APS Rising Educator Summit 2026

⭐ All Grades or Staff, DIGITAL TOOLS

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

Kiva

Limited Capacity seats available

Brace yourself. Get ready for a fast-paced, idea-packed session full of creative and practical ways to make the most of Google Workspace tools like Docs, Slides, Forms, Sheets, Drive, Classroom, Sites, Chrome tools, and Google’s expanding AI capabilities. These are tools you and your students already use all the time, but this session reveals new possibilities, practical tips, and even a few hidden features that help bring those tools to life in meaningful and engaging ways. Expect a rapid-fire mix of quick demos, real classroom examples, and ready-to-use templates. You’ll see how Google tools and AI can enhance the lessons you’re already teaching while helping students create, collaborate, and demonstrate their learning in powerful ways. You’ll leave with practical ideas and ready-to-implement strategies you can start using right away.

Speakers

Tina Nunez

Resource Teacher, APS

Tina Nuñez is an Educational Technology & Instructional Resources Specialist with Albuquerque Public Schools, with over 20 years in education and 7+ years in EdTech. She designs and delivers professional learning for more than 6,000 educators, helping teachers bring AI, Google tools... Read More →

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

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Educational Technology (AI/Canva/Google)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

10:00am MDT

Compassionate and Supportive Behavior Interventions

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

Ballroom C

Limited Capacity seats available

Join us for a panel discussion with four different perspectives of behavioral support. This panel, with the combined experience of supporting APS students and staff with challenging behaviors for 80+ years, consist of a Transitional Specialist, a Behavior Management Specialist, a Resource Teacher, and a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Speakers

Donna Crockett

Resource Teacher, APS

Robin Kelly

Behavior Analyst, APS

Meredith Medlicott

Resource Teacher, APS

This is a brief bio.

Vercye Thompson

Behavior Management Specialist, APS

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

Session Type Collaborative Learning Session (50 min)
PD Focus Area Skills Habits & Mindsets (SEL)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

10:00am MDT

EC - Preschool Home Visiting and Family Engagement

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

Ballroom A

Limited Capacity seats available

Come learn the ins and outs of preschool home visiting! In this session, we will review key requirements and expectations to ensure a smooth start to the year. We’ll also introduce our exciting new Home Visiting Backpacks, packed with tools to help you launch powerful family engagement from the very first visit.

Speakers

Allison Gabaldon

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

🌄 Early Childhood/Pre-K

Session Type Role Specific PD Session
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

11:00am MDT

VAPA - Planning with Purpose - Secondary Visual Arts

Role Group - VAPA, Secondary Visual Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Suite E/F

Limited Capacity seats available

In this first half of the session, Orlando Ramirez (Rio Grande HS) and René Palomares (APS VAPA) will show AI tools to help in your planning process. Tools in Notebook LM and Magic School will be reviewed to help create efficient ways to prepare art lessons and your curriculum. (30 min.)
In the second half of this session, Making and Using Sketchbooks, join art teacher, Resa Oglesby (Manzano HS) as she shares how students make and use sketchbooks in her classroom. Explore ways to help students engage in their creative process! (30 min)

Speakers

Resa Oglesby

Teacher, APS

Orlando Ramirez

Teacher, APS

René Palomares

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Suite E/F 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

11:00am MDT

VAPA - Starting a Specialized Class- Secondary Visual Arts

Role Group - VAPA, Secondary Visual Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Suite D

Limited Capacity seats available

In the first half of this session, join a panel of teachers from across the district as they discuss their specialized class offerings. Hear more about how they advocated and brought about unique courses that can be offered through your visual arts department! (30 min)
The second half of this specialized class session is Print Shop - Engaging Students in Real World Experiences. Join Leah Caruso to learn about how she has created a print shop at Atrisco Heritage Academy High School that supports school needs and engages students in practicing real-world business skills all while funding the program. (30 min)

Speakers

Lisa Gillett

Teacher, APS

Kelly Luzzi

Teacher, APS

MFA/EdS
Endorsements: Visual Art, History and TESOL

Julie Stuart

Teacher, APS

Leah Caruso

Teacher, APS

Ricki Kain

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Suite D 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

11:00am MDT

Designing for Everyone: 5 Universal Barriers That Impact Learning (and How to Plan Around Them)

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Ballroom B

Limited Capacity seats available

Instructional breakdowns are rarely random. Many barriers to learning, such as language complexity, cognitive load, representation, insufficient background knowledge, and executive functioning demands, are predictable at the planning stage. This session introduces five universal barriers that impact access and engagement across content areas. Participants will explore why these barriers disproportionately affect students prioritized under the Yazzie-Martinez decision and how proactive lesson design can improve access and engagement for all learners. By reframing accommodations as proactive design decisions rather than reactive fixes, educators will learn a simple planning process to name the task, identify barriers, and intentionally design barrier removal. Practical examples across math, science, social studies, and ELA will demonstrate how this planning lens supports equitable access, strengthens inclusion, and reduces teacher workload.

