Teaching is no joke—but sometimes, it’s the humor that gets us through the chaos. Join a full-time teacher and stand-up comedian for an unforgettable keynote packed with laughter, learning, and inspiration. With a perfect mix of comedy, professional development, and heartfelt reflection, this session will leave you recharged and ready to take on the school year.
Discover how humor can shift perspectives, how proven teaching strategies can make the biggest difference, and why this profession remains one of the most impactful in the world. Whether you’re looking to lighten the load, sharpen your skills, or reignite your passion, this session is your recipe for Your Best School Year Ever.
Breakdown of the Session:
50% Comedy: Laugh-out-loud anecdotes and observations that will have you in stitches (expect at least 100 belly laughs!). 30% Professional Development: Explore data-backed insights from renowned theorists and experts and apply them to your classroom. 20% Inspiration: Reflect on the transformative impact of your work and acknowledge your achievements.
David is the only 5-language-speaking-motivational-comedian on the planet! David empathizes with diverse students who face challenges because he was once considered an “at-risk student” himself before defying the odds and graduating with a bachelor’s degree and then earning... Read More →
Learn how to guide students in writing strong, comprehensive summaries using content-area vocabulary. This session will feature authentic student examples and interactive activities to demonstrate 10 different summary-writing strategies.
This session will address the need for explicitly teaching vocabulary, oral language, and verbal reasoning to all students-especially older students. Although these critical skills begin in the early grades, upper grade students need these skills as well. This session will provide the "why" these skills are crucial in developing proficient and efficient readers.
I am recent retired educator after spending 31 years in public education. During my tenure at MSD Warren Township, I was a First Grade Teacher, Second Grade Teacher, K-5 Reading Interventionist, Instructional Coach, and the K-8 Reading Coordinator.
Ensuring student success on ILEARN starts with intentional, standards-aligned instruction. In this session, 3-5 educators will explore critical standards, effective teaching strategies, and ways to use ILEARN Through-Year Assessments to inform instruction. Participants will gain practical tools to enhance student learning and leave with a clear action plan for implementing high-impact practices in their classrooms.
Professional Learning Specialist, Keep Indiana Learning, CIESC
Morgan Mason began teaching in 2015, serving grades 1, 3, and 4 before transitioning to instructional coaching. She supports teachers and schools with professional development in literacy practices, Science of Reading implementation, and early learning development. She earned her... Read More →
Secondary Mathematics Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Jeff Harker has been in and around public education for 35 years. He spent 31 years as a middle school mathematics educator and cross country coach. He is currently the Secondary Mathematics Specialist for Keep Indiana Learning where he spends is time traveling around the state helping... Read More →
Why aren't the students participating and learning during my lessons? How can I make the most out of limited time to teach? In this session we will clarify our understanding of student engagement in learning. We will gain ideas on how to shift the thinking and connections to our students, for greater impact on learning.
Sarah Henry is a full-time District Alignment & PLC Specialist as well as Education Consultant through her company Sarah D. Henry Consulting, LLC. and Rosebrock Consulting, INC. Sarah is the co-author of, "Arrows: A Systems-Based Approach to School Leadership". She served as the Secondary... Read More →
Thriving in the workplace is important for living a balanced life. In this session, participants will be able to define the 3 E's for thriving in the workplace. There will be active engagement with dialogue centering on ways to empower, excel, and elevate oneself for optimal personal and professional growth. Participants will begin developing a personal plan to shift into "thrival" mode.
Dr. Dennisha Murff is an administrator, educator, author, adjunct professor, consultant, and relentless advocate for equal access to high quality educational opportunities. Dr. Murff is the founder of Murff Consulting Group, LLC, an educational consulting group focused on cultivating... Read More →
Let’s face it. Artificial intelligence is going to touch our students’ careers and lives in some way in the coming years. Let’s help them prepare for it -- even if we can’t see it yet. In this session, we’ll do our best “futurecasting,” identifying what might be coming so we can make adjustments to teaching and learning today so we’re all prepared.
Matt Miller is an educator, blogger and presenter from West Central Indiana. He has infused technology and innovative teaching methods in his classes for more than 10 years. He is the author of the six books, including Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your... Read More →
Learn the essential lessons to teach writers at the beginning of the year to launch a daily writing time that blends instruction, practice, and feedback. Discover how to boost student engagement, tackle obstacles, and nurture independent writers with routines that keep the momentum going.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
Chances are, you or someone you know has said, "Kids just need to know their facts!" While basic math fact knowledge is important, the reason for learning basic facts goes beyond just knowing those facts. Join this session to shift the focus from whether kids "know their facts" to understanding why and how students develop and apply math fact knowledge. We'll explore the developmental process students work through as they learn basic facts and how the key strategies students use when learning basic facts apply to more complex computation skills.
