🌍🔎 Welcome to the 2025 Academic Innovation Conference! 🔎🌍
“Where in the World...?”
Welcome, education trailblazers, to a conference unlike any other—where we set out on a high-stakes global mission to transform our classrooms into communities for the future! 🌎✨
Just like the legendary Carmen Sandiego, our students are on an adventure—but instead of searching for stolen treasures, they are discovering knowledge, cultures, digital tools, and opportunities that prepare them to be true global citizens. The question is: How do we equip them with the tools to navigate and thrive in an ever-changing world? That’s where YOU come in!
Over the course of this conference, we’ll decode the mysteries of innovation, track down best practices from around the globe, and unlock the strategies that will empower our students to think critically, collaborate across cultures, and make meaningful contributions—no matter where their journey takes them.
So, grab your thinking caps and passports, because together, we are about to embark on an educational expedition that ensures our students do not just ask where in the world they belong—but boldly go out and shape it through citizenship.
Explore the transformative power of global learning and join us for an informative session on the Global Leaders Teacher Fellowship, an experience designed to help educators cultivate global leadership in their classrooms. Participants will learn about the Global Leaders Teacher Fellowship, its scope, and its impact on cultivating global leadership in classrooms. Participants will explore inspiring stories from past fellows and explore key components of the Global Leaders framework.
Director of Partnership Development, Participate Learning
Freebird McKinney is a Village Teacher and a Global Educator. It is his calling and his purpose. As the 2018 North Carolina State Teacher of the Year, he had the honor of inspiring countless young men and women inside and outside of the classroom, both in public high schools (for... Read More →
Program Manager | Strategy Coach, Participate Learning
Caroline Baker serves as a Global Leaders Strategy Coach at Participate Learning, where she partners with schools to implement the Global Leaders framework, fostering globally-minded students and strengthening leadership across the school community. With a background as a special education teacher and a passion for action-driven learning, Caroline specializes in hel... Read More →
Global Leaders Strategy Coach, Participate Learning
Jamie Fernandez-Schendt is a Global Leaders Strategy Coach at Participate Learning, where he supports schools in utilizing the Global Leaders framework to cultivate globally-minded students and foster leadership across the school community in alignment with their school improvement priorities. With over a decade of experience in public education, Jamie specializes... Read More →
Wednesday June 11, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT Global Citizenship RCOE Room 229Reich College of Education Building, College Street, Boone, NC, USA
Life long learning is the pathway to economic citizenship, and educational attainment is the driver of prosperous futures for our students. Educators prepare students for this journey. Collaborate with colleagues to examine myFutureNC data profiles, learn more about the education to workforce continuum, and develop experiential learning strategies to connect students to the economic life of your community.
Attendees are encouraged to bring a digital device, such as a laptop.
Dr. Kim Case Kim's 34 year career in public education began at the classroom level where she gained practical experience in engaging students – particularly young adolescents – in learning, life, and leadership. Her desire to impact student outcomes has been the driving force... Read More →
Wednesday June 11, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT Economic Citizenship RCOE Room 134Reich College of Education Building, College Street, Boone, NC, USA
"AI in the Classroom – Practical Applications" is a professional development session designed to equip educators with actionable strategies for integrating artificial intelligence into their teaching practices. This session will explore AI-powered tools that enhance lesson planning, personalize student learning, streamline grading, and support classroom management. Participants will engage in hands-on demonstrations and discussions on ethical considerations, practical implementation, and the future of AI in education. Whether new to AI or looking to expand its use, educators will leave with concrete ideas and resources to enrich their classrooms with AI-driven innovations.
Attendees will need to bring a device, such as a laptop.
8th Grade Math Teacher, Swain County Schools, Swain Middle School
Heather Payne Herron is a passionate educator with 31 years of experience in Swain County Schools, North Carolina. Her career began at Swain County High School, where she spent 20 years teaching a wide range of science courses. She taught 8th grade Science at Swain Middle School for... Read More →
Wednesday June 11, 2025 10:05am - 11:05am EDT Digital Citizenship RCOE Room 237Reich College of Education Building, College Street, Boone, NC, USA
