VATLL Annual Conference: Full Schedule

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7:45am EST

Registration & Light Buffet Breakfast

Wednesday December 2, 2026 7:45am - 8:30am EST

Meal

8:30am EST

Shawn Kanungo - Keynote Speaker

Wednesday December 2, 2026 8:30am - 9:50am EST

Virginia Room

Wednesday December 2, 2026 8:30am - 9:50am EST
Virginia Room

Keynote

10:10am EST

“Digging Deep”: Creating Teacher-Media Specialist Partnerships to Enrich Primary Source Learning

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Colony A

This session shares how a social studies teacher and media specialist partnered to bring authentic primary sources into the history classroom, beginning with a Progressive Era gallery walk built from early 20th-century artifacts discovered in a grandmother’s basement.

Session participants will explore a practical collaboration model, learn co-planning routines, and practice curating document sets. The session will flow from story to demonstration to hands-on design, with attendees interacting through paired curation, small group discussion, and inquiry-task creation. Educators will leave with templates, scaffolds, and a rollout plan for sustainable primary-source integration.

Speakers

Stephanie Booz

Media Learning Specialist, Hampton City Schools

Stephanie Booz is the Media Learning Specialist and Librarian at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton Virginia. With expertise in history, information literacy, archival research, and resource curation, Booz supports students and teachers in navigating complex sources and building strong... Read More →

Dr. Sarita McCoy Gregory

History Teacher and Dual Enrollment Instructor, Hampton City Schools

Dr. Sarita McCoy Gregory is a History and Dual Enrollment Teacher at Kecoughtan High School in Hampton, Virginia. She specializes in experiential learning, primary source analysis, and inquiry driven instruction that helps high school students build authentic and deep historical thinking... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Colony A

common

10:10am EST

Beyond the Margins: The Hammer, the Heart, & the Power of Great Teams

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Tidewater D

Every team needs both a Hammer and a Heart. Join two assistant principals as they share practical strategies for building trust, embracing diverse leadership styles, navigating conflict, and strengthening collaboration. Through reflection and real-world examples, participants will discover how to move beyond individual roles and build stronger PLCs, departments, leadership teams, and school communities.

Speakers

Ms. Danielle Gish

Assistant Principal, Williamsburg James City County Public Schools

Danielle Gish is a high school assistant principal with 19 years of experience in public education. She spent the first 11 years of her career as a high school social studies teacher and tennis coach before transitioning into school leadership. Danielle is passionate about building... Read More →

Mr. Brian Sorrell

Assistant Principal, Williamsburg James City County Public Schools

With 29 years in public education, Brian Sorrell has dedicated his career to fostering student success and educational excellence. After serving 22 years as a high school English teacher, academic advisor, and coach for soccer, football, and swimming, he transitioned into school... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Tidewater D

common

10:10am EST

Empowering Teacher Growth Through CHOICE: Evidence-Based Tools for Personalized Professional Learning

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Colony B

CHOICE, administered by Virginia Ed Strategies, has positively impacted nearly 1200 educators from 125 Virginia school divisions since 2021. Research evidence is clear that the model and its custom tools and resources have empowered teachers of all grade levels to reflect on practices, grow professionally, and implement new strategies in their classrooms. Attend this session to learn from fellow Virginia educators who participated in CHOICE, directly engage in activities to utilize CHOICE tools and resources, and gain FREE access to these resources for yourself and up to 50 peers.

Speakers

Jennifer Stevens

President and CEO, Virginia Ed Strategies

Jennifer Stevens, a lifelong Virginia educator and mother of five, is the President and CEO of Virginia Ed Strategies, a nonprofit organization with a statewide mission of assisting K12 schools and their communities in providing educational opportunities that lead students to successful... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Colony B

common

10:10am EST

From Blueprint to Scale: Building a Year-Long Instructional Coaching Program

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Tidewater B

What does a high-impact instructional coaching program look like from September to June? This session takes you inside the real year-long partnership between Prince George County Public Schools and the Collaborative Teaching and Learning (CTLG) Group, from the initial blueprint and coach training to quarterly Lab Days, just-in-time virtual coaching, midpoint data reviews, and a Year 2 sustainability plan. Walk away with a field-tested framework and tools you can adapt for your school or division.

Speakers

Jason Chandler

Director of Secondary Education, Prince George County Public Schools

Jason S. Chandler is the Director of Secondary Education for Prince George County Public Schools in Prince George, Virginia, where he provides division-level leadership for secondary curriculum, instruction, and school improvement. A lifelong educator with more than two decades of experience in Virg... Read More →

Jennifer Coleman

Coaching Consultant, CTLG

Jennifer Coleman has 22 years of education experience as an elementary school teacher and division math coach. She currently works as a professional learning and leadership coordinator for Henrico County Public Schools where she provides professional development for administrators... Read More →

Dr. Abbie Martin

Deputy Superintendent, Prince George County Public Schools

Abbie Martin, EdD serves as Deputy Superintendent of Prince George County Public Schools in Prince George, Virginia. In this role, she provides executive leadership for the division's instructional and operational priorities, working alongside the Superintendent and school board to advance student achievement... Read More →

