The PD Exchange

2026 Model Schools Conference

22 June 2026 – 25 June 2026Nashville, TNInternational Center for Leadership in Education

The Model Schools Conference brings together educators, school leaders, and district administrators to share proven practices from high-performing schools. Features keynotes, breakout sessions, and Model School showcases spanning AI, literacy, leadership, STEM, and instructional improvement.

Sessions (35)

Andrea Burkiett,

Toney Jackson, Poet, Artist, Speaker, Classroom Teacher, HMH Ambassador
STEMCurriculum
Session

Andrea Burkiett,

Dr. Akecia Owens-Cunningham, Educator, Academically Victorious, Aaron Patterson, CEO, Aaron Patterson LLC
STEMCurriculum
Session

Benjamin Franklin Classical Charter Public School, Franklin, MA: From Questions to Knowledge: Designing Instruction That Transfers and Sticks

Dr. Erika Henderson, ELA, Teacher & E320 Consulting, Julie Collins, Teacher, Owner, teachesol.com, Vernon Lowery, Principal, Cumberland County Schools, Dr. Samose Mays, Educator, Allendale County School District
Session

Birmingham City Schools, Birmingham, AL: From Crisis to Connection: Strengthening Student Outcomes Through an Integrated Systems Approach

Session

Building Literacy Systems That Work: Practical, Research-Aligned Strategies That Improve Student Outcomes

Marie Roberts, Director of Career Readiness and Academic Innovation
Literacy
Session

Click the categories below for session descriptions

LiteracyAssessmentEdTech
Session

Cy Park High School, Cypress, TX: The Principal as the Compass: Empowering Leadership Teams to Execute

Leadership
Session

Denham Springs Junior High School, Denham Springs, LA: Becoming A Capacity Catalyst: Building Blocks to Multiply Your Impact

Session

Dorchester District Two, SC: How We Leveraged Our Human Intelligence with AI to Customize Lessons in Year 2

Katie Iacono, Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment
EdTechEAL/D
Session

Dorchester District Two, SC: Planning with Purpose: Using an Instructional Planning Guide to Align HMH Into Reading

Session

East Lee County High School, Lehigh Acres, FL: Building from the Bottom Up: How Culture, Commitment, and Community Transformed Graduation

Session

Estrella Vista STEM Academy, Littleton, AZ: All Hands, One System: Replicable PLC Structures that Transform Learning in K-8 Schools

EAL/DSTEM
Session

Gibraltar Area School District, WI: Creating a Culture of Excellence: A focus on student achievement and growth, a "name-by-face" approach

EAL/D
Session

Gilbert Willie Sr. Elementary, Terrell ISD; The Power of Consistency: Culture, Collaboration, and Results Angela Abrams-Malone, principal Renee Judie, assistant principal Edna Bell, RLA Instructional

Pam Palmer, Director of Professional Learning, HMH, Andrea Tottossy, Director of Professional Learning, HMH, Jon Piraino, Director of Professional Learning, HMH, Gerry Brooks, Educator and Author, Lexington, KY, Dr. Lucretia Prince, Principal, Author and Co-Founder, I Dream Big Academy, Demont Pope, Dean of Student Affairs, and Author, Berit Gordon, Teacher, Author, and Consultant, Heinemann, Fendi Onobun, Former NFL Player, Speaker, Author and Educator, Berit Gordon, Teacher, Author, and Consultant, Heinemann, Kyle Greene, Mentality Changer, Author, Dr. Adam Drummond, Author and Senior Director, Center for Model Schools, Dr. Chris Price, Senior Director, Center for Model Schools, Dr. Adam Drummond, Author and Senior Director, Center for Model Schools, Dr. Natasha Brown, Principal, Westover Middle School, Leslie Rob, M.Ed., Award-Winning, International, Comedic Motivational Speaker, Teacher & Bus Driver, Franklin Elementary School - Started from the Bottom Now We're Here Grant Putnam, Principal -->
MathematicsEAL/DLeadership
Session

Gorham Schools, ME: From Exposure to Experience: Building a PK–12 System of Career-Connected Learning

Rachal Hyatt, Director of Programs
STEM
Session

Gunn Junior High and Fine Arts and Dual Language Academy, Arlington, TX: Blueprints, Bridges, and Building Culture - A Structural Design for Sustainable Growth

Session

Henry County Schools, GA: Game Changers: The Playbook for Accelerating Instructional Improvement and Data Outcomes District-Wide

Session

Hueytown High School, Jefferson, AL: Building Success Through PLCs and a School-Wide Advisory/Intervention Period (High School)

Session

Iberville Math, Science, and Arts Academy East (MSA East) St. Gabriel, LA: Leading with Purpose: Building Teams, Inspiring Growth, and Driving Student Success Dr. Amanda Austin, Principal -->

