Explore ways to plan effective presentations using a new template for design. Dive into the foundational skills essential for making an impact in any presentation from one-on-one to large groups.

• Become familiar with the planning template;
• Understand the importance of an impact statement; and
• Practice communication skills that contribute to making an impact.

Delve into the habits of both personal and professional practice that can be a catalyst for continuously improving your craft as a teacher and feeling confident and in control of your life. Explore a framework of nine habits of practice that meet modern educators where they are: employed in a field at the intersection of mundanity and sainthood.

• Understand how habits from the framework, when practiced with consistency, support teacher efficacy, personal well-being, and ability to manage change;
• Understand how the habit of using data to drive decisions ensures equitable learning environments, supports high expectations for all, and develops confident, capable teachers; and
• Understand how the habit of navigating negativity enables educators to proactively develop resilience, sustain personal well-being, and withstand external influences that kill joy.

Learn how schools are using artificial intelligence to improve instruction even as they consider the big drawbacks of the technology. See how educators are addressing the distractions and headaches caused by students bringing cellphones to school. Understand how schools are tackling concerns about the connection between social media use and mental health problems.

• Discover new ways to use AI to improve instruction;
• Understand what a thoughtful school AI policy should look like;
• See different approaches schools are using to temper the overuse of student cellphones in schools; and
• Learn about research on the effect of social media use on youth mental health.

Learn how to carefully select the right data to use in collaborative work and professional learning to improve efficiency and foster collective efficacy. Explore tools to examine your assessment systems and guide decision-making on which assessment data to emphasize with teachers and school-level leaders.

• Examine the assessments used in your school and consider the ways the evidence you provide can inform school improvement;
• Use a framework for evaluating the potentials of various assessment data sets for encouraging asset-based thinking, guiding equitable action, and monitoring impact; and
• Leave with a new framework for understanding your data and assessment systems for leading work with teachers, coaches, and school-level leaders to make data-driven collaborative work more meaningful and manageable.

See how dynamic data coupled with clear instructional vision have propelled one school district to higher student achievement, lower teacher turnover, and strategic teacher support for student learning. Using formative feedback helped the district connect teacher attitudes and perceived skillfulness to accelerate early career teacher growth and belonging. Learn how connecting feedback cycles to instruction and embedded teacher support allows us to continuously adapt as a system.

• Learn how the backmapping model is used to create a responsive system of data and support for early career educators;
• Connect your resources and needs to Killion’s backmapping model to begin identifying applications and next steps for partnership using Killion’s paradigm shift prompts; and
• Explore how the alignment of an instructional framework, teacher induction and retention practices, and ongoing data can impact student achievement.

Explore the role of books in educator professional learning and how books can amplify and outline critical lessons. Join a panel of authors who will share their writing experience and the impact their books are making on educators and ultimately student success. Ask questions of the authors and pitch your own book ideas.

• Discover the process to move research and evidence-based practices into a published book;
• Gain insights into topics needed by educators; and
• Acquire strategies that first-time writers need to ensure their book is practitioner-friendly.

Learn about NEA’s Induction Institute and approach to create an equity-informed comprehensive induction plan and new teacher support. Hear about Institute design, strategies to uplift voices of early career educators and early career educators of color in the design process, and the impact of customized support on teacher retention. Leave with tools to ensure new teacher support is equity-driven, prioritizes teacher voice, and meets the needs of early career educators in your district.

• Explore research on the experiences of new teachers and the nuanced experiences of teachers of color;
• Reflect on new teacher support in your school or district;
• Discuss human-centered design principles that can be used to create or refine new teacher support; and
• Identify tools to use to ensure equity of voice in the design process.

Discover innovative tools designed to assess and promote equity within educational policies and classroom practices. Gain insights into effective strategies for conducting systemic equity reviews to ensure fair and inclusive learning environments. Leave equipped to implement these transformative walk-through and policy tools, fostering equity in education at all levels.

• Know how to use the systemic equity review tools to identify and address disparities in school policies and classroom environments;
• Be empowered to foster ongoing dialogue and collaboration focused on equity, using the tools to drive continuous improvement in your schools and districts; and
• Be able to conduct comprehensive walk-throughs that critically assess educational practices for bias and inequity.