NASA Summer Institute 2026

Time

Event

Location

4:00 – 5:00 PM

Registration and Networking

Exhibit Hall

5:00 – 6:00 PM

Welcome Reception

Vendor Hall

Time

Event

Location

7:00 – 8:00 AM

Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Exhibit Hall Vendors

Exhibit Hall

8:00  – 8:30 AM

Welcome, Overview of the Day, Networking Activity

Ballroom

8:30 - 9:30 AM

Keynote -Houston Craft - Connection Before Correction: the Leadership Case for Kindness

Ballroom

9:30 - 9:50 AM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

9:50 - 11:05 AM

Breakout Session #1

Breakout Rooms

Rethinking Mentoring and Induction – Marissa McClish, Dr. Nicolette Smith, and Merri Pray

Tahoe A

Coaching and Supervising Underperforming Employees – Heidi Gavrilles, Heather Thaxton, and Dr. Katie Louise Weir

Tahoe D

The Future of Personalized Learning: How AI Can Reduce Teacher Burnout While Accelerating Student Growth – Jasa Todorovich

Emerald Bay

Leading the Implementation of SB460 - Strategies and Implications for School and District Leaders -Elysa Arroyo and Kathy Hoyt

Falling Leaf

Leading High Quality Tier 1 Instruction Through Teacher Clarity – Colbee Riordan and Amy Wright

Marla Bay

Decreasing Disruptive Behaviors and Increasing Engagement - Houston Craft

Glenbrook

Setting Up for Success: Using MagicSchool to Plan, Differentiate, and Launch a Strong School year - Monica Gilfillan

General Session Room

Fireside Chat: Hear from NASA’s VIP Partners to help find solutions to the challenges your schools and departments are facing

Sand Harbor III

11:05 - 11:20 AM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

11:20 AM - 12:35 PM

Breakout Session #2

Leading High Quality Tier 1 Instruction Through Teacher Clarity – Colbee Riordan and Amy  Wright

Tahoe A

Tahoe D

Engineering Dynamic Professional Learning for Professional Excellence - Niki Smith

Emerald Bay

Strengthening Tier 2 Supports: Aligning Academics and Behavior for Greater Student Impact - Devon Wible and Houston Kraft

Falling Leaf

The Economic and Social Benefits of Re-Engaging High School Dropouts - Dr. Abby Andres and Laura-Lee Manley

Marla Bay

Conditions for Success: What Data Reveals About Systemwide Improvement - AJ Adams

Glenbrook

Every Student + Early Access = College and Career Opportunities - John Long

Sand Harbor III

12:35 - 12:45 PM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

12:45 - 1:45 PM

Lunch and Panel Discussion - Allocating Resources Reveals Priorities: Leading Through Funding Uncertainty - Mike Kazmierski hosted by Wanda Washington

Ballroom

1:45 – 2:00 PM

Visit Exhibits & Learn from NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

2:00 - 3:00 PM

Keynote #2: Leadership When It’s Hard: Stability, Clarity, and Courage - Dr. Adam Drummond

Ballroom

3:00 - 3:30 PM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners and Ice Cream Break

Exhibit Hall

3:30 - 4:45 PM

Breakout Session #3

Breakout Rooms

Enacting Social Change Through Community Partnerships - Dr. Joel Peixoto and Dr. Jafeth Sanchez

Tahoe A

Proven Ways to Accelerate SBAC Math Achievement All Year - Erin Walker and Joost Demoes

Tahoe D

Writing as a Road to Comprehension: Shifting Practice and Engaging Students - Dr. Eugene Greenfield

Emerald Bay

AI in Action: Supporting Instruction and Student Outcomes - Ashley Edwards

Falling Leaf

Strengthening the Nevada Read by Grade 3 Outcomes with I-Ready Inform - Prim Walters

Marla Bay

Developing Routines that Support the Science of Reading in a K-5 Classroom - Kristen Elizondo

Glenbrook

Improving Math Outcomes in Nevada: From Initiative Overload to Instructional Coherence - Joe Hettler and Allison Aliaga

General Session Room

Fireside Chat: Hear from NASA’s VIP Partners to help find solutions to the challenges your schools and departments are facing

Sand Harbor III

4:45 - 5:00 PM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

5:00 – 6:00 PM

Keynote - Beyond Boundaries: Reimaging Leadership, Teacher Preparation, and the Future of Teaching - Jina Eksaengsri

Ballroom

6:00 PM

Dinner on your own.

