AIEmpoweredEDU2026: Full Schedule

9:30am PDT

Let AI Do The Tedious Part - Low-Friction Entry Points for AI at Work

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

AI can feel overwhelming not because it’s complex, but because it’s unclear where to begin. This session is designed for non-technical participants who want practical, low-pressure ways to explore AI without pilots, policies, or deep expertise.

Instead of focusing on tools or demos, this session starts with something familiar: a task you avoid because it’s tedious, repetitive, or mentally draining - which is almost always a good candidate for using AI. Participants will learn how to identify the type of help a task needs and match it to the right category of AI support, using a simple framework that reduces guesswork and blank-page paralysis.

The session emphasizes opt-in, individual experimentation and realistic expectations. It is not about productivity mandates, workforce transformation, or “learning prompt engineering” as a skill. The goal is to help participants see where AI might offer relief in their own work, and how to try one small, low-risk use without overthinking it.

Speakers

Benjamin Baldizon

Program Manager for AI Innovation and Capacity Building, Multnomah ESD

Benjamin Baldizon (he/him) is the Program Manager for AI Innovation & Capacity Building at Multnomah Education Service District. He works primarily with non-instructional and cross-functional staff to design practical, low-barrier ways to use AI for workload reduction and capacity... Read More →

Let AI Do The Tedious Part pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley Hall 249 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Beginner, Anyone

9:30am PDT

Interrogating Confident Nonsense: How Mathematical Pressure Reveals Structure

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Shiley Hall 312

AI systems often produce responses that sound fluent, confident, and complete—yet something feels off. In this hands-on lab, participants will actively generate, interrogate, and revise AI outputs to learn how to distinguish real rigor from confident nonsense.

Working in a learner-driven model, participants will engage in live, iterative AI collaboration: posing questions, revising inputs, and tracking how meaning shifts under changing constraints. Mathematics is used as a language for interrogation—revealing structure, crystallizing patterns, naming variables, and surfacing assumptions early. Rather than evaluating outcomes after harm accumulates, participants practice applying pressure at the start of the feedback loop.

This process frames AI collaboration as an ethical practice: justification, revision, and accountability from within a system. Equity emerges as a structural outcome of this practice—visible when missing perspectives are named, assumptions are challenged, and designs are regularly revised to change what becomes possible.

Participants experience a repeatable, classroom-ready structure that positions students as distributed authors and sense-makers, not passive recipients of AI output. The session closes by connecting this practice to life beyond school—preparing learners to orient, decide, and act with agency inside complex systems where outcomes are uncertain and stakes are real.

Speakers

Tia Knuth

Founder, JoyMath

Tia Knuth, founder of JoyMath, has a deep relationship with mathematics, writing, and forest ecosystems. Her work explores how patterns, structure, and human agency intertwine, and how shared practices can change what becomes possible.

Interrogating Confident Nonsense JoyMath pptx

Interrogating Confident Nonsense JoyMath pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley Hall 312 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

9:30am PDT

*Student-Led* AI Innovation: Entrepreneurship and Real-World Applications.

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Shiley Hall 124

Join a group of Westview High School students as they share AI-focused projects and present their developing AI Entrepreneurship Club. We’ll wrap up with big-picture thinking by inviting attendees to philosophize, speculate, and imagine where AI could take education, student innovation, and the world beyond the classroom.

Speakers

Harish Ramesh

Vishakh Arumugachamy

Vedanth Yada

Ben Lloyd

CTE Manufacturing Teacher, Beaverton School District

Conference Slides pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley Hall 124 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone

9:30am PDT

Beyond the Shortcut: Designing Student-Centered AI Experiences

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 403

The real power of AI in schools isn't just saving time—it’s about intentionally designing high-impact student-centered GenAI experiences. This session highlights how educators in the Beaverton district are using SchoolAI Spaces and Magic Student (Magic School) to move beyond mere efficiency and create safe student-centered learning experiences that foster personalization, engagement, and student ownership.In this session we will explore SchoolAI and MagicSchool features and dive into intentional student workflows. Join us in this workspace where teachers create safe, student-centered environments and see how to transform the student experience by providing real-time coaching and feedback that makes learning more iterative and reflective.

Speakers

Chris Giles

Instructional Technology Coach, Beaverton School District

Chris is an AI enthusiast, Technology Integration Specialist, and Digital Learning Coach with over 25 years of experience in education. He is passionate about empowering educators through innovative professional development, instructional technology, and meaningful AI integration.Based... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 403 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone

9:30am PDT

Thinking Still Required: Designing for Critical Thinking in an AI World

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT

Shiley Hall 101

This workshop explores how educators can intentionally design learning experiences that preserve and strengthen students’ critical thinking in an AI-rich environment. Rather than treating AI as either a threat or a shortcut, the session offers a practical framework for structuring AI use to support analysis, reflection, and independent judgment while avoiding cognitive offloading. Participants will examine common instructional uses of AI, identify where critical thinking is most at risk, and leave with concrete, adaptable strategies for classroom design across grade levels and disciplines. The focus is on purposeful pedagogy, not technical expertise. The presenters represent a K-12 district and a university setting, and will discuss applications across the educational spectrum.

