EDUCON is a premier educational showcase and learning opportunity for teachers, principals, and district leaders. Participants will have the opportunity to choose breakout sessions led by school districts from across the Central Kentucky region and beyond. You will not just come away with a good idea or two; you will gain an abundance of great ideas and best practices that you can immediately apply in your classroom, school, or district.
Breakout Session Strands: Your chance to focus on a particular area of interest throughout the conference or explore a broader span! 1. Academics & Instructional Best Practices 2. AI & Technology 3. Systemic School Supports 4. Career Exploration & Future Focused Opportunities
We’re proud to announce our keynote speakers: On Day 1, Jimmy Casas, nationally recognized educator and author of Culturize and Day 2, Horacio Sanchez, renowned expert on resilience and brain-based learning. Both will deliver powerful messages to inspire and equip educators to lead with purpose, compassion, and innovation..
Daily Schedule 7:45 am Registration and Vendor Hall opens 8:30 am Welcome & Keynote Speaker 10:30 am -11:30 am Breakout Sessions 12:00 pm -1:00 pm Lunch break 1:15 pm -2:15 pm Breakout Sessions 2:30 pm -3:30 pm Breakout Sessions
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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.