Jessica is currently a Professional Learning Specialist with Keep Indiana Learning, a Department of CIESC, and supports teachers, schools, and districts in the areas of math and instructional coaching. Jessica has been in the field of education since 2008. She earned her Bachelor’s... Read More →
Empower your multilingual learners to thrive! This session will provide classroom teachers with instructional strategies and resources to support multilingual students with varying English language proficiency levels. Learn instructional strategies for scaffolding and differentiate your classroom instruction.
Professional Learning Specialist, Central Indiana Education Service Center
Tanika Kinartail began her exciting journey in the field of education in 2007. She started as an elementary classroom teacher before transitioning into a school leadership role, as an assistant principal, in 2014. Tanika earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from... Read More →
This engaging follow-up workshop dives deeper into the strategies shared in the keynote, blending practical inspiration, personal reflection, and just the right amount of humor. Led by educator and author David Edward Garcia, this session is designed to help teachers and staff set meaningful goals, rediscover their passion, and navigate the ups and downs of the school year with purpose and resilience. Through stories from David’s acclaimed book, guided exercises, and reflection questions, participants will leave with actionable steps to make this school year truly exceptional—or at least make it to summer with their sanity intact!
Breakdown of the Session:
45% Practical Inspiration: Go beyond the keynote and explore six simple, actionable strategies to elevate your school year—or just survive it with grace. 45% Audience Participation: Engage in reflection exercises that prompt personal insights and invite you to write your own “best story” as an educator. 10% Comedy: While this session focuses on goal-setting, David’s trademark humor sneaks in to keep things light and fun.
David is the only 5-language-speaking-motivational-comedian on the planet! David empathizes with diverse students who face challenges because he was once considered an “at-risk student” himself before defying the odds and graduating with a bachelor’s degree and then earning... Read More →
In this session, participants will explore the definition and types of feedback, gaining insight into its essential role in fostering effective learning. Participants will:
Define feedback and understand its impact on student learning.
Ask four critical questions to craft purposeful and meaningful feedback.
Differentiate between evaluative and descriptive feedback for greater clarity and effectiveness.
Identify and apply four levels of giving feedback to support student growth and improvement.
By the end of this session, participants will be equipped to provide feedback that enhances understanding, inspires progress, and empowers students to succeed.
With her dynamic energy and extensive expertise, Dr. Kim Richardson is a force in educational leadership and coaching. A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), her PhD research focused on leadership identity development. She is thrilled... Read More →
The presentation will highlight how MTSS and RtI work collaboratively to create a positive school culture where all students receive the right support at the right time. Attendees will learn about the essential components of each framework, including tiered interventions, progress monitoring, and the role of data in decision-making.
By the end of the session, participants will have a deeper understanding of how MTSS and RtI is used in Pike Township to create a uniform, responsive and supportive educational experience for every student
Learn the essential lessons to teach writers at the beginning of the year to launch a daily writing time that blends instruction, practice, and feedback. Discover how to boost student engagement, tackle obstacles, and nurture independent writers with routines that keep the momentum going.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
Discover the key components of effective short constructed responses, including inferential thinking and the use of textual evidence. Learn practical lesson ideas that cater to writers who will face state assessments, helping them develop the necessary writing skills to excel in this important format.
This session will address the need for explicitly teaching vocabulary, oral language, and verbal reasoning to all students-especially older students. Although these critical skills begin in the early grades, upper grade students need these skills as well. This session will provide the "why" these skills are crucial in developing proficient and efficient readers.
I am recent retired educator after spending 31 years in public education. During my tenure at MSD Warren Township, I was a First Grade Teacher, Second Grade Teacher, K-5 Reading Interventionist, Instructional Coach, and the K-8 Reading Coordinator.
The Item Specifications and the performance level descriptors (PLDs) from the IDOE are a great start, but only a start. In this session you’ll learn how to think differently about the PLDs and use them to raise the level of your assessments and improve your aim at raising ILEARN scores.
Secondary Mathematics Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Jeff Harker has been in and around public education for 35 years. He spent 31 years as a middle school mathematics educator and cross country coach. He is currently the Secondary Mathematics Specialist for Keep Indiana Learning where he spends is time traveling around the state helping... Read More →
Why aren't the students participating and learning during my lessons? How can I make the most out of limited time to teach? In this session we will clarify our understanding of student engagement in learning. We will gain ideas on how to shift the thinking and connections to our students, for greater impact on learning.