Speakers

Kraig Sproles

Superintendent, Bethel School District

Dr. Kraig Sproles has served as the Bethel superintendent since fall 2021. Before joining the Bethelcommunity, he worked as an administrator and teacher in several Oregon school districts. He began histeaching career in Oregon as a middle school science and math teacher, where he... Read More →

Inara Scott

Senior Advisor for Strategy and Innovation, Professor of Business Law, College of Business, Oregon State University

Inara Scott is the Senior Advisor for Strategy and Innovation and Professor of Business Law inthe College of Business at Oregon State University. As Senior Advisor, she leads strategicplanning and high-impact innovation initiatives, including AI integration. Inara’s primaryteaching... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley Hall 101 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Workforce Readiness & Durable Skills

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

AI Show‑and‑Tell for School Leaders: Real Tools, Real Workflows, Real Impact

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 249

This session is a practical, fast‑paced “show and tell” of how AI is being used every day in a real K–5 school to amplify human intelligence, elevate student voice, and reduce burnout for educators. Rather than theory or abstract models, participants will see concrete examples pulled directly from daily school leadership.

The focus is simple: AI should make school feel more human, not less.
Attendees will explore workflows that free up time for relationships, increase clarity for families, and support students in expressing their needs and ideas. Participants will leave with ideas they can adapt immediately for their own schools. This session is designed to be fun, hands‑on, and grounded in real school life.

Speakers

Nabil Zerizef

Principal, North Clackamas SD

Nabil Zerizef is the principal of Linwood Elementary and Sojourner School in the North Clackamas School District, where he leads two distinct school communities with a focus on belonging, clarity, and student voice. Now in his tenth year as a school principal, he is known for relationship... Read More →

AI That Makes School More Human Nabil Zerizef AiEmpowered Conference 5 12 26 (1) pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 249 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

Reclaiming Creativity: Building AI-Powered Lesson Planning Workflows

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 312

This interactive workshop addresses teacher burnout by demonstrating how AI can function as a collaborative partner in the instructional design process. Rather than replacing the teacher, we explore how AI can amplify human intelligence by handling time-consuming administrative tasks, freeing educators to focus on student connection and creativity. Participants will learn practical workflows to generate engaging hooks, robust rubrics, and differentiated lesson plans in real-time. We will move beyond basic prompting to explore how AI can reduce barriers to instruction for diverse learners. Attendees should bring a topic they are currently teaching; they will leave with a complete, AI-assisted lesson plan ready for the classroom.

Speakers

Shawna Jensen

Teacher & Instructional Designer, North Clackamas SD

Shawna is a secondary educator and instructional researcher with 15+ years of experience in K-12 education, curriculum development, and edtech design. Her research on instructional workflows has been published by Johns Hopkins University, PBLWorks, and peer-reviewed journals. Currently... Read More →

Reclaiming Creativity Slide Deck pdf

AI Lesson Planning Workflows Handouts pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 312 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

From Guidance to Policy: Balancing Innovation and Student Safety

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305

This session explores the journey of Hillsboro School District as it transitioned from providing basic AI guidance and a list of approved tools to developing robust, comprehensive policies. The session highlights the critical role of a dedicated task force and the integration of stakeholder feedback in creating a framework that balances the drive for innovation with the necessity of student safety

Speakers

Derek Brown

Information and Technology Officer, Hillsboro School District

Dr. Derek Brown is the Information and Technology Officer for the Hillsboro School District. Derek has served in various senior leadership roles in K-12, with a diverse background spanning curriculum, special education, human resources, assessment and accountability, data analysis... Read More →

Melissa Haynes

Coordinator of Career and College Pathways, Hillsboro School District

As the Coordinator of Career and College Pathways for the Hillsboro School District, Melissa Haynes leverages her diverse background as a systems engineer, CTE educator, and administrator to lead K–12 career-connected learning and postsecondary readiness. She oversees technical... Read More →

Jess Nies

Secondary Digital Curriculum Technology Integration TOSA, Hillsboro School District

Jessie Nies is a Secondary Technology TOSA and Social Media CC with the Hillsboro School District. With extensive experience in secondary education and professional development, Jessie helps educators leverage AI to enhance instruction while maintaining a focus on human intelligence... Read More →

Angela Adzima

Digital Curriculum Technology Integration TOSA, Hillsboro School District

Angela Adzima is a Digital Curriculum Technology Integration TOSA in the Hillsboro School District, dedicated to making a difference in the lives of students. With over 15 years of experience in elementary education (K-5), she understands the power of inclusive and equitable teaching... Read More →

Ai From Guidance to Policy Balancing Innovation and Student Safety pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Community Partnership & Leadership

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

Supporting Families with AI Literacy at Home

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 319

Families want guidance on how to help their kids use AI and other digital tools safely and responsibly, but it can be hard to know where to start. Join Common Sense Media as we share practical ways to support families in building healthy media habits at home.
We’ll explore how AI fits into digital citizenship and balanced screen time, using our free family resources as a guide. Participants will leave with ready-to-use conversation starters, tips, and family-friendly tools they can share right away to help parents set expectations, encourage critical thinking, and support responsible, age-appropriate AI use.