Time

Event

Location

7:00 – 8:00 AM

Registration, Continental Breakfast, and Exhibit Hall Vendors

Exhibit Hall

8:00 – 8:15 AM

Welcome, Overview of the Day, Networking Activity

Ballroom

8:15 – 9:30 AM

Keynote  - The Choices that Define Leadership – Joe Ernst

Ballroom

9:30 – 9:45 AM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

9:45 - 10:15 AM

Leveraging Labor Relations - Discussion with Doug Owen and Dawn Etcheverry - hosted by Dr. Katie Louise Weir

Ballroom

10:15 – 10:30 AM

Visit Exhibits & Learn from NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

10:30 - 11:45 AM

Breakout Session #4

Breakout Rooms

Beyond the Resume: Modernizing Leadership Hiring Through Competency Frameworks – Carmen Orozco and Dr. Katie Louise Weir

Tahoe A

Leading with Data: Innovating Systems that Inspire Educators to Act - Dr. JT Stark

Tahoe D

Strategic Leadership in Practice: Building Capacity, Trust, and Sustainability - Jenn Hunter

Emerald Bay

Leading Through Change: Practical Strategies for Today's School Leaders - Lori Gonzalez and James Zeller

Falling Leaf

Stellar Clarity: Using AI to Strengthen Teacher Clarity and Differentiate Reading Instruction - Kate Peila

Marla Bay

Turning Insight into Impact: MTSS and i-Ready in Nevada - Dr. Joshua Sain

Glenbrook

Alignment is a Leadership Skill - Adam Lane

Sand Harbor III

11:45 AM – 12:00 PM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

12:00 - 1:45 PM

Lunch and Keynote - Richard Carranza - Alignment Is a Leadership Skill: Lessons from Mariachi on Eliminating Systemic Dissonance

Ballroom

1:45 - 2:00 PM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners

Exhibit Hall

2:00 - 3:15 PM

Breakout Session #5

Breakout Rooms

Teaching and Leading from the Heart Through Safe and Respectful Learning - Cassandra Hayes and Crassandra Lopez

Emerald Bay

Beyond the Resume: Modernizing Leadership Hiring Through Competency Frameworks -Carmen Orozco and Dr. Katie Louise Weir

Tahoe D

Systemic Dissonance in the Classroom (extension from keynote) - Richard Carranza, student Miss Elston, and Kim Wooden

Tahoe A

The Nuts and Bolts of Launching a Successful Teacher Residency Program - Jina Eksaengsri

Marla Bay

Psychological Process Behind the Mind/Brain that Controls SEAD/SEL - Dr. Sheila Ce’Anderson-Echegoyen

Glenbrook

More than Just Educators: the Power that Perspectives Play in Building Stronger Relationships - Robert Hinchcliffe

Falling Leaf

Systematic Leadership, Powerful Instruction: Building Sustainable Literacy Growth in a Multilingual School - Mike Dixon, Stephanie Cresta, Brooke Kimber, and Elyse Hansen

General Session Room

Fireside Chat: Hear from NASA’s VIP Partners to help find solutions to the challenges your schools and departments are facing - HMH Center for Model Schools,  Magic School AI, Next Gen Math, Cognia, IXL

Sand Harbor III

3:15 - 3:30 PM

Visit Exhibit Hall and Connect with NASA Partners, Cookie and Brownie Break

Exhibit Hall

3:30– 5:00 PM

Keynote #5 -  Leadership is Stewardship of People, Public Trust, and Finite Resources: How Effective Leadership Eliminates Vacancies and Turnovers - Adam Lane

End of Conference Drawings - must be present to win

Ballroom