Academic Innovation Conference 2026

Academic Innovation Conference 2026

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

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8:00am EDT

Day Two Conference Opening Breakfast & Keynote Experience Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference CenterRachel Nave-Lewis

9:00am EDT

Code the High Seas: Sphero Pirates Set Sail Sycamore Room 109Jessica Esposito

Designing for Continuity: Remote Instructional Strategies Elm Room 211 BTyrel Winebarger • Jessie Peterson

Don't Lose the Plot: Centering Human Skills in the Age of AI Elm Room 202 BAmanda Bikowski • Caroline Baker

Incorporating Exercise in Computer Science: A Cross-Curricular Collaboration Elm Room 202 AJoe Gragg

Next Gen Educators Sycamore Room 108Christy Arrowood • Donna Duncan

Nontraditional Nonfiction Sycamore Room 107Wes Calbreath

Release the (Learning) Kraken! Summoning Student Engagement from the Depths of Distraction Elm Room 134 AKatie Anderson

Tough Love- How to Manage Behavior While Building Relationships Elm Room 134 BErin Leatherman

Work Smarter, Not Harder: AI Systems That Support Teachers Sycamore Room 106Heather Payne Herron

STEM on the Go Elm Room 234Jennifer Blake • Sandra Gunter • Tosha Ramsey • Katie McFarland

In Our Own Words: The High School Students' Perspective on Education Ferguson AuditoriumTaylor Rae Dodge

10:10am EDT

Beyond Inclusion: Practicing Cultural Responsibility in the Classroom Elm Room 202 BNo-La Pina (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) • Chapman Herlihy

Building Leaders, Teams, and Organizations Amplified by Humanity in the Age of AI Elm Room 202 ABryan Setser

Empty Bowls: Hunger, Art, and Humanity Elm Room 222April Dula • Larkin Ingle

Finding Strength Despite Challanges: A High School Story of Resillance Elm Room 134 ASusie Bryson

From Moo to You: Exploring Agriculture, Technology, and Careers through STEAM Sycamore Room 109Jessica Esposito

Learning Without Limits: Building Self-Directed Learners Elm Room 211 BTyrel Winebarger • Jessie Peterson

Outdoor Learning Classroom Sycamore Room 108Nikki Eason

Tapestry of Belonging 2.0 Sycamore Room 107Brittany Brady • Yolanda Adams

The Power of Mattering: Building the Foundation for Teacher Growth Elm Room 134 BKatie Matthews • Dr. Caroline Beam

The Power of Our Stories: Building Staff Morale and Community Through Identity, Recognition, and Storytelling Sycamore Room 106Heather Payne Herron

Becoming a Creative Engineer: Data-Driven STEM Lessons Powered by AI Elm Room 234Vickie Bryan

In Our Own Words: Middle School Students' Perspective on Education Ferguson AuditoriumTaylor Rae Dodge

11:15am EDT

Midday Experience: Engage, Reflect, Connect, Refresh Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference CenterDoug Thompson • Rachel Nave-Lewis

12:45pm EDT

Vendor Playground & Panels Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center

Publishing Student Stories

Exploring Mars Caves: A NASA‑Funded STEM Journey Into Human Habitation on the Red PlanetTimothy DeLisle

1:35pm EDT

"I Don't Know" is not a Get Out of Jail Free Card: Increasing Student Participation Elm Room 211 BKatie Anderson

Creating Innovators: How Principals and Teachers Build a Shared Vision for Engaged, High-Impact Learning Elm Room 134 BDr. Barbara Zwadyk • Dr. Kim Morrison

Empowering Changemakers: The Global Leaders Teacher Fellowship Elm Room 202 BCaroline Baker • Amanda Bikowski

From Confusion to Clarity: Making Learning Visible for Every Student Sycamore Room 106Heather Payne Herron

From Holler to Higher Education: A Personal Testimony about the Impact of TRiO Programs Elm Room 222Taylor Rae Dodge

Immersion Days: A Transition from Test Prep to Active Learning Sycamore Room 107Tiffany Clapsaddle • Brittany Brady

Leaders in Bloom: Cultivating Change by Nourishing the Roots Sycamore Room 109Brittany Perry • Autumn Chamberlain

Promoting Student Research with the Western North Carolina Research Fellows Program Elm Room 134 AChristy Arrowood • Allyson McFalls

READY, SET, LIFE! How to prepare your students for life beyond high school. Elm Room 202 AHope Gambill • Susie Bryson

STEM Bridges: Building Academic Vocabulary Through Visual Learning and Family Engagement Sycamore Room 108Kathy Evans • Tonya Denny

Transforming Math in the Middle Elm Room 234Math2Connect

2:45pm EDT

Afternoon Snack Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference Center

3:00pm EDT

Conference Convening: Stories Carried Forward Mission Health / A-B Tech Conference CenterRachel Nave-Lewis

Academic Innovation Conference 2026

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