Sarah Henry is a full-time District Alignment & PLC Specialist as well as Education Consultant through her company Sarah D. Henry Consulting, LLC. and Rosebrock Consulting, INC. Sarah is the co-author of, "Arrows: A Systems-Based Approach to School Leadership". She served as the Secondary... Read More →
Thriving in the workplace is important for living a balanced life. In this session, participants will be able to define the 3 E's for thriving in the workplace. There will be active engagement with dialogue centering on ways to empower, excel, and elevate oneself for optimal personal and professional growth. Participants will begin developing a personal plan to shift into "thrival" mode.
Dr. Dennisha Murff is an administrator, educator, author, adjunct professor, consultant, and relentless advocate for equal access to high quality educational opportunities. Dr. Murff is the founder of Murff Consulting Group, LLC, an educational consulting group focused on cultivating... Read More →
Let’s face it. Artificial intelligence is going to touch our students’ careers and lives in some way in the coming years. Let’s help them prepare for it -- even if we can’t see it yet. In this session, we’ll do our best “futurecasting,” identifying what might be coming so we can make adjustments to teaching and learning today so we’re all prepared.
Matt Miller is an educator, blogger and presenter from West Central Indiana. He has infused technology and innovative teaching methods in his classes for more than 10 years. He is the author of the six books, including Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your... Read More →
Oral language is the foundation of literacy and academic success, yet it is often overlooked in early education. In this session, K-3 educators will explore research-based strategies to enhance oral language development through interactive read-alouds, storytelling, academic conversations, and play-based learning. Participants will leave with practical, easy-to-implement techniques and a personalized action plan to foster strong speaking and listening skills in their students.
Professional Learning Specialist, Keep Indiana Learning, CIESC
Morgan Mason began teaching in 2015, serving grades 1, 3, and 4 before transitioning to instructional coaching. She supports teachers and schools with professional development in literacy practices, Science of Reading implementation, and early learning development. She earned her... Read More →
Chances are, you or someone you know has said, “Kids just need to know their facts!” While basic math fact knowledge is important, the reason for learning basic facts goes beyond just knowing those facts. Join this session to shift the focus from whether kids “know their facts” to understanding why and how students develop and apply math fact knowledge. We’ll explore the developmental process students work through as they learn basic facts and how the key strategies students use when learning basic facts apply to more complex computation skills.
Jessica is currently a Professional Learning Specialist with Keep Indiana Learning, a Department of CIESC, and supports teachers, schools, and districts in the areas of math and instructional coaching. Jessica has been in the field of education since 2008. She earned her Bachelor’s... Read More →
When we hear “these kids CAN’T”, we must consider if scaffolds are being utilized to enhance the learning experience. Students who are learning English as a second language respond well to having a variety of ways to interact with content. Learn how scaffolding can unlock learning and create opportunities for kids who CAN!
Professional Learning Specialist, Central Indiana Education Service Center
Tanika Kinartail began her exciting journey in the field of education in 2007. She started as an elementary classroom teacher before transitioning into a school leadership role, as an assistant principal, in 2014. Tanika earned her undergraduate degree in Elementary Education from... Read More →
This engaging follow-up workshop dives deeper into the strategies shared in the keynote, blending practical inspiration, personal reflection, and just the right amount of humor. Led by educator and author David Edward Garcia, this session is designed to help teachers and staff set meaningful goals, rediscover their passion, and navigate the ups and downs of the school year with purpose and resilience. Through stories from David’s acclaimed book, guided exercises, and reflection questions, participants will leave with actionable steps to make this school year truly exceptional—or at least make it to summer with their sanity intact!
Breakdown of the Session:
45% Practical Inspiration: Go beyond the keynote and explore six simple, actionable strategies to elevate your school year—or just survive it with grace. 45% Audience Participation: Engage in reflection exercises that prompt personal insights and invite you to write your own “best story” as an educator. 10% Comedy: While this session focuses on goal-setting, David’s trademark humor sneaks in to keep things light and fun.
