DCSD Summer Summit 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

10:45am MDT

From Observations to Outcomes: Mastering the Art of Actionable Feedback

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Why is it that we provide feedback, yet instructional practices often remain unchanged? According to Many, Maffoni, Sparks, and Thomas in "Amplify Your Impact", the gap isn't a lack of effort—it's a lack of actionability. In this session, we will discuss how to move beyond "polite praise" and evaluative checklists. Administrators will develop Feedback Loops to spark immediate professional growth. We will explore how to ensure that teachers leave every interaction not just knowing what happened, but exactly how to improve it.

Speakers

Nikki Ballow

Executive Director, DCSD, Pathways and Alternative Education

Gordon Mosher

DCSD, Executive Director of Schools

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm MDT

Special Topic

10:45am MDT

Intro to Gemini and NotebookLM for Educators

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how to increase your efficiency on a daily basis using Google's powerful AI tools: Gemini and NotebookLM. This introductory session will equip educators with practical strategies to quickly synthesize data, generate impactful content, and save valuable time.

Speakers

Rick Kendall

Director of School Technology, DCSD, Information Technology

Mark Blair

Chief Technology Officer, DCSD, Information Technology

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm MDT

Special Topic

10:45am MDT

The Craft of the Principalship

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

This session highlights the essential leadership practices of effective school leaders. The session provides opportunities for reflection and discussion on how strong leadership impacts teaching, learning, school culture, and student success.

Speakers

Michelle Franci

Principal, DCSD, Stone Mountain Elementary

Amy Moyle

Principal, DCSD, Redstone Elementary

John Gutierrez

DCSD, Executive Director of Schools

Tuesday July 28, 2026 10:45am - 12:15pm MDT

Special Topic

1:30pm MDT

A New Approach to Coaching, Teaching, and Learning

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

A New Approach to Coaching, Teaching, and Learning

Speakers

Danny Winsor

DCSD, Assistant Superintendent

Ian Wells

DCSD, Executive Director of Schools

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

Special Topic

1:30pm MDT

Attendance Unlocked: Keys to Engagement and a Resilient School Year

LIMITED

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

When a student is struggling with chronic absenteeism or other complex challenges, no one has to stand on the front lines alone. Join the Student Assistance Department and Health, Wellness and Prevention and our Attendance Specialist for a collaborative session that provides a clear, actionable roadmap for student success. This session will introduce you to your essential school district resource partners, including Re-Engagement Specialist for Chronic Absenteeism, Re-Engagement Specialists for Dropout Intervention, our Court Liaison, and our Attendance Specialist, who will also outline our critical community and court partners. We will outline the protocols and processes for promoting positive student attendance, student re-engagement and dropout prevention at all levels.

Speakers

Vicky Schleining

Student Engagement Lead

Lisa De La Pena

Attendance Specialist, DCSD

Tuesday July 28, 2026 1:30pm - 3:00pm MDT

Special Topic

7:30am MDT

Principal Mentor/Mentee Meeting

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Principal Mentor/Mentee Meeting

Speakers

John Gutierrez

DCSD, Executive Director of Schools

Wednesday July 29, 2026 7:30am - 8:15am MDT

Special Topic

11:00am MDT

Beyond the Prompt: Building Your AI Fluency

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Unlock the power of AI by shifting from a "tool-user" to a fluency-first mindset. This session reframes artificial intelligence as a vital disciplinary literacy, bridging the gap between historical theory and real-world application. We will trace the evolution of AI—from the logic of Statistical Language Models to the architecture of modern LLMs—demystifying how "tokens" become intelligence. Participants will sharpen high-leverage technical skills while cultivating the critical dispositions of ethical oversight and bias awareness. By integrating these core competencies, school leaders will transition from passive users to fluent navigators, ready to lead human-centered, AI-enhanced environments with strategic foresight and grounded confidence.

Speakers

Tyson Emborg

Coordinator, DCSD, Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment

Science/Social Studies

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Special Topic

11:00am MDT

Coaching Actions in Practice: Coaching for Rigor in Math

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

In this session, instructional coaches and leaders will explore key look-fors that signal strong mathematics instruction aligned to standards. Participants will examine coaching moves that help translate instructional planning into meaningful classroom practice, with a focus on supporting standards-aligned instruction, student discourse, and conceptual understanding. Through collaborative discussion and applied examples, participants will strengthen their ability to provide targeted, actionable feedback that moves instruction forward.

Speakers

Jana Mustard

CIA Math Coordinator, DCSD

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Special Topic

11:00am MDT

Deep Dive into Gemini and NotebookLM for Educators

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Refine your skills with Google's powerful AI tools: Gemini and NotebookLM. Learn about new features in these constantly evolving tools and explore advanced workflows designed to streamline planning, enhance communication, and synthesize complex information.

Speakers

Mark Blair

Chief Technology Officer, DCSD, Information Technology

Rick Kendall

Director of School Technology, DCSD, Information Technology

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Special Topic

11:00am MDT

The PSR Playbook: What Leaders Need for CTE, CE, and WBL for 26–27

LIMITED

Wednesday July 29, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm MDT

Limited Capacity seats available

Kick off the 2026–27 school year with the latest updates and essential information for Postsecondary Readiness leaders. This session will provide timely guidance on current policies, processes, and best practices related to Career & Technical Education, Concurrent Enrollment, Extended Year Programming and Work-Based Learning. Leaders will gain clarity on key expectations, reporting updates, compliance requirements, and program priorities while collaborating with colleagues to strengthen pathway implementation and student opportunities across DCSD. Leaders will also engage in conversations around CTE pathway realignment and refinement to ensure programs remain responsive to student interests, industry needs, and postsecondary opportunities. Participants will leave prepared to lead with confidence and support high-quality postsecondary readiness experiences for all students.

Speakers