In these Welcome Remarks, we’ll set the stage for an exciting day of learning and exploration. Together, we’ll preview the key themes and sessions designed to help you transform AI momentum into meaningful change.

AI dominates today’s conversations, yet we rarely focus on how it can help learners become more capable and connected humans. In this keynote, Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE and ASCD, explores how AI can elevate the skills that define strong learners and engaged citizens, such as communication, creativity, and problem solving. He will introduce the idea of an “AI-ready” graduate and outline the habits and dispositions students need in order to thrive in an AI-rich world, highlighting six essential human skills that matter more, not less, as technology advances.

As we consider what an AI-ready graduate looks like, AI also pushes us to rethink long-standing assumptions about learning. Instead of centering on cheating or enforcing compliance, educators can use this moment to reconsider what it means for students to show mastery and engage deeply. Schools do not need to teach every student how to code or understand the inner workings of AI systems. They need to help learners use AI to enhance what humans do best.

This keynote offers an inspiring vision for how AI can help schools cultivate graduates who are ready not only for the future of work, but for the future of being human.

AI represents an exciting opportunity for K-12, offering the possibility of a major leap forward if used with care and purpose. While it can be easy to focus on the latest AI tools and flashy features, Panorama CEO Aaron Feuer has seen how powerful technology can be when educators are asking big, human-centered questions: What problems are we trying to solve for our teachers, students, and families? Where can we use AI to drive the greatest impact in service of our people and our student outcomes?

In this keynote address, Feuer will highlight how bold school and district leaders across the country are stepping confidently into the future, leveraging AI not simply to automate or streamline, but to confront long-standing challenges and redesign the conditions for student success. Anchored in student data, district context, proven practices, and security and privacy, hear how these districts are pioneering a new era of instructional innovation and systemwide improvement through AI.

This session offers an optimistic and pragmatic look at what’s working and lessons learned from the ground. You’ll walk away with a clear understanding of how to define your classroom/school/district vision to move from AI’s potential to powerful impact where it matters most: student success.

Get ready to get creative! In this live session, we’ll build our own AI-powered journey together, making real-time choices as it unfolds. Whether you take this time for yourself or join in to help shape the experience, AI will turn imagination into something interactive.

Meeting the needs of every student requires both precision and care, especially for learners who benefit from additional support to thrive. But Special Education (SPED) implementation remains one of K-12's most complex, compliance-heavy, and resource-intensive challenges.

This session explores how Mesquite ISD in Texas is strengthening their SPED practices within their MTSS with purpose-built AI. Discover how AI can assist with drafting personalized, high-quality IEP plans to support school and districtwide intervention progress monitoring, and see how context-aware recommendations layered on top of unified data can support those most at risk or navigating complex circumstances.

Presenters will also share their approach to and journey with AI leadership, demonstrating how AI can be used to build a culture of safely and securely using real student data to close learning gaps.

Across K-12 education, district and system leaders are moving beyond AI pilots to purposeful strategies that drive real improvements in teaching, learning, and student outcomes. This moment calls for leadership that can turn experimentation into meaningful, measurable impact.

This session brings together forward-thinking K-12 leaders who are charting the path from early AI exploration to sustained, student-centered implementation. Panelists will discuss how districts and systems are aligning vision, infrastructure, and professional learning to ensure AI enhances instruction, supports educators, and improves the student outcomes. The conversation will focus on practical leadership insights, lessons learned, and the strategic decisions that enable innovation to translate into meaningful classroom results.

Join us for an inside look at Panorama’s newest innovations—tools that put support directly in students’ hands while giving educators the insights they need to drive meaningful outcomes. You’ll hear what’s launching now, what’s coming next, and how these updates make it easier for educators, district leaders, and families to support every learner effectively. Whether you’re a longtime Panorama partner or exploring new solutions, this session will show how Panorama continues to evolve to meet the needs of today’s students and the districts that serve them.

Take a quick pause from the day’s content and recharge with a burst of interactive trivia! Whether you take this dedicated time for yourself or jump in to play, this playful break will reset your brain, boost your energy, and get you ready for what’s ahead — with fun prizes along the way.

When people hear “AI in education,” they often imagine shortcuts—tools that write essays for students or automate lesson planning for educators—raising concerns about student engagement, depth of learning, and instructional quality. But AI doesn’t have to replace critical thinking; when used with intention, it can help spark it and support the deeper thinking we want to see in every classroom.

In this energizing session, educator and author Matt Miller will share practical, classroom-ready strategies for using AI to help students think more deeply and critically, engage with complex ideas, and develop the reasoning skills needed for the future.

You'll also walk away with empowering ideas to confidently adapt to the ever-changing education landscape, to elevate teaching and learning, and set your classroom up for success.

What if learning were designed not for the “average student,” but for each learner’s interests, strengths, and context? This session, led by global education expert Rebecca Winthrop, explores how AI can make K–12 learning more engaging and relevant by helping students shift from passive participation to active exploration and problem solving.

Together, we will look at where AI truly adds value and where it falls short, with clear examples that show the difference between surface-level use cases and approaches that can deepen understanding, spark curiosity, and build student agency.

You’ll leave with practical guidance for using AI thoughtfully across a school system to create richer, more personalized learning experiences that help students thrive.