Speakers

Jamie Nunez

Sr. Director Outreach & Learning, Common Sense Media

Jamie Nunez, Senior Director of Outreach and Learning at Common Sense Media, supports school districts and state education agencies across the country in integrating practical digital literacy skills into classrooms. With over 25 years of experience in education, as a classroom teacher... Read More →

Empowered Edu Conference Supporting Families with AI literacy pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 319 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Community Partnership & Leadership

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

Are you My Best Friend? Exploring Children’s Relationships with AI Companions

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 101

Children’s relationships are essential for learning. Through interactions with parents, peers, and educators, children learn how to navigate the social world by building and fostering relationships. Children also take an active role in their social development, sometimes creating imaginary friends that they interact and play with. With the rise of AI powered smart toys and companion apps, questions arise as to the role these companion bots may play in children’s social development. Will these synthetic relationships enhance children’s emotional well-being and social skills? Is it also possible that these relationships could disrupt children’s developing social networks? In this interactive presentation, Dr. Naomi Aguiar will explore children’s real friends, imaginary friends, and how these relationships can help us make sense of children’s budding relationships with AI chatbots. She’ll discuss the psychological mechanisms that drive children to form bonds with AI companions, as well as the design features that encourage these bonds. Dr. Aguiar will also discuss the benefits and risk AI companion bots pose to children’s social development and she’ll suggest harm mitigation strategies.

Speakers

Naomi Aguiar

Associate Director of Research, Oregon State University Ecampus

Dr. Naomi Aguiar is an expert in how children and adults think about and form relationships with AI chatbots, and how these relationships can impact real world learning and behavior. She also has expertise in the imaginary relationships children and adults create for themselves- either... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 101 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

Cheat the System: Navigating Academic Integrity in the Age of AI

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 124

The rise of generative AI has sparked concerns about academic integrity in K-12 education. In this interactive session, participants will face the challenge of completing a task using AI tools while attempting to outsmart cheating detection programs. This hands-on simulation will provide a unique opportunity to explore the capabilities of AI tools and open up practical conversations about the fears, challenges, and opportunities of using AI in the classroom. Whether you’re skeptical or excited about AI’s role in schools, this session will challenge your thinking and inspire new ideas.

Speakers

Ashley Renick

Senior Programs Lead for the West Coast, aiEDU

Ashley serves as the Senior Programs Lead for the West Coast at aiEDU, where she collaborates with various stakeholders in our education systems to support them in building AI literacy and AI readiness. She is committed to dismantling barriers to equity, and empowering students, educators... Read More →

aiEDU's AI & Academic Integrity Slides (05.12.26) pdf

aiEDU's AI & Academic Integrity Handout (05.12.26) docx

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 124 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

Responsible AI Literacy for K12 Students

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 301

Responsible AI Literacy is the explicit approach and set of competencies that helps individuals in K12 schools learn, explore, interrogate, develop a critical lens, and distinguish differences around all forms and aspects of artificial intelligence. Responsible AI literacy aims to conceptualize and clarify artificial intelligence as various automated processes completed by a computer to aid individuals’ ability to answer not only the who, what, and when of artificial intelligence, but also take additional steps that allow critical interrogation of the why and how the decisions to use AI positively and negatively impact individuals, the environment, and communities. Responsible AI literacy framework is an inquiry method that students can use to critically analyze various aspects of artificial intelligence and automation, seeking answers to both simple and complex questions about computing, people, rationales, and the complexities surrounding artificial intelligence. Students engage with the who, what, when, where, why, and how of the field of artificial intelligence, helping to provide a more robust understanding and critical knowledge base for all students of this omnipresent aspect of computing that impacts society.

Speakers

Shana White

Director of CS Equity Initiatives, Kapor Foundation

Shana V. White is the Director of CS Equity Initiatives at the Kapor Foundation. Shana is a passionate educator who works as an advocate for marginalized groups in education and has an unwavering commitment to providing opportunities for historically marginalized students to engage... Read More →

AI Empowered EDU May 2026 pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 301 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

Tales from the Frontier: Oregon Trail SD’s Journey into the AI Infused Learning Wilderness

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 408

Discover how one viral clip sparked a complete instructional overhaul in the Oregon Trail School District. Join us on this groundbreaking journey as we detail the unprecedented leap of scaling an innovative private school learning model to a large public school system. This session is your exclusive look into the near future of education—exploring the challenges, celebrating the successes, and charting the course for a personalized approach that meets every student exactly where they are to help them achieve their personal academic best.

