APS Rising Educator Summit 2026

This collaborative session explores how teachers can leverage Writable to strengthen student writing, critical thinking, and content understanding in both ELA and high school math classrooms. Participants will engage in hands-on activities that demonstrate how writing can deepen comprehension of complex texts and mathematical reasoning. The session will highlight strategies for integrating writing tasks, providing targeted feedback, and using data insights to support student growth across disciplines. Attendees will leave with practical approaches to increase engagement and improve student outcomes through purposeful writing.
• Design and implement writing-to-learn activities that enhance comprehension in both ELA and high school math.
• Use Writable tools to provide targeted feedback and track student progress to inform instruction.

In today's classrooms, the goal isn't just to get the right answer; it's to cultivate students who can think, question, and persevere through challenges. This hands-on, 60-minute session equips APS educators with practical strategies to use MagicSchool for Students as a catalyst for deeper thinking, not just a shortcut to answers.
Participants will explore how to intentionally design student engagement with MagicSchool that promote inquiry, reflection, and reasoning. Through guided practice and collaborative discussion, educators will leave with ready-to-use classroom moves that shift students from passive users of AI to active, empowered thinkers.
In this session, participants will:
--Understand how MagicSchool for Students can be leveraged to promote and support, not replace, critical thinking and problem-solving
--Identify strategies to scaffold productive struggle and keep students in the driver's seat of their own learning

True educational impact happens when we know how to navigate the systems around us—and how to change them for the better. This track is a masterclass in professional advancement and structural strategy. Demystify your career path by getting in-person roadmap guidance from the APS Licensure team, and discover how completing your National Boards can seamlessly elevate your formative assessment practices. Simultaneously, look at institutional growth by diving deep into the tech side of student interventions with MTSS tools in Synergy, learning how to launch a Career Technical Student Organization (CTSO), and joining a collaborative, honest session to reimagine school evaluation systems so they actually reflect the true gains of your students and community. Join us in the Sky Bridge for a dynamic and interactive series of poster sessions designed to spark innovation and provide practical solutions for today’s educators. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with experts, explore visual data, and take away actionable strategies in a concise, high-impact format.

Optimizing Student Support Systems using MTSS within Synergy: Effective student intervention requires a seamless blend of strategy and technology. This course provides a comprehensive deep dive into our Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) framework, focusing on practical tools like Behavior Points, Observations, Check-In/Check-Out (CICO), and MTSS Plans. Participants will leave with the ability to navigate the MTSS modules and leverage rewards systems to foster a positive school culture. Patricia Salaz, Jude Garcia and Nicole Sullo

Navigating the APS Licensure Maze: Don't navigate the path to advancement alone. Whether you’re advancing your license, navigating the alternative licensure route, or adding an endorsement, our Licensure team is here to help you skip the paperwork headaches. Get your questions answered in person and leave with a clear roadmap to your goals. Kerry Wellborn

So You Want to Start A Career Technical Student Organization!: Benefits of a Career Technical Student Organization and how it will enhance your CTE Program. Which CTSO will fit you best? Steps to start, funding support and more. Richard Faulkner

Reimagining Schools and School Evaluation: Are you tired of "data driven" this and "data driven" that being dictated to you from on high? Do you get the feeling that this supposed data does not accurately reflect the gains your students are making? You are not alone! During this collaborative session, we will critically examine our state and district evaluation system learn why certain things are necessary user ESSA while also trying to reimage what kind of evaluation might empower our students and communities. If time permits we will also discuss how to visually represent the data to reach more people in our communities. Athena Torretti

National Boards and Formative Assessment: A Match Made in Heaven?: Have you been thinking of doing your National Boards but have been hesitant because you are nervous about the video portion? I was there once too, but then I was asked to implement a new technology into my classroom and then it started to make more sense. Come hear about my own journey to National Boards and why I think everyone can benefit from going through this process. I will share some of the lessons I learned along the way about lesson planning and how to integrate Formative Assessments more seamlessly into the classroom. Sarah Schmitz

Learn engaging strategies from iReady's National Directors to seamlessly connect student insights with real world, engaging, evidence-based instruction to drive learning gains for all students. Use Personalized Instruction with confidence to help achieve Goal 2: Math Proficiency.

Transform your math instruction from routine to remarkable. This session track delivers actionable, engaging strategies to boost math confidence across all grade levels. From leveraging local New Mexico culture and history to teach special education math, to implementing active, movement-based centers that reinforce daily standards, to using play and patterns for multiplication mastery, you will leave equipped to build a more inclusive, energetic, and effective math classroom. Join us in La Sala (lower West Side) for a dynamic and interactive series of poster sessions designed to spark innovation and provide practical solutions for today’s educators. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with experts, explore visual data, and take away actionable strategies in a concise, high-impact format.


