Session #8
8:30am - 9:00am PST
9:30am - 10:00am MST
10:30am - 11:00am CST
11:30am - 12:00pm EST
Main Room 1
How OpenAI Sees K12
Sam Canning-Kaplan
K-12 Education Lead @ OpenAI
Participants will hear directly from OpenAI (maker of ChatGPT) via Sam Canning-Kaplan, who will share emerging thoughts on how schools should be thinking about AI, how OpenAI views K12, and what our shared future looks like.
Breakout Room 2
Leading with AI: How Administrators can Leverage
Mr. Alonzo McAdoo & Dr. Nancy Dominguez
Executive Director of Secondary Education @ Waco ISD and Assistant Principal @ Mart ISD
In today’s fast-evolving educational landscape, administrators must harness the power of artificial intelligence to streamline operations, enhance decision-making, and improve overall school efficiency.
Breakout Room 3
Write Smarter, Not Harder: The Power of Effective AI Prompting
Karen & Ben Roeck
Director of Learning and Grade 7 Student @ Heritage Christian Online School
This session will feature a teacher-student team demonstrating how a reluctant writer can use generative AI as a writing support to increase stamina and the enjoyment of the writing process. Attendees will engage in an interactive workshop where a middle school student will demonstrate how he is learning to write paragraphs using effective AI prompts as a universal support tool. Discover how AI can enhance writing skills, engagement, and student autonomy in your classroom!
Breakout Room 4
Demonstrating Thinking in the Chat: Modeling Ethical AI Use for Students
Mike Kentz
Founder @ Zainetek Educational Advisors
Participants will learn about a method for modeling ethical and effective AI use for students and hear stories about how this has been implemented with success in classrooms. Participants will also learn how this method can be used for faculty learning and professional development to further discussions around ethical AI use at schools.
Breakout Room 5
Scaffolding Student-Facing AI into Your Classroom
Aaron Makelky
World History Instructor @ Kelly Walsh High School and AI Integration Consultant @ Aaron Makelky.com Consulting
This session will equip attendees with a simple plan to implement students facing generative AI tools in their classrooms. This session is for those who work with students age 13 and above. We will navigate the process of evaluating and creating effective policy around student AI use, skills that students need to build in order to effectively use AI, which tools are best to implement, and many examples of student activities, research, writing, and assessments that incorporate student AI use.
Breakout Room 6
fobizz: a holistic approach to AI in education
Ksenia Sokolyanskaya
Head of International Expansion @ fobizz
Katharina Cordes
Content Director @ fobizz
fobizz is the leading platform in continental Europe dedicated to professional development and digital tools for educators. Aiming to advance digital progress in educational institutions, fobizz provides a wide range of practice-oriented online courses and intuitive digital tools. With a strong emphasis on AI, the platform equips educators with the resources needed to understand and integrate this technology into their teaching, and helps explore AI with their students in a secure environment.
Session #9
9:15am - 10:15am PST
10:15am - 11:15am MST
11:15am - 12:15pm CST
12:15pm - 1:15pm EST
Main Room 1
Opening Keynote: The Bionic Educator
Eric Curts
Technology Integration Specialist @ SPARCC
Will technology ever replace a teacher? Who (or what) is the best educator in the world? The answer may surprise you. Learn about the amazing rise of artificial intelligence and other new technologies that are impacting education. See what you can do to be the best educator you can be, and how your students can be the best learners they can be.
Session #10
10:30am - 11:30am PST
11:30am - 12:30pm MST
12:30pm - 1:30pm CST
1:30pm - 2:30pm EST
Main Room 1
AI 101: Generative AI in the Classroom
Amber Berry
Vice President of AI and Strategy @ Middle States Association (MSA)
This session will provide practical, hands-on strategies to streamline your workflow while enriching student learning, You will:
- Understand AI fundamentals—break down key concepts
- Practice AI-powered prompt engineering—learn to get the results using personas
- Enhance your workflow efficiency—leverage AI to create, assist, and strategize
This is your opportunity to ask questions about the capabilities of generative AI to build your efficacy and efficiency in and out of the classroom.
Breakout Room 2
Improving Data-Driven Decision Making through Computational Thinking and AI
Ashlee Russell
Educator @ Cumberland County Schools and AI Consultant @ AI Learning Central
This session will share how computational thinking and AI can support better data-driven decision making. Ideas such as decomposition, pattern recognition, algorithms, data storytelling, and abstraction are all key components of computational thinking, and when combined with AI, can expand actionable insights from existing data sets. This session will provide strategies for educators to make more informed and improved data-driven decisions by applying components of computational thinking and AI.
