2026 GOCSD Innovation Summit

This past year, we noticed a frustrating pattern in our reading intervention data: students’ phonics skills and decoding accuracy were improving, yet their overall reading progress had stalled. This led us to dig deeper to find the missing piece of the puzzle. The answer? Fluency! In this session, participants will explore how targeted fluency intervention can unlock progress for striving readers who appear “stuck.” Using real case studies from an elementary intervention room, participants will examine practical routines that build accuracy, automaticity, and prosody. Attendees will leave with research-informed strategies and a clear plan for strengthening fluency during intervention.

Kick off the 2026–27 school year with the GoLiteracy Network! This session invites literacy leaders (coaches, interventionists, administrators, university professors, and other educators leading literacy efforts in their context) to reconnect and refocus for the year ahead. Participants will network with colleagues, share priorities and challenges, and strengthen our professional community supporting literacy improvement. We will also launch this year’s GoLiteracy book study, introducing the selected text and outlining how our learning will unfold throughout the year. Join us to start the year with new connections, fresh ideas, and a shared commitment to improving literacy outcomes for students.

This workshop shares how our school used Lead4Change to empower students as leaders and problem-solvers. Participants will learn how we integrated leadership lessons into daily routines, guided students through identifying real school and community needs, and supported them in planning and implementing service projects. We’ll highlight structures that built student voice, collaboration, and ownership, along with practical strategies for getting started, including an introduction to the free curriculum. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use ideas, resources, and inspiration to build a culture of leadership and meaningful change in their own schools.

What if some of the most meaningful real-world learning experiences for students aren’t found in curriculum guides—but in the traditions and responsibilities already embedded in school life? As a prom sponsor, I quickly realized that students were developing critical life and career skills without a single worksheet or rubric in sight. Managing deadlines, communicating professionally with peers and adults, handling financial responsibility, and navigating accountability became authentic learning experiences with real stakes. In this session, participants will examine how prom planning naturally mirrors project management and workplace expectations. Through real examples, reflection strategies, and classroom connections, attendees will learn how to identify similar opportunities in their own schools and intentionally make the learning visible—without over-structuring or losing authenticity. This session is ideal for educators seeking practical, low-lift ways to implement Real World Learning that truly prepares students for life beyond the classroom.