Speakers

Dennis Lane

Instructional Technology Administrator, Oregon Trail School District

Dr. Dennis Lane believes that technology is more than just a classroom tool—it is a lens through which students decode the world. As the Instructional Technology Administrator for the Oregon Trail School District, Dennis leverages over a decade of experience teaching middle school... Read More →

Tales from the Frontier (AIEmpower 2026) pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 408 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

*Student Led* From the Student Seat: How Learners Are Actually Using NotebookLM

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 206

As NotebookLM becomes increasingly integrated into Google Classroom, many educators are asking a practical question: How are students actually using this tool to learn?
This session shifts the lens from teacher speculation to student experience.

Co-presented with two high school students, this workshop centers authentic student voice to explore real-world NotebookLM use in coursework. Students will share how they are using NotebookLM to study, organize sources, and make sense of complex content — including an AP Human Geography use case — highlighting both the benefits and limitations they’ve encountered.

Rather than positioning NotebookLM as a productivity shortcut, this session frames it as a learning support tool and invites educators to consider how guided use, norms, and AI literacy shape meaningful outcomes. Participants will engage in facilitated discussion, reflect on implications for classroom practice, and explore how student-teacher partnerships can inform responsible AI integration.

Attendees will leave with clearer insight into how NotebookLM is being used from the learner’s perspective and concrete ideas for supporting thoughtful, ethical, and transparent student use.

Speakers

Jennifer Hart

STEM Hub Coordinator, Columbia Gorge STEM Hub

Jennifer Hart is a STEM Hub Coordinator for the Columbia Gorge STEM Hub, supporting regional work in computer science, AI, and digital literacy across five rural Oregon counties. With a background in computer science and classroom teaching, she works alongside educators to explore... Read More →

From the Student Seat pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 206 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

Brisk Teaching: Empower Teachers, Elevate Student Learning

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley Hall 106

Learn about Brisk's three connected experiences all back by Curriculum Intelligence: the Brisk Extension, which brings in-the-moment support into the tools teachers already use; Brisk Boost, a safe space for student-facing AI activities with teacher control; and Brisk Next, a hub for planning and instruction that anticipates what you’ll need next and streamlines resource creation, bundling, and assignment. Taken together with Curriculum Intelligence as the backbone, these experiences support teachers day to day, accelerate student learning, and scale safely across schools and districts.

Speakers

Pete Brunetta

Account Executive on Partnerships for Brisk Teaching, Brisk Teaching

Pete Brunetta is a member of the Partnerships team at Brisk Teaching with five years of classroom experience as a middle school ELA teacher in Syracuse, NY. He holds a Master's in Education and has spent the past five years in EdTech. Now based in Portland, Oregon, Pete partners with... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley Hall 106 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone

10:45am PDT

From Mystery to Mastery: Building AI Literacy through Creativity and Collaboration

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 306

The future will be led by children who don't just use technology – they understand it, question it, and ultimately build a better world with it. In this session, we will explore LEGO® Education’s newest hands-on solution and curriculum for computer science and artificial intelligence for K-8 classrooms that fosters collaboration, creativity, and learning outcomes. 

Speakers

Denise Phillips

Solutions Architect, Lego Education

Tuesday May 12, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 306 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Workforce Readiness & Durable Skills

Level Beginner, Anyone

1:00pm PDT

Designing with AI to Amplify Teacher’s Math Instruction

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley Hall 106

Three years into genAI’s arrival in schools, one lesson is clear: the most useful tools don’t replace teacher judgment, they strengthen it. This session shares classroom-tested design principles for building AI-supported formative assessment that helps K–5 teachers make sense of student mathematical thinking and discourse while honoring teacher autonomy and expertise.

Presenters will unpack what it takes to translate standards-aligned learning into actionable insights, integrate research-based practices for math discourse, and embed subject-matter pedagogy with an explicit equity lens. We’ll examine the design choices that shape trust and usability in real classrooms, including how AI explains its reasoning, how recommendations support (rather than dictate) small-group instruction, and how workflows can be streamlined without undermining teachers' judgement.

Grounded in learnings from pilots across the U.S., this session offers concrete takeaways for educators, designers, and leaders building or selecting AI tools that are instructionally meaningful, equitable, and teacher-led.

