2026 Great Ideas in Education Conference

This presentation will examine school discipline through the lens of IDEA, with a focus on how common practices can unintentionally create compliance and FAPE concerns. Participants will explore what discipline means broadly and how commonly used practices—such as point systems, in-school suspension (ISS), and other removals from instruction—can carry unintended implications for students with disabilities. The session will unpack key nuances of IDEA that impact disciplinary decision-making, including Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDRs).

Today's students live, learn, and connect online, and smart habits make all the difference. In this engaging session, learners explore the good of social media and AI alongside the real-world risks: oversharing, cyberbullying, scams, deepfakes, and misleading content. Through relatable examples and interactive scenarios, students practice essential skills: protecting privacy, spotting phishing and social engineering tricks, creating strong passwords with MFA, and applying a simple critical-thinking checklist before sharing or believing sensational posts. Designed for grades 3 -12 and aligned with digital citizenship outcomes, this presentation empowers students to think before they share, verify surprising content, and keep themselves and their friends safe online.

These meetings will focus on connecting systems by Fundamental to collaborate on implementation of their current KESA Action Plan. “Like-position” groups will be formed for informal discussions. Additionally, your Region or Cohort Executive will share key points for the upcoming school year. Bring your entire team to collaborate with others in your KESA Region/Cohort!

How can district and school leaders move beyond walkthroughs as a compliance activity and use them as a powerful driver of instructional improvement? This session explores how one district has intentionally designed district-wide walkthroughs focused on high-impact instructional strategies to strengthen coherence across KESA, MTSS, PLCs, and school improvement efforts. Participants will learn how targeted observation tools, shared look-fors, and collaborative reflection structures help “connect the dots” between classroom practice, professional learning, and system priorities. Using a comprehensive, district-wide data collection platform, leaders are able to capture consistent walkthrough evidence, analyze trends across schools, and use real-time data to inform coaching, professional learning, and instructional decision-making. Through this process districts can reduce initiative fatigue, clarify expectations, and focus collective efforts on what matters most: sustained instructional improvement and student growth. This session offers practical processes, leadership moves, and communication strategies for turning walkthroughs into a sustainable system for continuous improvement.

Join KSDE School Counselor Leader Coordinators and School Counselor Field Educators as they explore how school counseling programs support the 4 Fundamentals of the Kansas School Improvement Model. This breakout session will highlight how school counselors use their leadership, data, and collaboration to strengthen district systems. Through real examples from Kansas districts, presenters will share how they use their unique “genius” to help improve programs, influence policy and practice, and support student success across academic, career, and social-emotional development. Participants will leave with practical ideas for connecting school counseling programs to district growth and continuous improvement.