K–12 Learning Leaders 2026: Full Schedule

Welcome to K-12 Learning Leaders, where passionate educators, administrators, and thought leaders come together to explore innovative strategies, share best practices, and reimagine the future of K–12 education.

Join us as we build a collaborative community committed to equity, excellence, and lifelong learning—equipping today’s educators to prepare tomorrow’s leaders.

9:00am CDT

Opening Remarks & Spoken Word Performance

Saturday July 19, 2025 9:00am - 9:30am CDT

Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage

Start the summit with a powerful spoken word performance by Nia Wallace, setting the tone for learning, reflection, and inspiration.

Speakers

Michael J. Alvarez

Principal, Roosevelt Middle School

Michael leads with heart and humor. He believes strong schools are built on community trust and shared leadership.

Artists

Nia Wallace

Teaching Artist / Spoken Word Educator, EduLeads Collective

Nia blends spoken word poetry with education to create powerful openings at conferences and school events. She sets the tone with energy and truth.

Sponsors

EduSpark

Saturday July 19, 2025 9:00am - 9:30am CDT
Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage 2420 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Opening Session, Performance

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

9:30am CDT

Keynote: Leading with Equity from the Inside Out

Saturday July 19, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT

Room 102 - Equity Hall

Amina Patel explores what it really means to lead schools and teams through an equity-centered approach, and how small shifts can have lasting impact.

Speakers

Dr. Amina Patel

Chief Learning Officer, Thrive Education Network

Amina works to support educators and school systems in making equity actionable. She’s passionate about helping teachers lead change from within.

Exhibitors

Rachel Cohen

Elementary Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

Rachel teaches first grade and is always looking for new ways to bring SEL into everyday routines. Her classroom runs on kindness and sticky notes.

Sponsors

BrightBoard

Saturday July 19, 2025 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
Room 102 - Equity Hall 2423 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Keynote, Equity & Inclusion

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

11:00am CDT

Workshop: SEL in Action – What It Looks Like in Real Classrooms

Saturday July 19, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Room 103 - Leadership Lounge

Join Rachel Cohen for a hands-on session where she shares low-prep SEL practices that can be embedded into any classroom routine, especially for early grades.

Speakers

Rachel Cohen

Elementary Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

Rachel teaches first grade and is always looking for new ways to bring SEL into everyday routines. Her classroom runs on kindness and sticky notes.

Sponsors

TogetherEd

Platinum Sponsor, TogetherEd LLC

TogetherEd partners with schools and communities to build inclusive, relationship-centered learning environments. Their programs focus on culturally responsive practices, restorative approaches, and elevating student voice across all grade levels.SPECIAL OFFERLearn about the special... Read More →

Saturday July 19, 2025 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Room 103 - Leadership Lounge 2421 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Workshop E4E4E4, Social-Emotional Learning

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

1:00pm CDT

Panel: Supporting New Teachers Without Burning Out Your Veterans

Saturday July 19, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Room 101 - Innovation Lab

This panel explores how schools can create strong support systems for early-career teachers, while sustaining and valuing experienced staff.

Speakers

Franklin Moore

Mentor Coach, Wake County Public Schools

Franklin spent over 30 years in public education and now supports new school leaders through mentoring. He’s known for his dry humor, steady presence, and always having peppermints in his pocket.

Jasmine Okafor

Director of Curriculum, Oakland Unified School District

Jasmine helps schools design curriculum that reflects every student’s voice. She’s passionate about culturally responsive teaching.

Sponsors

Class Forward

Saturday July 19, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Room 101 - Innovation Lab 2422 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Panel, Leadership & Growth

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

2:15pm CDT

Break Energizer: Move, Breathe, Reset

Saturday July 19, 2025 2:15pm - 2:30pm CDT

Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage

Take a quick break with Marcus Bell as he leads a short energizer session to help you reset between workshops.

Artists

Marcus Bell

Youth Engagement Specialist, VibeED

Marcus works with schools to create more engaging environments for students and staff. At events, he runs energizers and interactive transitions that bring the crowd together without making anyone cringe.Role as artist: Facilitates energizers & fun transitions between sessions

Sponsors

EduSpark

Saturday July 19, 2025 2:15pm - 2:30pm CDT
Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage 2420 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Energizer, Wellness

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

1:45am CDT

Break Energizer: Stretch & Reset

Sunday July 20, 2025 1:45am - 2:00am CDT

Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage

Take a quick movement and reset break with Marcus Bell to recharge before the afternoon block.

Artists

Marcus Bell

Youth Engagement Specialist, VibeED

Sponsors

EduSpark

Sunday July 20, 2025 1:45am - 2:00am CDT
Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage 2420 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Energizer, Wellness

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

2:15am CDT

Workshop: Inclusive Practices in Special Ed

Sunday July 20, 2025 2:15am - 3:15am CDT

Room 102 - Equity Hall

Ana Rivera shares classroom-tested strategies to support students with disabilities in general education settings.

Speakers

Ana Rivera

Special Education Coordinator, Miami-Dade County Public Schools

Ana supports inclusive practices for students with disabilities. She’s all about collaboration and keeping things student-centered.

Sponsors

Inspire Tools

Sunday July 20, 2025 2:15am - 3:15am CDT
Room 102 - Equity Hall 2423 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Workshop E4E4E4, Equity & Inclusion

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

3:30am CDT

Breakout: Leading with Student Voice

Sunday July 20, 2025 3:30am - 4:15am CDT

Room 102 - Equity Hall

Devon Brooks and Jasmine Okafor explore how student voice can shape school culture, policy, and engagement.