Speakers

Jillian Mendoza

Director of Math, PowerMyLearning

Jillian is the Director of Math at PowerMyLearning. She leads the development of PK-5 math content and informs instructional design across PowerMyLearning’s current and future products, including teacher-facing AI tools. Prior to joining PowerMyLearning, Jillian contributed to the... Read More →

Brian Baker

Research & Insights Specialist, PowerMyLearning

Brian advances PowerMyLearning’s research and insights by synthesizing learnings from the organization’s products to inform continuous improvement and innovation. His background spans school, district, and state-level roles in public education, combining expertise in math pedagogy... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley Hall 106 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Anyone

1:00pm PDT

From Blank Page to Beautiful: Using Gemini to Build Student-Friendly Canvas Pages and Assignments in Minutes

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley Hall 312

Are you spending hours formatting Canvas pages? In this hands-on workshop, discover how to leverage Gemini to revolutionize your workflow—no coding knowledge or technical background required. We will explore how to use AI to generate professional, polished page layouts and simplify complex navigation for a truly student-friendly experience.

This session is designed as a "Prompt Lab." Beyond the demonstration, participants will have dedicated time to "play" in their own Canvas sandboxes. You are encouraged to bring a "dry" assignment or a messy module from your own course; we will spend the second half of the workshop experimenting with prompts to transform your actual materials in real-time. You’ll leave with a toolkit of prompts and at least one ready-to-publish page or assignment, proving that you just need the right AI partner to amplify your creativity while saving you precious time.

Speakers

Kimberly Huber

Language Arts teacher, Beaverton School District

Kimberly Huber is a 23-year veteran educator currently teaching Language Arts at FLEX Online School in the Beaverton School District. With an M.Ed. from the University of Portland, Kimberly works to merge traditional pedagogy with an online environment to design 6-12 Advisory lessons... Read More →

AI Workflow From Blank Page to Beautiful Google Docs pdf

From Blank to Beautiful (1) pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley Hall 312 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Anyone, Beginner

1:00pm PDT

Every Hero Needs a Sidekick

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305

Every great superhero needs a trusted sidekick—and in today’s classrooms, that sidekick might just be powered by AI. Colleen Henry and Jerry Xiong share the story of Yamhill-Carlton School District's EL Academy AI Cohort, where classroom teachers learned to harness generative AI tools like Magic School to differentiate instruction, empower multilingual learners, and reclaim precious time for teaching - and how this model led to a series of AI focused professional learning opportunities across the Willamette ESD region.

Speakers

Colleen Henry

Data Systems Coordinator, Willamette ESD

Colleen Henry serves as the Data Systems Coordinator at Willamette Education Service District (WESD), where she bridges the gap between school data-information systems and actionable classroom insights. She is dedicated to helping districts better understand their data to create efficient... Read More →

Jerry Xiong

Education Specialist, Willamette ESD

Jeremiah "Jerry" Xiong is an Education Specialist at Willamette Education Service District (WESD), focusing on empowering educators through innovative instructional strategies. Jerry specializes in curriculum development, the practical and ethical applications of AI in the classroom... Read More →

AI Empowered EDU Every Hero Needs a Sidekick (Henry & Xiong) pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Community Partnership & Leadership

Level Anyone

1:00pm PDT

AI in Action: Scaffolding Success and Scaling Creativity

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley Hall 249

Session Slides

What happens when students move from being AI consumers to AI-empowered creators? In this session, members of the MESD/CESD RAIN Cohort share firsthand accounts of how they are using AI to reshape the student experience and dismantle barriers to learning.
Our panelists, ranging from elementary to middle school educators, will discuss how they are moving from teacher-led AI use to student-centered empowerment. From leveraging AI to meet specific IEP goals and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) standards, to building custom chatbots that provide real-time research feedback, these educators are proving that AI can be the ultimate equalizer.

Speakers

Patrick Stenger

Fifth Grade Teacher, Portland Public School District

Patrick Stenger is a 5th-grade teacher and has been an educator in the Portland area for more than 15 years. During that time, he has been a classroom teacher, K-5 technology specialist, and tech integration coach. Across all roles, Patrick has worked to help students move beyond... Read More →

Emery Mitchem

Middle School Teacher, Centennial School District

Emery Mitchem is a middle school science teacher in Portland, Oregon with 20 years of experience focused on helping students make sense of the natural world through inquiry and the Next Generation Science Standards, with the understanding that the goal is not just covering content... Read More →

Laura Axon

Teacher Librarian, Portland Public School District

Hello!! My name is Laura Axon. I have been a School Library Media Specialist in Portland Public Schools since 2017 and the Oregon Region 4 for the Oregon Association of School Libraries. Collaboration with the Oregon Library Association has led me to Co-Chair of the International... Read More →

AI in Action Scaffolding Success & Scaling Creativity pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley Hall 249 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone, Beginner

1:00pm PDT

Algorithms and Generative AI: Pitfalls and possibilities for students

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley Hall 319

Your students spend a lot of time on social media, but do they know why certain content appears on their feeds? Algorithms are powerful but often invisible forces shaping our online experiences — whose interests are they designed to promote? This presentation will help you dive into the world of algorithms and generative artificial intelligence so you can teach students to consider the civic and social impact of these technologies. You’ll preview the News Literacy Project’s “Introduction to Algorithms” and “Making Sense of Data” Checkology lessons to gain an understanding of how search and social media algorithms work; explore the opportunities and pitfalls of large language model chatbots; and learn about the evolution of AI image generators, such as DALL-E. We’ll also take a look at where these technologies are heading and discuss their implications for civic discourse, student research and pedagogical practice.

