| Block | Time | Name | Speakers | Track | Audience | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, October 14, 2026 | ||||||
| 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Badge Pick Up | |||||
| Thursday, October 15, 2026 | ||||||
| 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM | Badge Pick Up | |||||
| 8:00 AM - 8:20 AM | Doors Open | |||||
| Thursday Keynote Block | 8:20 AM - 10:00 AM | KEYNOTE - Education for the Sake of the World: Why Learning to Love is Liberating | Faith Formation | Educators: Elementary & Secondary | ||
| Excursions | 10:15 AM - 12:45 PM | Optional Excursion - The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum | ||||
| Excursions | 10:15 AM - 12:45 PM | Optional Excursion - Van Andel Institute for Education: Engineering an Animal: Design, Build, and Survive! | ||||
| Excursions | 10:15 AM - 12:45 PM | Optional Excursion - The Grand Rapids Art Museum | ||||
| Excursions | 10:15 AM - 12:45 PM | Optional Excursion - Grand Rapids Public Museum | ||||
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Empowering School Staff: Safety Toolkits and Student Support Strategies | Kim Root Mary Gager Drew | Student Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Counselors | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Practicing Teaching Together: Enactments for PD | Eunsub Cho | Professional Practice | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Engagement Strategies for ELLs that Benefit All Learners | Charity Moon | Diverse Learners | ESL/ELL Teachers, Other - please specify, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Education Freedom Tax Credit – A Conversation With Betsy DeVos | The Honorable Betsy DeVos Paul Long | (Session is designed for all teachers and administrators) | ||
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Budget Stretch Bootcamp: Real-Time Savings with REMC SAVE | Anita Banach | Operational Vitality | All of the above: Anyone who makes recommendations for purchases or completes school purchases., Other - please specify | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Central Office Culture Building | Graham Schultze | Staff Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Central Office coordinator/director positions, Other - please specify | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Beyond the Textbook: Project-Based Math | Kate List Julie Conway | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Beyond the Test: Redesigning Assessments for Learning | Jeffrey Bailey | Curriculum and Instruction | Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Creating Rich Learning Resources with Google Gemini Canvas | Tim Steen | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Media/Technology Specialists, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Clarity Under Pressure: Leading Decisions That People Can Trust | Stacey Wieland | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Measuring What Matters Most: Assessing Formation | Paul Gibbs, Ph.D. Ashley Brandon, EdD | Faith Formation | ||
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Faith Formation for Students with Disabilities and High Support Needs | Kate Strater | Diverse Learners | Other - please specify, Special and Inclusive Education Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Visualize, Connect, Master: A Representation-Based Math Journey | Adam Paape | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Math 2036: What We Keep, What We Change, and What Comes Next | Ellen Edmunds | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Educators: Elementary & Secondary | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Imago Dei: The Importance of Place in Learning for Students of ALL Abilities | Betsy Winkle Peter Baldwin | Diverse Learners | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Simple STEM and tech ideas for grades K-6. | Sue Tyner | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Elementary Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Fostering Resilience Through Biblical Characters | Lindsay Mueller | Student Well-Being | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | ESSA & IDEA: Important Tools for your Inclusion Toolbox | Steve Perla John Elcesser | Operational Vitality | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Revitalizing the Bible Culture in Your School | Paul Caminiti | Faith Formation | ||
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Building Community and Increasing Teacher Retention through Supportive Leadership | Laurie Burgess | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Creating a Virtual Classroom in the FACTS SIS | Andrew Cohen | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Beyond Content: Cultivating the Skills Every Student Needs to Thrive | Dawn McCotter | Curriculum and Instruction | Other - please specify, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Getting Started with Gemini & Google Workspace | John Sowash | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Coaching Conversations Level 1 | Adrienne Reid Ron Masengi | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Connecting Parents - Creating parent to parent support | Ryan Corcoran | Faith Formation | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Counselors | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Teaching & Learning in a Distracting World: Cultivating Contemplation | Faith Formation | |||
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Destination Growth: Proven Strategies for Maximizing Student Growth | Katie Doyle | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | School partnership: L. A. learning in the upper elementary grades | James Rooks | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Pre-Engineering as a High School Elective | Elizabeth Maitner | Curriculum and Instruction | Secondary Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Teaching the Shoah (Holocaust) in Christian Schools: Faith-Centered Best Practices for Deep Learning | Jaymie Perry | Curriculum and Instruction | Middle School Teachers, Other - please specify, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Formation or Distraction?: A Framework for Thinking about Technology | Zachary Good | Student Well-Being | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | T(eaching) F(or) T(ransformation) and Music: Renewing Minds and Transforming Lives | Thomas Blue | Curriculum and Instruction | Music/Art Teachers | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | The Self-Weeding Garden: Building School Cultures Where the Weeds Pull Themselves | Dr. Jessica Betz | Professional Practice | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | MHSAA Update - Current Topics in School Sports | Mark Uyl | Operational Vitality | ||