Eric Rhoades

Cofounder and Lead Consultant, CTLG

Eric Rhoades is an accomplished educational leader and consultant with over 30 years of experience in public education. He is the Cofounder and Lead Science Consultant of CTLG Consulting (Collaborative Teaching and Learning Group), where since 2022 he has designed customized, student-centered s... Read More →

Skip Tyler

Cofounder and Lead Consultant, CTLG

Skip Tyler is a mathematics consultant, educator, and author with more than three decades of experience in classroom teaching, instructional leadership, and professional learning. As Co‑Founder and Lead Consultant of the Collaborative Teaching and Learning Group (CTLG), he partners... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Tidewater B

common

10:10am EST

From Evaluation to Ecosystem: Reframing the Work of Educator Growth

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Colony E

Most educators experience evaluation as something done to them. This practical
session reframes observation as one part of a living learning ecosystem that grows adults at every level. We move beyond forms to the conditions that actually develop people: Culture, trust, collaboration, dialogue, peer conversation, norms, and meeting structures. You will explore an approach that works with whatever evaluation model your district uses and leave with practices to strengthen one part of your ecosystem.

Speakers

Allison Rodman

Founder and Chief Learning Officer, The Learning Loop

Allison Rodman is the Founder and Chief Learning Officer of The Learning Loop, an education consulting organization that provides professional learning design, facilitation, and leadership coaching services to districts, schools, nonprofit organizations, and businesses internatio... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Colony E

common

10:10am EST

From Observation to Impact: Using Evidence and AI for Feedback

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Allegheny B

Strong instructional leadership requires more than observing classrooms—it requires turning evidence into meaningful action. In this highly practical session, participants will explore strategies for collecting high-quality evidence, crafting actionable feedback, and using generative AI to support observation analysis and communication. Through collaborative activities and real-world scenarios, leaders will hone strategies and processes that improve the quality, consistency, and efficiency of feedback while promoting teacher growth and improved student learning.

Speakers

Dr. Rachel Ball

Vice President of Research and Innovation, Stronge & Associates Educational Consulting

Rachel Previs Ball, Ed.D., currently serves as the Vice President of Research and Innovation with fifteen years of K-12 experience in Virginia. She previously served as the first alumna director of a regional governor's school in Virginia for high-ability and gifted students in grades 10-12. She has also s... Read More →

Virginia Tonneson

Chief Operating Officer, Stronge & Associates Educational Consulting

Ginny Tonneson, Ph.D., is the Chief Operating Officer for Stronge & Associates and has been with the company since its inception. She runs the day-to-day operations of Stronge & Associates, serving as the external interface to clients, partners, and various agencies throughout the U.S. and internationally... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Allegheny B

common

10:10am EST

Interdisciplinary Project Based Learning in High School? It is Possible!

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Tidewater C

Interdisciplinary teaching is rare in the siloed world of high school, but what if we could design project-based learning experiences that robustly address multiple disciplines' standards while infusing authenticity, fostering collaboration, and sparking joy? Join two teacher teams - one ninth-grade and one tenth-grade - to learn how they took on this challenge and what their results have demonstrated about the promise of project-based learning in a standards-based world.

Speakers

Kristina Doubet

Professor/Curriculum Coordinator for Lab School, James Madison University/Rockingham County Public Schools* *I will have 4 RCPS teachers with me, but that won't be finalized until August.

Kristina Doubet is a former middle and high school English teacher, as well as an instructional coach and consultant working with teachers in their classrooms to support professional learning around the topics of differentiation and assessment. She is currently a professor in the... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Tidewater C

common

10:10am EST

Lead by Involving: Turn Meetings Into Learning and Action Spaces

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Tidewater A

Educators do not need more meetings; they need the meetings they already have to create stronger learning, ownership, and action. This session introduces facilitative leadership as leading by involving others to not just participate, but to co-create. Participants will experience practical ways to make meetings, PLCs, workshops, and retreats more purposeful, participatory, and action-oriented while leaving with at least one strategy they can apply immediately.

Speakers

Tammy Hobson

Founder & Chief Facilitative Leader, Collective Learning and Leading

Tammy Hobson is a facilitator, leadership coach, consultant, and facilitative leadership strategist who helps educators, leaders, and teams expand their capacity to learn, work, and innovate together. Through her business, Collective Learning and Leading, she designs professional learning, retreats, workshops, and collaborative sessions grounded in leading by involving others to not just participate, but to co-create. Her work strengthens collaboration, shared ownership, and collective impact, helping leaders and teams create st... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Tidewater A

common

10:10am EST

Radical Alignment: Shared Ownership for School Wellbeing

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Piedmont C

Wellbeing cannot thrive in silos. This session
explores how self-awareness, strong
professional relationships, and shared
ownership strengthen collective wellness
across roles. Participants examine how
understanding emotions and intentionally
empowering educator wellbeing moves schools
beyond fragmented initiatives toward coherent,
aligned practices. These practices deepen
culture and collaboration, support the whole
person, and sustain meaningful learning and
leadership over time.