Speakers

Elliott Goodman

Director of District Fellowships, News Literacy Project

Elliott Goodman is the Director of District Fellowships at the News Literacy Project. In this role, he supports the implementation of districtwide strategies to bring news literacy education to students across the country. Before joining the News Literacy Project in 2025, Elliott... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley Hall 319 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

1:00pm PDT

Yellow-Light: Developing Clear and Ethical Guidelines for AI Integration

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley Hall 124

Does AI keep you up at night? Do you often imagine how AI will impact–or even transform–your humanities classroom? You’re not alone!

Participants will hear from two high school English teachers who are actively working through how to use AI in meaningful ways. We'll share what we're learning about a pedagogically sound framework that helps both teachers and students think through when and how to use AI.*

(*Modeling the collaborative practices used in our classrooms, the second paragraph was written in partnership with Claude AI.)

Speakers

Cady Rey

Faculty/Staff, Jesuit High School

Cady Rey teaches English I and Honors English II at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. She holds a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Portland and a master's degree in curriculum and instruction from Lewis and Clark College. In her classroom, Cady supports... Read More →

Claire Breiholz

Faculty/Staff, Jesuit High School

Claire Breiholz teaches AP English Language and English I at Jesuit High School in Portland, Oregon. She holds a master's degree in curriculum and instruction. In her classroom, Claire supports students as they develop into responsible researchers and process-oriented writers. She... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley Hall 124 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

1:00pm PDT

*Student Led* Guiding AI Policy with Student Voice

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley Hall 206

We will show the collaborative process we used to engage HS and MS students with AI policy crafting for our district. Through an 8 week series of meetings and discussions, our students are engaging in deep-dive sessions covering technical literacy, ethical dilemmas, and a critique of draft policy and guidance. This process will culminate with the creation of a Student AI Bill of Rights and Responsibilities, a document that will bridge the gap between academic integrity and technological innovation. Our exhibit will showcase the collaborative journey through which students moved from AI consumers to AI policy architects. Attendees will walk through our roadmap and see how we facilitated student-led critiques of "adult-written" policies. Most importantly, the booth is led by the students themselves, who will share their experiences in navigating the tension between AI assistance and human authorship. By sharing our modular framework, we will provide a replicable model for any district looking to democratize their approach to emerging technology and ensure that those most affected by AI policy have a primary seat at the table.

Speakers

Shanna Schlitz

Director of IT, Riverdale School District

Shanna Schlitz began her career in printing and graphic design, but her passion for science fiction and mystery-solving eventually launched her into the frontier of educational technology. Now, she serves as a navigator, helping educators set the stage for innovative learning. Although... Read More →

Sarah Hansen

High School Librarian, Riverdale School District

Guiding AI Policy with Student Voice pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley Hall 206 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone

1:00pm PDT

From Theory to Engagement Through a UDL Lens

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 306

Hands-on learning is a powerful approach to making learning meaningful, memorable, and accessible for all students. In this session, we’ll explore how the Universal Design for Learning (UDL) 3.0 Guidelines can be applied to create inclusive, engaging, and equitable learning experiences, especially for students from marginalized communities.
Participants will examine how tactile, collaborative, and inquiry-driven activities align with UDL principles of Engagement, Representation, and Action & Expression. Using examples from LEGO® Education science tools, we’ll illustrate how hands-on learning can support diverse learners in building scientific understanding and confidence.

Speakers

Denise Phillips

Solutions Architect, Lego Education

Tuesday May 12, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 306 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone, Beginner

2:15pm PDT

Rethinking Study Prep: A Workshop Using NotebookLM

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 312

Google’s NotebookLM is a powerful, flexible tool—but its real value emerges when students use it intentionally. This workshop explores how NotebookLM can support reflection and metacognition by helping students actively decide what to study, not just how long to study. Rather than defaulting to rereading notes or cramming everything at once, students learn how to curate key materials from class, organize them purposefully, and transform them into personalized study supports.

Participants will examine concrete strategies for selecting high-value content, identifying core concepts, and recognizing gaps in their own understanding. The session emphasizes metacognitive habits that prompt students to think about their learning choices, evaluate what is working, and adjust accordingly. By shifting from passive review to intentional preparation, students build stronger ownership of their learning and develop practical skills to study more effectively—both for assessments and long-term understanding.

