Every Teacher A Leader Summit 2026: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

From Page to Performance: Readers Theater and AI for Every Classroom

Friday July 31, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

This interactive session explores how readers theater can be used to build reading fluency, comprehension, and student confidence across grade levels. Participants will learn practical strategies for implementing readers theater in their classrooms and see how it can support collaboration and engagement for a wide range of learners. Designed for teachers just beginning to explore artificial intelligence, this session will also introduce simple, accessible ways to use AI to create engaging, leveled scripts tailored to students’ needs. Participants will have time to experiment with these tools, so please bring a device and be ready to try it out in real time.

Speakers

Joshua Chard

Arts Integration Teacher Leader Fellow, Maine Department of Education Office of Teaching and Learning

Joshua Chard is a second-grade teacher at East End Community School in Portland, Maine, and the 2024 Maine Teacher of the Year. With more than 30 years in education, he creates culturally responsive, arts-integrated learning experiences that center joyful relationships, student voice... Read More →

Friday July 31, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

Innovation, General

9:00am EDT

Pathways to Possibilities: A New Approach to Career Exploration

Friday July 31, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

In the Pathways to Possibilities session, participants will reimagine the traditional high school career fair as a targeted, interactive, fast-paced workshop in which students engage in short sessions to understand the career opportunities and supports available across the state. During the workshop, participants will create an event for their school using resources and tools to support their planning process.

Speakers

Lisa Knedler

Career Connections Teacher Leader Fellow, Maine Department of Education, Office of Teaching and Learning

Lisa Knedler is the Career Connections Teacher Leader Fellow for the Office of Teaching and Learning at the Maine Department of Education. Her days are spent teaching at Gray-New Gloucester High School where she is the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme Coordinator and... Read More →

Friday July 31, 2026 9:00am - 10:15am EDT

Innovation, 9-12