Speakers

Heather Peterson

Director-Climate and Culture, Hampton City Schools

Heather Peterson is an organizational and leadership development professional. She has 25 plus years of experience in education, school climate, leadership development, strategic planning and school improvement. Heather Peterson is Director of Climate and Culture for Hampton City... Read More →

Kim Richardson

Chief Learning Office, Keep Rising

Dr. Kim Richardson is a leadership strategist, ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC®), and founder of Keep Rising™. With a PhD in Educational Leadership and thirty years of experience as a teacher, coach, principal, and district administrator, she designs transformational learning... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Piedmont C

common

10:10am EST

Release the (Learning) Kraken! Summoning Student Engagement from the Depths of Distraction

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Colony D

Rising tides of student apathy and disengagement can make it feel like your ship is sinking. Grab a life preserver and steer your crew to success in this entertaining, insightful session. Explore the neuroscience that informs a myriad of easy-to-implement techniques any educator can use to increase student engagement and content retention, regardless of learning gifts or challenges. Have fun while filling your sails with strategies that foster equity and success to help educators and students enjoy smooth sailing.

Speakers

Katie Anderson

Education Consultant/ Instructional Coach, Conscious Teaching, LLC

Katie Anderson, M.Ed., NBCT, is an award-winning veteran teacher and author, teaching all grades K-12 through her work with Wake County Public Schools in North Carolina and Duke University’s Talent Identification Program. She served as a mentor teacher, teacher trainer, and curriculum... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Colony D

common

10:10am EST

Seeing Beyond the Benchmark: Using Student Thinking to Guide Intervention

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Allegheny A

Participants will engage in a highly interactive learning experience that blends discussion, reflection, movement, and hands on exploration. Throughout the session, participants will engage in instructional strategies such as Four Corners, partner and table discussions, AEIOU reflection, and analysis of student work and student thinking. They will share perspectives, discuss instructional implications, and reflect on connections to their own classrooms, schools, and districts. Participants will observe and analyze classroom lessons through the lens of authentic learning, productive struggle, and learning progressions, then explore resources that surface evidence of student thinking and support instructional decision making. Opportunities for whole group debriefs, collaborative conversations, and guided exploration ensure participants remain actively engaged with the presenter, their peers, and the content throughout the session

Speakers

Lisa Sturges

Senior Teaching & Learning Manager, Discovery Education

Lisa Sturges is a Senior Teaching & Learning Manager with nearly 30 years of experience in education. She spent 27 years as a classroom teacher and 2 years as a school administrator in Williamsburg-James City and Fairfax Public Schools before transitioning to a role focused on supporting... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Allegheny A

common

10:10am EST

The Missing Piece: Character and Leadership Development in Today's Schools

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Piedmont B

Discover practical, research-based strategies for building character, leadership, and a positive school culture through everyday teaching and learning. This interactive session will explore how educators can intentionally develop essential character traits, increase student engagement, and strengthen relationships without adding another initiative. Participants will leave with actionable strategies, collaborative ideas, and an implementation plan they can immediately apply to foster student success and create lasting, schoolwide impact.

Speakers

Joshua Cole

Character and Leadership Coach, A NEW Angle

Dr. Joshua P. Cole is an educator, leadership consultant, author, and keynote speaker with more than 25 years of experience serving as a teacher, principal, professor, and educational leader. A recipient of the prestigious Milken Educator Award, Joshua is passionate about helping... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Piedmont B

common

10:10am EST

Who’s Doing the Talking? Designing Learning Experiences That Amplify Learner Thinking and Discourse

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST

Allegheny C

Learning is deepest when learners actively construct meaning through thinking, questioning, and academic discourse. This interactive session explores how purposeful questioning, structured discourse routines, and the 5E Learning Cycle (Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, Evaluate) create learner-centered experiences that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and conceptual understanding. Through modeling, analysis, and collaborative design, participants will examine high-quality learner discourse in action and leave with practical strategies to amplify learner voice and foster meaningful, sense-making conversations across diverse learning environments.

Speakers

Katelyn Leitner

Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Suffolk Public Schools & Do What's Best for Kids (DWB4K), LLC.

Katelyn R. Leitner, Ed.D. is an educational leader and founder of Do What’s Best for Kids (DWB4K) LLC, a consultancy grounded in the mission: “Align the work. Elevate the impact.” She is committed to transforming teaching, learning, and leadership systems so that every decision... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 10:10am - 11:20am EST
Allegheny C

common

11:40am EST

Addressing Virginia's Most Urgent K–12 Challenges: Action Projects That Transform Schools

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Colony C

Address the root causes of Virginia's most urgent K–12 challenges- chronic absenteeism, literacy gaps, mental health concerns, and teacher burnout- by restoring meaning, agency, and belonging in the school experience. This session introduces the award-winning Solutionary Framework, a free tool that engages these challenges through student-led, community-connected action projects. Explore concrete project examples, hear impact stories from students and teachers, examine essential design components, and leave with practical strategies and free resources for any grade level, subject area, or role.

