WYTeacherCon25: Full Schedule

Join us for Wyoming’s inaugural statewide teacher conference, bringing together educators, administrators, and educational leaders from across the state. As we approach America’s 250th anniversary, TeacherCon25 celebrates our educational heritage while embracing the future of teaching and learning.

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8:00am PDT

Morning refreshments

Monday August 4, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am PDT

Gateway Ballroom

Monday August 4, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am PDT
Gateway Ballroom

8:00am PDT

Registration

Monday August 4, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am PDT

Gateway Center

Monday August 4, 2025 8:00am - 8:45am PDT
Gateway Center

9:00am PDT

Welcome address

Monday August 4, 2025 9:00am - 9:20am PDT

Gateway Ballroom

Monday August 4, 2025 9:00am - 9:20am PDT
Gateway Ballroom

9:20am PDT

Keynote

Monday August 4, 2025 9:20am - 10:15am PDT

Gateway Ballroom

Speakers

Superintendent Megan Degenfelder

State Superintended of Public Instruction, Wyoming Department of Education

Monday August 4, 2025 9:20am - 10:15am PDT
Gateway Ballroom

10:15am PDT

AM SNACK

Monday August 4, 2025 10:15am - 10:45am PDT

Conference Center Lobby

Monday August 4, 2025 10:15am - 10:45am PDT
Conference Center Lobby

10:45am PDT

Solving Problems, Igniting Curiosity: The FIELD Guide Approach to Social Studies

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT

Salon F

Seeking to increase student engagement without overwhelming yourself? Discover the Social Studies FIELD Guide, a teacher-tested framework that provides leveled instructional "Hikes” for teachers of all experience levels. This session demonstrates strategies of inquiry-based learning as both students and facilitators. Explore research-backed strategies for combining primary sources, inquiry, and different EdTech tools. Learn how the FIELD Guide's unique leveling system supports gradual pedagogical growth, allowing you to select and adapt lessons that align with your experience and classroom context. Gain practical resources and leave inspired to cultivate curious, collaborative learning.

Speakers

Joe Schmidt

Director of Programs, Bill of Rights Institute

Joe Schmidt is the founder of Joe Schmidt Social Studies LLC and the co-author of two books: Civil Discourse: Classroom Conversations for Stronger Communities and The Social Studies FIELD Guide. His experience spans pre-K through college, fostering connection among social studies... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT
Salon F

10:45am PDT

What is Whole Brain Teaching? LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT

Salon D

Whole Brain Teaching: The Engagement Revolution!

🚀 Are you ready to transform your classroom into an energy-filled, student-led learning powerhouse? 🚀

Imagine a classroom where students are so engaged they beg to participate, where disruptions vanish because learning is too exciting to ignore, and where every brain—yes, every brain—is firing on all cylinders.

Welcome to Whole Brain Teaching (WBT)—a high-energy, research-backed approach that turns traditional instruction on its head! In this interactive session, you'll experience WBT in action, learning powerful techniques that engage both teacher and students from bell to bell.

🔹 Discover the four POWER teaching strategies that will instantly boost student engagement.
🔹 See how WBT's brain-based methods increase retention, reduce behavior issues, and make learning FUN!
🔹 Leave with ready-to-use strategies you can implement tomorrow—no prep needed!

Come see, hear, and FEEL how Whole Brain Teaching will revolutionize your classroom!

Speakers

Weston Lamb-Costantino

Weston Lamb-Costantino is a passionate and innovative music educator at Stagecoach Elementary in Rock Springs, Wyoming, where he teaches kindergarten through 3rd grade music. With 13 years of experience, Mr. Lamb brings energy, creativity, and deep expertise to the classroom, blending... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT
Salon D

Classroom Management

10:45am PDT

Number Sense to Fluency LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT

Salon C

Mathematical fluency is attainable when students have a strong foundation in number sense. Participants in this session will build knowledge about the progression of skills within number sense and fluency. This session is appropriate for teachers, interventionists, coaches, and administrators. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in games and activities and explore ways to incorporate the strategies into their classrooms.