Speakers

Jennifer English

Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Ballroom B 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

⭐ All Grades or Staff

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Student Engagement/Collaboration/Inclusive Practices
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

11:00am MDT

Using Panorama Data for Insight to Students

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Ballroom C

Limited Capacity seats available

The Panorama survey is administered twice a year to grades 3 to 12 to capture student voice and provide insight on perseverance, self-efficacy, self-regulation, and social awareness. The results along with grades, attendance, and behavior data provides educators with information that helps support the whole child in a relevant and timely way. This hands-on workshop will help educators explore areas of strength and growth to get a full view of their students and school community using peer benchmarks and demographic filters. Participants will also explore Panorama Playbook’s 1,000+ intervention strategies across grade levels.

Speakers

Laura Valdez

Director, School Climate, APS

I help schools increase their Goal 4 skills, habits, and mindsets outcomes and establish a Culture of Care in their school community.

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Ballroom C 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

⭐ All Grades or Staff, Data

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Skills Habits & Mindsets (SEL)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

11:00am MDT

EC - CLASS and PBC: What is the connection?

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT

Ballroom A

Limited Capacity seats available

Prepare for the upcoming Fall 2026 observation window with confidence. This session covers everything you need to know about the CLASS Observation and CLASS Environmental Observation processes. Learn what observers look for—including teacher-student, peer-to-peer, and colleague interactions—and how to navigate your CLASS Feedback Meeting. Finally, we will explore how your scores connect to ongoing support through consultation and Practice-Based Coaching (PBC), including a breakdown of this year's coaching models and classroom visits (PBC focus for NM PreK Teachers).

Speakers

Laura Wallin

Preschool Coach, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 11:00am - 11:50am MDT
Ballroom A 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

🌄 Early Childhood/Pre-K

PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

12:00pm MDT

VAPA - The Skin You’re In: Using Tone in Self-Portraits - Elementary Visual Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT

Suite D

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop will present simple strategies to help students accurately portray the diversity of our community. It will cover ways to discuss variation in human skin color in the classroom, how to help students approach creating a variety of skin tones, as well as basic portraiture and how to visually portray emotions.

Speakers

Amanda Clattenburg

Art Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT
Suite D 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

12:00pm MDT

VAPA - Trauma Informed Practice for the Art Room - Elementary Visual Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT

Suite E/F

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation explores how various forms of trauma show up in the bodies and behaviors of the students in your classroom. These students are often not making a conscious choice, but using their survival instinct. You will leave with practical ways to recognize these behaviors, and strategies to address them in your art class.

Speakers

Sabrina Luck

Art Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT
Suite E/F 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

12:00pm MDT

Harm Reduction and Student Substance Use: Building Better School Responses

PDF Harm Reduction and Student Substance Use Building Better School Responses pdf

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT

Ballroom B

Limited Capacity seats available

This presentation explores how schools can respond more effectively to student substance use through a harm reduction and restorative lens. Participants will examine how stigma creates barriers to trust, support, and help-seeking, often increasing harm. Educators will leave with practical strategies to reduce stigma, build supportive relationships, create safer, more inclusive school environments, and advocate for meaningful change within their schools and communities.

Speakers

Michelle Medved

Middle School Crossroads Counselor, APS

Hello! I am a Middle School Crossroads Counselor with Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), specializing in substance use prevention and intervention for youth and families following a substance-related school infraction. Whether the incident involves nicotine, THC/marijuana, alcohol... Read More →

Lisa Searle

Counselor, APS

I am a dedicated school counselor with 14 years of experience serving students in the Crossroads program, supporting adolescents with diverse academic, social-emotional, behavioral, and career development needs with a main focus on Subtance Use challenges students and families face... Read More →

Samantha Ashby

Counselor, APS

Samantha Ashby is an APS Crossroads Counselor with 13 years of experience, currently working at Sandia High School. The Crossroads Program provides schoolwide support in substance use prevention and intervention, ensuring all students have access to resources and support. Samantha... Read More →