Speakers

Angela Whittaker

K-12 Project Manager, Institute for Humane Education

Angela Whittaker is an educational innovator specializing in student-led inquiry that leads to meaningful action. As the K-12 Project Manager for The Institute for Humane Education, Angela manages and develops professional learning programs that empower teachers and students to address... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Colony C

common

11:40am EST

Are You Smarter Than a Fifth Grader? Scaling CS Professional Learning

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Colony A

Are you smarter than a fifth grader - or prepared to teach what Virginia’s elementary students are expected to learn in computer science? Through an interactive challenge, participants explore concepts from Virginia’s revised K–5 Computer Science Standards and examine the need for scalable professional learning for educators. Presenters will share lessons from prior initiatives and introduce competency-based micro-credentials that support meaningful, interdisciplinary integration of computer science. Attendees will leave with practical strategies and a framework for building educator capacity.

Speakers

Lisa Allen Steffian, Ph.D.

Education Specialist, Old Dominion University (The Center for Educational Partnerships, Darden College of Education)

Dr. Steffian is a professional learning and education program leader with extensive experience supporting K–12 educators through professional learning, instructional design, coaching, and curriculum development. For the past two years, she has worked with the ODU–CEIO Lab School... Read More →

Shanan Chappell Moots, Ph.D.

Research Professor, Director of Research Analytics, Old Dominion University, The Center for Educational Partnerships, Darden College of Education

Shanan Chappell Moots, Ph.D., currently serves as Director of Research Analytics and Research Professor in The Center for Educational Partnerships at Old Dominion University. She has served on nearly $34 million in externally funded educational research projects, primarily program... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Colony A

common

11:40am EST

Becoming an Unshakeable Educator: The Hidden Habits Behind Resilience, Joy, and Lasting Impact

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Allegheny C

In today's schools, resilience isn't about working harder—it's about working from a stronger foundation. Discover the hidden habits that help exceptional educators stay calm, connected, and energized even in the face of constant change. Grounded in neuroscience, positive psychology, and human motivation, this interactive session will equip you with practical strategies to build resilience, cultivate joy, and create lasting impact for yourself and those you serve.

Speakers

Mia Pumo

Director of Coaching Development, MGT Impact Solutions

Mia Pumo is a Director at MGT Impact Solutions, working directly with education leaders to create environments where educators and students can thrive. With over 30 years of experience teaching and leading, Mia brings valuable expertise, especially in developing coaches in education.Prior... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Allegheny C

common

11:40am EST

Beyond Aspirational Goals: Aligning Resources for Transformative Change

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Piedmont C

Equity-centered goals are unlikely to produce transformative outcomes unless people, time, funding, and materials are intentionally aligned to support them. In this interactive workshop, participants will complete a guided activity from the book Disrupt, Design, Deliver to examine a current school or district initiative through an equity and resource-management lens. Participants will identify the problem being addressed, consider whose perspectives and expertise are needed, and determine whether existing resource decisions create the conditions for implementation, adaptation, and sustained impact for every learner.

Speakers

Jaime Stacy

Associate Professor, A&S Program Coordinator, University of Virginia

Jaime Stacy is an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Virginia, where she prepares aspiring school and system leaders in instructional leadership, leadership theory, strategic planning, resource alignment, and organizational change. She brings more than... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Piedmont C

common

11:40am EST

Can Supervisors Be Coaches? Navigating the Intersection of Accountability and Growth

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Piedmont B

Can educational leaders effectively balance accountability and growth? This interactive session explores the intersection of supervision, evaluation, mentoring, and coaching. Participants will examine research on trust, feedback, and adult learning while engaging in discussions, case studies, and practical activities. Attendees will gain strategies for conducting growth-focused conversations, building trust during evaluation processes, and fostering a culture where accountability and professional development work together to improve educator performance and student outcomes.

Speakers

Mark Hudson, Ph.D

Principal, Division of Education, Department of Juvenile Justice

Dr. Mark Hudson earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Howard University. He began his career in education in 1994 as an elementary school teacher, later serving seven years in the classroom, three years as an assistant principal, and 14 years as a principal... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Piedmont B

common

11:40am EST

Changing the Playbook: Empowering Teacher Leaders to Drive Instructional Change

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Allegheny A

Every great team needs more than one coach. Discover how our school changed the playbook by intentionally developing teacher leaders to lead professional learning, facilitate peer collaboration, and champion instructional improvement. This session is valuable for school teams, so bring members of your instructional leadership team or teacher leaders to reflect, learn, and plan next steps for your own context. Leave with strategies to build leadership capacity, foster collective ownership, and create a team that drives lasting instructional change.

