-by-step guidance to maximize collaborative learning time for teachers to solve specific student learning challenges by implementing a five-stage cycle of teacher-led professional learning. Examine a process for using student data to craft student and educator learning goals leading to learning plans, implementation steps, and progress monitoring. Focus on the role of learning teams in implementing high quality instruction and what that means for student and educator learning goals.

Participants will:

• Make the connection between collaborative, teacher-led learning and improved instruction and student learning;
• Take steps to launch a learning team cycle with five key stages and examine how to implement each with specific strategies and supporting protocols;
• Adapt the cycle to fit specific school and district calendars and initiatives; and
• Leave with a road map to focus on the day-to-day actions in classrooms among students, educators, and instructional materials for maximum impact.

Continuous improvement is a high-impact design for educator professional learning that leads to changes in student achievement. Explore the components of systemwide continuous improvement, a high-impact design for educator professional learning that leads to changes in student achievement. Engage in structured conversations to reflect on the strategies and actions taken to apply cycles of continuous improvement to address problems of practice. Articulate next steps to demonstrate shared responsibility for improving learning for all students. Learn how to advocate for continuous improvement as an effective form of professional learning.

• Learn the high-leverage actions and behaviors associated with system-wide continuous improvement;
• Reflect on the strategies and actions taken to apply cycles of continuous improvement to address problems of practice;
• Describe the next steps to demonstrate shared responsibility for improving learning for all students; and
• Align the practices of high-quality professional learning and collaborative continuous improvement to advocate for the use of continuous improvement in all learning environments.

Hard conversations and candid feedback are unavoidable in healthy schools - yet many educators feel unprepared to either give or receive feedback well. This session builds skills for engaging directly and productively, helping participants offer clear, professional feedback while receiving input with greater emotional regulation and less defensiveness.

Participants will:

• Prepare for and engage in hard conversations using clear, responsible, and professional communication strategies;
• Offer candid feedback in ways that maintain relationships while addressing concerns directly;
• Recognize and regulate emotional responses when conversations become challenging; and
• Receive feedback with less defensiveness and greater curiosity.