Breakout Room 3
Fewer Tears, More Cheers: Smart AF Tools for Stressed AF Teachers
Michaela Arabia
ELA & History Teacher, Self-Taught AI & Digital Tools Specialist, and Life Long Learner @ St. Juliana Falconieri School - Diocese of Orange
This session will help you ditch the ‘Sunday scaries’ and take back your time with ready-to-use templates and game-changing AI tools. We’ll cover lesson planning, behavior tracking, differentiation, and more—so you can work smarter, not harder. Expect hands-on demos, real-talk strategies, and practical takeaways that actually make teaching easier. No fluff, no extra work—just tools to help you survive (and maybe even thrive) in this wild career. Let’s make AI work for you.
Breakout Room 4
AI Thinking Skills for Our Youngest Learners
Amber Melander
Computer Science Teacher, AI Specialist, and Elementary Robotics Coach @ Patrick Elementary/Gwinnett County Public Schools
This session will deliver a crash course in how AI works at a basic level. Attendees will use this knowledge to look at why teaching students AI thinking skills is vital to their future. They will then explore how to teach K-5 students the thinking skills they will need to be conscientious consumers and careful creators of future technology. During this time, attendees will explore four critical areas of AI literacy: data analysis, computational thinking, ethics, and collaborative learning.
Breakout Room 5
Demystifying AI: AI Literacy Essentials for Educators and Learners
Lindy Hockenbary
Instructional Technology Advisor @ InTECHgrated PD
Let’s embark on an interactive journey to take AI from complex and intimidating to manageable and empowering. In this session, we will demystify AI literacy and the fundamentals of AI, making these concepts accessible for all educators through activities that you can repeat with your learners. You will leave with foundational knowledge and practical strategies for using AI to empower both yourself and your learners.
Breakout Room 6
Leveraging AI to Support Small Group Learning with 3rd Grade Math Students
Sandra Metzger
Learning Solution Architect @ Inspired Pathways Group
Jessica Foster
Teacher
This session presents a case study on how generative AI was leveraged to address an urgent challenge: reducing the manual workload for teachers by streamlining assessment analysis, groupings, and lesson planning for 3rd-grade small group math instruction. The session will also discuss key challenges, lessons learned, and future opportunities for integrating generative AI into elementary education.
Session #11
11:40am - 12:10pm PST
12:40pm - 1:10pm MST
1:40pm - 2:10pm CST
2:40pm - 3:10pm EST
Main Room 1
Rethinking Assessments in the AI-Driven Future
Alana Winnick
Educational Technology Director @ Pocantico Hills CSD
Generative AI is transforming the way students engage with learning, forcing educators to rethink the design, purpose, and assessment of assignments. If AI can generate essays, solve equations, and even create artwork in seconds, what are we really asking students to do—and why? This session explores how to shift from traditional rote-learning tasks to assignments that foster critical thinking, creativity, and authentic problem-solving.
Breakout Room 2
Transforming Curriculum Rollout with AI Assistants
Jarrah Latz
Instructional Coach @ Ovid-Elsie Area Schools
Ksenia Sokolyanskaya
Head of International Expansion @ fobizz
Explore how AI Assistants (chatbots/GPTs) can revolutionize curriculum rollout in schools. Discover their role in aiding the creation of lesson plans, teaching materials, and even tutoring students. We’ll showcase a successful case from Ovid Elsie Area Schools, where AI tools from fobizz streamlined and enhanced the deployment of a new reading curriculum. This session will also include a hands-on demonstration for creating custom AI Assistants, offering practical insights for educators.
Breakout Room 3
Using AI to Check for Understanding
Peter Paccone
Advocate for Teacher and Student Use of AI @ SMUSD
My entire career, I’ve heard administrators and presenters stress the importance of checking for understanding after videos, activities, and readings. Hold them accountable, I was told. That’s what good teachers do. Yet, creating effective questions, generating multiple versions, and providing immediate feedback has always been a challenge. In this session, teachers will learn how AI-driven platforms like Class Companion streamline this process, making assessments faster and more effective.
Breakout Room 4
Scratch Copilot: Supporting Youth Creative Coding with AI
Stefania Druga
Research Scientist @ Google Research
Join us for an introductory workshop exploring Scratch Copilot, a novel AI-powered assistant designed for Scratch learners. In this hands-on session, you’ll:
- Discover Scratch Copilot: Learn how the tool and how it works via hands-on projects
- Learn how students use it: See firsthand how Scratch Copilot helped students overcome coding hurdles and bring their imaginative projects to life in our evaluation studies.
- Brainstorm Classroom Applications
Breakout Room 5
AI To Optimize and Increase Funding in Districts
Jeremy Bhatia
CEO/Founder @ Eddi
In this session districts learn how they can leverage AI to improve processes, report completion, grant application and management. Through an immersive session leaders learn about the latest in AI technologies and how they can be leveraged to increase and optimize funds in their district.
