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Access the pages below to learn more about our conference, registration, speakers and sponsors. Visit our Innovation Summit site for details about the venue, food, lodging, purchasing a t-shirt, and more.

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Friday, August 1
 

8:30am CDT

BOOM! Leadership Systems That Save Time, Energy, and Your Sanity
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
This high-energy BOOM session will walk attendees through four powerful leadership systems designed to streamline operations, empower teacher leaders, and build sustainable structures that save time and reduce stress. Each segment will be fast-paced and full of ready-to-use templates, calendars, tools, and ideas to take back immediately. When the timer buzzes, the next topic begins—whether you’re ready or not! At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to implement at least three time-saving systems in their building or department that support instructional leadership, culture building, and staff empowerment.
Speakers
VV

Veronica Vergara

Middle School Principal, Lebanon R3 School District
avatar for Kyle Nelson

Kyle Nelson

Assistant Principal, Lebanon R3
avatar for Greg White

Greg White

Assistant Principal, Lebanon R3
I have a passion for education and giving students experiences that inspire their desire for learning.
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Cooper Creek 2

8:30am CDT

Boosting New Teacher Retention: Creating Sustainable Support Systems
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
This session explores how embedded professional development (PD), follow-up coaching, and targeted training create systemic change in education by supporting and retaining new teachers. Participants will learn strategies to integrate ongoing mentorship and instructional coaching, ensuring teachers feel equipped and confident in their roles. By focusing on sustainable support systems, we can bridge the gap between training and practice, ultimately improving teacher retention and student outcomes. Join us to discover how investing in educators through meaningful, job-embedded PD leads to long-term success in schools.
Speakers
avatar for Karen Bohannon

Karen Bohannon

Literacy Instructional Coach, Ozark School District
Ms. Bohannon has six years of experience as an instructional coach and has also eight years of classroom teaching experience. She has a Master’s in Education from Missouri State University and is working towards her doctorate in Educational Leadership at Southwest Baptist University... Read More →
AD

Amy Dunn

Literacy Instructional Coach, Ozark School District
Dr. Amy Dunn brings over a decade of instructional coaching experience and a diverse educational background. She holds a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership, Curriculum and Instruction from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. Currently, she serves as a K–4 Instructional... Read More →
RT

Rachel Tabuya

Principal of West Elementary, Ozark School District
avatar for Kendra Scott

Kendra Scott

Principal of Ozark South Elementary, Ozark School District
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Short Creek 2

8:30am CDT

Dollars & Sense: A Practical Guide to Missouri School Funding
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Ever feel like school finance is a secret code? This presentation breaks down Missouri's complex funding formulas and fund structures into plain English. Perfect for principals, new administrators, and aspiring leaders, we'll cover the essentials your master's program didn't teach you, exploring different funding types and how they impact your school. Get ready to level up your budget game!
Speakers
avatar for Jordan Dickey

Jordan Dickey

Assistant Superintendent of Finance, Joplin Schools
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Cooper Creek 1

8:30am CDT

Inquiry-Based Mathematics Instruction
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Direct instruction is often the preferred method to deliver content. However, I found myself asking How much are my students actually thinking? Come to this session to experience a hands-on lesson from a student’s perspective. Be ready to think and work out problems with manipuatlvies, draw visual representations in order to deepen conceptual understanding. Once the session is over, you will understand the long-term benefits of inquiry-lessons for your students. This breakout session is meant to challenge your current mathematical teaching practices.
Speakers
SF

Stephanie Frigerio

5th Grade Educator, Branson School District
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Short Creek 4

8:30am CDT

Is This For a Grade?
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
This session invites educators to reflect critically on their grading practices. To do this, teachers will be encouraged to reflect on what they are grading and whether those grades accurately represent what students truly know and can do independently. Through guided reflection and group discussion, teachers will explore strategies to ensure that assessments are meaningful and align with standards. The next time teachers hear, “Is this for a grade?” or “Will I ever use this?” they can provide an answer with confidence.
Speakers
AB

Allison Boyer

Instructional Coach, Logan-Rogersville
avatar for Alicea McDonald

Alicea McDonald

Literacy Specialist, Logan-Rogersville School District
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Cooper Creek 3