Speakers

Chelsea Kimbrough

School Improvement Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Chelsea Kimbrough is the School Improvement Specialist at Kempsville High School in Virginia Beach City Public Schools. With 19 years in education, she has served as a mathematics teacher, math specialist, and instructional leader, giving her a broad perspective on teaching, coaching... Read More →

Sharelle Van Natten

Administrative Assistant, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Sharelle Milo is the Administrative Assistant at Renaissance Academy. With more than 13 years of experience in education, she brings a strong background in instructional leadership, literacy, professional learning, AVID, and school improvement. A 2025 VATLL Impact Award recipient... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Allegheny A

common

11:40am EST

Collaborate. Elevate. Activate: Building Coherent Systems for Student Success

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Colony E

Moving beyond the margins means moving beyond isolated initiatives to create a unified system where every decision supports teaching, learning, and student success. This session shares how Nelson County Middle School and Nelson County High School aligned leadership, instructional practices, master scheduling, PLCs, data teams, and high-quality instructional materials to strengthen instructional coherence and cultivate a positive school culture. Participants will explore strategies that fostered stronger educator collaboration, increased student engagement and attendance, reduced discipline referrals, and created the conditions for continuous improvement. Attendees will leave with practical tools, adaptable resources, and leadership strategies to strengthen outcomes in their own schools and divisions.

Speakers

Scott Belako

Nelson County High School Principal, Nelson County Public Schools

Scott Belako is the Principal of Nelson County High School in Nelson County Public Schools, Virginia, and brings more than 26 years of experience in public education. He began his career as an elementary teacher in Stafford County Public Schools before advancing through roles as... Read More →

Jennifer Campbell

Secondary Reading Specialist and Instructional Coach, Nelson County Public Schools

Jennifer Campbell is the Secondary Reading Specialist Instructional Coach for Nelson County Public Schools and has dedicated 18 years to advancing teaching and learning in Virginia's public schools in both urban and rural settings. She partners with school and division leaders to strengthen instruction... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Colony E

common

11:40am EST

From Data to Impact: Leading HQIM Implementation Through PLCs

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Colony D

Explore how Lynchburg City Schools used the Virginia Language Arts Walkthrough Tool data to strengthen K–8 HQIM implementation and redesign PLCs around intellectual preparation. This session highlights change-management moves used by division leaders, school leaders, coaches, and teachers, including leader and coach PL, job-embedded PLC supports, and practical tools participants can adapt in their own divisions.

Speakers

Chelsea Padgett

Director, TNTP

Chelsea Padgett is a Director at TNTP with more than a decade of experience partnering with district and state leaders to drive sustainable improvement in literacy, leadership development, and instructional systems. As a trusted advisor to superintendents and executive leadership teams, she supports... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Colony D

common

11:40am EST

From Initiative Fatigue to Focused Shared Action

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Tidewater A

When everything feels important, teams can struggle to focus and follow through. This session introduces facilitative leadership as a way to help educators make sense of competing priorities, clarify what matters most, and move toward focused shared action. Participants will experience a practical structure they can use with leadership teams, departments, and professional learning communities.

Speakers

Tammy Hobson

Founder & Chief Facilitative Leader, Collective Learning and Leading

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Tidewater A

common

11:40am EST

Getting from Good to Great: Leveraging Short-Term Coaching Cycles for Student Achievement

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Tidewater C

Short-term content coaching cycles with grade-level teams are a powerful tool to boost educator effectiveness, student achievement, and collective teacher efficacy. This session highlights the partnership between Prince Edward County Schools and TNTP through the Comprehensive State Literacy Development (CLSD) grant, leveraging the TNTP Good to Great Coaching Model. Participants will explore the design, data-driven execution, and impact of these high-leverage literacy cycles, moving beyond theory to actively plan and launch short-term content coaching within their own school or divisions.

Speakers

Stephanie Fuhs

Director, Academics, TNTP

Stephanie Fuhs is a Director at TNTP, specializing in instructional coaching and literacy implementation at the school, district, and state levels. Her work includes supporting systems in adopting and sustaining high-quality literacy practices through strategic planning, capacity... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Tidewater C

common

11:40am EST

Hope Is More Than a Feeling: The Science That Predicts Student Achievement

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Allegheny B

Everyone wants motivated students. Few know what actually creates them. Discover the surprising science of hope and why it may be the missing variable behind achievement, resilience, and engagement. Measure your own hope and learn how to measure students, explore the research, and leave with practical strategies and tools that build agency and transform learning. You'll never think about student motivation the same way again.

Speakers

Cathleen Beachboard

Teacher/Author/Researcher for Liberty University and Edutopia, Fauquier County Public Schools/Liberty University/Edutopia/Psychology Today

Cathleen Beachboard is an award-winning and bestselling author, international keynote speaker, TEDx and TED-Ed speaker, educator, and researcher specializing in the science of psychological hope and motivation. A classroom teacher for more than 20 years, Cathleen continues to teach... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Allegheny B

common

11:40am EST

Lead Like a System, Not a Superhero

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Tidewater D

Women leaders often carry the connective tissue of educational systems: translating vision, supporting people, solving problems, coaching adults, and keeping the focus on students. But when leadership depends on individual heroics, improvement becomes fragile and leaders become exhausted. This session explores how women education leaders can move from personal rescue to system design, creating routines that turn activity into meaningful impact for teaching and learning.

