DTAL Conference 2026

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:40am EDT

Room 202

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session, you will learn how to increase scholar agency, decrease your workload as an educator, all while fostering collaboration among your scholars, and providing an opportunity for your scholars to get a hands-on experience of our system of government. This will also create a system in your class that your scholars know how to utilize during class, whether you are there or not! Take this session from a seasoned educator who has learned a lot over their time and finds this--previously underwhelming strategy--truly impactful in class!

Presenters

Lee Hicks

Social Studies Grade 6 Teacher,, Landstown Middle

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:40am EDT
Room 202

Area High School, Middle School

9:00am EDT

Leveling Up Inquiry with AVID and AI

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:40am EDT

Room 219

Limited Capacity seats available

Move beyond surface-level questioning by integrating AVID’s "Marking the Text" with Costa’s Levels of Inquiry and Gemini AI. In this hands-on session, participants will learn to guide students through three stages of inquiry: gathering information, processing data, and applying knowledge "beyond the book." We will demonstrate how students can transform "Inquiry Sparks" into sophisticated prompts for Gemini, using AI to refine their thinking and generate content-specific questions. Attendees will leave with a practical toolkit of opening moves and reflection strategies to elevate critical thinking in any secondary classroom.

Presenters

Kristin Sanderlin

Instructional Tech Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Mary Davanzo Tysor

Literacy Coach, Landstown HS

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:40am EDT
Room 219

Audience Instructional Coaches, Instructional Staff, District Coaches
Area Middle School, High School

9:00am EDT

The Seminar Is the PD: Learning Socratic Circles by Living Them

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:40am EDT

Room 120

Limited Capacity seats available

Participants will engage in a live Socratic Seminar using an anchor text to experience how structured academic dialogue builds thinking classrooms across disciplines (ELA, science, social studies; ES–HS). This session models how to de-front instruction, increase student discourse, and promote deeper reasoning through evidence-based conversation. Educators will leave with practical structures, questioning techniques, and facilitation moves to create inclusive, student-centered discussions that support future-ready learners.

Presenters

Jessie Comba

Gifted Resource Teacher, Corporate Landing ES

I am an avid lifelong learner who gets bored easily and wants to learn infinitely. I spent 9 years as a 7th grade Advanced English Teacher at ODS, implementing a myriad of gifted instructional strategies before taking my gifted expertise to elementary as a GRT. Some of the gifted... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 9:40am EDT
Room 120

Area Elementary 3-5, Middle School, High School

9:00am EDT

AI and the Environment: What Educators Should Know

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

Room 210

Limited Capacity seats available

This session provides middle and high school educators, instructional coaches, and district leaders with a research-based examination of artificial intelligence’s environmental footprint and systemic impacts. Current data from assorted stakeholders will provide attendees with a broader understanding of diverse perspectives. Participants will be empowered to identify strategies for engaging in respectful discourse with students, considering the environmentally conscious, highly creative, morally driven, and/or socially responsible learner. The session also examines the necessity of being prepared with various methods and tools to support student voice and decision-making.

Presenters

Suzanne Flach

Instructional Technology Specialist, First Colonial High

Suzanne Flach has served as an Instructional Technology Specialist with Virginia Beach City Public Schools since 2012. Before transitioning into instructional technology, she taught Biology in both Virginia Beach City Public Schools and Chesterfield County Public Schools.A self-described... Read More →

Sheila Teri

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Sheila M. Teri is an Instructional Technology Coordinator at Virginia Beach City Public Schools, with over 27 years of experience as an educator, coach, and district-level administrator. A dedicated servant leader, Sheila supports administrators, coaches, teachers, and staff in integrating... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Room 210

Audience Administrators, District Coaches, Instructional Staff
Area High School, Middle School

9:00am EDT

ESSENTIAL: Social Studies as a Skill (6th and 7th)

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT

Library

We are strengthening our curriculum and instructional supports through the use of evidence-based assessment practices, so we can promote student success and develop future-ready students.