8:30am CDT

Lead & Learn: Turning Students into Classroom Leaders
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
What if your students took the lead in their own learning—engaging more, thinking critically, and inspiring their peers? In this dynamic session, you’ll discover powerful Leader in Me strategies to transform students from passive learners into proactive leaders in the classroom. Learn how to foster student-led discussions, encourage peer mentoring, and create a culture where everyone has a voice and choice in their learning journey. By the end of this session, you’ll walk away with actionable techniques to empower students to seek first to understand, synergize with peers, and take ownership of their growth. Get ready to lead—and learn—as we cultivate a classroom culture of responsibility, independence, and collaboration that prepares students to thrive both inside and outside the classroom!
Speakers
ND

Niki Dailey

3rd grade co-teacher, Waynesville R-VI School District
CS

Candice Sullivan

District Instructional Coach, Waynesville R-VI School District
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Short Creek 1

8:30am CDT

Middle School Counselor Playbook: When to Call, Collaborate, and Maximize Their Impact
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
School counselors play a vital role in student success, yet their responsibilities are often misunderstood. This session will clarify the differences between counselors and other faculty while showcasing how they support SEL education and student well-being. Participants will explore practical strategies for collaboration and uncover the hidden strengths of school counselors—like maintaining a poker face in outlandish situations and mastering the art of open-ended questions. By understanding these skills, educators can work more effectively with counselors to create a supportive learning environment where students thrive.
Speakers
avatar for Morgan Hoey

Morgan Hoey

School Counselor, Republic Intermediate School
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Compton Ferry

8:30am CDT

Partnering for Literacy: Empowering Parents to Support Striving Readers
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
To maximize the impact of Reading Success Plans, bridging the school-home gap is essential. This session equips teachers with practical strategies and resources to guide parents in supporting their striving readers. We'll explore how to demystify reading challenges, provide accessible at-home activities, and foster collaborative partnerships that empower both parents and children on their literacy journey.
Speakers
avatar for Kristin Maerke

Kristin Maerke

Reading Interventionist, Republic School District
Kristin Maerke serves as a reading specialist for the Republic, Mo. school district. She is passionate about guiding striving readers to be independent problem solvers through explicit phonics instruction. Kristin has been trained in, Orton Gillingham, Reading Recovery and LETRs... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Fall Creek

8:30am CDT

Press Start To Level Up Your Classroom: Using Gamification To Turbocharge Engagement
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Are you interested in gamifying your classroom but don't know where to start? Gamification can be as simple or involved as you want. Choose from three levels of integration: Easy, Medium, and Advanced. Gamify an individual lesson, a unit, or even a whole course. Zachary Hamby, a 2020 Missouri Teacher of the Year Finalist, will share his own experiences with gamification—including projects such as choose-your-own-adventure writing assignments, Pokemon-style card games, content-related social deduction games, gamified scoring guides, and even a semester-long house challenge and badging system. Teachers will leave with access to free resources for gamifying their own classrooms!
Speakers
avatar for Zachary Hamby

Zachary Hamby

High School Teacher, Ava R-1 Schools
For the last eighteen years, Zachary "Zak" Hamby has been a high-school English teacher in rural Missouri, and in 2020 he was a finalist for Missouri Teacher of the Year. Zak is also the author of a variety of textbooks: the Mythology for Teens series, the Reaching Olympus series... Read More →
RH

Rachel Hamby

High School Teacher, Ava R-1 Schools
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Roark Creek

8:30am CDT

Effective Co-Teaching leads to Meaningful Interventions
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Co-Teaching is growing and knowing how to effectively co-teach is not easy. We will go over the co-teaching model with how to effectively use it from the Regular Educator and Special Educator perspectives. Effective Co-teachings leads to effective interventions with all struggling learners and we will model examples of effective interventions. Co-taught or not you will leave with ideas to improve your teaching and make more effective interventions in your classroom/school for the 2025-2026 school year.
Speakers
DH

Dr. Hadlee Goldberg

Special Education Teacher, Ozark High School
avatar for Brandi David

Brandi David

Mathematics Specialist, Hand2Mind
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Short Creek 3