Speakers

Aurelia Ortiz

Deputy Superintendent, Hopewell City Public Schools, Women Education Leaders in Virginia

Dr. Aurelia Ortiz serves as Deputy Superintendent for Hopewell City Public Schools, where she leads instructional strategy, continuous improvement, and leadership development across the division. A former teacher, principal, and state education leader, she is passionate about helping... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Tidewater D

common

11:40am EST

Storylines That Stick: Designing Learning That Inspires Inquiry and Impact

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST

Tidewater D

Discover how storylines and Design Thinking can transform standards into engaging learning experiences that build curiosity, collaboration, and student ownership. Through interactive activities and real classroom examples from Virginia's first elementary STEM Lab School, participants will learn a practical framework for creating authentic, community-connected learning experiences. Attendees will leave with planning tools, AI prompts, and ready-to-use strategies adaptable across grade levels and content areas.

Speakers

Rachele Hirsch-Brooks

STEM Academy Instructional Specialist, Suffolk Public Schools + Old Dominion University

Rachele Hirsch-Brooks is the Instructional Specialist for the STEM Academy at Booker T. Washington Elementary, Virginia's first elementary College Partnership Lab School. She partners with educators to design innovative, standards-aligned learning experiences that integrate STEM... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 11:40am - 12:50pm EST
Tidewater D

common

12:50pm EST

Lunch (Provided) + Sponsor Raffles + Networking

Wednesday December 2, 2026 12:50pm - 1:50pm EST

Meal

1:50pm EST

Beyond Evaluation: Cultivating Feedback to Elevate Leadership, Teaching, and Learning

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Piedmont C

Feedback is most powerful when it extends beyond the evaluation process and serves as an ongoing collaboration that strengthens professional practice and improves student outcomes. This interactive session explores how educators can cultivate meaningful feedback practices that elevate leadership, teaching, and learning.
Participants will examine five essential elements of effective feedback: leading with clarity, being specific and actionable, ensuring timeliness, building constructive support, and creating space for reflection and response. Through authentic scenarios, collaborative discussions, and practical tools, participants will explore how the five elements of effective feedback can strengthen collaborative practices and support continuous improvement.
Designed to support educators across educational levels, this session provides a practical framework, with evidence-based tools and resources, for building a shared language that shifts feedback from evaluation to a culture of meaningful collaboration.

Speakers

Dr. Joanne H. Jones

Educational Consultant, Other, educational consultant

Joanne H. Jones, Ed.D.Dr. Joanne H. Jones of Collabco Consulting, LLC is an accomplished educational leader with three decades of experience spanning classroom teaching to executive leadership roles. She is steadfastly committed to advancing educational excellence across diverse populations... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Piedmont C

common

1:50pm EST

Beyond the Margins: Protecting Teacher Capacity Through Human-Centered Leadership

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Tidewater D

Transitioning into building leadership shouldn't mean losing sight of classroom realities. While student success is the ultimate goal, even top initiatives fail when they overwhelm the teachers expected to execute them.
Led by two former instructional leaders turned school administrators, this session focuses on a crucial truth: you cannot support students without protecting your teachers. Participants will learn how to audit workloads, eliminate non-essential tasks, and build sustainable systems that honor teacher time—ensuring student achievement goes hand-in-hand with preventing burnout.

Speakers

Amy Acors

Principal of Jamestown High School, Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools

Amy Acors is in her 32nd year as an educator in Virginia. She earned her BA in History at Mary Washington, and her Masters and Doctoral degrees at Shenandoah University.Teaching for nineteen years at the high school level and serving twelve years in division and school leadership... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Tidewater D

common

1:50pm EST

Data to Action: Environmental Literacy Projects Elevate Literacy, Numeracy, and Engagement

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Colony C

Environmental Literacy Action Projects engage students in real-world, applied learning—and in doing so, create authentic demand for reading, writing, data analysis, and quantitative reasoning across content areas. Grounded in IHE’s Solutionary Framework and place-based learning research, this session equips K–12 educators with a pedagogical approach that elevates academic skills, deepens engagement, and connects students to their communities. This approach transforms student agency, optimism, and engagement while enhancing school-community connections for all stakeholders. Free framework and resources.

Speakers

Angela Whittaker

K-12 Project Manager, Institute for Humane Education

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Colony C

common

1:50pm EST

Embracing the Friction: Guiding PLCs Through Productive Struggle to Peak Performance

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Allegheny A

Embracing the Friction: Guiding PLCs Through Productive Struggle to Peak PerformanceThis presentation equips administrators to coach Professional Learning Communities past roadblocks, transforming collaborative tension into growth. We focus on three core pillars:

Training Facilitators: Equipping leaders to foster collaboration, set clear expectations, and design effective agendas.
Leading Data Discussions: Guiding impactful, student-centered conversations around instructional data.
Admin Accountability: Providing administrators with practical frameworks to effectively manage, support, and hold PLCs accountable.