Ethnomathematics in Special Education: "How Far From Chaco Canyon?": This poster session highlights an ethnomathematics project designed for 8th grade small-group special education math classrooms that integrates scientific notation with the rich cultural and astronomical history of Chaco Canyon in New Mexico. Participants will explore how students investigate large numbers related to astronomical alignments, architecture, and distances within the Chacoan world while practicing scientific notation and mathematical reasoning. The project combines culturally responsive teaching, Universal Design for Learning supports, and visual thinking strategies to make abstract mathematical concepts accessible and meaningful. Attendees will gallery walk through student work samples, lesson visuals, and scaffolded supports used to increase engagement and conceptual understanding. Participants will leave with ideas for connecting mathematics to local culture while supporting diverse learners. Greg Hyzy

Math That Moves: structures to foster math engagement, independence, and standards mastery: Are you looking for ways to boost math understanding WITHOUT boring your class to death? Would you like to refine your use of centers in the math classroom? During this session, you will take a peek into how one APS multi-age elementary classroom has adapted readily-available resources to keep students learning and engaged.
Specific points include:
1) Strategies to get your students up and moving while still using iReady lessons,
2) How math stations (or centers) can be utilized to reinforce standards-mastery,
3) How to introduce a math stations routine to students to ensure success,
4) Suggestions for using pacing guides and Common Core standards to plan activities for math stations,
5) Maintaining high behavior expectations during math station time. Christi Trail

Fun and Effective Ways to Teach Multiplication Facts: Many students struggle to memorize multiplication facts, which are essential for success in math. In this hands-on workshop, participants will learn a few fun and effective strategies to help students remember multiplication facts. Attendees will practice activities such as games, patterns, and interactive exercises that can be immediately used in their classrooms. This session is designed to be engaging and practical, allowing teachers to leave with ready-to-use strategies to help students master multiplication in a fun and memorable way. Miyoung Lee

True innovation happens when we break down silos and design together. This track is designed for school teams eager to deepen collaboration, enrich student experiences, and unite their communities. Discover how to build a resilient, spirited adult team culture that fuels collective efficacy. Then, learn how to use shared interdisciplinary themes to elevate student voices across subjects, redesign beloved school traditions into rich academic milestones, and launch public exhibitions that proudly celebrate student work with families and community partners. Join us to transform how your school learns, collaborates, and celebrates together. Join us in La Sala (lower West Side) for a dynamic and interactive series of poster sessions designed to spark innovation and provide practical solutions for today’s educators. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with experts, explore visual data, and take away actionable strategies in a concise, high-impact format.

Building Team Community and Spirit: This session supports teams in intentionally building community and spirit—laying the groundwork for collaboration that sustains both adults and students. Participants explore how team culture is shaped through shared purpose, rituals, and everyday interactions, and how a strong sense of belonging fuels resilience, innovation, and collective efficacy. Amber Day, Chelsea O’Connell, Andrea Roman

Interdisciplinary Exhibition That Engages the Whole Community: This session guides teams through the process of designing interdisciplinary exhibitions that celebrate student learning and invite broader community participation. Participants consider logistical planning, role clarity, and strategies for engaging families and partners while centering authentic student work and voice. Amber Day, Megan Arling, Maria Tafoya-Trotter, Christina Chacon

Tradition Meets Redesign: How Interdisciplinary Learning Enhances Beloved School Experiences: Rather than replacing cherished traditions, this session invites teams to see them as anchors for redesign. Participants explore how interdisciplinary learning, co‑teaching, and student choice can deepen the impact of events like Greek Night or 5th‑grade transition experiences—making them more meaningful, inclusive, and academically rich. Amber Day, Bill Barnes, Terresa Roybal, Lisa Aragon, Susan Savage, Julieana Reed

VOICES: Designing Learning Through Shared Themes Across Disciplines: This session focuses on designing learning around powerful, resonant themes that span disciplines and elevate student voice. Teams explore how shared inquiry questions and themes can unify curriculum, deepen relevance, and create space for authentic student expression through products and performances. Amber Day, Annette Youngren

When you think about National Geographic what are the images that come to mind?  Spectacular photographs, exploration, meaningful articles, might be a few.  How can teachers capture that same excitement, energy, and curiosity with their students?  This session will explore how to generate meaningful language practice in thoughtful and stimulating ways by using great visual content.

Join us to transform how your school learns, collaborates, and celebrates together. Join us in La Sala (lower West Side) for a dynamic and interactive series of poster sessions designed to spark innovation and provide practical solutions for today’s educators. These sessions offer a unique opportunity to engage directly with experts, explore visual data, and take away actionable strategies in a concise, high-impact format.

Math Made Beautiful: Reimagining Fluency, Confidence, and Engagement: In this interactive workshop, attendees will rotate through three hands-on stations that model joyful, high-impact math routines for real classrooms. Participants will explore daily warm-ups that build number sense and fact fluency, structures that promote student ownership through creative problem-solving, and activities that support whole-class engagement and mathematical discourse through play. Aaron Johnston, Patrick Iverson

Math in Every Language: Building Understanding Through Visual Thinking: In many bilingual classrooms, students are learning mathematics and language at the same time. This session shares how one school, Christine Duncan Heritage Academy, strengthened engagement and understanding by centering visual thinking through Tile Farm.
Using a simple, consistent daily routine, students began to participate more fully, take risks, and communicate their ideas with confidence. Visual, low-floor, high-ceiling tasks allowed all learners to access mathematics immediately, while supporting the development of academic language over time.
Participants will experience the routine as learners, hear classroom stories from CDHA, and explore practical ways to build inclusive, discussion-rich math environments where all students can think and communicate in math, in any language. Elia Maria Romero, Louis Romero

Esports (Gaming in the Classroom): How to show and grow your ESPORTS ELECTIVE and after hours program. Learn what ESPORTS is all about at DNHS. Websites, 3D printing, Youtube Videos, Graphic Design. Learn what ESPORTS at you school and how to grow your program. Learn about funding opportunities. Marta Anderson