8:30am CDT

Missouri Partnership Panel hosted by Curriculum Associates
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
David will be hosting a panel of Experts from Partner Districts; join us as they explore how Curriculum Associates and i-Ready is enriching the lives of their leaders, educators, and students through Assessment, Core, and Services.
Speakers
avatar for Tracy Evans

Tracy Evans

Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment, Lebanon R3
avatar for David Rogier

David Rogier

Educational Sales Consultant, Curriculum Associates
Founded in 1969, Curriculum Associates, LLC designs research-based print and online instructional materials, screens and assessments, and data management tools. The company's products and outstanding customer service provide teachers and administrators with the resources necessary... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Boston Ferry

8:30am CDT

Building Effective Behavior Supports for Students and Teachers
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Engage in a collaborative discussion about building an effective school-wide behavior support system. Discuss policies and practices, including the roles of key staff members, the implementation of behavior support plans, data collection, and strategies for reteaching and reinforcing positive behaviors, and effective consequences. The discussion will focus on how well-supported teachers feel in managing student behavior and identifying areas for improvement and the collaboration with families.
Speakers
avatar for Sara Reynolds

Sara Reynolds

Assistant Principal, Marshfield R-1
JC

Jennifer Catron

Counselor, Marshfield R-1
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 9:15am CDT
Hensley Ferry

8:30am CDT

Deep Dive with Keynote Dr. Katie Martin: From Insight to Action — Advancing Learner-Centered Shifts in Your Context
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Join Keynote speaker Dr. Katie Martin in this interactive workshop that creates space to reflect on key ideas, engage in meaningful dialogue with peers, and consider what the learner-centered shift means in your unique context. Through guided activities and thought-provoking questions, participants will identify practices to leave behind, explore opportunities to build on strengths, and determine actionable next steps to evolve learning experiences for students and educators alike.
Speakers
avatar for Katie Martin

Katie Martin

CIO, Learner-Centered Collaborative
Dr. Katie Martin is the CIO of Learner-Centered Collaborative, the author of Learner-Centered Innovation, and Evolving Education, and an internationally recognized educator and coach for her approach to educator and student learning. She has worked directly with thousands of teachers... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 8:30am - 10:00am CDT
Old Glory - Hilton Promenade

9:30am CDT

Fact & Fiction: Integrating Literature with History for Deeper Learning
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Should content areas be like foods sectioned off on a cafeteria tray—complementary but never touching—or blend for richer learning? While history deals with facts and literature with fiction, both express important truths about the past. History grounds literature in reality while literature gives history a voice. This session will demonstrate how literature and history can work together to provide students with a richer, more immersive learning experience. In this session, Zak and Rachel Hamby will share practical strategies and resources for incorporating history into everything from ancient literature to modern classics.
Speakers
avatar for Zachary Hamby

Zachary Hamby

High School Teacher, Ava R-1 Schools
For the last eighteen years, Zachary "Zak" Hamby has been a high-school English teacher in rural Missouri, and in 2020 he was a finalist for Missouri Teacher of the Year. Zak is also the author of a variety of textbooks: the Mythology for Teens series, the Reaching Olympus series... Read More →
RH

Rachel Hamby

High School Teacher, Ava R-1 Schools
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Roark Creek

9:30am CDT

From Stigma to Strength: How Student Leaders Are Revolutionizing Mental Health
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Picture this: A high school where students thrive as mental health ambassadors, breaking stigmas and transforming their school’s culture. That's exactly what's happening at Branson High School, Missouri's leader in mental wellness classes. In this eye-opening session, dive into the journey of how they’ve turned traditional mental health support on its head by putting students in the driver's seat through partnerships with Burrell Behavioral Health and Sources of Strength. At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to communicate the benefits and barriers to such programs and create a plan to launch within their own campuses.
Speakers
avatar for Hannah Banderman

Hannah Banderman

High School ELA Teacher, Branson Public Schools
avatar for Josh Cheezum

Josh Cheezum

High School Social Studies Teacher, Branson Public Schools
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Short Creek 3

