Keynote Speakers

Catlin Tucker

Dr. Catlin Tucker is a bestselling author, international trainer, and keynote speaker. She was named Teacher of the Year in 2010 in Sonoma County, where she taught for 16 years. Catlin earned her M.Ed at the University of California at Santa Barbara and her Ed.D. in learning technologies from Pepperdine University, where she is a professor in the Master of Arts in Teaching program. She delivered her TEDx Talk, Education Reimagined: Student-led Learning, in June 2024. She has written a series of bestselling books and hosts the podcast The Balance, which explores strategies to make teaching and learning more sustainable and impactful.

Website: catlintucker.com
Instagram: @CatlinTucker

Keynote Presentation

AI cannot replace teachers or the human element of teaching, but it can help us design more effective learning experiences, use our time and technology more strategically, and create opportunities for students to lead their learning. In this keynote, Dr. Catlin Tucker explores how AI can support educators in shifting classroom workflows so teachers aren’t doing the lion’s share of the work or thinking. We’ll look at how AI can help us design for differentiation, build in meaningful choice, create flexible learning pathways, and develop scaffolds that invite students into deeper thinking. When we use AI to support thoughtful design up front, we free ourselves to facilitate learning and be more responsive to students’ needs in the moment. This keynote offers both a mindset shift and practical strategies to help teachers use AI to make teaching more sustainable and learning more student-driven, engaging, and meaningful.

Concurrent Sessions

Instructional video can be a powerful Tier 1 pathway when teachers want to say the same thing, the same way, while removing barriers to access and pacing. In this session, we’ll explore research-backed principles for designing effective instructional videos and examine how AI tools now make it easier than ever for teachers to create clear, accessible video instruction. The focus then shifts from the video itself to what surrounds it, specifically how teachers can design learning experiences that prompt students to think, talk, and make meaning together. Participants will explore practical strategies for using video as a catalyst for collaboration, communication, and shared sense-making rather than passive consumption. The session models how video instruction can support student-led learning while creating time and space for teachers to listen, confer, and provide targeted support during class.
Strong Tier 1 instruction is the most effective way to reduce the need for Tier 2 and Tier 3 intervention. In this session, we explore how the Station Rotation Model creates the time and space teachers need to differentiate instruction within Tier 1 through small-group instruction. Participants will examine how formative data, supported by AI-generated assessments and insights, can help teachers identify concepts and skills that are particularly challenging or reveal differences in student readiness. The session highlights how teachers can pair data with professional judgment to design teacher-led stations that provide targeted instruction, scaffolds, and challenge where needed. Teachers will also explore how AI can support differentiation by generating practice tasks, feedback, and instructional resources aligned with specific group needs. The session emphasizes using small-group instruction strategically to strengthen core instruction, increase access, and meet learner needs before additional intervention is required.

Laura Lawrence

Laura Lawrence is an award-winning entrepreneur, author, educator, keynote speaker, and founder of Youth Matter Canada. With extensive experience supporting student mental wellness and learning environments, she works with schools and organizations to balance innovation with human-centered education. Recognized with the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee Medal and a Women of Distinction Award for her work in youth mental health, Laura brings a practical, evidence-informed perspective on using technology to enhance, rather than replace, communication, connection, creativity and critical thinking in the classroom. She is passionate about safe, responsible technology use and teaching digital citizenship that supports balanced learning for students of all ages – because the most important skills learned in any classroom will always be the human-centered ones.

Website: www.lauralawrence.ca
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laura-lawrence-speaker/

Keynote Presentation

This keynote is designed for today’s tech-forward educators who understand that while digital tools may enhance learning – balance is essential. Grounded in current research on attention, cognition and youth mental health, Laura shares why it’s more critical than ever to cultivate focus-friendly learning environments that foster critical thinking, creativity and peer connection. Educators and IT professionals will gain evidenceinformed strategies to implement mindful, sustainable technology practices that support attention, authentic connection, and student well-being.

Concurrent Session

With her signature blend of relatable storytelling, humour, and practical insight, Laura breaks down the critical connection between mental wellness, school dynamics, and sustainable success. Drawing from her own experience and rooted in the latest research, Laura delivers a powerful framework that helps individuals and teams boost resilience, recharge and reconnect to create a culture where people feel empowered to thrive—both personally and professionally.