Learn how to navigate the friction and guide your teams to peak performance!

Speakers

Heidi Hicks

Assistant Principal, Thomas Dale High School, Chesterfield County Public Schools

With 28 years of dedicated experience in secondary education within Chesterfield County Public Schools, Heidi Hicks is passionate about instructional leadership and the power of collaboration. Before stepping into administration at Thomas Dale High School, Heidi spent years in the... Read More →

Tracy Longworth

Instructional Designer, Chesterfield County Public Schools

Tracy Longworth is a dedicated Instructional Designer at Thomas Dale High School in Chesterfield County, Virginia, with 29 years of experience in education. Over her career, she has held a variety of leadership roles, including Teacher, PLC Leader, Department Chair, and Curriculum... Read More →

Jeffrey A. Millner

Assistant Principal, Chesterfield County Public School

Mr. Millner is originally from Danville, Va. He received his Bachelors of Arts degree in Sociology from Saint Paul’s College in Lawrenceville, Va. Next he completed his Exceptional Education requirements at Virginia Union University. He went on to Regent University to receive his... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Allegheny A

common

1:50pm EST

Every Day Counts: Engaging Students to Improve Attendance and Achievement

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Allegheny B

Discover practical strategies to reduce chronic absenteeism by increasing student engagement and strengthening school culture. Participants will explore proven approaches that improve attendance, decrease discipline concerns, and support student academic achievement. Leave with actionable tools and an implementation plan to help every student show up, engage, and succeed.

Speakers

Heather Cofflin

Principal, Nelson County Schools, Tye River Elementary School

With more than two decades of experience in education and human services, Heather Cofflin is an educational leader committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive. Currently serving as an elementary school principal, Heather brings over 10 years of administrative... Read More →

Brandon Garrett

Assistant Principal, Nelson County Schools

Entering my 22nd year in education, I have had the privilege of serving students and schools in a variety of instructional and leadership roles. Throughout my teaching career, I have taught U.S. History, World Geography, World History, Civics and Economics, English, Health and Physical... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Allegheny B

common

1:50pm EST

Growing Success: How Mindset Shapes Self-Efficacy and Motivation

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Tidewater B

Discover how fostering a growth mindset can strengthen self-efficacy, increase motivation, and promote resilience in learners. This session will explore the research behind growth mindset and its impact on academic achievement and personal growth. Participants will learn practical strategies for cultivating a growth-oriented learning environment and will leave with actionable tools to help students embrace challenges, persist through setbacks, and build confidence in their ability to succeed.

Speakers

Janira Collado Toro

ESOL teacher practitioner, Prince William County Public School

Janira Collado is a multilingual educator from Puerto Rico with over 12 years of teaching experience. She earned a Master of Education in Educational Psychology with an ESOL Teacher Preparation specialization from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.Throughout her career... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Tidewater B

common

1:50pm EST

Hit the Jackpot: Enhancing the Learning Environment

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Tidewater C

Get ready to roll the dice and “hit the jackpot” in this high-energy, Vegas-themed session where learning and luck go hand in hand! Through an interactive game, participants will explore how environment and culture impact student success. By following a student’s daily experiences, attendees will analyze brain-based strategies, select interventions, and bet on outcomes. Discover how intentional changes can improve student regulation, increase engagement, and drive academic achievement.

Speakers

Ebony Cherry

Assistant Principal, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

With nearly two decades of educational experience, Ebony Cherry has cultivated a wealth of knowledge and experience. One that consistently demonstrates a commitment to academic excellence, student development, and community engagement. Knowing what it feels like to be in a dark place... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Tidewater C

common

1:50pm EST

Leading with Compassion: Mindsets that Empower People and Systems

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Colony D

Educators are reaching breaking points and need greater meaning, clarity, and psychological safety. Leaders play a vital role in shaping the conditions where people can thrive. Grounded in the Teachers as Facilitator Mindsets (Garmston & McKanders), this interactive session explores how leaders' mindsets influence trust, resilience, and collective intelligence. Participants will experience practical shifts and leave with tools they can immediately apply to build psychologically safe, empowered, and self-directed teams.

Speakers

Phil Echols

Leadership and Human Systems Strategist, Become Better Global, LLC

Dr. Echols is an organizational leadership and human systems strategist, speaker, and facilitator with more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals, teams, and organizations. A former teacher, school counselor, and professional learning leader, he works across education... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Colony D

common

1:50pm EST

Living Neurodivergent: Experiential Learning for Inclusive Classrooms

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Piedmont B

Goals & Subject Matter:
This immersive professional development session invites educators to step into the lived experiences of neurodivergent students. Rather than exclusive lecture-based learning, participants will engage in hands-on scenario activities where they are assigned roles and experience authentic challenges neurodivergent students face daily: sensory overload from fluorescent lights and ambient noise, social anxiety around peer judgment and misperception, executive function demands, and processing differences. Teachers will navigate real classroom situations like taking timed tests under distracting conditions, participating in group discussions while managing sensory input, and experiencing the emotional weight of being perceived as "different."