David is the only 5-language-speaking-motivational-comedian on the planet! David empathizes with diverse students who face challenges because he was once considered an “at-risk student” himself before defying the odds and graduating with a bachelor’s degree and then earning... Read More →
Help students overcome evidence-based response errors with targeted writing strategies. Explore common pitfalls like insufficient support and irrelevant information, while learning to adapt to modern testing formats. Leave with lesson ideas to help students provide strong textual evidence across diverse question types
This session will address the need for explicitly teaching vocabulary, oral language, and verbal reasoning to all students-especially older students. Although these critical skills begin in the early grades, upper grade students need these skills as well. This session will provide the "why" these skills are crucial in developing proficient and efficient readers.
I am recent retired educator after spending 31 years in public education. During my tenure at MSD Warren Township, I was a First Grade Teacher, Second Grade Teacher, K-5 Reading Interventionist, Instructional Coach, and the K-8 Reading Coordinator.
AI is changing the world, the workforce and even the classroom. It's tough for students to keep up, but if they're AI literate, they'll know how they SHOULD use AI -- and the pitfalls where they SHOULD NOT use it. In this session, you'll learn some of the keys to helping students become AI literate -- and some ways of looking at existing classwork to maintain and promote academic integrity.
Matt Miller is an educator, blogger and presenter from West Central Indiana. He has infused technology and innovative teaching methods in his classes for more than 10 years. He is the author of the six books, including Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your... Read More →
Why aren't the students participating and learning during my lessons? How can I make the most out of limited time to teach? In this session we will clarify our understanding of student engagement in learning. We will gain ideas on how to shift the thinking and connections to our students, for greater impact on learning.
Sarah Henry is a full-time District Alignment & PLC Specialist as well as Education Consultant through her company Sarah D. Henry Consulting, LLC. and Rosebrock Consulting, INC. Sarah is the co-author of, "Arrows: A Systems-Based Approach to School Leadership". She served as the Secondary... Read More →
Thriving in the workplace is important for living a balanced life. In this session, participants will be able to define the 3 E's for thriving in the workplace. There will be active engagement with dialogue centering on ways to empower, excel, and elevate oneself for optimal personal and professional growth. Participants will begin developing a personal plan to shift into "thrival" mode.
Dr. Dennisha Murff is an administrator, educator, author, adjunct professor, consultant, and relentless advocate for equal access to high quality educational opportunities. Dr. Murff is the founder of Murff Consulting Group, LLC, an educational consulting group focused on cultivating... Read More →
It’s not something you learned in college, and many of you at the very least dislike calling home. Some are downright terrified of it. You just need a plan. Let’s talk about what that plan looks like and make calling home a task that we look forward to and a task that actually helps.
Secondary Mathematics Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Jeff Harker has been in and around public education for 35 years. He spent 31 years as a middle school mathematics educator and cross country coach. He is currently the Secondary Mathematics Specialist for Keep Indiana Learning where he spends is time traveling around the state helping... Read More →
Discover how to lead effective mini-lessons using the gradual release of responsibility to move students from guided instruction to independence. This session models how to plan and deliver instruction that balances teacher modeling, whole-class engagement, and structured support. K–12 educators will gain practical strategies to boost student comprehension and writing across all content areas.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
We have learned a lot about teaching students how to read over the last few years. This session will explore how we can take what we have learned about literacy instruction and apply it to the math classroom. We will consider how instructional strategies we find successful in reading can be applied to mathematics, all with the goal of creating an instructionally cohesive learning experience for all students.
Jessica is currently a Professional Learning Specialist with Keep Indiana Learning, a Department of CIESC, and supports teachers, schools, and districts in the areas of math and instructional coaching. Jessica has been in the field of education since 2008. She earned her Bachelor’s... Read More →
In this session, evaluators will have the opportunity to explore what quality science of reading instruction looks and sounds like in the classroom. By the end of the event, evaluators will not only have a heightened awareness of the components that define quality science of reading instruction but will also be equipped with practical tools to implement fair and constructive evaluations.
Professional Learning Specialist, Keep Indiana Learning, CIESC
Morgan Mason began teaching in 2015, serving grades 1, 3, and 4 before transitioning to instructional coaching. She supports teachers and schools with professional development in literacy practices, Science of Reading implementation, and early learning development. She earned her... Read More →
In this session, participants will delve into the final components of the Direct Instruction Instructional Model to enhance their facilitation of the learning process. Participants will: Understand the purpose of the Gradual Release of Responsibility (GRR) model. Identify and describe the four key principles of the GRR framework. Design one actionable strategy from the GRR framework to implement with their students. By the end of this session, participants will have the tools to effectively guide students toward independence and mastery through intentional instructional strategies.