9:30am CDT

LITTLE students reading BIG words: multisyllabic words in the elementary classroom
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Learning to read is the primary work of K-2 classrooms. That work includes learning letters, sounds, and lots of words...mostly one or two syllables with blends, digraphs, and vowel teams. All of that is needed...but so is learning to read multisyllabic words. If little readers don't learn to read big words, then the shift from "learning to read" in K-2 classrooms to "reading to learn" in 3-5 classrooms is going to be difficult. At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to enhance the work they are already doing to include bigger words in reading and writing!
Speakers
avatar for Laurie Fine

Laurie Fine

Reading Interventionist, Republic RIII Schools
I am a teacher who has spent years in first grade, among other things, and now LOVES the role of reading interventionist! I love to help students become the best readers and writers they can be and support their teachers throughout the process! 
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Short Creek 1

9:30am CDT

Securing Success in Reading Success Plans
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Reading Success Plans can be complex, and ensuring their effectiveness is crucial. This session will equip you with practical intervention strategies informed by CBM data to accelerate students toward reading proficiency. Participants will leave with practical resources for progress monitoring and instructional planning.
Speakers
avatar for Kristin Maerke

Kristin Maerke

Reading Interventionist, Republic School District
Kristin Maerke serves as a reading specialist for the Republic, Mo. school district. She is passionate about guiding striving readers to be independent problem solvers through explicit phonics instruction. Kristin has been trained in, Orton Gillingham, Reading Recovery and LETRs... Read More →
avatar for Emily Hanson

Emily Hanson

Assistant Principal McCulloch Elementary, Republic School District
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Fall Creek

9:30am CDT

The Elephant in the School: Efficacy Development to Shift Learning in Your System
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
We all want efficacy in our schools, but are we willing to do what it takes to create it? Are we creating the necessary time and space to design for the sources of efficacy? Are we manipulating the structures we have control over to ensure that talent is maximized and turnover is minimized? Explore one district’s attempt to reorganize time and space to create a collaborative climate and culture that maximizes staff efficacy development by paying attention to the sources that create it.
Speakers
GL

Garrett Lowder

Assistant Superintendent: Academics, Marshfield R-1 School District
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Boston Ferry

9:30am CDT

The Power of CONNECTION CODES: Building Better Teams, Stronger Students, and a Thriving School Culture
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Discover how the CONNECTION CODE can transform your school’s culture from the inside out. In this engaging session, Dr. Jarad Rinne and Mrs. Angela Loughridge share real-world strategies for using CONNECTION CODES to strengthen staff collaboration, enhance student relationships, and improve behavior across campus. Learn how understanding personality styles leads to more productive teams, empowered students, and a thriving educational environment.
Speakers
JR

Jarad Rinne

High School Principal, Licking R-8
AL

Angela Loughridge

JH Principal, Curriculum Director, Licking R-8
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Short Creek 4

9:30am CDT

Think Big: Transforming Special Education Math with Building Thinking Classrooms
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
In this hands-on session, explore how to apply Peter Liljedahl’s 14 Building Thinking Classrooms principles in a special education setting. Engage in dynamic thinking tasks that reveal student thought patterns, provide meaningful practice for consumer math, and build student confidence. Discover how these fun, semi-structured tasks promote problem-solving and communication while offering creative opportunities for earning low-stakes points. Walk away with practical strategies to foster deeper mathematical thinking. At the end of the presentation, participants will have the tools to implement thinking tasks that encourage risk-taking, promote productive struggle, enhance math confidence, and uncover valuable student insights.
Speakers
RW

Rubecca Wilson

Special Education Math Teacher, Republic High School
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Short Creek 3

9:30am CDT

To Infinity and Beyond: How to utilize AI in the classroom.
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
One of the most common concerns among teachers is feeling overwhelmed by the countless tasks they are expected to complete. With growing class sizes and the diverse needs of each student, keeping up can be challenging. Many of the most meaningful aspects of teaching are limited by time and energy constraints. My goal is to change that by helping teachers use AI to eliminate tedious tasks from their schedules, allowing them to focus on the most important part of teaching—building relationships with students. I will be giving a presentation over some of the most powerful AI tools available today, and explain how they can save you energy and time. We will get hands on with these tools; please bring a charged laptop.
Speakers
avatar for Josh Welborn

Josh Welborn

El Specialist, Branson Public Schools
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Room Location TBA