Presenters

Taylor Lovejoy

Social Studies Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:30am EDT
Library

Audience Instructional Staff
Area Middle School

9:00am EDT

ESSENTIAL: Pushing through the Plateau: Developing Proficiency through Vertical Alignment (World Languages)

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:45am EDT

Schola

I can identify and utilize strategies useful across all language levels so that I can push my students to higher levels of proficiency. I can collaborate with teachers who teach across different language levels to vertically align and build appropriate supports for my students so that they continue to grow in proficiency throughout their language career.

Presenters

Leah Donohue

Instructional Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 10:45am EDT
Schola

Audience World Language Teachers
Area High School, Middle School

9:00am EDT

ESSENTIAL: The Curricular Spark - Igniting Thinking Through Strategic Resource Use (MS)

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT

Room 116

Secondary mathematics is continuing its integration of Mathspace beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. Teachers and students will now have access to class sets of physical textbooks along with the existing online resource. This guided session will revisit familiar features within Mathspace and explore new functionalities. Participants will also learn best practices for balancing and integrating the use of both print and digital High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) with our VBCPS curriculum to improve student outcomes across middle school mathematics classrooms. NOTE: Please bring your fully charged laptop computer to this session.

Presenters

Dena McElligott

Math Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Shaylee Ryan

Secondary Mathematics Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Tina Mazzacane

Math Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:00am - 11:00am EDT
Room 116

Audience Instructional Staff
Area Middle School

9:50am EDT

Seeing is Solving: The Power of Visual Math

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:50am - 10:30am EDT

Room 208

Limited Capacity seats available

Take visual math to a whole new level as we explore how to solve a variety of low floor, high ceiling activities that allow all students to engage in deeper mathematical thinking. Based on the work of Jo Boaler, we’ll discuss the science behind visual math, try to solve some old problems in new, pictorial ways and then explore the website youcubed.org through a visual lens.
Target Audience: K-8 teachers, gifted, special education, Title 1

Presenters

Barbara Kimpan

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:50am - 10:30am EDT
Room 208

Area Elementary K-2, Elementary 3-5, Middle School

9:50am EDT

The Hidden Curriculum: Seeing Executive Functioning Demands in Your Language Arts Block

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:50am - 10:30am EDT

Room 106

Limited Capacity seats available

Every language arts lesson asks students to do more than read and write; it asks them to plan, hold information in working memory, shift between tasks, and regulate their own attention. This session helps educators to see the executive functioning demands already embedded in their LA instruction and intervention planning. Participants will examine real lesson structures through an EF lens, identify where students may be struggling due to cognitive load rather than content gaps, and leave with practical planning moves to reduce barriers and strengthen student access.

Presenters

Robyn Cady

Early Literacy Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Marissa Robinson

Coordinator, OPEC

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:50am - 10:30am EDT
Room 106

Area Elementary K-2, Elementary 3-5, Middle School, Elementary PK-K/ECSE

9:50am EDT

ESSENTIAL: Learning Intentions, Success Criteria, and PLCS for the Performing Arts

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:50am - 11:50am EDT

Room 104

Performing Arts Teachers will work to understand the purpose and impact of clear learning intentions and success criteria based on John Almarode's research-based strategies for implementation, as they specifically relate to the performing arts classroom. By connecting these practices to the VBCPS Teaching and Learning Framework (Plan, Teach, Assess), teachers will grow their understanding of classroom implementation while laying the foundation for continuing PLC work that integrates these concepts into classroom practice. Participants should bring a charged laptop.

