APS Rising Educator Summit 2026: Full Schedule

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10:00am MDT

To Alg or Not to Alg: Can we Teach Geometry Even if Our Students Aren't at Grade Level with Algebra?

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Do your Geometry (or Algebra 2, PreCalc, Stats, etc.) students come to you with poor Algebra skills or low confidence? How can we help our students be more successful and feel more confident while also making sure they learn the required grade level content. I would like to make the case for leveraging technology to help our students become better thinkers and problem solvers so that we aren't just teaching them to be mini calculators. We will discuss how using handheld calculators, online calculators, and even a little AI can help buoy student confidence so that they can be active learners in their higher level math classes so that we can move beyond teaching skills to instead teach how to think critically and problem solve.

Speakers

Sarah Schmitz

Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 10:00am - 10:50am MDT
65 Hopi 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

⛅ Secondary (6-12), MATH

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Deeper Personalized Learning
Area WEST Building - Lower Level 1

1:00pm MDT

Beyond compliance: Team‑Based Instruction That Develops Graduate‑Ready Skills

LIMITED

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:20pm MDT

20 Laguna

Limited Capacity seats available

Students spend over a thousand hours each year learning in our classrooms, and we want that time to mean more than simply getting through the work or getting a grade. This session helps teacher teams change that experience together so that our kids start to see themselves as thinkers, contributors, and capable learners. You’ll choose one profile of a graduate skill your students most need right now and design simple, shared thinking routines that help students make sense of ideas, think through problems, and apply learning across classes. When teams align around this work, classrooms feel different: students are more engaged, conversations go deeper, and learning starts to stick. Participants will leave with a shared focus, a united approach, and a plan they can put into place in the very first week of school.

Speakers

Amber Day

Implementation Coach, ASU Next Education Workforce

Amber Day is an Implementation Coach with the ASU Next Education Workforce. She has 13 years of experience in shaping the educational landscape as an English teacher, Ed Tech coach, and Instructional Coach. As a leader in professional development, she has coached over twenty educator... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:20pm MDT
20 Laguna 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

⛅ Secondary (6-12)

Session Type Workshop (80 min)
PD Focus Area Deeper Personalized Learning
Area WEST Building - Lower Level 1

APS Rising Educator Summit 2026

10:00am MDT

Sarah Schmitz

1:00pm MDT

Amber Day

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