Welcome Reception & Dinner 

Relax, meet new friends, and reconnect with colleagues at the Tech & Learning Regional Summit - Opening Dinner. Hosted at Tupelo Honey.

Registration and Breakfast
Attendees arrive to register, network, and enjoy breakfast, as well as get their “Passport to Prizes” pass. Throughout the day, attendees will complete their Passport by visiting with our partners either in scheduled meetings or during lunch if they do not have scheduled meetings. 

Welcome and Introductions
Edtech luminary and international keynote speaker Carl Hooker brings his enthusiasm and passion for education to the Summit as our host and MC for the day. Carl has been a part of a strong educational shift with technology integration during his 23 years in education, and he will facilitate fun and interactive conversations throughout the day to ensure attendees walk away with innovative ideas they can put into action. 

Keynote: What Does It Mean to Be Innovative?
Risk-taking and celebrating failure are key building blocks to drive innovation. During this  interactive session, Carl Hooker leads attendees through a series of improv activities designed to help activate the creative side of their brains. Come prepared to move, think, and leave your inhibitions at the door. It’s not how you fall down, it’s how you get back up! behind failure and the roadblocks to creativity. After all, It’s not how you fall down, it’s how you get back up!
 

Working Groups and Sponsor Meetings 
Attendees either participate in a facilitated small group discussions focused on important topics related to strategic planning or meet with industry partners. Topics listed below:

Equity & Access:

We know that “equity” is not just about installing the newest, shiniest gadgets, but maximizing and creatively using the broad range of available technologies to support the entire learning community. Attendees ways they are working to ensure every student receives equitable access to technology and resources.

Supporting Student & Teacher Wellbeing:  

How do you ensure all of your students are recognized for the strengths they bring with them to school each day?

 Presenter: Bryan Zevotek - Carthage Central School District 

Esports: More Than Just Gaming:

PK Graff, Instructional Designer at Forsyth County Schools, and Jorrel Batac, North America Scholastic Esports Federation (NASEF)’s COO, discuss how K-12 esports programs provide students with meaningful career and STEM education alongside their tournament experience.
 

Rethinking Learning Spaces:

In this session, attendees will discuss how they have created effective learning spaces and what technology they use to support these new spaces.

 Presenter: MaryEllen West - Gwinnett County 

Lunch & Networking

Meet Our Partners
Attendees meet with our event partners to learn more about their offerings and solutions – and complete their Passport to Prizes!
 

Working Groups and Sponsor Meetings 
Attendees either participate in a facilitated small group discussions focused on important topics related to strategic planning or meet with industry partners. Topics listed below.

Professional Development:

How are districts supporting the ever-evolving professional needs of their staff? Attendees discuss new ways to engage their teachers through professional development.

 Presenter: Sam Brooks - Putnam County

Data Privacy:

This session will cover how districts keep data private and secure.

Presenter: Adam Phyall

Changing Pedagogy:

How has the pandemic changed the ways schools teach and students learn? Attendees explore new approaches to innovative pedagogy.

Presenter: Greg Bagby - Hamilton County Schools

Creating Equitable STEM Programs: 

Learn how Clayton County Public Schools have created academically challenging STEM programs that empower scholars to achieve academic and personal goals by providing equitable access to resources and experiences that build the skills needed for the 21st century and beyond -- including the tools they use to support this work.

Presenters: Tameaka McKinney, Coordinator of STEM Education, and Trina Reaves, Director of Instruction, Clayton County Public Schools. 

Portrait of an Innovator 
What does innovation look like in practice? Adam Phyall, Director of Professional Learning and Leadership at All4Ed, leads an interactive session that breaks down the components of innovation, including collaborative leadership, instruction, infrastructure, PD, and community partnerships. Attendees work in teams to share ideas and best practices within each component to create a framework they can take back to their districts and put into action.    
 

Awards Ceremony & Passport to Prizes Drawing
The winners of the Tech & Learning Innovative Leader awards will be announced. Afterward, we will draw Passport to Prizes winners.