Presenters

Meredith Brookman

Jason Stanley

Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 9:50am - 11:50am EDT
Room 104

Audience Music Teachers, Performing Arts Teachers
Area Elementary K-2, Elementary 3-5, High School, Middle School

10:45am EDT

Beyond the Red Pen: Leveraging AI for Meaningful Student Revision

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT

Room 211

Limited Capacity seats available

This session empowers educators to move "Beyond the Red Pen" by integrating MagicSchool AI to foster personalized, high-impact student revision. Aligned with the VBCPS Strategic Plan goal of cultivating Future Ready Learners, we will explore how AI-driven feedback loops promote critical thinking and agency in the writing process.

Participants will learn to use MagicSchool to generate rubric-aligned feedback and differentiated scaffolds that help students take ownership of their growth. This session targets grades 3–5 across all literacy-heavy disciplines, providing practical strategies to bridge the gap between initial drafts and polished, professional-grade communication.

Presenters

Kristina DeMoss

Instructional Tech Specialist, Creeds Elementary

Kelli Whalen

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT
Room 211

Area Elementary 3-5, Middle School

10:45am EDT

Differentiating through Kaplan's Depth and Complexity Model

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT

Room 114

Limited Capacity seats available

Differentiation is a buzz word that gets thrown around in education all the time, but what is it truly? This session will provide strategies and proactive methods centered on using Kaplan’s Depth & Complexity Model. Instead of a one-sized fits all approach, Kaplan provides multiple pathways for students to learn the content. This session will provide participants with strategies that they can take and implement immediately in their classrooms.

Presenters

Angela Boubouheropoulos

Gifted Programs Coordinator

Meghann Scott

Coordinator, K-12 Programs

Jessica Bradford

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT
Room 114

Audience Gifted Resource Teachers, Instructional Staff
Area Middle School, High School

10:45am EDT

Word Nerds Win: How Syllable Study and Etymology Unlock Fluency and Comprehension in Grades 3–5

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT

Room 106

Limited Capacity seats available

Why do some students decode fluently but still stumble on meaning — and vice versa? The answer is often in the words themselves. This session explores how syllable patterns and the history of words (etymology and morphology) serve as a powerful bridge between fluency and comprehension for students in grades 3–5. Participants will examine the research connecting word structure knowledge to reading outcomes, explore student-facing routines that build this knowledge systematically, and leave with ready-to-use instructional strategies.

Presenters

Robyn Cady

Early Literacy Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT
Room 106

Area Elementary K-2, Elementary 3-5, Middle School

10:45am EDT

Zero to 3D Hero - Getting Started with Tinkercad

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT

Room 213

Limited Capacity seats available

Ready to bring 3D design to your middle/high schoolers but don’t know where to start? Join me for this interactive, hands-on session where we will walk through a model "Day One" Tinkercad lesson. Learn how to navigate the 3D workspace and master basic techniques of building, such as making holes, resizing/aligning/rotating/grouping objects, preparing a design to 3D print, and much more. Your confidence will soar as you learn how to add students to your Tinkercad class and troubleshoot common issues. Walk away with a ready-to-use introductory presentation, student cheat sheets, and even some intermediate techniques to challenge your students to level up their designs.

Presenters

Bryan Dulmage

Instructional Technology Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Google Certified Level I & II. I am interested in all things #edtech but specifically how to use technology as a tool to help students develop their strengths, find their passions, think deeply about content, and show their creativity. Follow me on X (fka Twitter) @instruct_edt... Read More →

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 11:25am EDT
Room 213

Area Middle School, High School

10:45am EDT

The Future of Gizmos! Gizmos Investigations

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 219

Limited Capacity seats available

ExploreLearning's Gizmos Investigations spark deeper science understanding with ready-made, inquiry-driven investigations and leverage Gizmos to target science sensemaking practices. In this workshop, secondary science teachers complete a Gizmos Investigation in a modeled lesson and reflect on the role of the teacher during the experience. They will then become oriented to the student results heat map and learn how to effectively monitor student progress and facilitate student learning throughout the process.