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Is parent engagement effective at your school? What does healthy parent engagement look like? | Marc Verkaik | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Other - please specify | |
| Block 1 | 10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | Improving Comprehension Through Engaging Vocabulary Instruction | Annemarie Johnson | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Other - please specify | |
| 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Thursday Pre-paid Boxed Lunches | |||||
| 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM | Concessions | |||||
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Leading with Intention: Staff Well-Being, School Climate, and Sustainable School Communities | Denise Ball | Staff Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Fluency Unleashed: Practical Strategies to Elevate Reading | Annemarie Johnson | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | From Initiative Fatigue to Instructional Focus | Jeffrey Bailey | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Media/Technology Specialists | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Using Picture Books to Build Belonging | Betsi Farris | Diverse Learners | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Stories that Stick: Discipleship with Kids' Books | Valerie Ellis | Curriculum and Instruction | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Agents of Hospitality: Developing a Classroom Practice of Welcoming the Stranger | Kim Hofstra Kristin Rich | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Engineering for All: Powerful Ways to Make Engineering Accessible, Meaningful, and Fun! | Dawn McCotter | Curriculum and Instruction | STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Interactive Classrooms Made Easy with Desmos | Adam Paape | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Funding a Culture of Inclusion | Becky Tubergen Tim Paauw | Diverse Learners | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Directors of Advancement, ESS/Special Education directors, Other - please specify | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Learning to Love Our Communities: Place-Based Education | Eunsub Cho Andrea Lubbberts Dave Warners | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Inclusive Pathways: College for Students with Intellectual Disability | Kate Strater | Diverse Learners | Counselors, Inclusive and special education teachers, Other - please specify | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Intentional Teaching: Small Moves, Lasting Formation | Ashley Brandon, EdD Paul Gibbs, Ph.D. | Faith Formation | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | 1000 Tiny Gestures | Travis Grulke | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Called to Lead: Where Leadership is Rooted in Faith | Aaron Winkle Jillian Kellough | Leadership | STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Your Schedule and the Child's Spiritual Formation | Simon Jeynes | Student Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Counselors | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Building Operational Readiness for Vouchers & State Tax Credits | Drew Cocco | Operational Vitality | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Designing Time to Thrive: A Christ-Centered Approach to Student Flourishing | Krista Wright | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, K-12 teachers, Other - please specify | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | School safety research and practical tactics to implement in any crisis | Jennifer Petzold | Staff Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Other - please specify, Teachers at any grade level | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Navigating the Storm: Today's Anxious Youth | Ron Sandison | Student Well-Being | Counselors, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Informative Communication Tactics | Barb Doyle | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Creation as Our Classroom: Three Approaches | Ben J. Buursma | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | 5 Learning Strategies for STEM Students | Rebecca Weier | Curriculum and Instruction | Secondary Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Improving teacher satisfaction through school-wide Executive Function skill development | Julie Johnson | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Counselors, Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers, Music/Art Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Coding for elementary aged students | Jackie K. DenOuden | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Media/Technology Specialists, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | From Bible Class to Bible Culture | Paul Caminiti | Faith Formation | ||
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Learning is for Lovers: Cultural Liturgies and Christian Education as Counter-Formation | James Smith | Faith Formation | STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Discernment vs. Efficiency: AI in Catholic Schools | John Brahier Derek Wilson | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Navigating Conflict in Ways that Build Trust | Stacey Wieland | Staff Well-Being | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | The ABCs of Joy | Jon Eckert | Student Well-Being | All teachers--early childhood, elementary, secondary, and special education teachers, Music/Art Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Games, Games, Games! Quick Activities for Big Thinking | Terra Tarango Kim Harding | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Am I Being Ableist?: Supporting Neurodivergence in the Early Childhood Classroom | Abbey Bowyer | Student Well-Being | Early Childhood | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Chromebooks for teachers | John Sowash | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Effective Stewardship for Students with