Speakers

Michelle Tudor

Math Intervention Teacher, Fayette County Public Schools, Harrison Elementary

Michelle Tudor is a math intervention teacher in Lexington, KY, with a passion for improving lives through education. She is a former Educational Recovery Leader at the Kentucky Department of Education and has worked as an assistant principal, curriculum coach, MTSS coach, and 5th-grade teacher... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT
Salon C

Mathematics

10:45am PDT

Your Journey to Personalized Learning LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT

Salon B

Break Free from One-Size-Fits-All: Unlock the Power of Personalized Learning in Your Classroom!
This session is will give you the tips and tools you need to start implementing a truly personalized classroom where every student can learn. We will discuss, assessments, proficiency scales, classroom management and everything in between. I will share practical strategies and real-world examples of how I have successfully implemented personalized learning in my classroom as well as my colleagues to create a systemic change to personalized learning. Attendees will gain insights into designing flexible curricula that address diverse student needs, using data-driven approaches to inform instruction, and creating an engaging learning environment that empowers students to take ownership of their education.

Speakers

Darian Samuelson

Teacher (Science), Upton High School

Hi there! My name is Darian Samuelson, and I’m the High School Science Teacher at Upton High School. I’ll be starting my eighth year this fall, and I truly love what I do.In addition to teaching, I’m a Student Council Co-Sponsor, Middle School Basketball Coach, and High School... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT
Salon B

Project Based Learning (PBL)

10:45am PDT

Wyo Wonders: Minerals & Energy LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT

Salon E

This session samples three lessons from the Wyo Wonders Minerals & Energy curriculum, designed for grades 2-5. We will engage in and discuss three activities that relate to Wyoming's natural resources, everyday products we all use to make the impact of minerals more relevant, and conservation.

Speakers

Darci Petersen

Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom

Darci Petersen became an Education Advocate for Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom in 2023. She enjoys educating about the non-profit's programs of Wyo Wonders, Bookmark & Beyond, and Educator of the Year. She is a former high school English teacher and athletics coach who has always... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT
Salon E

Science

10:45am PDT

Be the Teacher AI Can't Replace LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT

Salon A

Specific examples of policies and syllabi, mistakes made from 2 years of using AI in the high school Social Studies & English classrooms, lesson plan examples to teach students how to use AI (including ones that don't require students to access AI tools), what to do about plagiarism and academic honesty in the post-AI world, how to use AI as a co-teacher rather than just a shortcut

Speakers

Aaron Makelky

History Teacher, AI Integration, Aaron Makelky.com,

Passionate about helping professionals learn AI skills. Over 15 years of instructional experience, simplifying complex topics and making learning approachable and enjoyable. Expertise as an AI Integration Consultant guiding individuals, schools, and law, and SMB through the evolving... Read More →

Katie Galloway

High School English Teacher, NCSD #1

As a dedicated educator with 14 years of experience and a single mom, I’ve witnessed firsthand the challenges families face due to insufficient parental leave policies. My journey has not only shaped my perspective as a teacher but also fueled my passion for advocating for change... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 10:45am - 11:30am PDT
Salon A

Technology

11:30am PDT

LUNCH LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PDT

Gateway Ballroom

Monday August 4, 2025 11:30am - 12:45pm PDT
Gateway Ballroom

1:00pm PDT

Founders to Today: The Quest for Civic Virtue in America

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Salon F

Dive into an engaging exploration of America's past and present as we discuss the virtues and vices of some of our most renowned and notorious figures. In this thought-provoking session, participants will reflect on the founding principles and civic virtues that have shaped our nation, while debating whether these influential Americans should be considered "heroes" or "villains"—a question that may be more complex than it appears! Teachers will leave equipped with ready-made lessons and activities on virtues, vices, and character, ready to inspire rich discussions and critical thinking in their classrooms.

Speakers

Joe Schmidt

Director of Programs, Bill of Rights Institute

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Salon F

1:00pm PDT

Approach to Tackling Elementary Literacy on a School Wide Level LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Salon E

Learn about one school’s journey of joining forces with the UW Literacy Research Center and Clinic to develop and implement a school wide approach to literacy instruction. This session gives an overview of 3 years worth of collaboration from think tank sessions selecting which strand of literacy has the most immediate need to have researched based practices modeled by LRCC team members in actual classrooms, and then teachers implementing those best practice strategies.

Speakers

Chad Lemley

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Salon E

English Language Arts (ELA)

1:00pm PDT

Community Walks support relevant and engaging learning for students: A ready made activity for science and engineering instruction LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Salon A

Connecting to students’ lives and lived experiences has been shown to be an effective way to support their deep learning. Finding ways to bring students communities and experiences into the classroom in content-driven and instructionally-supportive ways is valuable for teachers. Attendees of this session will experience and walk away with a ready-made activity to engage students in their communities in ways that will help teachers connect to their lives in ways that support their science and engineering learning objectives. The relevance and local connections that are supported by this lesson should be compelling to attendees. This session will provide both firsthand experience with the activity as well as time to consider the activity in their own context, so they will leave the session prepared to enact the activity in their classroom.

