2026 GOCSD Innovation Summit

Stop fighting student apathy and start building learner agency. Discover how our district replaced traditional ELA with high-interest, choice-based pathways like Game On: Sports Literature and Travel Tales. We will share our framework for mapping Missouri Learning Standards to thematic units while integrating Real World Learning (RWL). Participants will receive an implementation toolkit, including sample course frameworks and student interest surveys. You will leave with a replicable model to increase engagement. Join us to transform your secondary ELA curriculum into a dynamic system that empowers students through voice and choice.

Schools across the country are working to address chronic absenteeism and rebuild strong attendance habits. This session will highlight how one elementary school used PBIS systems to create a positive culture around attendance while engaging both students and families. Presenters will share practical strategies including incentive structures, family engagement ideas, and data tracking methods that helped increase attendance and strengthen school climate. Participants will leave with ready-to-implement ideas and tools that can be adapted for their own schools and grade levels.

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.

Do you ever feel like you grade harder or not hard enough compared to your teammates and you gave the same assignment or assessment? Are you wanting to create a more consistent grading environment for the students in your school? At the end of this presentation, participants will have research and examples of practices to take back to the classroom and their team on ways to calibrate the grading process to create consistency for their students.

As the new school year approaches, join us for one last look at the ever-changing landscape of Missouri school finance. This session will provide timely updates on state funding, legislative developments, and key trends impacting district budgets. We’ll highlight what matters most right now, share practical insights, and offer considerations to help you start the year informed and prepared. Whether it’s changes from the Capitol or emerging best practices, this session will connect the dots and help you make sense of what’s ahead.