Dyslexia | Amy Barto | Diverse Learners | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Destination Growth: MAP Growth Data 101 | Katie Doyle | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Navigating Teacher Certification and Renewal in Michigan | Shari Brouwer Brian Bolt | Professional Practice | (Session is designed for all teachers and administrators), Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 2 | 12:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Everyday Christian Teaching: How Pedagogy Communicates Values | David Smith | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Boost achievement with the science of writing | Holly Sluyter | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Biblical Leadership Lessons Through Picture Books | Travis Grulke | Faith Formation | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Integrating Computational Thinking in K-12 Classrooms | Michelle Anderson Stacy Slomski Stefani Boutelier | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | 5 Relationships Every Educator Needs to Thrive | Erik Ellefsen Sahira Kodra | Music/Art Teachers, Physical Education/Athletic Directors, STEM/STEAM | ||
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | The vital role of teachers in the admissions process | Sarah Toepfer | Professional Practice | Administrative/support staff, Counselors, Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers, Music/Art Teachers, Physical Education/Athletic Directors, Secondary Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Making Faith Visible: Faith Portfolios in K-8 Schools | Renee McKeone | Faith Formation | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | These Are a Few of My Favorite Things | Amy Baldwin | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Music/Art Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Created in God's Image: Living the Gospel Through Meaningful Inclusion | Emily Hoffman | Diverse Learners | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Curriculum and Christian Imagination | David Smith | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Positivity With Purpose- Proven strategies to build positivity in classrooms, school families, school staff and local community through fellowship, faith and fun! | Melissa Berrada | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | A Leader's Guide to Collaborative Schools | Dawn McCotter | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Emerging Leaders | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Destination Growth: Leading with MAP Growth Data | Katie Doyle | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | The Biblical Basis for Inclusion | Ronald Nuzzi | Diverse Learners | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Teaching with AI, Not Fighting It | Jeffrey Bailey | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Schedule and Sacred Time: Transforming Performance and Morale | Simon Jeynes | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | What If We Start at the Sentence Level? | Danielle Farrace | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | The Neuroscience of Trauma | Mary Margaret Schroeder | Student Well-Being | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Making Sense of the Science of Reading | Annemarie Johnson | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Creating Safer Schools Through Smart Risk Management | Justin Mattson Jack Carey, | Operational Vitality | ||
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Exemplary Elem PE: Research and Recommendations | Jerry Bergsma | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Physical Education/Athletic Directors | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Resilient Minds: Christ-Centered Mental Health | Kara Bratton | Student Well-Being | Counselors, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Supporting New Teachers for Lasting Success � Building Effective Systems for Induction and Teacher Growth | Jane Genzink | Professional Practice | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Instructional Leaders/Coaches, Other - please specify | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Building Great Teams at Your School | Justin Hudson | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Getting Organized with Google | John Sowash | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | How tough passages in the Bible lead to learning | Albert Boerema | Faith Formation | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Rethinking Assessment: Using Student Podcasts to Measure Deep Understanding of Complex Texts | Gillian Palmer | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Six Essentials for Creating Digital Disciples | Pastor Doug Crawford | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Media/Technology Specialists | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Practical Strategies for Increasing Students with Autism Engagement in the Classroom Session | Ron Sandison | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Beyond the Gut and Guesswork: Strategic Excellence | Kevin Huinink | Operational Vitality | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Gritty Optimism | Jon Eckert | |||
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Stay Calm...but how? Learn a framework to implement to remain calm in any crisis | Jennifer Petzold | Staff Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Other - please specify, Teachers at any grade level | |
| Block 3 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | Enrollment Management Strategies: Building a Sustainable Path for Growth | Amanda Wildern | Operational Vitality | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Around the World with Young Explorers: A Joyful Journey Through Global Learning | Jennifer Welch | Curriculum and Instruction | Early Childhood | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Building Regulated Classrooms | Kara Bratton Linda Hensel | Student Well-Being | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Childhood Under Pressure | Pastor Doug Crawford | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Media/Technology Specialists, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Learning is an Adventure: From ABCs to Stories | Hope Stiffler | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Real-Time Resilience with Authentic Conversations | Martín Blank | Staff Well-Being | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Sport and Faith in School and Life | Brian Bolt Chad Carlson | Faith Formation | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Physical Education/Athletic Directors | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Building & Retaining A Quality Teaching Team: Powerful Practices for the Advancement of the Early Childhood Field | Windy Carroll | Operational Vitality | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Early Childhood | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | 20 Proven Teaching Strategies to Save Time and Maximize Impacts | Kim Harding | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | From Invitation to Implementation: A Practical Guide to Federal Programs | Chanel DeGuzman | |||