Speakers

Martha Inouye

Teacher, University of Wyoming

Martha Inouye is a Research Scientist in the Science and Mathematics Teaching Center at the University of Wyoming. Her work focuses on the development and facilitation of K-12 science teacher professional development around the state of Wyoming. Specifically, she supports teacher... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Salon A

Pedagogy & Instructional Strategies

1:00pm PDT

Shaping Change Locally: Examples of Place-Based Education in a Rural Wyoming School LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Salon D

Participants will experience the transformative power of place-based education through the lens of rural Wyoming classrooms. Session attendees will discover how local, Wyoming teachers from Rock River School have integrated their unique landscape and community, place-based education, into their curriculum, everyday instruction, and state standards. This session bridges theory and practice, offering ready-to-adapt strategies that can engage students in any setting. Take home practical wisdom from Wyoming educators who have turned their community and place into their teaching assets.

Speakers

Alison Mercier

Leslie Cook

Head of Professional Learning, Teton Science Schools

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Salon D

Pedagogy & Instructional Strategies

1:00pm PDT

Teaching Narratives through the Story of a Wyoming WWII POW LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Salon B

"Dear Sirs" is a 3-time EMMY winning documentary, which tells the story of a Wyoming solider who became a Prisoner of War in Germany during WWII. The film was written, directed, filmed, and produced by Wyoming natives Mark Pedri and Carrie McCarthy. In this session, the filmmakers and the curriculum developer will present their curriculum to highlight a cross-curricular approach to teaching narratives and WWII. Using a brief excerpt from the film, they will discuss how the narrative methodology in the film is a powerful tool to not only engage students in learning about history, but to exemplify a personal narrative that students will use to create a personal narrative of their own in a final project. This session is directed towards 6-12 ELA and Social Studies educators; however, all are invited to attend to learn about local history and gain new ideas and perspectives on how to teach ELA and Social Studies standards.

Speakers

Caroline Smalstig

Social Studies Teacher

Carrie McCarthy

Producer, Burning Torch Productions

Carrie McCarthy is a scientist-turned-filmmaker whose path into documentary storytelling began as a scientific consultant on films. Since 2018, she has run Burning Torch Productions with Mark Pedri, producing and directing character-driven short and feature documentaries. Her films... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Salon B

Social Studies & Civics

1:00pm PDT

Wyoming Civics and Civic Engagement LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT

Salon C

How do we foster civics competency in Wyoming's youth? The Wallop Civic Engagement Program offers support to Wyoming's teachers through workshops, multi-media content, and much more - all tailored to Wyoming's Content & Performance Standards.

Speakers

Jason McConnell

Jean Garrison

Professor, University of Wyoming

Dr. Jean Garrison is professor of political science and international studies at the University of Wyoming and co-director of the Wallop Civic Engagement Program. Her areas of teaching and research focus on civic engagement, American foreign policy, energy security, and U.S.-China... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 1:00pm - 1:45pm PDT
Salon C

Social Studies & Civics

2:00pm PDT

Sources in Early Grades: Historical Literacy for Little Historians LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Salon F

Engage your elementary classroom with innovative primary source integration inspired by the Bill of Rights Institute’s new BRI Jr. curriculum. In this dynamic session, you will explore practical strategies, resources, and hands-on techniques to foster historical inquiry and empower students. Discover how to adapt primary sources to diverse classroom environments, create personalized lesson plans, and participate in an engaging activity from a 5th-grade lesson on the Articles of Confederation. Leave prepared to inspire your students with rich social studies learning experiences and a deeper understanding of history.

Speakers

Joe Schmidt

Director of Programs, Bill of Rights Institute

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Salon F

2:00pm PDT

Middle School Research with Trail Cameras: Learning the Art of Research LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Salon D

Teaching research comes with a combination of challenges for middle school students. Most do not have experience in research topics. The trail cameras offer a way for the students to focus on a research topic that is very general or very specific to one animal. In this activity the students worked as a research team. Each class period were a team. They had no choice, this experience helps them understand how to navigate collaborations as a group. This unit was about teaching them how to develop research questions. The second year (Spring 2025) is about teaching them to develop a measurement tool. What is quantitative and qualitative research? Can trail cameras research be a qualitative study? How does the Arapaho and Shoshone lens help you understand western research science methods?
In this session I will share the Wind River Reservation through the lens of the trail cameras and how my students interpret the 100,000+ photos they collected.