Speakers

Devon Brooks

Dean of Students, Baltimore City Schools

Bio – Dean of StudentsAs the Dean of Students, Devon serves as a passionate advocate for student success, wellbeing, and engagement. With over 20 years of experience in student affairs and higher education leadership, Devon brings a student-centered approach to every aspect of their... Read More →

Jasmine Okafor

Director of Curriculum, Oakland Unified School District

Jasmine helps schools design curriculum that reflects every student’s voice. She’s passionate about culturally responsive teaching.

Sponsors

Pathway Learning Group

Sunday July 20, 2025 3:30am - 4:15am CDT
Room 102 - Equity Hall 2423 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Breakout, Leadership & Growth

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

4:00am CDT

Closing Reflection – Learning Moments that Stick

Sunday July 20, 2025 4:00am - 4:30am CDT

Room 103 - Leadership Lounge

Short closing conversation where attendees can share their favorite takeaways from the day and set intentions for tomorrow.

Moderators

Marcus Bell

Youth Engagement Specialist, VibeED

Sponsors

BrightBoard

PulseEd

Sunday July 20, 2025 4:00am - 4:30am CDT
Room 103 - Leadership Lounge 2421 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Closing Session, Reflection

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

9:00am CDT

Keynote: Teaching Forward – What’s Worth Keeping

Sunday July 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CDT

Room 102 - Equity Hall

Michael Alvarez reflects on what we’ve learned from the past few years in education—and how to carry it forward with clarity, courage, and care.

Speakers

Michael J. Alvarez

Principal, Roosevelt Middle School

Michael leads with heart and humor. He believes strong schools are built on community trust and shared leadership.

Sponsors

Inspire Tools

Sunday July 20, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am CDT
Room 102 - Equity Hall 2423 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Keynote, Instructional Innovation

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

10:15am CDT

Workshop: Real Talk on Teacher Retention

Sunday July 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT

Room 102 - Equity Hall

Elijah Carter leads a practical conversation around supporting teacher wellbeing, reducing burnout, and retaining great staff long-term.

Speakers

Elijah Carter

Assistant Principal, Atlanta Public Schools

Elijah is focused on making sure teachers feel supported and seen. He’s all about teacher wellness and making school a place people want to be.

Sponsors

BrightBoard

PulseEd

Sunday July 20, 2025 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Room 102 - Equity Hall 2423 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Workshop E4E4E4, Leadership & Growth

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

11:30am CDT

Panel: Creating Inclusive STEM Classrooms

Sunday July 20, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT

Room 102 - Equity Hall

Luis Mendoza and Christine Nakamura share strategies for designing student-centered, inclusive STEM spaces that spark engagement.

Speakers

Luis Mendoza

Middle School STEM Teacher, Denver Public Schools

Luis teaches STEM with a focus on hands-on learning and inclusivity. He’s always testing new ways to make science exciting and welcoming.

Christine Nakamura

Director of STEM Equity & Learning Design, Pacific Grove Unified School District

Christine Nakamura is a STEM education advocate and curriculum designer committed to making science and math more inclusive, equitable, and empowering for every student. With over a decade of experience in K–12 classrooms and district-level leadership, she specializes in designing... Read More →

Sponsors

Pathway Learning Group

Sunday July 20, 2025 11:30am - 12:15pm CDT
Room 102 - Equity Hall 2423 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Panel, STEM & Inclusion

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

12:30pm CDT

Lunch & Learn: Tech Tools That Actually Help

Sunday July 20, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT

Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage

Grab your lunch and join Tyler Ellis for a tour of simple, effective tech tools teachers actually use (and like).

Speakers

Tyler Ellis

Director of Instructional Technology, Redwood Valley School District

Tyler Ellis is a seasoned instructional technology specialist with over 10 years of experience helping educators integrate practical, proven digital tools into the classroom. Known for his hands-on approach and no-fluff mindset, Tyler focuses on what actually works—streamlining... Read More →

Exhibitors

Luis Mendoz

Sponsors

Inspire Tools

Pathway Learning Group

Sunday July 20, 2025 12:30pm - 1:30pm CDT
Auditorium – Riverbend Main Stage 2420 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Lunch & Learn, EdTech

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

2:15pm CDT

Breakout: Strengthening Teacher-Librarian Collaboration

Sunday July 20, 2025 2:15pm - 2:45pm CDT

Room 101 - Innovation Lab

Quick-fire ideas on how teachers and school librarians can co-plan and co-lead meaningful projects.

Speakers

Grace Thompson

Librarian & Media Specialist, Sioux Falls School District

Grace helps students and teachers navigate digital tools and information. She’s the go-to for anything research-related or a little nerdy.

Sponsors

Inspire Tools

Sunday July 20, 2025 2:15pm - 2:45pm CDT
Room 101 - Innovation Lab 2422 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Breakout, Collaboration & Support

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders

2:15pm CDT

Breakout: Library as Learning Hub

Sunday July 20, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT

Room 102 - Equity Hall

Grace Thompson shares ideas and stories from her work as a librarian helping students and teachers navigate digital tools and information.

Speakers

Grace Thompson

Librarian & Media Specialist, Sioux Falls School District

Grace helps students and teachers navigate digital tools and information. She’s the go-to for anything research-related or a little nerdy.

Sponsors

BrightBoard

PulseEd

Sunday July 20, 2025 2:15pm - 3:00pm CDT
Room 102 - Equity Hall 2423 Riverside Drive, Austin, TX 78741

Breakout, Digital Literacy

Host Organization K–12 Learning Leaders