Angela Abrams-Malone, principal, Renee Judie, assistant principal
MathematicsLeadershipSTEM
Session

Julian Childers,

STEMCurriculum
Session

Lauderdale County School District, MS: From Compliance to Connection: How a Rural District Built an AI-Powered Career & Workforce Readiness Framework for Every Student 7–12

Dr. LaKenji Hastings, Assistant Superintendent, Early Learning and Innovative Practice, Dr. Shaakira Akbar, Assistant Superintendent, Instruction and Learning
EdTech
Session

Manorhaven Elementary School, Port Washington, NY: How Strong Systems and Student Belonging Drove Literacy and ENL Growth in a Title I School Eric Mace, Principal Chantelle Persaud, AIS Teacher Nina E

LiteracyEAL/DLeadership
Session

McNair Middle School, TX: Smarter Walks, Better Teaching: Leveraging AI for Evaluation Precision and Instructional Growth

Amanda Murry, Dean of Instruction
EdTech
Session

Morgantown High School, Morgantown, WV: How Collective Efficacy and Experience-Based Professional Development Improves Student Engagement and Success

Courtney Davis, Assistant Principal, Janet Watts, Assistant Principal, Autumn Cohen, Teacher/Science Department Chairperson, Marguerite Brown, Assistant Principal, Tiona Chapman, Assistant Principal
Session

North Mecklenburg High School, Huntersville, NC: Excellence Through Engagement: Building High Expectations and Student Success

EAL/D
Session

Northshore High School, Slidell, LA: Sowing the C's of Success: Culture - Communication - Consistency

Jazmine Williams, Assistant Principal, Keith Andrews, Assistant Principal, Jazzmin Oates, Assistant Principal
EAL/D
Session

Reese Road Leadership Academy, Columbus, GA: From Engagement to Attendance: The Impact of STEM and Student Leadership

Brett Stousland, Superintendent
LeadershipSTEMArts
Session

Rockfield Elementary, Warren, KY: Aligning culture with actions Brooke Knight, Principal William Downing, Assistant Principal Ceann Cassady, Dean of Students -->

Natchez Elementary School, Wadsworth, NV: Journey to 3 Stars...for now. Elliot Grothe, Dean -->, Park Elementary, Casper, WY: It Started With Training. It Became Transformational Michelle Latka, Teacher -->
Leadership
Session

Six Mile Elementary School, Pickens, SC: Together We Teach, Together We Grow Melissa Terry, Principal Kyla Holcombe, 5th Grade Teacher Kylie Fitzwater, 5th Grade Teacher Elaine Hedden, 4th Grade Teach

William Downing, Assistant Principal, Ceann Cassady, Dean of Students
Leadership
Session

Smithridge STEM Academy, Reno, NV: Systematic Leadership, Powerful Instruction: Building Sustainable Literacy Growth in a Multilingual School. Michael Dixon, Principal Elyse Hansen, 2nd grade teacher

Troy Terry, Dean of the Graduate School
LiteracyEAL/DLeadership
Session

State College Area High School, State College, PA: Rethinking Space and Support: Innovative Learning Environments That Drive Achievement

STEM
Session

Stuart Middle School, Stuart, FL: Partnering with the Community to Build a Pipeline of Pride: Strengthening Belonging and Achievement Across Schools

Elisa Prieto, Assistant Principal, Anna Sexton, Assistant Principal, Ebonie Dawson, Assistant Principal
Equity
Session

The Greatness Formula: Student Mental Health, Belonging, and Academic Performance—How Schools Can Rebuild Hope & Fuel Achievement

Arveneda Mcdonald, Principal, Joshua Academy Charter School, Ebony Donley, Teacher, East Clark/Literacy Innovations, Laura Gerace, Teacher, Ascension Parish Schools, Auburn Cain, Teacher, Lakeside Primary School, Corbin Edginton, Director of Professional Learning, NWEA, Auburn Cain, Teacher, Lakeside Primary School, Dr. Adam Drummond, Author and Senior Director, Center for Model Schools, Janet Morris, Director of Federal Programs, Nash County Public Schools, Michelle Royster, Director of Community Engagement and Strategic Planning, Nash County Public Schools, Sheila Wallace, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources and Federal Programs, Nash County Public Schools
WellbeingEquity
Session

William Davies Middle School, Mays Landing, NJ: From Chaos to Culture: How One Middle School Transformed Through Connection, and Building Community

Session

Wilson Middle School, Moline, IL: Cracking the Code to Repeatable Growth: A Systematic Approach to Making Great Decisions for Learning

Ian Brown, Assistant Principal, Mike Diorio, Assistant Principal, Ian Levine, Assistant Principal
Session