🌍🔎 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.
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 three years and served as the school's TLC (Teacher Leadership Couch) for two years. Heather is now tackling the challenges and rewards of teaching 8th-grade math. A lifelong learner and early adopter of technology, Heather champions its potential to transform education for teachers and students. Heather enjoys spending time with David, her husband, and her children Isaac and Emma. Heather plans to continue teaching until she is finished …. It may be on Tuesday.