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Supporting Student Success in Math: Targeted Tier 2 and Tier 3 Interventions | Tyler Harms | Diverse Learners | Elementary Teachers, K-12 Support Services Staff, Other - please specify | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | JOY in the trenches - rediscovering why we do this work! | Kelly Fehn | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Early Childhood | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | From Math Anxiety to Math Confidence | Jenny Griffin | Curriculum and Instruction | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Calibrating your Performance Pendulum | Kevin Huinink | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Six Lessons to Kick-Start Your Writing Instruction | Holly Sluyter | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Using Faith to Teach 11 Executive Functions | Michelle Lia, EdD | Student Well-Being | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Trauma-Informed Practices and Teaching Challenging Topics | Rick Schaffner | Student Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Reimagining Shop Class: Three School Approaches | Nick DeKoster Aaron Meckes Josh Klomp Jason Lawrence Eric Burgess Sarah Quist Jonathan D. Quist | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elective Teachers, Other - please specify, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Understanding Michigan's Dyslexia Legislation | Annemarie Johnson | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Curating Your Classroom Space | Brandon Helder | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Feedback and Differentiation: Deeper and Simpler Ways | Ben Talsma | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | A Day In The Life of a Catholic Multiage Microschool. | Kate Beuschel | Professional Practice | Administrative/support staff, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | There's Hope for Peace in Your Classroom | Tina Kassebaum | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Are You Legal? Let’s Check the Checklist! | Shannon Sexton Murphy Nancy Kuszczak Brenda Mescher | |||
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Formation Through Work for Diverse Learners | Drew Anderson | Diverse Learners | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Lead Where You Are: A Just Show Up Book Club | Jim Peterson | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Counselors, Elementary Teachers, Music/Art Teachers, Physical Education/Athletic Directors, Secondary Teachers, STEM/STEAM | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Your Budget as a Kingdom, Moral, and Eschatological Document | Simon Jeynes | Professional Practice | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Finance administrators and Board Trustees, Other - please specify | |
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Feedback, Engagement, and Wellbeing (FEW=JOY) | Jon Eckert | |||
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Evangelizing Catechesis in the Catholic School Classroom: Leading Students to Encounter the Risen Christ | Matthew Zinser | |||
| Block 4 | 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Art of Meaningful Feedback | Megan Majchrowicz Katelyn Zickler | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Friday, October 16, 2026 | ||||||
| 7:00 AM - 2:00 PM | Badge Pick Up | |||||
| Friday Keynote Block | 8:30 AM - 10:00 AM | KEYNOTE: Lead Where You Are | Joe Sanfelippo | Leadership | Educators: Elementary & Secondary | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Connecting Learning to God's Story | Darryl DeBoer | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | From Tasks to Meaning: Exploring New Ways to Assess and Engage Language Learners | Vanessa Abreu Cindy Korsmo Liz Vrooman | Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Proactive Safety: Building a People-Centered Security Culture in Faith-Based Schools | Jason Russell | Staff Well-Being | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Manipulatives: Not Just for Elementary | Pamela Litzenberger | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrative/support staff, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Beyond Unity: Practicing Christian Solidarity in a Polarized Age | Tia Gaines | Faith Formation | Middle School Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Brain Basics | Megan Majchrowicz Katelyn Zickler | Student Well-Being | Counselors, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Raising Wise Kids in a Sexually Broken World | Laurie Krieg | Faith Formation | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Parents | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Through the Lens: Telling Student Stories With Better Photos | Nicolle Malson Jaymie Perry | Operational Vitality | Media/Technology Specialists, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Understanding Autism Spectrum Disorder: Strategies for Building Belonging | Katie Kiser | Diverse Learners | Elementary Teachers, K-12 Support Services Staff, Other - please specify | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | When the Bible Comes Alive: Teaching Scripture Through the Lenses of Context | Eric Schrotenboer | Faith Formation | ||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Many Members, One Body: Leading Change Together | Jeremy Linne | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Pastor Session | Paul Stankewitz | |||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | The Four Cs of an Engaged Classroom: Christ, Communication, Control and Choice | Karla Hardies | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Great Debates in The Teachers' Lounge | Colleen McCoy-Cejka Jill Wierzbicki | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Book Buzz - Picture Books to Chapter Books | Tricia Kiepert Mary Jo Staal | Curriculum and Instruction | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Code Red: Safeguarding in the Age of AI | Heather McMurray Kelby Zenor | Student Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Media/Technology Specialists | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | "City-Wise Students"- A Leadership Development Program | Ashlee Eiland | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Teaching Learners with AI: Free REMC Tools for Every Classroom | Melinda Waffle | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | All Educators, Other - please specify | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Breaking Through the Noise: Communicating with Parents Effectively | Jason Crundwell | Operational Vitality | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Informed Stewardship: Using Data to Deepen Pastoral Care and Secure Your School's Future | Sarah Toepfer | Professional Practice | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Incorporating Music Composition in Ensembles | Xander Koops | Curriculum and Instruction | Music/Art Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Raising Happy Saints in a Distracted World | Sr. John Dominic Rasmussen, O.P.Sr. | Faith Formation | ||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Exploring the Predictive Power of Belonging for Flourishing | Jon Eckert Erik Ellefsen | Positive School and Classroom Climate | ||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Best Practices for Pastors Connected to MANS Member Schools | Paul Stankewitz | Positive School and Classroom Climate | ||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Building a Community of Readers: From Million Words Club to Battle of the Books | Amy Snodgrass | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Moments to Movements | Joe Sanfelippo | |||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | TALK, PLAY, READ, COUNT: Powerful Language, Literacy, and Mathematics Learning Across the Early Childhood Day SESSION 1 — BIG TALK, BIG IDEAS Growing Language, Vocabulary, Knowledge, and Thinking Through Play | Ellen Edmunds | Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Called to Gather: Creating Meaningful School Chapels | Julie Heldman | Faith Formation | Elementary Teachers, K-8th grade teachers primarily, Other - please specify | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | What If Your Imagination Is Part of God's Plan? | Stacy Hooker Troy Hooker | Faith Formation | Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Navigating Culture & Mission in Christian Schools | Robin Gomes | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Building Dialogue Brick by Brick: Using Legos to Construct Conversations That Matter | Ann Perez | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | All Are Welcome: Creating a Culture of Belonging | Christie Bonfiglio | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Educators: Elementary & Secondary, Other - please specify | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | Teaching the American Revolution Through Devotions | Jim Pingel | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 5 | 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM | AI tools for Teachers | John Sowash | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Concessions | |||||
| 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM | Friday Pre-paid Boxed Lunches | |||||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Bridging the Gap: Building Strategies for Cultivating Unity Through Civil Discourse and Cultural Humility | Tia Gaines | Professional Practice | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Lead Where You Are | Joe Sanfelippo | Leadership | ||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Is Your Board Bored? How to Go from Lifeless to Faith-Filled | Steve Bult Bult Tim Connor | Operational Vitality | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | 10 Tips for Sustainable Nonpublic Schools | Jill Wierzbicki | Operational Vitality | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | The Challenge of Keeping Kids in the Target Language for Spanish Immersion | Jenna Martinez | Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | TALK, PLAY, READ, COUNT: Powerful Language, Literacy, and Mathematics Learning Across the Early Childhood Day Session 2. PLAYING WITH WORDS, SOUNDS, AND PRINT ~ Building Early Reading and Writing Through Intentional, Joyful Learning | Ellen Edmunds | Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Strategies for Building a Digitally Well Culture | Christina Crook | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Media/Technology Specialists | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Integrating Classical Learning in the Modern Catholic School: Forming Minds, Hearts, and Virtues | Camille DeLano | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Sensory 101 | Lisa Dekker | Diverse Learners | Elementary Teachers, Other - please specify, Support Services Staff | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Bible Memory Made Fun: Sing, Move, and Memorize! | Amie Winningham | Faith Formation | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Solving the Reading Code: Practical Application of the Science of Reading | Vonda Morga | Curriculum and Instruction | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Teaching Writing in an AI World | John Sowash | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | When Students Don't: Is it Can't or Won't? | Christie Bonfiglio | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Made to create! Music creativity in all subjects | Xander Koops | Curriculum and Instruction | Music/Art Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | The "Third Teacher": The Learning Environment | Colleen McCoy-Cejka | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Rethinking Teacher Evaluation: Why We Get it Wrong and How to Make it Right | Brian Hazeltine | Professional Practice | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Building a Culture of Meaning and Mattering | Jim Pingel | Staff Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Habits