Session #12
12:20pm - 12:50pm PST
1:20pm - 1:50pm MST
2:20pm - 2:50pm CST
3:20pm - 3:50pm EST
Main Room 1
AI in Education: From Pilot to Practice in K12 Classrooms
Maurie Beasley
CEO/Co-Founder @ AI Education Professionals and Network/System Administrator @ Llano ISD
Jim Beasley
Co-founder and CTO @ AI Education Professionals
This session will highlight our experience and AI’s role in solving real-world K12 challenges. We’ll explore AI adoption in education, and engagement, present a common issue (e.g., differentiation), and guide participants in brainstorming AI-powered solutions. Attendees will leave with simple, actionable AI strategies and insights on implementation, ethics, and overcoming challenges.
Breakout Room 2
The AI Enhanced Book Cover
Mark McNeil
Library Media Specialist @ Sarah W. Gibbons Middle School
This session will present an AI-supported ELA lesson where students act as book publishing editors, using Canva’s image generators to create and evaluate genre-specific book covers. They analyze how visuals convey genre, compare AI-generated options, and justify their choices. The activity enhances literary analysis, digital literacy, and design thinking while prompting discussions on AI in creativity. Educators will leave with a ready-to-use lesson and practical implementation tips.
Breakout Room 3
Scaling AI in Elementary Education: From Introduction to Transformation
Thea Clark
Elementary Instructional Technology Coach @ Frederick County Public Schools
Emily Turner
Third Grade Teacher @ Frederick County Public Schools
Jill Savory
Art Teacher @ Frederick County Public Schools
This session will shine a spotlight on the transformative journey of introducing AI to elementary teachers and scaling the initiatives district-wide. We’ll walk through the story of how sparking interest in AI among a handful of elementary teachers eventually blossomed into a district-wide movement. This workshop aims to provide practical insights and actionable strategies to educators at multiple levels.
Breakout Room 4
Saving Time, Driving Change: AI for Modern School Leadership
Sally Philbrick
School Operations Director
This session will focus on how AI can enhance communication for school leaders, improving interactions with parents, teachers, and staff. Participants will explore AI-powered tools that streamline messaging, provide insights, and support clear, effective dialogue. Learn how to save time, strengthen relationships, and foster a more connected school community while driving positive change.
Breakout Room 5
AI for Absolute Beginners - Quick and Easy Starts
Jon Corippo
Global Educator @ EduProtocols
There are new AI tools hitting the market daily, and we (largely) know this is the new way. But educators sometimes need a SPECIFIC way to enter the game. Sometimes too many choices is the worst possible answer. Jon Corippo is going to share some things educators can do with AI on a RIGHT NOW basis. These are quick hitters, things an educator can do to see the energy that happens in class when kids have modern tools. Join this session for 4-6 things you can do to get on the AI train today!
Session #13
1:00pm - 2:00pm PST
2:00pm - 3:00pm MST
3:00pm - 4:00pm CST
4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
Main Room 1
Students for Innovation: Empowering Schools to Embrace AI (STUDENT PANEL)
Students for Innovation
AI is rapidly transforming the educational landscape, and students are at the forefront of this evolution. Students for Innovation is a movement dedicated to amplifying student voices and equipping schools with the tools and mindset needed to embrace AI-driven change. In this session, discover how empowering students as advocates, creators, and problem-solvers can drive meaningful AI integration in education.
Breakout Room 2
Debugging Creativity and Imagination: The Fusion of AI and Writing
Marina Pisto
3rd General Education Teacher @ Pocantico Hills Central School
This session will explore how generative AI enhances creative writing through prompt engineering, allowing students to transform text into AI-generated images. Participants will engage in “debugging” prompts, fostering creativity and critical thinking. A case study will showcase student work and outcomes. The session concludes with strategies for integrating AI into writing instruction, supporting revision and engagement, especially for reluctant writers.
Breakout Room 3
Empowering SEL through AI
Larisa Black
AI Literacy Coordinator @ Teach Wise AI and Science Teacher @ South Carolina Connections Academy
This session will introduce the fundamentals of Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) and demonstrate how AI tools can be harnessed to foster empathy, collaboration, and critical thinking. Participants will explore real-world examples and gain practical strategies to seamlessly integrate AI-driven SEL into daily lessons, enhancing overall classroom engagement and student well-being.
Breakout Room 4
Amplifying Student Success using Actionable AI Tools
Joe Marquez
Instructional Technology TOSA @ Clovis Unified School District
Dive into the practical applications of AI in education! This session goes beyond the hype to showcase powerful AI tools transforming classrooms today. Gain hands-on experience with AI tools that streamline workflows, personalize learning, and foster creativity. Leave empowered to harness AI’s potential for student success. Our session highlights the power of AI tools to personalize learning and provide effective immediate feedback for students learning.
Session #14
2:15pm - 2:45pm PST
3:15pm - 3:45pm MST
4:15pm - 4:45pm CST
5:15pm - 5:45pm EST
Main Room 1
Closing
Team Evergreen
Join us as we close two incredible days of learning and celebrate the incredible insights shared at Sequoia Con 2025!