With her dynamic energy and extensive expertise, Dr. Kim Richardson is a force in educational leadership and coaching. A Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation (ICF), her PhD research focused on leadership identity development. She is thrilled... Read More →
This session will address the need for explicitly teaching vocabulary, oral language, and verbal reasoning to all students-especially older students. Although these critical skills begin in the early grades, upper grade students need these skills as well. This session will provide the "why" these skills are crucial in developing proficient and efficient readers.
I am recent retired educator after spending 31 years in public education. During my tenure at MSD Warren Township, I was a First Grade Teacher, Second Grade Teacher, K-5 Reading Interventionist, Instructional Coach, and the K-8 Reading Coordinator.
Homework is just a sorting tool, separating what students know from what they don’t know. Your job is to help them with what they don’t know. This session will explore strategies to stop drowning in stacks of homework to grade and start getting students working harder than you.
Secondary Mathematics Specialist, Central Indiana Educational Service Center
Jeff Harker has been in and around public education for 35 years. He spent 31 years as a middle school mathematics educator and cross country coach. He is currently the Secondary Mathematics Specialist for Keep Indiana Learning where he spends is time traveling around the state helping... Read More →
AI is changing the world, the workforce and even the classroom. It's tough for students to keep up, but if they're AI literate, they'll know how they SHOULD use AI -- and the pitfalls where they SHOULD NOT use it. In this session, you'll learn some of the keys to helping students become AI literate -- and some ways of looking at existing classwork to maintain and promote academic integrity.
Matt Miller is an educator, blogger and presenter from West Central Indiana. He has infused technology and innovative teaching methods in his classes for more than 10 years. He is the author of the six books, including Ditch That Textbook: Free Your Teaching and Revolutionize Your... Read More →
Why aren't the students participating and learning during my lessons? How can I make the most out of limited time to teach? In this session we will clarify our understanding of student engagement in learning. We will gain ideas on how to shift the thinking and connections to our students, for greater impact on learning.
Sarah Henry is a full-time District Alignment & PLC Specialist as well as Education Consultant through her company Sarah D. Henry Consulting, LLC. and Rosebrock Consulting, INC. Sarah is the co-author of, "Arrows: A Systems-Based Approach to School Leadership". She served as the Secondary... Read More →
Thriving in the workplace is important for living a balanced life. In this session, participants will be able to define the 3 E's for thriving in the workplace. There will be active engagement with dialogue centering on ways to empower, excel, and elevate oneself for optimal personal and professional growth. Participants will begin developing a personal plan to shift into "thrival" mode.
Dr. Dennisha Murff is an administrator, educator, author, adjunct professor, consultant, and relentless advocate for equal access to high quality educational opportunities. Dr. Murff is the founder of Murff Consulting Group, LLC, an educational consulting group focused on cultivating... Read More →
Foster resilience in young writers by providing mini-lessons that acknowledge the challenges of learning about writing. Encourage perseverance and independent decision-making through writing tasks that empower students to overcome obstacles and develop their skills.
Discover engaging techniques to introduce the 6 Traits to your students using mentor texts, song lyrics, and visual icons. By establishing a shared understanding of these essential elements at the beginning of the year, you can create a strong foundation for writing instruction that will benefit students throughout the year.
Holly Sluyter equips educators with transformative professional development, leaving teachers confident and prepared to implement best-practice reading and writing strategies. As a literacy consultant with Smekens Education, she inspires impactful "aha moments" that elevate instruction... Read More →
A teacher’s to-do list is long, and time is tight. Join this session to learn about technology tools that can help to build efficiency with tasks and time. First we will brainstorm the types of tasks which feel like they take longer than they should, and then consider if a technology tool could help tackle the task. We will then explore technology tools within Canva, Scribe, and Google Sheets to help with these tasks. Access to a device is required for this session.
Jessica is currently a Professional Learning Specialist with Keep Indiana Learning, a Department of CIESC, and supports teachers, schools, and districts in the areas of math and instructional coaching. Jessica has been in the field of education since 2008. She earned her Bachelor’s... Read More →
Many students can decode but still struggle with understanding what they read. This session will explore effective strategies to move beyond phonics and develop strong comprehension skills. Educators will learn how to teach inferencing, summarizing, and analyzing text structure while integrating knowledge-building practices. Participants will leave with practical tools to enhance comprehension across all subject areas.
Professional Learning Specialist, Keep Indiana Learning, CIESC
Morgan Mason began teaching in 2015, serving grades 1, 3, and 4 before transitioning to instructional coaching. She supports teachers and schools with professional development in literacy practices, Science of Reading implementation, and early learning development. She earned her... Read More →
