Local Leader Carousel: Practical Ideas You Can Use
Virtual
Event Details
Join school and district leaders from across Iowa for a virtual professional learning experience focused on practical, real-world ideas you can use in your own school or district. Local leaders will share successful practices, lessons learned, and strategies that are making a difference in their communities.
With five 45-minute sessions featuring different presenters and topics, you can choose the sessions that best match your interests and needs—or participate in all five. Drop in, learn from colleagues, gather new ideas, and leave with strategies you can put into practice.
Schedule
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SESSION ONE 9-9:45 a.m. |
What's New in AI: Fall 2026 Update AI tools are evolving fast. This session covers the tools actually worth your time. We'll look at overall AI updates, what's new in Google NotebookLM, Meta's Muse AI, the design tools inside Claude, recent updates to Google Slides, and a few other tools that have crossed our radar. We'll cover what these tools do, how educators can use them, and where to start if you haven't used them yet. |
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SESSION TWO 10-10:45 a.m. |
Igniting Grit to Prevent Burnout: Building Capacity in Staff and Students through Reflective Leadership School leaders face rising burnout, behavior challenges, and initiative fatigue. This session shares a replicable approach to building grit in staff and students without adding programs. Learn practical reflection and coaching strategies embedded in existing systems to strengthen resilience and well-being. |
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SESSION THREE 11-11:45 a.m. |
From Paper to Practice: Breathing Life into Your District's Strategic Plan Transform your strategic plan from a document into a culture. This session delivers tangible action steps—from the district office to the classroom—to build a premier learning and working environment. You’ll gain ready-to-use frameworks, community-tested resources, and a clear communication strategy to align your district's story and bring your mission to life. |
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SESSION FOUR 12-12:45 p.m. |
MTSS & SDI: Moving from Parallel Systems to One Coherent Framework In many schools, MTSS and Specially Designed Instruction operate as parallel systems rather than one unified framework. In this session, get clarity as to how SDI fits within MTSS, distinguishes intervention from individualized instruction, and provides practical tools to ensure aligned supports for all learners—especially students with IEPs—without duplication and confusion. |
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SESSION FIVE 1-1:45 p.m. |
North Scott Community School District: Our Career and Technical Education and Work Based Learning Story Join the North Scott team to learn about how they have enhanced high-quality career and technical education opportunities for eastern Iowa students through the development of the Regional Innovation Center and how, through local partnerships, they are working to provide impactful work-based learning. |
For More Information:
12199 Stratford DriveClive, Iowa 50325
United States 515.267.1115
Registration fee: FREE
Use of AI: While we appreciate the efficiency of AI productivity tools, we ask that all AI note-takers and recording bots be disabled during our professional learning sessions for intellectual property protection, privacy and psychological safety, and finally to maintain your active presence. Note: If you require specific accessibility accommodations or have a documented need for transcription services, please reach out to the session coordinator privately so we can provide a solution that respects our speakers' privacy.
Accommodations: We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable all individuals, including individuals with disabilities, to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact Amy Swanson at 515-267-1115 or email aswanson@sai-iowa.org.
We appreciate requests being made 10 business days in advance of the event. Sharing your needs early allows us the best opportunity to reduce barriers to your participation.
Log-in instructions and any resources will be emailed prior to the event.