Empower EDU

Educators often juggle the demands of lesson planning, differentiation, and productivity—leaving little time to design fresh resources for every learning need. Enter Gemini Gems: a powerful AI tool that allows teachers to build reusable templates and tap into premade Gems for instructional and organizational support.This interactive session will have participants explore how Gems can streamline productivity while unlocking opportunities for differentiation. Users will generate task cards and rubrics to customize premade Gems, such as Storybook, for multiple reading levels, and attendees will discover practical ways to adapt content for diverse learners with just a few clicks. Whether creating reusable planning templates, engaging student choice boards, or quick formative assessments, Gems offer a flexible, time-saving solution for the classroom.Participants will leave with hands-on experiences exploring Premade Gems, designing their own Gem, and strategies for tailoring Gems to meet student needs. Before they leave, participants will have a collection of ready-to-use ideas that can be adapted across grade levels and subject areas.

Discover the power of Self-Directed Learning (SDL) to boost student engagement! Based on units developed in the Innovation Cohort, this interactive session walks you through a model SDL lesson. You’ll step into your students' shoes to experience a guided self-assessment and an abbreviated choice board, learning firsthand how these tools empower students to take ownership of their learning paths. Along the way, we’ll break down our pedagogical design choices and share real classroom observations demonstrating the significant spike in engagement we’ve seen since bringing SDL into our own rooms.

We all want to create a classroom that is engaging while also maintaining behaviors that allow for learning. Love and Logic is the perfect method to get this done. In this session, participants will be introduced to tried-and-true methods that can be implemented in the classroom tomorrow. They will have an opportunity to practice these methods as well as work to update/change their classroom rules and procedures to better align with this methodology.

In this session, we’ll explore how school leaders can leverage digital tools such as Curriculum Genie, CommonLit, and Project PBL to support microcredentialing and strengthen teacher capacity in differentiation across core subject areas. Aligned with our school-wide PDP goal of differentiation, participants will learn how to guide and encourage teachers as they earn targeted microcredentials that recognize their growth in designing personalized and engaging learning experiences for every student.We’ll also highlight how strategies like brag tags can motivate staff, celebrate progress, and create a culture where professional growth is visible and valued. Participants will leave with practical ideas, digital resources, and practical strategies to implement microcredentialing within their schools—empowering teachers to refine their practice while making professional learning engaging, meaningful, and impactful.