Christine Loidolt

Counselor, APS

Deanna Valdez

Counselor, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT
Ballroom B 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Classroom Culture & Behavior Strategies (PBIS/Classroom Management/Culture of Care)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

12:00pm MDT

The 6-Cursor Classroom: Rapid Co-Creation with Student Collaboration

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT

Kiva

Limited Capacity seats available

In this fast-paced, live-build session, discover how to transform traditional, solitary assignments into high-octane collaborative projects. Using Canva for Education, Kelly and a team of five students will take the stage to demonstrate how a single shared project can evolve from a blank canvas to a professional-grade video and digital portfolio in real-time. Witness the power of simultaneous collaboration: while one student scripts, another animates, a third curates b-roll, and others refine the aesthetic—all under the teacher’s real-time digital supervision. We will move beyond "group work" (where one person does all the typing) and into "synchronous production," where every student has a specialized role and a cursor on the screen.

Speakers

Kelly Mitchell

Resource Teacher, APS

Kelly Mitchell considers herself a life-long learner who is continually seeking new programs and apps to enhance student learning. Kelly is a passionate educator with 15 years teaching experience in elementary education and currently an EdTech Support Specialist.. In addition to teaching... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT
Kiva 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

⭐ All Grades or Staff

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Student Engagement/Collaboration/Inclusive Practices
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

12:00pm MDT

EC - Waterford Welcome: Winning Ways to Start Strong

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT

Ballroom A

Limited Capacity seats available

Start your Waterford journey with confidence! PreK educators will explore simple, effective strategies to launch Waterford successfully from day one. Learn how to navigate the student experience on iPads, set up classroom routines, and discover how Waterford supports kindergarten readiness. Walk away with practical tips, clear usage guidance, and ongoing support resources—everything you need to get started and stay successful!
Audience: ALL Preschool EA’s (Mandatory) Preschool Teachers (optional)

Speakers

Valerie King

Senior Professional Learning Consultant, Waterford

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 12:50pm MDT
Ballroom A 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

🌄 Early Childhood/Pre-K

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Classroom Culture & Behavior Strategies (PBIS/Classroom Management/Culture of Care)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

12:00pm MDT

P.U.S.H Through: Persevere. Until. Success. Happens.

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT

Ballroom C

Limited Capacity seats available

In this interactive session, P.U.S.H Through, educators will explore practical strategies for helping students develop perseverance, resilience, and a growth mindset. This interactive session will provide classroom ready tools that normalize productive struggle, build student confidence, and encourage persistence when learning gets difficult. Participants will experience engaging activities and leave with simple, actionable strategies they can implement immediately to help students push through challenges, stay motivated, and grow as learners.

Speakers

Terrance Johnson

Chief Academic Officer, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm MDT
Ballroom C 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Skills Habits & Mindsets (SEL)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

1:00pm MDT

VAPA - Developing Musical Concepts Through Children’s Literature - Elementary Performing Arts

Role Group - VAPA, Elementary Performing Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

Suite D

Limited Capacity seats available

Teachers will learn how to integrate children’s books through multi-modal music pathways. Aligning with interim goal 1.2 & the EPA 90 day plan, teachers will gain access in how to better support student literacy through music.

Speakers

Rose Dominguez

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
Suite D 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

1:00pm MDT

VAPA - Drama Games and Activities for the Classroom, Club, or Genius Hour. - Elementary Performing Arts

Role Group - VAPA, Elementary Performing Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

Suite E/F

Limited Capacity seats available

Teachers will explore how to integrate drama as a means for childhood expression and connection as part of a performance based curriculum. Aligning with interim goal 4.1, teachers will learn how to better support student’s skills, habits and midgets for life success in a developmentally appropriate social and emotional setting.

Speakers

Diane Marino

Music Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
Suite E/F 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

1:00pm MDT

Teaching Critical Thinking In The Age of AI.

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

Kiva

Limited Capacity seats available

In an era where AI can generate answers instantly, students are losing the ability to think deeply, read critically, and express original ideas. This session introduces "Thinking Is Critical", a practical classroom framework built around the "Read Think Write Connect" model.

As a 26 year Albuquerque Public Schools humanities teacher, I share classroom tested strategies that are structured, differentiated and engaging. This approach has received very positive feedback from APS teachers for its clarity, flexibility, and impact on student engagement. "Thinking Is Critical" is lively, thought provoking and relevant.

Participants will leave with eight ready to use activities, complete slide decks, differentiated readings at three levels, and a clear roadmap for strengthening critical thinking across content areas. The focus is on practical tools that can be implemented immediately to help students think more deeply in an age when thinking matters more than ever.

