AIEmpoweredEDU2026: Full Schedule

9:30am PDT

AI literacy in Action: Practical ways to utilize AI for Research and Critical Thinking

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

Adopting AI literacy initiatives doesn’t have to be intimidating! In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to use AI tools such as ChatGPT, NotebookLM, and Scite.Ai to support critical thinking skills in their community. We will identify three core AI literacy skills critical to teach, explore research tools that reinforce critical thinking, and highlight practical resources that can reinforce AI literacy in any educational setting.

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 AI Lilteracy in Action pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley Hall 319 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Beginner

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

Shiley Hall 249

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

Generative AI for Multilingual Family Communication: Tools, Trust, and Thoughtful Use

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

Shiley Hall 206

Participants will explore generative AI tools that can support multilingual communication and family partnerships. Through a brief tools showcase, authentic feedback from students and families, and hands-on trial time, attendees will learn how to assess AI tools, identify appropriate use cases for translation and interpretation, and leave with practical tools they can begin using right away—while keeping trust, accuracy, and equity at the center.

Speakers

Kelsey Soltysiak

Senior Director of Communications, NWRESD

Kelsey Soltysiak oversees communications, government relations, and Spanish-language interpretation/translation at Northwest Regional Education Service District (NWRESD). She joined the organization in October 2019 and works to ensure information is accessible and supports a liberatory... Read More →

AI Presentation Resources pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley Hall 206 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Community Partnership & Leadership

Level Beginner

9:30am PDT

*Student Led* STOP: Addressing Explicit Deepfakes in Cyberbullying Policy

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

Shiley Hall 301

Attendees will be introduced to the STOP: Say Something. Take it Down. Offer Support. Provide Consequences. Framework for addressing explicit deepfake incidents in schools. This student-led initiative emphasizes both deepfake literacy and policy change, using informed solutions implementation to ensure student-centered policy.

1. Attendees will be able to define explicit deepfake technology
2. Attendees will critically examine past incidents and policy responses in schools across America
3. Attendees will gain an understanding of how to implement deepfake policy within their own schools

Speakers

Julianne Huang

co-founder, STOP Explicit Deepfake Campaign

Julianne is an AI policy advocate recognized by KATU News, AI for Education, Electronic Frontier Foundation and The Louis Anderson and Vicent Martinez World Citizenship Award. A senior at Valley Catholic High School, Julianne is a co-founder of the STOP Explicit Deepfake Campaign... Read More →

Richa Pandit

co-founder, STOP Explicit Deepfake Campaign

Richa is a youth advocate recognized by the Beaverton Mayor’s Leader of Tomorrow Award. A Junior at Valley Catholic High School, Richa is a co-founder of the STOP Explicit Deepfake Campaign, senior member at the Oregon Department of Education’s Youth Advisory Council, and member... Read More →

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley Hall 301 Shiley Hall, 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Beginner

9:30am PDT

Creating a Values-Based AI Policy

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

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305

Teachers are always being asked to adopt and adapt, often before we've gotten the chance to really think through how these shifts align with our teaching purpose and beliefs. In this workshop participants will have space to examine their teaching values, and consider how various AI tools and usages align with those values. After examining various AI use guidelines from districts/classrooms across the state, teachers will begin drafting their own.

Speakers

Em Winokur

Library Media Specialist, Parkrose High School

Em Winokur is the Library Media Specialist at Parkrose High School. She has over 15 years of experience teaching, as both an English teacher and Media Specialist in middle and high school. She is skeptical of big tech and believes deeply in teachers.

Tuesday May 12, 2026 9:30am - 10:30am PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Human-Centered & Ethical AI Literacy

Level Beginner

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

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

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

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

Fun with AI - Exploring AI to Enhance Creativity, Efficiency, and Engagement in Education and out of the classroom

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

Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305

Participants will be able to Leverage AI to streamline workflows, Design engaging, creative learning experiences, and Explore AI for personal and professional growth. Participants will be challenged to identify and record at least one Personal application (to spark joy/creativity) and one Professional application (to save time/enhance learning) triggered by my examples. This transforms the session into an active scavenger hunt for relevance.I will present a high volume of diverse "sparks"—from recipe generation to IB curriculum mapping—asking participants to mentally "fork" these ideas (modify them) for their specific context immediately.

Speakers

Judson Birkel

Computer Science Teacher, Salem High School

I am a Computer Science educator at South Salem High School, where I teach a wide variety of coding courses aimed at showing students that programming is everywhere. I take a "breadth-first" approach to my program, aiming to captivate student interest with a broad range of hands-on... Read More →

Fun with AI pdf

Tuesday May 12, 2026 2:15pm - 3:15pm PDT
Shiley-Marcos Center for Design & Innovation 305 5000 N Willamette Blvd, Portland, OR 97203, USA

Building Efficiency & Human Amplification

Level Beginner

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

AIEmpoweredEDU2026

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AIEmpoweredEDU2026

9:30am PDT

Jamie Nunez

9:30am PDT

Benjamin Baldizon

9:30am PDT

Kelsey Soltysiak

9:30am PDT

Julianne Huang

Richa Pandit

9:30am PDT

Em Winokur

10:45am PDT

Denise Phillips

1:00pm PDT

Kimberly Huber

1:00pm PDT

Patrick Stenger

Emery Mitchem

Laura Axon

1:00pm PDT

Denise Phillips

2:15pm PDT

Judson Birkel

2:15pm PDT

Darren Hudgins

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