2026 GOCSD Innovation Summit

“I don’t like reading” is a phrase teachers hear all too often. But, what if reading did not mean sitting in silence? Active literacy strategies like reader’s theater transform reading into a social and engaging activity that builds fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension. Once seen as only for the elementary grades, research now shows that reader’s theater also empowers secondary students. This session will share practical strategies — including reader’s theater, interactive fiction, and word games — that turn reluctant readers into confident participants.

Learning to read is the primary work of K-2 classrooms. That work includes learning letters, sounds, and lots of words...mostly one or two syllables with blends, digraphs, and vowel teams. All of that is needed...but so is learning to read multisyllabic words. If little readers don't learn to read big words, then the shift from "learning to read" in K-2 classrooms to "reading to learn" in 3-5 classrooms is going to be difficult. At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to enhance the work they are already doing to include bigger words in reading and writing!

Many PLC teams collect data, but struggle to turn it into timely instructional action. This session shares how Carthage High School built a centralized PLC Data Hub that organizes SMART goals, common assessment results, intervention notes, and meeting artifacts into one transparent system. Participants will explore the Hub structure, examine sample workflows, and identify essential components needed to replicate the process in their own setting. Attendees will leave with a planning template and practical strategies to strengthen collaborative decision-making, increase accountability, and ensure PLC conversations consistently connect student data to instructional next steps.

How can schools move beyond checklists to make observation indicators a meaningful driver of growth? This session shares how one school cultivated a shared understanding through a year-long, collaborative process grounded in efficacy theory. Educators will learn how teacher-generated look-fors, leadership alignment, and structured learning walks helped create consistency and ownership. Participants will reflect on how similar strategies can personalize growth and enhance instructional quality in their schools.

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.