9:30am CDT

White Walls, Bright Lights, and Other Bad Decisions
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
What if there is a way to increase engagement and achievement without a new initiative or costly curriculum? Companies spend millions each year improving employees' workspaces because employee comfort is directly tied to their productivity and the company’s bottom line. Engagement and achievement are our bottom lines, but we rarely examine the impact of students’ working conditions in high schools. This session merges research from psychology and architecture with education and draws on original research with responses from 120 schools. Participants will be able to make tangible, practical changes to high school classrooms that increase student engagement and achievement.
Speakers
avatar for Dr. Jamie Higgins

Dr. Jamie Higgins

English Teacher and Speech/Debate Coach, Clever R-V School District
Dr. Higgins spent most of her childhood in Pennsylvania before moving back to the Ozarks as a teenager. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in English Secondary Education, her Master of Arts degree in Teaching, and her Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership in Curriculum... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Cooper Creek 3

9:30am CDT

Proactive Prevention: Leveraging MTSS and Effective Tier I Instruction to Address Reading Challenges
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Proactively addressing reading challenges requires a strong foundation in Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) and high-quality Tier I instruction. This engaging session will explore how structured literacy, evidence-based practices, and early identification can prevent reading difficulties before they escalate. Participants will learn how to strengthen Tier I instruction to meet diverse student needs while leveraging MTSS to provide timely, targeted interventions. Through practical strategies and real-world examples, educators will leave equipped to implement a proactive, prevention-focused approach that improves literacy outcomes for all students. Join us for an interactive session designed to inspire and empower educators!
Speakers
KT

Karyn Tomkinson

National Literacy Director, Adjunct Professor, hand2mind
avatar for Jenn Wright

Jenn Wright

Reading Interventionist, MO SOR FB Admin, North Kansas City
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Room Location TBA

9:30am CDT

Taking Care of Priority One - Our Students!
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Learn how school districts can build a culture that empowers teachers and school staff to meet their students' health, hunger, and hygiene needs so they can succeed in school. This session explores how Care to Learn helped Republic School District build connections and community by meeting students' basic needs.
Speakers
KS

Krystal Simon

Chief Executive Officer, Care to Learn
avatar for Matt Pearce

Matt Pearce

Superintendent, Republic School District
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Cooper Creek 1

9:30am CDT

GOSPED Roundtable: Networking Opportunity for Educators with an Interest in Special Education
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
**Networking Roundtable for Educators & Administrators** Join us for a dynamic networking roundtable where educators and administrators from all grade levels (PreK-12) can come together to share resources, ask and answer questions, and exchange innovative ideas. This collaborative space offers a unique opportunity to connect with peers, learn from each other’s experiences, and build a strong professional network. Whether you're seeking solutions to challenges or looking to inspire new initiatives, this roundtable is your chance to engage in meaningful conversations with fellow educators. Don’t miss out on this chance to grow and learn together!
Speakers
CO

Christina O'Neill

Special Education Teacher, Nixa Public Schools
Friday August 1, 2025 9:30am - 10:15am CDT
Hensley Ferry

10:30am CDT

Keynote with Dr. Katie Martin: Evolving Education--Shifting to a Learner-Centered Paradigm
Friday August 1, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
To truly prepare learners for a rapidly changing world, education must evolve beyond traditional models and embrace learner-centered mindsets. This shift isn’t just about adopting new tools or digitizing outdated practices—it’s about reimagining the role of educators, empowering students, and aligning learning experiences with real-world needs. In this keynote, we’ll explore the key shifts needed to move away from one-size-fits-all approaches and toward a model rooted in connection, agency, flexibility, and authentic learning. Discover how we can redesign education to serve all learners—and educators— to know who they are, thrive in community and actively engage in the world as their best selves. 
Speakers
avatar for Katie Martin

Katie Martin

CIO, Learner-Centered Collaborative
Dr. Katie Martin is the CIO of Learner-Centered Collaborative, the author of Learner-Centered Innovation, and Evolving Education, and an internationally recognized educator and coach for her approach to educator and student learning. She has worked directly with thousands of teachers... Read More →
Friday August 1, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm CDT
Main Ballroom
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