Speakers

Michael Garcia

Teacher, APS

Twenty six years in the classroom has reinforced one lesson above all others: thinking is a skill that must be intentionally taught and practiced. My approach combines critical thinking, inquiry, and project based learning to help students become more curious, thoughtful, and independent... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
Kiva 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

⭐ All Grades or Staff

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Student Engagement/Collaboration/Inclusive Practices
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

1:00pm MDT

Amira Back-to-School Launch for Teachers

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

Ballroom A

Limited Capacity seats available

Join this 50-minute session for an overview of Amira ISIP and Tutor best practices, the latest product features, and the key reports that support effective implementation. We’ll highlight practical strategies, recent updates, and actionable insights to help educators make the most of Amira and drive stronger student outcomes.

Speakers

Samantha Auddino

Manager, APS

Sonya Solock

Sr. Customer Success Manager, Amira Learning

I am a former elementary teacher with over 11 years of classroom experience in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where I still live today. Currently, I serve as a Customer Success Manager at Amira Learning, working closely with the New Mexico Public Education Department (NMPED) and several districts... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
Ballroom A 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

🌇 Elementary (K-5), ELA

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Assessment (Data-Driven Instruction)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

1:00pm MDT

No student wants to be the bad kid...Strategies for meltdowns

🌞 Intermediate Grades (2-8), SEL

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

Ballroom C

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will help educators identify the stages of student distress and strategies to use at each stage. We will also be able to talk and discuss about additional strategies that you have used as an educator. What worked or didn't work and next steps.

Speakers

Cyndie Ives

Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
Ballroom C 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Classroom Culture & Behavior Strategies (PBIS/Classroom Management/Culture of Care)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

1:00pm MDT

AddFrom Planning to Practice: Integrating Layer 1 SEL in Middle School Redesigning all

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT

Ballroom B

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will demonstrate how counseling and SEL lessons can be integrated into middle school teaming lessons to support students and staff. Participants will explore an example scope and sequence and year-long planning, along with discussion strategies that reinforce skills like emotional regulation, communication, and collaboration. The session will also highlight ways teachers and counselors can collaborate to lead Layer 1 interventions seamlessly, ensuring consistent social-emotional support across classrooms that aligns with the school’s curriculum and teaching teams.

Speakers

Matthew Burrows

Principal, APS

Rebecca Pickett

School Counselor, APS

Current school counselor and former music educator with 12 years of experience in Albuquerque Public Schools. I traded my conductor's baton for a counseling office, but my mission remains the same: helping students discover the strengths and tools they need to succeed. Whether they're... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 1:50pm MDT
Ballroom B 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

🌤️ Middle School (6-8), SEL

Session Type Collaborative Learning Session (50 min)
PD Focus Area Skills Habits & Mindsets (SEL)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

1:00pm MDT

SSRTs (new) - Building Strong Student Success Systems: Foundations for New SSSRTs / Leads - Part 2

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Suite A/B

Limited Capacity seats available

PART 2: Continuation of Part 1 session. This session will introduce new Student Success Systems Resource Teachers (SSSRTs) to the foundational beliefs, structures, and practices that support strong student success systems. Training components will build on each other and facilitate participants’ understanding of their role and school systems and initiatives that align to foster strong relationships, tiered data driven interventions, and ultimately student success. **INVITATION ONLY**

Speakers

Ramses Leyva Gonzalez

APS

Jeanie Stark

SSS Resource Teacher and APS Consultant, APS

My name is Jeanie Stark, and I am honored and humbled to call myself an educator. I earned my Bachelor’s Degree in Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus in Special Education from West Texas A&M University and am highly qualified in Reading, Social Studies, and Mathematics at the... Read More →

Daphne Strader

Senior Director, APS

Kathleen Yeppa

APS

Shaylee Rodriguez

Assistant Manager, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Suite A/B 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Role Group - SSS RTs

Session Type Role Specific PD Session
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

2:00pm MDT

VAPA - Rooted in Connections: The Tree of Life Interdisciplinary Workshop- Elementary Visual Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Suite E/F

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop includes a multi-media studio practice beginning with a multi-cultural visual journey exploring the Tree of Life as a universal bridge. Participants will create custom symmetrical stencils for use with wet media. Educators will leave with a versatile, classroom-ready lesson plan and a tool kit of budget-friendly strategies

Speakers

Keely Mackey-Gonzales

Art Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Suite E/F 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

2:00pm MDT

VAPA - Weaving Techniques for Young Hands - Elementary Visual Arts

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Suite D

Limited Capacity seats available

Interdisciplinary connections are "woven together" in this Kinder/1st grade appropriate radial symmetry Ojo de Dios lesson. Participants will be introduced to a lesson where students learn the definition of weaving, revisit secondary colors, and identify differences between turtles, tortoises and terrapins. Attendees will be provided visual reference handouts for students to compliment a slide presentation.