Presenters

Dustin Lackey

Explore Learning

Jennifer McGregor

Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Keith Goodman

Science Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 219

Area Middle School, High School

10:45am EDT

The Power of Process: Making Student Thinking Visible with Snorkl

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 210

Limited Capacity seats available

Explore how Snorkl helps make student thinking visible while supporting future-ready instruction in grades 6–12 classrooms. Participants will learn how students can explain their reasoning using voice and visuals while receiving timely AI-generated feedback. Discover how teachers can establish clear success criteria, leverage real-time formative assessment, and encourage students to revise their thinking until mastery is achieved. Leave with practical strategies for using Snorkl as a digital teaching assistant that amplifies feedback, deepens understanding, and inspires greater instructional impact.

Presenters

Suzanne Flach

Instructional Technology Specialist, First Colonial High

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 210

Area Middle School, High School

10:45am EDT

ESSENTIAL: Curriculum Updates - (Part 2) Launching into New Environmental Science Standards

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 217

Limited Capacity seats available

Part 1 must be completed before attending this session. This in-person session focuses on using the new 2025 Environmental Science standards to inform instruction. Participants will explore instructional approaches that support student sensemaking while engaging in discussion and shared learning experiences. Time will be provided to collaborate with colleagues, refine ideas, and begin planning for implementation. Participants should bring a school-issued device.

Presenters

Jennifer McGregor

Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Keith Goodman

Science Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 217

Area Middle School, High School

11:35am EDT

IXL Learning: Best Practices for Implementing in Secondary English

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:35am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 120

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will focus on how to effectively implement IXL in a secondary English classroom. The sesson will focus on new features, best practices, and Spark Studio AI. Teachers will have the opportunity to explore all the new features IXL offers, including Spark Studio. We will share best practices to actively engage students in their learning using IXL. In addtion, teachers will gain insights on how to use the NWEA Map Skill Plans available for each student within IXL. Josh Voss, a representative from IXL will help facilitate this session and be available to answer any questions.

Presenters

Josh Voss

IXL

Erin Mullins

English Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Brandy Bertucci

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:35am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 120

Area Middle School, High School

11:35am EDT

Mic Drop Learning: Teaching Students How to Create an Effective Podcast

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:35am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 204

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will focus on the best ways to introduce students to Adobe Podcast and some tips & tricks to help them go from beginner-level podcasting to podcast master.

Presenters

William Laney

Instructional Tech Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:35am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 204

Area Middle School, High School

11:35am EDT

Unlocking the Vault: Critical Thinking Strategies that Spark Genius

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:35am - 12:15pm EDT

Room 114

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will support the goal of challenging and supporting each student to excel and be future-ready. This session aims to empower K-8 educators to focus on activities that promote metacognition and creative problem-solving. Drawing on David Dubczak’s Activate Your Genius Mode, we will explore high-leverage, critical thinking practices designed to challenge and foster students' cognitive endurance.
Participants will engage with innovative materials to develop future-ready learners. These materials can be immediately scaled for Elementary and Middle School classrooms across all subject areas. Shift your pedagogy from instruction-led to inquiry-driven to ignite student passion, engagement, and innovation.

Presenters

Kristin Pender

Gifted Resource Teacher, Holland ES

Thursday August 6, 2026 11:35am - 12:15pm EDT
Room 114

Area Elementary K-2, Elementary 3-5, Middle School

12:45pm EDT

From Data to Dialogue: Building Successful PLCs

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 204

Limited Capacity seats available

We’ve all sat through meetings that feel like administrative checklists, but the most effective Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) are those that transform raw data into a shared roadmap for student success. In this session, we will strip away the jargon and focus on the practical habits that turn collaborative planning into measurable classroom growth. Drawing from our own experience as English 11 teachers—we’ll explore how to move past "what we are teaching" to "how they are learning."

