Academic Innovation Conference 2026

Academic Innovation Conference 2026

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

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

Next Gen Educators Sycamore Room 108Christy Arrowood • Donna Duncan

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

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

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

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

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

1:35pm EDT

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

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

Academic Innovation Conference 2026

Register to attend