26 ACSA North State PD Conference

Thriving schools address learning gaps by strengthening instructional systems rather than layering isolated interventions. This session supports district and school leaders in navigating the realities of today’s schools through coherent, sustainable instructional planning. Participants will actively examine learning progressions and cross-grade coherence to identify instructional priorities and coherent pathways across grade levels. Leaders will explore how aligned instruction and targeted supports inform decisions related to intervention, pacing, and resource allocation. Participants will leave with a leadership lens for building scalable practices that promote instructional coherence, equity, and long-term student success.

This year at NCS we focused on instruction through Hattie's Visible Learning meta study in order to deprivatize classroom practices, to increase teachers' skillset, to move our staff towards collective efficacy. We believe these Learning Walks will increase teacher confidence, capacity, and skillsets thereby making our leadership positions sustainable. We also believe these learning walks will increase teacher efficacy and also make teaching positions sustainable. We believe that teachers will stay in the profession long term if they love what they do, feel confident, and know they are having a positive impact on students. This presentation takes participants through our journey in order to learn and even replicate our process.

In this hands-on session, leaders will be guided through the 4 dimensions of AI Leadership: an educator roadmap for strategic implementation at the school or district level. Learn from a practicing educational leader who has navigated this journey firsthand, sharing real challenges, successes, and lessons learned. Participants will explore research-based strategies and equitable practices while examining organizational barriers and opportunities. Through guided activities, participants will complete an AI readiness assessment and identify their organization's current state. Leaders will leave with a strategic implementation plan and 90-day getting started guide—including actionable steps, resources to support staff, and tools to ensure inclusive adoption.

In an age of constant demands and digital distractions, productivity can feel like a race against time. This session introduces Anne-Laure Le Cunff’s neuroscience-informed Tiny Experiments framework—a practical approach that replaces rigid goals and perfectionism with small, intentional steps. Participants will learn to design experiments that reveal their most effective rhythms, reframe procrastination as valuable feedback, and embrace imperfection as a catalyst for innovation. Discover strategies to identify cognitive and emotional patterns, test what works best, and foster a culture of curiosity and reflection that empowers educators and leaders to achieve sustainable, meaningful progress.