Presenters

Katie Bennett

Emily Grace

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 204

Area Middle School, High School

12:45pm EDT

IXL Learning: Best Practices for Implementing in Secondary Math

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 120

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will focus on how to effectively implement IXL in a secondary mathematics classroom. The sesson will focus on new features, best practices, and Spark Studio AI. Teachers will have the opportunity to explore all the new features IXL offers, including Spark Studio. We will share best practices to actively engage students in their learning using IXL. In addtion, teachers will gain insights on how to use the NWEA Map Skill Plans available for each student within IXL. Josh Voss, a representative from IXL will help facilitate this session and be available to answer any questions.

Presenters

Josh Voss

IXL

Herbert Acedo

Math Teacher, VBCPS

Nenita Acedo

Nicole Russo

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 120

Area Middle School, High School

12:45pm EDT

Lab, Laugh, Learn: The Power of Play–Debrief–Replay

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 114

Limited Capacity seats available

Designed for middle and high school science educators, this interactive session immerses participants in Wassermann’s Play–Debrief–Replay model through hands-on investigations that mirror authentic scientific inquiry. Teachers will engage in structured “play,” reflect through targeted debriefing, and refine understanding through replay to deepen conceptual learning.

Presenters

Meghann Scott

Coordinator, K-12 Programs

Kristan Honaker

Science Teacher, Kellam High School

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 114

Area Middle School, High School

12:45pm EDT

Dive Into a Deeper Understanding of Math with Gizmos

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT

Room 219

Limited Capacity seats available

Teachers will explore Math Gizmos that help build a deeper understanding of math concepts that will be ready to implement immediately in the classroom. We will focus on best practices for using Gizmos in mathematics classrooms, where students can experiment, visualize and draw conclusions about the mathematics involved.

Presenters

Dustin Lackey

Explore Learning

Dena McElligott

Math Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Shaylee Ryan

Secondary Mathematics Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Tina Mazzacane

Math Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 219

Area Middle School, High School

12:45pm EDT

ESSENTIAL: AI Instructional Foundations Part 1

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT

Schola

Limited Capacity seats available

This session provides middle school educators with actionable strategies for the next phase of AI implementation, ensuring continued alignment with the VBCPS AI Guiding Principles.

Presenters

Kelly Miller

Library Services Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Charlie Hinsch

Coordinator Instructional Technology, Department of Teaching and Learning

Instructional Technology Coordinator
Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Jennifer Clements

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Sheila Teri

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Matthew Colohan

Instructional Technology Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT
Schola

Audience Instructional Staff
Area Middle School

12:45pm EDT

ESSENTIAL: Beyond Facts: Placing Sensemaking and Exploration at the Center of Instruction

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT

Room 218

This professional learning experience invites Core Science 6 teachers to consider how environmental themes can serve as meaningful entry points for engaging students in sensemaking and scientific practices aligned to Grade 6 standards. Participants will explore instructional approaches that support student sensemaking while engaging in discussion and shared learning experiences.

Presenters

Keith Goodman

Science Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Jennifer McGregor

Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 12:45pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 218

Area Middle School

1:35pm EDT

AI In the Language Classroom

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 2:15pm EDT

Room 212

Limited Capacity seats available

We will explore AI tools that help support world language instruction and literacy.

Presenters

Leah Donohue

Instructional Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Paula Hernandez

Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 212

Audience Instructional Staff, World Language Teachers
Area Elementary K-2, Elementary 3-5, Middle School, High School

1:35pm EDT

Play With Purpose: Building Future-Ready, Resilient Math Learners Through Engagement and Ownership

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 2:15pm EDT

Room 209

Limited Capacity seats available

Building resilient math learners begins with building the right classroom culture. Designed for grades 6-8 mathematics educators, this session features Virginia Beach teachers sharing how they use First In Math to create engaging learning experiences that promote challenge, persistence, and student ownership. Participants will explore how purposeful play can help re-engage learners, strengthen confidence, and foster a sense of belonging in secondary math classrooms. By the end of the session, attendees will have concrete strategies for creating a more engaging and supportive math environment where future-ready learners are empowered to participate and grow.