Speakers

Kelli Credle

Art Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Suite D 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Role Specific PD Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

2:00pm MDT

To Generate or not Generate? AI is the Question

⛅ Secondary (6-12), DIGITAL TOOLS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Ballroom C

Limited Capacity seats available

We will teach you the problems, promises, and pitfalls of AI, demystifying the mysterious and unveiling the veiled. Do you dare to ask the overwhelming question?

Speakers

Courtney Lawton

Teacher, APS

Christian Marquez

Teacher, APS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Ballroom C 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Collaborative Learning Session (50 min)
PD Focus Area Educational Technology (AI/Canva/Google)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

2:00pm MDT

Awareness in Action: Simple Mindfulness Tools to Strengthen Student Self-Regulation & Perseverance

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

27 Picuris

Limited Capacity seats available

This workshop is designed for the messy, in-the-moment realities of the classroom. Michelle DuVal, MA, Director of The Mindful Center, begins with experiential mindfulness and meditation practices while inviting participants to share the real challenges they face: What situations arise in your classroom? How can mindfulness help in those moments? Drawing on more than 25 years of experience teaching mindfulness, Michelle works directly with the situations participants identify, offering practical ways to respond to challenging behaviors using awareness, steadiness, and presence. Educators will experience short guided practices and learn how these tools can support both their own regulation and their students’ ability to pause, reset, and persevere. Participants will also explore the Life on Mindfulness platform, view youth-focused meditations, and receive a post-workshop strategy sheet with practical tools tailored to the classroom scenarios discussed during the session.

Speakers

Becky MacGregor

Coordinator, APS

I am the APS Employee Wellness Coordinator and love what I get to do! My mission is to help people live healthy, well, and connected lives, doing so with grace, kindness, integrity, and wisdom.

I have over 30 years of experience in wellness, marketing/promotion, and business management. I am a certified wellness practitioner, behavior change specialist, correctional exercise specialist, personal trainer, weight management and fitness nutrition specialist. AND hold a national... Read More →

Michelle DuVal

Director, The Mindful Center

Hi! I'm Michelle DuVal, founder of The Mindful Center and a mindfulness teacher who's spent more than 25 years helping people find a little more calm in the middle of real life. I'm also a runner, a mom of teenage boys, and someone who believes mindfulness isn't about escaping life—it's... Read More →

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
27 Picuris 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Workshop (50 min)
PD Focus Area Classroom Culture & Behavior Strategies (PBIS/Classroom Management/Culture of Care)
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

2:00pm MDT

Pear Deck Learning: AI Teacher Tools

⭐ All Grades or Staff, DIGITAL TOOLS

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Kiva

Limited Capacity seats available

Elevate your Pear Deck experience by harnessing the power of AI! In this session, we will explore the Pear Deck Learning suite. Since APS teachers already have Pro access to Pear Deck, we’ll dive straight into how these AI-driven tools integrate seamlessly to save you time and personalize instruction. You will learn how to generate engaging bell-ringers instantly with Pear Start, create gamified practice sets in Pear Practice, and use AI to draft standards-aligned evaluations in Pear Assessment. Leave this session with a toolkit of AI features that connect directly back to your favorite Pear Deck slides to foster an interactive, data-driven classroom.

Speakers

Alexa Firstbrook

Go Guardian

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Kiva 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Partner Session
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

2:00pm MDT

Safe Zone - LGBTQ+ Sensitivity

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT

Ballroom B

Limited Capacity seats available

This course will focus on creating safe and supportive spaces for LGBTQ+ students, staff, and families. This course, in conjunction with Safe Zone - Law & APS Policy will provide you with the requirement needed to get a Safe Zone lanyard or sign.

Speakers

Havens Levitt

Moriah Baca

Tuesday August 4, 2026 2:00pm - 2:50pm MDT
Ballroom B 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102

Session Type Presentation/Tutorial Sessions (50 Min)
PD Focus Area Student Engagement/Collaboration/Inclusive Practices
Area WEST Building - Upper Level 3

2:00pm MDT

Setting Up the Classroom for Success: Preventing and Responding to Common Challenging Behaviors in Early Childhood Settings