of Resilience: Bounce Back | Megan Majchrowicz Katelyn Zickler | Student Well-Being | Counselors, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | AI in a Catholic School - Guidance and Policy. A Case Study. | Cormac Lynn | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | Elementary Teachers, Media / Technology, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Bringing the Science of Reading to Life Through FOSS | Jaime Leonard | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers, K-8th grade teachers primarily | ||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | How Leg-Lamp Humor Can Transform Your Work & Life | Quentin Schultze | Staff Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Pastor Luncheon | Paul Stankewitz | |||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Iron Sharpens Iron: Feedback That Forms Rather Than Shames | Jeremy Linne | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Heart and Mind: How the Bible Shapes Social-Emotional Learning | Sara Morgan Robin Gomes | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Early Childhood, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Beyond the Fidget Spinner: What Actually Works for Elementary ADHD | Miranda Talley | Diverse Learners | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Learning Differences | Mindy English | Diverse Learners | Counselors, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | MTSS Applied | Sr. John Dominic Rasmussen, O.P.Sr. | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Middle School Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | More Courses, No Added Costs: Unlocking Michigan's Shared Time Opportunity for Your Students | Michael Dahlinger | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Math Beyond the Textbook | Cindy Dickinson | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Managing the Middles | Pamela Litzenberger | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 6 | 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM | Effective Formative Assessment for Learning | Darryl DeBoer | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Making History His Story: History Instruction in Christian Schools | Steve Vaughan | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Doing the Work With One Another: Systems That Honor People and Purpose | Lauren Berkley | Staff Well-Being | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Transportation that Enables Enrollment | Eric Petersen | Operational Vitality | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Accessing Secular Grants as a Private School | Jeremy Linne | Operational Vitality | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Advanced Google Gemini for teachers | John Sowash | Technology Integration and Digital Trends | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Combining Musical Excellence and Biblical Integration in the K–5 Music Classroom | Graham Hepburn | Curriculum and Instruction | Elementary Teachers, Music/Art Teachers | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | From PD to Practice: Turning Professional Learning Into Lasting Instructional Change | Jaymee Thompson | Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Successful Retirement through a Faith Based Plan | Jonathan Wenzl | Staff Well-Being | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Retirement: Putting the Markets in Context | Andrew Marino | Staff Well-Being | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Building for the Next Generation: A Mission-Driven Approach to Facility Projects | Marcel VanderLaan Brian Koetje Max Nykerk | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Board Members, Directors of Advancement, Finance administrators and Board Trustees | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Christian Apologetics: Building Resilient Faith | Matthew Topel | Faith Formation | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Moving the Needle on Student Engagement: Leadership Strategies that Shift Ownership. | Dr. Kristine Malik | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 6 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | TALK, PLAY, READ, COUNT: Powerful Language, Literacy, and Mathematics Learning Across the Early Childhood Day SESSION 3 — LITTLE LEARNERS, BIG MATHEMATICAL THINKING: Building Number Sense, Reasoning, and Problem Solving Through Play | Ellen Edmunds | Curriculum and Instruction | Early Childhood | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Engaging the Disengagement Dilemma | Christie Bonfiglio | Positive School and Classroom Climate | Elementary Teachers, Secondary Teachers | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | From the Classroom to the Command Center: How Unified Technology Protects Students and Powers Michigan Schools | Mitch Kimball | Operational Vitality | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Help! Our campaign is killing the annual fund. How to win at both! | Steve Bult Bult Tim Connor | Operational Vitality | Administrative/support staff, Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | How Trauma Informed Principles Can Encourage Children’s Faith Stories | Linda Rubingh | Faith Formation | Counselors, Elementary Teachers | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | From Calling to Craft: Forming Teachers Who Transform Learning | Janorise' Robinson | Curriculum and Instruction | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Mission, Vision, Values: Leaders and Boards As Stewards of Culture | Christopher Mominey | Leadership | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Board Members | |
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Leading with Empathy: Elevating the Spanish Immersion Teacher Experience | Pilar Vanderstelt | Curriculum and Instruction | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Together as One: What If There’s More to the Story? | Melanie Zwyghuizen | Positive School and Classroom Climate | ||
| Block 7 | 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM | Multi-Sensory Learning in Early Intervention | Mindy English | Curriculum and Instruction | Early Childhood | |
| Block 7 | 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM | The Next Chapter in Christian Education | Erik Ellefsen Ben Dirksen | Operational Vitality | Administrators/Presidents/School Leaders, Other - please specify | |