Speakers

Iva Moss

STEM Educator, Fort Washakie School/University of Idaho

Iva Moss, Northern Arapaho, is a middle school STEM educator at Fort Washakie School, Wind River Reservation, Wyoming. Indigenous research methods with middle school students is the current focus of teaching for Iva. Utilizing Indigenous storytelling as a path to introduce students... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Salon D

Indigenous Education

2:00pm PDT

Get Out and Embrace the True Spirit of RIDE! LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Salon B

Create a classroom without walls in the wonderful wilds of Wyoming. Collaborate and teach with inspired and passionate colleagues to highly motivated students who look forward to learning. Create the deeper level connections, both curricular and relational, with your students that we all strive for as educators.

Speakers

Dean Olenik

Park County School District 6

Elizabeth Hanson

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Salon B

Project Based Learning (PBL)

2:00pm PDT

Process over Product: Creating Purpose in Project-Based Learning LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Salon E

Too often, the focus is placed on the final product rather than the critical learning that happens along the way. In this session, we’ll flip that mindset and explore how emphasizing the process—research, synthesis, argumentation, and reflection—leads to deeper learning, stronger student engagement, and better critical thinking skills.

Speakers

Bryce Mittelstadt

Social Studies Teacher and Wyoming History Day Coordinator, Kelly Walsh High School and American Heritage Center

I'm a social studies teacher with ten years of experience in middle and high classrooms. I believe students learn best when they’re inspired to ask big questions, explore meaningful topics, and bring their ideas to life through creative, student-driven projects.I also coordinate... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Salon E

Project Based Learning (PBL)

2:00pm PDT

We’ve brought the stream inside: Learn along with Nature WY LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Salon A

Nature WY is a winner with a Regional Emmy, and a National award as an “Educational Resource for the Classroom”! Fun, free, educational resource made in Wyoming, with Wyoming’s real kids and real educators. Created for kids ages 6-8, with successful adaptation for kids from pre-K through 6th grade.
Hands-on learning with Nature WY and live creatures from Wyoming’s streams.

Take back to your classroom:

11 Nature WY short-format videos with lesson plans aligned to state and national standards.
11 Nature WY activity guides for parents/guardians.
A publicly-available, free app called SEEK to support your learning and the learning of your students.
Confidence to get outdoors with your students learning in the sciences!
Stickers and more, of course!

Speakers

Julie Rieder

Executive Producer, Science Kids

Julie Rieder’s two passions of science and education intersect in her role as Executive Director of the nonprofit Science Kids, an organization that gets kids outside, where great learning happens. Julie is a broadly trained ecologist, with a bachelor’s degree in biology and chemistry... Read More →

Jennifer Amend

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Salon A

Science

2:00pm PDT

Wyo Wonders: Agriculture LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT

Salon C

Picture your ideal farm or ranch—what does it look like? Don't just imagine it—come to this session and illustrate this farm or ranch! Dive into the fascinating history and science of Wyoming’s crops and livestock through engaging Wyo Wonders lessons. Once you're equipped with valuable insights about agriculture in our state, you’ll design your dream farm or ranch and calculate its economic impact. And to top it off, we’ll end with an exciting, friendly competition to see who’s vision stands out the most. This is your chance to learn, create, and have fun—don’t miss out!

Speakers

Michelle McCormack

Education Advocate, Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom

Michelle McCormack joined Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom as an Education Advocate in 2021. Michelle enjoys collaborating with teachers around the state to support them in sharing the message about the Wyo Wonders curriculum. She loves that Wyo Wonders teaches elementary students... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 2:00pm - 2:45pm PDT
Salon C

Science

2:45pm PDT

PM SNACK LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 2:45pm - 3:15pm PDT

Salon A

Monday August 4, 2025 2:45pm - 3:15pm PDT
Salon A

3:15pm PDT

Founders to Today: The Quest for Civic Virtue in America

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT

Conference Center Lobby

Speakers

Joe Schmidt

Director of Programs, Bill of Rights Institute

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT
Conference Center Lobby

3:15pm PDT

ElevatED Educator: Pathways to Purposeful Classroom Learning Experiences LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT

Salon E

This session stands out because it goes beyond theory and delivers immediately actionable strategies that educators can implement the very next day. Attendees won’t just sit and listen—they’ll engage, reflect, and leave equipped with tools and ideas that transform everyday lessons into purposeful, high-impact learning experiences.