Presenters

Kevin Sweeney

First in Math

Madison Brinkley

Jessica Newell

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 209

Area Middle School

1:35pm EDT

The Secret Code to Sanity: Letting Canva’s AI Do Your Heavy Lifting

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 2:15pm EDT

Room 206

Limited Capacity seats available

Supercharge your instructional design using Canva’s AI! This session explores how secondary educators can utilize Canva to generate HTML code, creating highly dynamic and interactive student activities in a fraction of the time. While we will showcase specific examples tailored for High School Government, these time-saving workflows apply seamlessly to all secondary subjects. By integrating these AI-coded interactivities into your curriculum, you will cultivate future-ready learners who engage deeply with digital content. Learn to effortlessly blend AI, coding, and curriculum!

Presenters

Devan Smith

Math Coach, Bayside High

Cameron Roberts

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 2:15pm EDT
Room 206

Area Middle School, High School

1:35pm EDT

ESSENTIAL: The Curricular Spark - Igniting Thinking Through Strategic Resource Use (MS)

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 3:45pm EDT

Room 116

Presenters

Dena McElligott

Math Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Shaylee Ryan

Secondary Mathematics Instructional Specialist, Department of Teaching and Learning

Tina Mazzacane

Math Coordinator, Department of Teaching and Learning

Thursday August 6, 2026 1:35pm - 3:45pm EDT
Room 116

Audience Instructional Staff
Area Middle School

2:15pm EDT

ESSENTIAL: Intentional Teaching in Middle School PE

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:15pm - 4:00pm EDT

Gymnasium

This professional learning session immerses middle school health and physical education teachers in a deep exploration of learning intentions and success criteria to strengthen evidence-based, differentiated instruction. Participants will experience a model class period that demonstrates high-quality, inclusive physical education where students engage in meaningful movement, develop social-emotional competencies, and see themselves represented in the learning process. Teachers will leave with practical strategies for designing intentional lessons that elevate clarity, equity, and student ownership of learning across diverse abilities and perspectives. We will also review school year expectations and provide information about Professional Learning Communities for HPE teachers.

Presenters

Matt Orebaugh

Coord Health/Physical Education, K-12 and Gifted Programs

Lei Dunn

Instructional Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:15pm - 4:00pm EDT
Gymnasium

Audience Health and PE Teachers
Area Middle School

2:30pm EDT

Brain Breaks to Encourage Student Engagement

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:10pm EDT

Room 214

Limited Capacity seats available

Ready to transform your classroom energy? Discover engaging brain break strategies that spark curiosity, boost focus, and allow students a chance to refocus. Join this session to learn simple, effective ways to re-energize your students and keep them actively engaged from start to finish.

Presenters

Kathleen Foster

Health & PE Teacher, Bayside High School

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:10pm EDT
Room 214

Area Middle School, High School

2:30pm EDT

Play With Purpose: Building Future-Ready, Resilient Math Learners Through Engagement and Ownership

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:10pm EDT

Room 209

Limited Capacity seats available

Presenters

Kevin Sweeney

First in Math

Adina Trusz

Michael Shaffer

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:10pm EDT
Room 209

Area Middle School

2:30pm EDT

Transforming Behavior, Transforming Outcomes: The Power of Behavior Academies

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:10pm EDT

Room 202

Limited Capacity seats available

This session offers a deep dive into the design and implementation of Behavior Academies as a proactive, tiered intervention to address student behavior. Participants will learn how to create structured, skill-building sessions that align with MTSS frameworks and support positive student outcomes. With a focus on data-driven decision-making, progress monitoring, and practical tools, this session equips elementary educators and leaders with strategies to implement Behavior Academies that are both impactful and sustainable.

