Central Kentucky EDUCON

Transitioning from traditional instruction to Project-Based Learning (PBL) is a journey, not a quick trip. It requires creativity, innovation, and a desire to go beyond conventional ways. At Southside Elementary, we are in our second year of our Project-Based Learning journey… past the initial “why” and fully immersed in navigating the practical realities of the “how.” This session offers a transparent look at our path toward authentic, inquiry-driven instruction, including the intentional choices that turned big ideas into classroom practice.

Participants will explore our tiered approach to implementation, highlighting the logistical shifts required to support both teachers and students at different stages of the journey. We will share challenges we encountered, moments that required recalibration, and the intentional strategies we used to maintain forward momentum.

A featured destination along our PBL route is our partnership with local government to design the city’s first-ever official flag, offering an example of meaningful community collaboration and managing high-stakes with real-world outcomes. At the same time, we recognize that not every project needs to be a landmark event. Attendees will also learn how we prioritize “everyday PBL,” designing smaller, sustainable projects that build student agency without extensive external logistics.

Whether you are preparing for departure or navigating the complexities of the journey once you’re underway, this session offers practical frameworks, honest reflection, and creative ideas to sustain the journey of PBL over time. Join us to see how we transformed challenges into a clear roadmap for student success, one adventure at a time.

Prepping with Purpose: Unit Internalization in Action highlights Pulaski County Schools’ intentional approach to strengthening Tier I instruction through high-quality instructional resources (HQIR). This session explores how strategic partnerships with i-Ready (math) and SchoolKit (reading) support effective unit internalization, grounded in aligned professional learning and coaching. Participants will gain insight into our journey, key practices, and lessons learned as we work to improve the integrity of implementation and ensure rigorous, coherent instruction for all students.

Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the educational landscape, but many educators are still asking the same questions: Where do I start? How can I use AI responsibly? And how can it actually improve teaching and learning? In this engaging breakout session, participants will explore practical strategies for integrating AI tools into today’s classroom in meaningful and manageable ways.

Ironically—and intentionally—AI helped design this session. Together, we will examine how educators can leverage AI to streamline lesson planning, personalize learning, enhance student creativity, and support differentiated instruction while maintaining academic integrity and ethical practices.

Whether you are brand new to AI or already experimenting with it, this session will provide clear entry points, actionable strategies, and inspiration to help you confidently bring AI into your classroom.

Come see how AI can become a collaborative partner in your teaching—not a replacement, but a powerful support.

This session highlights how Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathways can be intentionally designed and expanded to support student engagement, career readiness, and postsecondary success across grades 6–12. Participants will explore how early exposure in middle school builds awareness and interest, while high school programs provide industry-aligned coursework, credentials, and hands-on learning experiences.
The session will examine effective practices for:

• Aligning CTE pathways across grade bands
• Expanding student access and equity
• Connecting coursework to real-world careers, workforce needs, and postsecondary options
• Leveraging partnerships with local industries, ATCs, and community stakeholders

Attendees will leave with strategies to strengthen CTE programming, improve student outcomes, and ensure learners graduate with the skills, experiences, and credentials needed for success in college, career, or military pathways.

Scott County Schools has strengthened family engagement within the ESL student population through the creation of the ESL Academy. This initiative intentionally connects families to the school system while also leveraging community partnerships to provide meaningful support beyond the classroom. The ESL Academy is designed to remove language and cultural barriers by delivering content in families’ home languages, empowering caregivers to better understand academic expectations, school processes, and available resources. During this session, participants will learn how purposeful family partnerships, culturally responsive communication, and community collaboration can increase trust, participation, and student success for multilingual learners and their families.

Discussing behavior situations that have occurred over the years, and how admin and teachers work to create sweet solutions for students with IEPs and 504 plans. 