What makes this session unique? We focus on learning pathways, a proven approach to naturally differentiate instruction, increase engagement, and deepen student understanding. Educators will gain insights into how purposeful content instruction can be woven into dynamic classroom experiences that capture students’ curiosity and sustain engagement.

Unlike other sessions that might focus solely on engagement or instructional strategies, this session bridges the two, showing educators how to design experiences that are not only engaging but deeply rooted in content mastery. If you want to leave with practical, field-tested strategies that elevate your teaching and student outcomes, this session is a must-attend!

Speakers

Kara Rigsby

Co-Founder, IntegratED LLC

Kara Rigsby is a professional development expert, instructional strategies specialist, forward-thinking educational leader, and current educator who strives to improve instruction while increasing student growth and teacher effectiveness. Kara works with educators at all levels... Read More →

Megan Diede

Co-Founder, IntegratED

Megan Diede is an educational leader, instructional strategies expert, and current educator who has a passion for improving student growth and teacher efficiency by changing the way instruction is being delivered in the traditional classroom. Megan collaborates with educators across... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT
Salon E

Pedagogy & Instructional Strategies

3:15pm PDT

Messy Data in the Classroom LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT

Salon F

Perfect dataset verses professional work (i.e., messy) dataset. My session is about my experience of bringing realistic data sets, that are uncertain and messy, into my classroom to have my students work with, connect to, draw conclusions from, and apply to a bigger context. Attendees will be able to see the data that I worked with, experience interactions with the data, graphs, and prompts, then review a student answers. I will also share my implementation process and my reflection on bringing in messy data. Attendees can then collaborate with others to visualize how they can implement messy data in their own classrooms.

Speakers

Chelsea Lund

I have been part of a Teacher Researcher Knowledge Exchange cohort the last two years and this year, I decided to bring messy data into my classroom. The data can be very overwhelming, especially to some of the lower level students, and I wanted my students to interact with something... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT
Salon F

Science

3:15pm PDT

Wyo Wonders: Exploring Wyoming’s Public Lands LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT

Salon C

Come join us as we explore Wyoming’s public lands and the unique terrain that provides recreational opportunities in Wyoming. We will also identify the many agencies that manage and protect Wyoming lands. All activities come from Wyo Wonders, a free 2nd-5th grade curriculum available to all educators!

Speakers

Carolyn Jacobs

Wyo Wonders

Carolyn Jacobs joined Wyoming Agriculture in the Classroom as an Education Advocate in 2020, and she feels it is a privilege to introduce teachers to the place-based curriculum, Wyo Wonders. She started her career as a middle school science teacher in Casper. After 20 years in the... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT
Salon C

Social Studies & Civics

3:15pm PDT

Engaging Every Student: Strategies to Boost Motivation and Drive Learning LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT

Salon D

While many sessions discuss student motivation and engagement in theory, we focus on actionable, research-backed strategies that teachers can implement immediately in their classrooms. This session equips educators with specific tools, lesson ideas, and classroom management tips that they can use on Monday morning.

Speakers

Ashley Archambault

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT
Salon D

Student Engagement Strategies

3:15pm PDT

AI Literacy - how can you implement AI literacy in your school and classroom LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT

Salon B

Tools and a framework you can use in your classroom to teach AI literacy

Speakers

Steven Priest

Educational Consultant, Wyoming Department of Education

Steven Priest is an Educational Program Consultant with the Wyoming Department of Education with the Innovation Team. Steven works with digital learning, serving our statewide Learning Management System (Canvas), micro-credentials, the Innovations in Learning Conference and the Digital... Read More →

Monday August 4, 2025 3:15pm - 4:00pm PDT
Salon B

Technology

4:00pm PDT

VIP Networking Event LIMITED

Monday August 4, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT

Gateway Center, 2nd Floor

Monday August 4, 2025 4:00pm - 5:30pm PDT
Gateway Center, 2nd Floor

6:00pm PDT

Gala/Awards Dinner

Monday August 4, 2025 6:00pm - 7:30pm PDT

Gateway Ballroom

Monday August 4, 2025 6:00pm - 7:30pm PDT
Gateway Ballroom