2026 Great Ideas in Education Conference: Full Schedule

9:30am CDT

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am CDT

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).

Speakers

Steve Backman

Consultant, Kansas State Department of Education

Brian Dempsey

Assistant Director, Kansas State Department of Education

Tuesday July 28, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am CDT
Cypress A 209

Discipline

11:05am CDT

Stat Smart Onlline: Social Media, Social Engineering & AI

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT

Cypress A 209

Today's students live, learn, and connect online, and smart habits make all the difference. Ins 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, sthudents 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. Deisgned for grades 3 -12 and aligned with digital citizenship outcomes, this presentation empowers tudents to think before they share, verify suprising content, and keep themselves and their friends safe online.

Speakers

Ryan Kurtenbach

IT Director, Kansas State Department of Education

I am the IT Director for the Kansas Department of Education, with an extensive educational background that includes degrees in Network Technology, Computer Information Systems, Information Resource Studies, and a Master of Business Administration.

I bring over twenty-six years of experience in Information Technology, with more than twenty years focused on Cybersecurity. My expertise spans multiple industries, including education, government, medical, financial, and energy sectors. I’ve had the opportunity to deliver numerous... Read More →

Tuesday July 28, 2026 11:05am - 12:05pm CDT
Cypress A 209

Computer Science

2:50pm CDT

“Connecting the 4 Fundamentals: School Counselors Sharing Their Genius to Support Districts”

Tuesday July 28, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm CDT

Cypress A 209

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.

Tuesday July 28, 2026 2:50pm - 3:50pm CDT
Cypress A 209

SECD/School Counseling

3:55pm CDT

“Connecting the 4 Fundamentals: School Counselors Sharing Their Genius to Support Districts”

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:55pm - 4:55pm CDT

Cypress A 209

Tuesday July 28, 2026 3:55pm - 4:55pm CDT
Cypress A 209

SECD/School Counseling

8:00am CDT

KEDS – Updates and Expectations for 2026-2027 School Year

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Cypress A 209

KEDS is coming and KIDS is set to be retired during the 2026-2027 school year. This transition will bring about a change in business processes for both districts and the state. In this session we will discuss the current status of the KEDS system and expectations for districts in the coming school year. We will cover key topics, including: Timelines, Trainings, Resources, Dashboards and allow time for Q&A.

Speakers

Christopher Fletcher

Information Systems Manager, Kansas State Department of Education

Christopher Fletcher serves as an Information Systems Manager for the Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE). Prior to joining KSDE, he held the role of Technology Director in both Kansas and Nebraska schools. With over 20 years of experience, Christopher has dedicated his career... Read More →

Jennifer Shaffer

Assistant Director, KSDE

Wednesday July 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Cypress A 209

KEDS

9:10am CDT

Panel Discussion - Standards Alignment

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:10am - 10:10am CDT

Cypress A 209

This panel discussion will feature a small group of school systems and their approach to implementing one of the Fundamentals. Each school system will share why they chose the Fundamental and Structure as well as how they are implementing followed by facilitated Q & A.

Districts on this panel:
USD 114 Riverside
USD 262 Valley Center
USD 450 Shawnee Heights
USD 473 Chapman

Wednesday July 29, 2026 9:10am - 10:10am CDT
Cypress A 209

Accreditation

2026 Great Ideas in Education Conference

9:30am CDT

Steve Backman

Brian Dempsey

11:05am CDT

Ryan Kurtenbach

2:50pm CDT

3:55pm CDT

8:00am CDT

Christopher Fletcher

Jennifer Shaffer

9:10am CDT

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