Free Professional Headshots at EDUCON 2026! 📸
Upgrade your professional presence with a complimentary professional headshot at EDUCON!
📅 Date: June 10, 2026
🕥 Time: 10:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Whether you're refreshing your LinkedIn or prepping for your next career move, don't miss this opportunity. Spots are limited – signup is required!

This session will share how our elementary school successfully implemented the Ron Clark House System to create a culture of engagement, accountability, and academic growth. Participants will explore how our school adapted the system to promote student motivation, collaboration, and achievement in reading and math. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to establish a house system in their own schools, including ways to connect character education, school-wide behavior expectations, and data-driven interventions.

What does it look like to use AI as a partner in lesson planning and learning design? AI is often discussed as a disruptive force in education. However, its greatest potential lies in how it can strengthen proven instructional practices. Referencing John Hattie’s Visible Learning, this session explores how AI can be used to amplify high-impact strategies.

Participants will experience practical demonstrations of AI supporting instruction, engagement and coaching. The session emphasizes classroom-appropriate uses of AI that save time, enhance clarity and support deeper thinking and learning. Attendees will leave with practical strategies, suggestions for implementation and resources.

The Boyle County Sports Network (BCSN) is a student-powered media initiative that brings athletic events to life while developing real-world skills in broadcasting, storytelling, and digital production.
Participants will learn about program structure, student roles and responsibilities, equipment needs, training, and workflows. Content shared will include how to get building and community support, create consistent branding, and use live production as a platform for student leadership opportunities. 
Get a behind-the-scenes look at how this program has become a staple for our community. Whether you are just getting started or looking to refine an existing program, this session will provide practical insights and takeaways to help build or strengthen your content delivery, all while giving students real-world opportunities and vibrant learning experiences.

How does a district or school move from good intentions to measurable impact—starting in year one?
This breakout session is designed for district and school administrators seeking a clear, systemic approach to building sustainable district or school level supports. Participants will explore how to establish foundational structures that support David Young's Measurable Results standards work.

The session will walk leaders through a year-one roadmap, including how to:

• Identify and align districtwide instructional promises
• Build a structured system for K-12 standards work
• Provide supportive tools including a digital handbook and Measurable Results hub
• Establish a quality control process to refine the work

Attendees will leave with practical tools and implementation strategies that can be immediately applied in their schools or districts—ensuring supports of Measurable Results success.

Intended Audience: District leaders, principals, assistant principals, and instructional leadership teams

How can a rural school district turn a vision for student success into meaningful classroom practice? In this session, educators from Washington County Schools will share how they are bringing their Profile of a Graduate to life across their district. Participants will explore how a rural district can leverage strong community connections, dedicated educators, and intentional planning to align instruction, learning experiences, and student opportunities with the skills and dispositions outlined in their graduate profile.
This session will highlight practical strategies Washington County has used to move from vision to implementation, including building staff understanding, embedding graduate competencies into instruction, and creating authentic learning experiences that prepare students for college, careers, and life in their community.
Participants will learn:

• How Washington County Schools developed and communicated their Profile of a Graduate
• Strategies for embedding graduate competencies into daily instruction and student experiences
• Ways rural districts can leverage community partnerships to support student success
• Lessons learned and next steps in sustaining district-wide implementation

Attendees will leave with ideas and practical strategies for translating a Profile of a Graduate from a framework on paper into a shared vision that shapes teaching, learning, and student outcomes in a rural district. 🌾🎓

Structures and supports for building a high-functioning PSR system. 

This session examines how district administrators can strategically use data to guide principals in making informed, effective school-level decisions. Participants will explore how to analyze and synthesize multiple data sources to identify districtwide trends, support targeted principal coaching, and align resources with school needs. The session emphasizes the district’s role in fostering coherent data practices, leading purposeful data conversations, and building principals’ capacity to translate data into instructional action. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to strengthen principal leadership, promote consistency across schools, and advance equitable student outcomes.

Kentucky’s vision for vibrant learning calls on schools to create learning experiences students want to be part of—but many educators are still asking, What does vibrant learning actually look like, and how do we support it without adding one more initiative?

