iNNovate 2026 NNPS: Full Schedule

9:45am EDT

Unseen Potential: Supporting Special Populations in the Classroom

Wednesday August 12, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am EDT

Limited Capacity seats available

This professional development session is designed to deepen educators’ understanding of special populations within the classroom, with a focus on gifted and advanced learners, English Language Learners (ELL) and twice-exceptional (2e) students. Participants will explore the unique cognitive, academic, and social-emotional characteristics that often lead to under identification or misidentification of these learners. Through interactive discussion and case-based scenarios, educators will examine how giftedness can manifest differently in ELL and 2e students, including the impact of language acquisition, cultural differences, and coexisting disabilities. The session will highlight common social-emotional needs such as perfectionism, frustration, masking, and identity development. Educators will leave with practical, research-based strategies to support these learners, including differentiation techniques, culturally responsive practices, strength-based approaches, and targeted supports during instruction.

This session is intended for K-12 Administrators, Teachers, and Counselors.

Speakers

Kimberly Beckerdite

Supervisor of Gifted Services and Advanced Placement, Newport News Public Schools

I am the Supervisor of Gifted Services and Advanced Placement for NNPS. I work with students, teachers, and schools K-12 with advanced academic programs. My goal is to share strategies for differentiation, critical thinking, creative thinking, higher-order thinking and question... Read More →

Stacy Wilson

Gifted Resource Teacher, Gifted Services

I have worked with gifted students for 10 years, the last 2 years as a Gifted Resource teacher. My instructional interests involve STEM and Computer Science, as well as creative problem solving.

Wendy Morgan

Gifted Services Resource Teacher, Newport News Public Schools

I enjoy attending engaging sessions about brain-based learning, brain gym, creativity, inquiry learning, gifted learning, and STEM. I teach and work with K-5 gifted students and elementary and early childhood educators. I love learning through collaboration, visualization, and... Read More →

Wednesday August 12, 2026 9:45am - 10:45am EDT
A109

Preschool Staff, Supporting Diverse Learners | Elementary Staff, Supporting Diverse Learners | Middle School Staff, Supporting Diverse Learners | High School Staff, Supporting Diverse Learners

11:00am EDT

Elevating Thinking: Differentiation Through Strategic Questioning

LIMITED

Wednesday August 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

A109

Limited Capacity seats available

In this engaging professional learning session, educators will explore how intentional questioning can serve as a powerful tool for differentiating instruction for all learners. Participants will examine the role of higher-order questioning in promoting critical thinking, creativity, and depth of understanding. The session will focus on designing and implementing purposeful questioning strategies during whole-group and, more specifically, small-group instruction to meet the diverse needs of learners. Educators will learn how to scaffold and extend thinking through open-ended, layered, and student-driven questions, while also practicing techniques for facilitating meaningful dialogue in small-group settings.

This session is intended for K-12 Teachers.

Speakers

Kimberly Beckerdite

Supervisor of Gifted Services and Advanced Placement, Newport News Public Schools

Stacy Wilson

Gifted Resource Teacher, Gifted Services

I have worked with gifted students for 10 years, the last 2 years as a Gifted Resource teacher. My instructional interests involve STEM and Computer Science, as well as creative problem solving.

Wednesday August 12, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
A109

Preschool Staff, Planning for Student Engagement | Elementary Staff, Planning for Student Engagement | Middle School Staff, Planning for Student Engagement | High School Staff, Planning for Student Engagement

1:15pm EDT

Elevate Your Community Nights: Turn School Events into Signature Experiences

LIMITED

Wednesday August 12, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT

A109

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how to transform traditional school events into high-impact, community-centered experiences that align with our school division’s strategic vision. This session focuses on increasing attendance, strengthening school identity, and building meaningful connections through cross-curricular collaboration, student performance, and intentional storytelling. Participants will leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use planning tools to elevate their next event.

This session is intended for any staff who support, promote or organize school based events or Visual & Performing Arts teacher who hold concerts.

Speakers

Katie SheehanSmith

Supervisor Visual and Performing Arts, Newport News Public Schools

Wednesday August 12, 2026 1:15pm - 2:15pm EDT
A109

Preschool Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks | Elementary Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks | Middle School Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks | High School Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks

2:30pm EDT

Digital Zen: Streamline your Workspace

LIMITED

Wednesday August 12, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT

A109

Limited Capacity seats available

How much time do you lose endlessly scrolling for emails, searching for buried Drive files, or locating the browser tab you’ve already opened four times? These ""wasted clicks"" create search fatigue that drains the energy you need for planning and instruction.
Join me for a high-energy, hands-on lab designed to help you reclaim your time from clicking. This isn’t a ""sit and get"" session—it’s a ""do and finish"" workshop. With guidance from a digital learning coach, visual task cards, and self-paced tutorials, you will choose your own pathway to ""digital zen."" Attendees will clear the obstacles in Outlook, Google Drive, and Google Chrome to create a personalized, organized digital ecosystem ready for immediate use.

This session would benefit educators who teach any grade level or subject area, as well as instructional assistants and district staff who want to eliminate digital clutter and reclaim instructional time. This session would benefit new teachers with less than 3 years of experience.

Speakers

Karen Griffin

Instructional Coach for Digital Learning, Newport News Public Schools

Karen Griffin is an Instructional Coach for Digital Learning with Newport News Public Schools. She has been in education for 17 years, 9 years as a preschool teacher. She works with teachers and students at the Early Childhood Centers (PK). Karen has been a Seesaw Certified Educator... Read More →

Wednesday August 12, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EDT
A109

Preschool Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks | Elementary Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks | Middle School Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks | High School Staff, Streamlining Teacher Tasks