Practical Applications & Outcomes:
Participants will develop empathy-based understanding of neurodivergent experiences and identify concrete, evidence-based classroom modifications: sensory-friendly spaces, flexible testing accommodations, structured social interactions, and communication strategies. Teachers will leave with actionable strategies to reduce barriers, create psychologically safe environments, and support neurodivergent learners' academic and social success.

Session Flow & Interaction:
The session opens with immersive role-play scenarios, moves into facilitated small-group debriefs, and concludes with collaborative action planning where teachers design specific classroom modifications. Participants interact through experiential activities, peer reflection, and co-creation of inclusive practices.

Speakers

Brittany Keatts

Special Education Teacher, Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools

Brittany Keatts is a special education teacher and doctoral candidate at William & Mary, where her research track focuses on mental health and neurodivergence. With over a decade of experience in the mental health field, she brings both classroom expertise and clinical insight to... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Piedmont B

common

1:50pm EST

New Teacher Needs: How to Support New Teachers in All the Ways

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Colony E

Teaching is a challenging profession. No matter how much preparation one has, there are so many moving pieces and it can be overwhelming. This session will explore many of the non-academic challenges teachers face (student engagement, data collection, management of paperwork, etc.) and discuss ways to address those challenges.

Speakers

Jennifer Orr

Teacher, Alice West Fleet Elementary School

Jennifer Orr has been an elementary school teacher for nearly 30 years, having taught kindergartners through fifth graders. She is National Board Certified and the author of Letters to a New Teacher: Real Advice and Practical Strategies for Getting Started in Elementary Teaching, Demystifying Discussion: How to Teach and Assess Academic Conversation Skills, K-5, and the co-author of We're Gonna Keep on Talking: How to Lead Meaningful Race Conversations... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Colony E

common

1:50pm EST

Read, Imagine, Design: When Stories Meet STEM

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Tidewater A

What if a story could launch your students' next great STEM discovery? Discover how picture books inspire hands-on STEM challenges that build creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. Explore authentic classroom examples, student work, and practical resources while learning how digital tools can extend student learning. Leave with ready-to-use ideas you can implement immediately in your classroom.

Speakers

Dr. Kristin Acchione

K-8 Science & Social Studies Instructional Specialist, Colonial Heights Public Schools

Dr. Kristin Acchione is a dedicated educator with a heart for inspiring curiosity and a love for all things science and social studies. As a former classroom teacher, new teacher mentor, and grade-level lead, she has always been passionate about supporting teachers and helping students... Read More →

Stephanie Kliebenstein

Elementary Innovative Learning Specialist, Colonial Heights Public Schools

With 18 years of experience in elementary education, Stephanie has served as a fourth-grade teacher, a Math Interventionist, and is currently in her sixth year as an Elementary Innovative Learning Specialist. In this role, she supports all three elementary schools in her division... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Tidewater A

common

1:50pm EST

Targeted Tier 2 Interventions in Sixth Grade: An Improvement Science Approach for Small Group Success

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Allegheny C

A targeted Tier 2 model for sixth‑grade success shows how sequencing executive functioning, academic habits, and self‑regulation supports can reduce failing grades and discipline referrals. Participants will learn a practical, replicable small‑group structure grounded in improvement science and walk away with concrete routines, PDSA‑aligned tools, and strategies for strengthening MTSS implementation through integrated supports.

Speakers

Lauren Johnson

Assistant Principal, Arlington Public Schools

Dr. Lauren Johnson is an accomplished educational leader, literacy advocate, and community champion with more than 20 years of experience advancing student achievement, developing educators, and strengthening school communities. As an Assistant Principal with Arlington Public Schools... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Allegheny C

common

1:50pm EST

Transforming PLCs into High-Impact Collaborative Teams

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST

Colony A

Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) have the power to transform teaching and learning when they move beyond compliance to collaboration. This interactive session equips educators with practical strategies, data-driven protocols and collaborative tools to facilitate meaningful PLC conversations that improve instruction and increase student achievement. Participants will leave with ready-to-use resources and an action plan for building high-impact PLCs focused on continuous improvement and measurable results.

Speakers

Sonya Gordon

Literacy Support Specialist, Hampton City Schools

Sonya Gordon, Ed.S. is a Literacy Support Specialist with more than 30 years of experience in K–12 education. She has served as an English teacher, reading coach, instructional leader and literacy specialist, supporting teachers through instructional coaching, data-driven decision-making and profe... Read More →

Wednesday December 2, 2026 1:50pm - 3:00pm EST
Colony A

common

3:20pm EST

Virginia Regional Teachers of the Year - Panel Speakers

Wednesday December 2, 2026 3:20pm - 4:30pm EST

Virginia Room

Wednesday December 2, 2026 3:20pm - 4:30pm EST
Virginia Room

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