Speakers

Tobin Shields

Teacher and Instructional Coach, Center for Advanced Learning

Tobin Shields is a high school computer science teacher in Gresham. He has taught college coursework in cybersecurity, programming, and information technology. He is also an instructional coach and technology coordinator TOSA in addition to the lead CTE instructor in his program... Read More →

NotebookLM Workshop Building Metacognitive Skills pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 312 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Anyone

2:15pm PDT

AI and the Higher Education Landscape: Implications for K-12 Leadership

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 101

As we navigate the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the educational landscape, significant questions about ethical use and the human-AI interface remain unanswered. This session presents a research initiative from George Fox University’s College of Education that explores how K-12 stakeholders, graduate students, and faculty perceive and use AI. Moving beyond the "sit and get" theory, this presentation shares baseline data and "on the ground" insights gathered during the Spring 2026 Semester.

We will examine the complexities of maintaining a human-centered approach while navigating the challenges of AI regulation and misuse. Attendees will engage with strategies for building equity-centered mindsets and fostering a culture of innovation across higher education and K-12 district leadership. By centering student voice and ethical advocacy, this session equips educational leaders with the tools needed to develop robust policies and practical frameworks. Participants will leave with actionable insights on how to scale AI literacy, build trust with families, and lead organizational change that prioritizes the human element in a digital age.

Speakers

Debra Espinor

Associate Professor, George Fox University

Debby is an Associate Professor of Education at George Fox University, where she teaches in the Educational Leadership Department. Her background includes research in Faith Development and, more recently, in AI and its integration with the spiritual side of being human. She... Read More →

Linda Samek

Emeritus Administrator, George Fox University

Linda is a "retired" provost from George Fox University. She currently teaches online for adult degree programs and mentors doctoral students in George Fox's Educational Leadership Department. Along with Debby Espinor, she is intrigued by the human interface with AI and all that means... Read More →

AI and the Higher Education Landscape Espinor Samek pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 101 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Community Partnership & Leadership

Level Anyone

2:15pm PDT

What We Talk About When We Talk About AI

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 249

As schools respond to growing interest and concern around artificial intelligence, educators and leaders are being asked to explain what AI is, how it works, and why it matters, often to audiences with very different levels of technical background. This interactive workshop from Data Science for Everyone focuses on building a shared, plain-language understanding of how data literacy and data science form the foundation for meaningful AI literacy.

Led by DS4E’s Communications Specialist, Shea Stripling, and Instructional Design Director, Mahmoud Harding, this session will unpack the core ideas students need to understand AI, drawing from DS4E’s nationally developed K-12 Data Science and Data Literacy Learning Progressions. Participants will explore how data competency scaffolds into data science skills and, ultimately, into AI literacy.

The workshop will also provide a practical communications guide to help participants translate these ideas for different audiences — from students and teachers to families, school boards, and community members — using clear language, shared definitions, and trusted field consensus.

Speakers

Mahmoud Harding

Instructional Design Director, Data Science for Everyone

Mahmoud Harding is the Instructional Design Director at Data Science 4 Everyone, a national initiative based at the University of Chicago that works to expand and strengthen data science education at the K–12 level. Before joining DS4E, he was a mathematics instructor and co-developer... Read More →

Shea Stripling

Communications Specialist, Data Science for Everyone

Shea Stripling is the Communications Specialist at Data Science 4 Everyone, a national initiative and coalition based at the University of Chicago that works to spread and support data science education in K–12 classrooms nationwide. Prior to joining DS4E, Shea worked as a writer... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 249 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Community Partnership & Leadership

Level Anyone

2:15pm PDT

Building Foundational Literacy and AI Awareness for younger students (Grades K-5)

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 106

How can we prepare our youngest learners for a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence? In this session, participants will explore how to weave foundational AI awareness into core instruction for students in Grades K-5. You'll discover practical, age-appropriate strategies that will focus on strengthening traditional literacies—reading, writing, math, and media—by examining how AI tools work without directly engaging with AI chatbots. This hands-on session will also give you time to play with engaging, non-digital, and digital resources that you can take back and use next week.

Speakers

Darren Hudgins

Founder, Think Do Thrive

Darren Hudgins is the founder and the heart and soul behind Think Do Thrive, an education consulting venture dedicated to nurturing educators and fostering vibrant learning communities. With over 20 years of experience in education, Darren's passion for empowering others shines through... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 106 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone, Beginner

2:15pm PDT

Empowering Young People to Preserve, Reclaim, and Evolve Human Connection in an Age of AI

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 301

At a time in which young people are experiencing record levels of pervasive loneliness and disconnection - rapidly evolving AI products including AI companions and emotional support bots are promising to support young people's foundational social and emotional needs in new ways. Will these new technologies truly support human connection, or further erode and exacerbate the growing divides between humans? In this session leaders and Youth Fellows from the Rithm Project will share how we're thinking about these changes and tools we're using to help young people navigate this new world with agency and discernment.