In this interactive 45-minute session, participants will explore KASC’s practical approach to Vibrant Learning, grounded in Kentucky’s United We Learn vision and built around a simple, memorable framework: Thinking, Meaning, and Ownership (TMO). Designed for both teachers and school leaders, the session provides a shared language for recognizing, designing, and supporting vibrant learning experiences already happening in classrooms.

Through brief reflection and collaborative activities, participants will experience how TMO helps identify learning that requires deep thinking, holds meaning for students, and empowers student ownership. The session emphasizes that vibrant learning is not a program to implement, but a lens for strengthening instruction, aligning initiatives, and connecting daily practice to Portrait of a Learner competencies and accountability expectations.

Teachers will leave with practical ways to make lessons more vibrant without starting from scratch, while school leaders will gain clarity on how to build shared understanding and support implementation across their schools. This session models vibrant learning while helping participants see how it fits seamlessly into the work they are already doing.

This session will highlight how Looker Studio is being used to streamline and strengthen data analysis at the district, school, and classroom levels. Participants will see how multiple data sources—including KSA, STAR, progress monitoring, ACT, post-secondary readiness, bubble students, ELL data, and school climate and safety indicators—are brought together into clear, user-friendly dashboards.

Participants will leave with ready-to-use templates and practical examples to help their schools begin implementing Looker Studio as a powerful tool for turning data into meaningful action.

In Campbell County Schools, we believe graduates must leave with more than strong academic skills—they must be ready for the world that awaits them.
Our intentionally designed PK–12 career pathway approach ensures students are exposed to, explore, and experience diverse opportunities aligned to both their interests and the regional workforce demand. This journey begins in kindergarten, where students are introduced to career concepts through early career clubs and activities. In middle school, career exploration is embedded in encore courses, allowing students to discover areas of interest while developing foundational skills. By high school, students actively engage in their chosen pathways through dual credit, Advanced Placement coursework, internships, and other immersive learning experiences. We have aligned our career pathways to reflect both high-demand local industries and student interest. Data from the YouScience aptitude and interest survey helps us schedule courses, guide experiences, and match students with opportunities that align with their strengths. Throughout every pathway, students apply the competencies from our district’s Profile of a Graduate—becoming effective communicators, collaborators, critical thinkers, resilient learners, and individuals fully prepared for their own unique next step.
This presentation will share how intentional alignment across grade levels, coupled with real-world partnerships and robust student data, creates a system where every graduate leaves not only academically accomplished, but also equipped with the skills, experiences, and confidence to thrive in their future.

This interactive session provides a clear and practical understanding of autism in the classroom. Participants will explore communication differences, sensory needs, and behavior as communication while learning simple, effective strategies they can use immediately. Attendees will build confidence in supporting students with autism in meaningful and respectful ways.

Most accountability systems measure learning on a single day with a single score. They tell us who performed well, but not who is truly ready.
Fleming County Schools decided to redesign the system from the inside out.
“The Unicorn Project” shares how our district aligned instruction, assessment, and accountability into one coherent model grounded in two anchors: our Instructional Model built around Five Areas of Focus and our Vibrant Ecosystem Model that connects learning, culture, outcomes, and community. Instead of isolated initiatives, everything works as one system.
Accountability shifts from single-day points to compelling evidence collected over time. Growth shows progress. Mastery shows standards-based learning. Readiness shows transfer through authentic tasks, performance assessments, and real-world application. Reporting makes learning visible through clear, stakeholder-friendly dashboards that signal direction rather than just scores.
Participants will see how performance-based assessments, student portfolios, and local measures create a more accurate picture of student readiness while still honoring state requirements.
This session is not theory or aspiration. It is a practical framework currently in use across a rural Kentucky district.
Attendees will leave with templates and tools to design their own local accountability approach that measures what truly matters.