Presenters

Andrea Curney

Behavior Intervention Coordinator, Office of Student Support Services

Katie Catania

Principal ES, Parkway Elementary

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 3:10pm EDT
Room 202

Area Elementary 3-5, Middle School

2:30pm EDT

A Bit More Fun: Coding in the Content Areas with the Micro:Bit

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 212

Limited Capacity seats available

How can we make computer science feel like a natural extension of core content rather than an "extra" task? This interactive session introduces educators to the Micro:Bit, a pocket-sized, programmable computer designed to make coding tangible and accessible. Participants will move beyond isolated coding by engaging in a content connected activity. You will build and transfer block-based programs mastering fundamental CS concepts like algorithms, inputs and outputs. Educators will leave with a solution-oriented framework to collaborate with instructional technology specialists, utilize your school’s class set of Micro:Bits, and bring curriculum standards to life through student-centered exploration.

Presenters

Amber Nordwall

Instructional Technology Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Jessica Carpenter

Instructional Technology Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

I am an Instructional Technology Specialist in Virginia Beach, VA and a former math educator. I am passionate about engaging students in learning through student-created products.

Thursday August 6, 2026 2:30pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 212

Area Middle School

3:20pm EDT

AI as a Thought Partner: Practical Strategies for Teachers

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:20pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 209

Limited Capacity seats available

In this engaging, practitioner-focused session, Virginia Beach educators will explore how artificial intelligence can be used as a thought-partner that supports educator thinking and planning to deepen learning and amplify student engagement in middle school classrooms. Designed for instructional coaches, teachers, and school leaders, the session will model practical, responsible uses of AI to support lesson design, differentiation, formative assessment, and reflective practice. Along with specific prompt examples, participants will use the RADAR strategy to create their own prompts. They will leave with concrete strategies they can apply immediately to increase rigor, relevance, and student voice—all while using professional judgment and discernment.

Presenters

Ellen Nesbit

Instructional Tech Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Instructional Technology Specialist in Virginia Beach, Virginia;
Certifications: Google Certified Educator Level II, Microsoft Office Specialist;
Masters in Instructional Technology from Old Dominion University (and oddly, a bachelor's in Spanish Literature from Salem College in Winston-Salem, NC, established in 1772 and the oldest institution for educating women in the United States... Read More →

Barbara Butler

Instructional Technology Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Virginia Beach City Public Schools Instructional Technology Specialist

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:20pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 209

Audience District Coaches, Instructional Staff, Administrators
Area Middle School

3:20pm EDT

Jamestown: Using Video Games, CS and coding to explore historical hardships

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:20pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 202

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will cover and explain the use of Microsoft Makecode Arcade to integrate Virginia computer science curriculum alongside social studies curriculum. This 4th grade lesson explicitly teaches variables, video game design concepts, and block code editing to show understanding of hardships within Jamestown. This session will review the VBCPS curriculum 4th grade Microsoft Makecode Arcade Jamestown lesson and how to implement this within the classroom.

Presenters

Tim Trask

Instructional Technology Specialist, Virginia Beach City Public Schools

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:20pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 202

Area Elementary 3-5, Middle School

3:20pm EDT

Thrive Time: Empowering Teachers and Specialists Through Structured Support, Student Choice, and Schoolwide Alignment

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:20pm - 4:00pm EDT

Room 120

Limited Capacity seats available

Meeting the diverse academic and social-emotional needs of middle school students requires intentional structures that are both flexible and sustainable for educators. This session is designed for teachers and specialists and will showcase how our middle school developed and implemented Thrive Time—a daily, schoolwide class embedded into the master schedule that provides targeted academic support, enrichment opportunities, and meaningful student choice. Participants will explore multiple models and practical approaches for implementing a similar structure in their own schools, with a focus on balancing student needs, teacher capacity, and schoolwide consistency. The session will emphasize how Thrive Time promotes collaboration among teachers and specialists while aligning instructional practices across the building.

Presenters

Autumn Harrison

7th Grade Teacher, Great Neck MS

Thursday August 6, 2026 3:20pm - 4:00pm EDT
Room 120