Speakers

José Guallpa

Youth Fellow, Rithm Project

José Guallpa is a student at Brown University from Chicago, studying Computer Science and Education. His work focuses on how technology can support learning and expand access, especially for multilingual students.
Drawing on his Mexican background and interest in activism, José has explored projects in VR, AI, and cultural storytelling. He is interested in using digital tools not just for innovation, but to make education more inclusive and connected to community needs... Read More →

Nate Kerr

Head of Youth Partnerships, Rithm Project

Nate leads innovation and new product development work at City Year — focused on scaling holistic youth development practices in new ways across 29 cities.
Nate spends his non-working time chasing around his 2 and 5 year old boys, trying to stay outdoors whenever possible, spending too much money on AI subscriptions, and attempting to be a buddhist... Read More →

The Rithm Project AI Empowered Edu Main Session pptx

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 301 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Anyone

2:15pm PDT

*Student Led* Every Student Supported: How Students Think Teachers Should Be Using AI

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 206

The three student founders of AI-Rethought, Oregon's biggest student-led AI initiative, will be presenting a session discussing the future of AI-powered equity. With growing advances in technologies, more and more opportunities are arising to bridge learning gaps through AI. This session will include statistics gathered from across Beaverton School District, advice from students with years of AI in education experience, comprehensive examples of AI improving equity within the classroom, and a Q&A for educators to ask questions to experienced students. Our AI in education organization has expanded to 15+ school districts and 2000+ teachers. With this extensive experience, we are uniquely positioned to provide a grounded, real-world road map for implementing AI tools that truly serve every student's needs.

Speakers

Shiva Charan Enaguthi

co-founder, Artificial Intelligence Rethought

Hi! I’m Shiva Charan Enaguthi, Co-Founder of AI Rethought and Head of Educational Psychology, where I focus on rethinking how artificial intelligence is integrated into education. My work centers on designing meaningful courses for educators, exploring effective ways to teach with... Read More →

Henry Xu

co-founder, AIRethought

Hi everyone! My name is Henry Xu. I am currently a senior at Sunset High School and am extremely passionate about AI in education. Together with two of my friends, I founded AIRethought, an organization dedicated to promoting AI literacy to teachers. I've been fortunate enough to... Read More →

Yashwanth Narayan Shravanaboyina Besta

co-founder, Artificial Intelligence Rethought

I’m Yashwanth Narayan Shravanaboyina Besta, a senior at Sunset High School in the Beaverton area and Co-Founder & Co-CEO of AIR (Artificial Intelligence Rethought).Through AIR, I work to promote the ethical and effective use of artificial intelligence in education. I believe every... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 206 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone

2:15pm PDT

Ethical AI for English Learners: Lessons from Taiwan on Amplifying Voice Without Replacing Thinking

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 124

Generative AI is an arrival technology—already in students’ hands, regardless of school policy. This interactive workshop explores how educators can respond ethically and pragmatically for English learners by designing clear, time-bound expectations that protect language development, student agency, and cognitive effort.

Grounded in on-the-ground implementation in Taiwan, the session shares a 2025–26 working framework for restricted AI use and a spectrum of AI use developed for multilingual secondary students and aligned with Taiwanese Ministry of Education guidance. Rather than presenting a “best practice,” the workshop frames this work as local science: a set of hypotheses schools can test, evaluate through student work and feedback, and revise over time.

Leadership perspective from an on-the-ground administrator in Taiwan surfaces real implementation tensions—academic integrity, equity, clarity for students, and teacher workload—while keeping student experience central. Participants will analyze classroom scenarios, examine how AI boundaries shape student decision-making, and redesign one of their own assignments using a structured, ELL-focused AI-use framework. While rooted in Taiwan, the design principles are immediately transferable to English learners and multilingual classrooms everywhere.

Speakers

Seth Fleischauer

President, Banyan Global Learning

Seth Fleischauer is the founder and president of Banyan Global Learning, a U.S.-based education company that has spent nearly two decades designing and delivering live virtual learning experiences for students and teachers around the world. With a background in psychology from Princeton... Read More →

Ethical AI for English Learners Workshop AI Empowered Edu 2026 by Seth Fleischauer, Banyan Global Learning pptx

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 124 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Next-Gen Student Voice and Inclusion

Level Anyone

2:15pm PDT

Viral Rumors, Misinformation, and Lateral Reading - Oh My! How to address students' news literacy needs

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT

Shiley Hall 319

Using the News Literacy Project’s Checkology Virtual Classroom and RumorGuard.org, we'll focus on addressing how to debunk viral rumors that use AI-created content, how to evaluate the credibility of sources online, and how to teach lateral reading to verify claims. We’ll preview potential learning activities and discuss activities that tie student social media consumption to civic action. Participants will leave with at least one – but hopefully many – ideas to take back to implement news literacy instruction in their educational settings.

Speakers

Elliott Goodman

Director of District Fellowships, News Literacy Project

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley Hall 319 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Workforce Readiness & Durable Skills

Level Anyone

AIEmpoweredEDU2026

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