WY TeacherCon 2026

When does AI support learning, and when does it get in the way? Educators need to make evidence-informed decisions about when AI supports student thinking, when it may shortcut the learning, and how classroom use should connect to clear instructional goals. In this session, participants will examine examples of AI use and consider what makes each use meaningful, questionable, or worth redesigning. Together, we will explore ways to align AI use with learning goals, protect student thinking, and design classroom experiences that are intentional and grounded in what we know about teaching and learning.

As AI becomes more capable, educators are being asked to rethink what students should know, do, and become. While AI can generate ideas, summarize information, and solve problems, it cannot replace the human capacities that shape learning, relationships, judgment, and meaning-making. This session explores the interplay between artificial intelligence, hybrid intelligence, relational intelligence, and human judgment. Participants will examine questions of cognitive offloading, academic integrity, privacy, and student development while considering how schools can cultivate the skills and dispositions that matter most in an AI-rich world.

As artificial intelligence increasingly integrates into educational environments, educational leaders face the challenge of moving beyond the initial ""shiny object"" phase of AI to focus on rigorous evaluation. This session addresses the critical need for a structured vetting process to ensure responsible and impactful adoption of AI. Our discussion will center on the Five EdTech Quality Indicators—Safe, Evidence-based, Inclusive, Usable, and Interoperable—a framework collaboratively developed by leading organizations like ISTE, CoSN, and SETDA.
Participants will explore how to establish a robust initial vetting workflow and discover the specific questions leaders must ask vendors to build a trusted tech stack. Furthermore, the session will highlight the importance of implementing a ""Continuous Improvement Loop"". This loop guarantees that the selected AI solutions consistently deliver value and continue to meet expectations well after the initial purchase. Join us to transform your district’s approach from pilot projects to safe, practical, and sustainable classroom practice.

As artificial intelligence increasingly automates technical and routine tasks, the "Durable Skills" of the human worker—Critical Thinking, Collaboration, and Adaptability—have become the primary currency of the modern economy. This session provides a deep-dive demonstration of a statewide, Canvas-based curriculum designed to equip high school students with verifiable micro-credentials in seven core competencies: Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Information Literacy, Entrepreneurship, Self-Direction, Work Habits, and Growth Mindset. Attendees will explore the internal architecture of these asynchronous modules, which guide students from theoretical understanding to active, observable demonstrations of mastery. We will detail the technical and pedagogical blueprint that allows other districts or states to adopt this competency-based framework within existing learning management systems.

The ultimate goal of special education isn’t just compliance – it’s EMPOWERMENT. Heavy case loads and limited time can create an uphill battle in ensuring individualized and engaging pathways for students in the special education arena. Welcome to the future of the equitable classroom! This 1-hour interactive presentation delivers practical, classroom-ready, and fully FERPA compliant AI strategies designed to level the playing field. Discover how to safely harness the power of artificial intelligence to supercharge academic participation, unlock student motivation, and foster structured independence for students receiving special education services—all without compromising data privacy.

Bring a laptop or tablet to this session so you can explore how NotebookLM can support integrated classroom activities by helping students work with curated sources, generate questions, synthesize ideas, and create meaningful products across content areas. Participants will leave with practical activity ideas they can adapt for their own classrooms.

Special education educators are the ultimate educational superheroes; balancing diverse learning profiles, endless paperwork, and the constant need for highly individualized instruction - but even superheroes need a sidekick. Welcome to the ultimate, fast-paced hour designed to transform artificial intelligence into your personal co-teacher! This presentation isn’t about theoretical future tech. It’s about practical, immediate, and ethical AI tools you can use now to make your instruction more accessible, engaging, and inclusive. AI won't replace the magic you bring to the classroom, but it will give you the time and tools to amplify it!

While procurement has always been a pillar of K-12 technology integration, Generative AI introduces unique cybersecurity and data privacy threats that traditional vetting processes miss. In this session, we will move beyond the allure of the free tools and pilots to reveal the hidden vulnerabilities of AI vendor negotiations—including data offshoring, liability for breaches, and unauthorized shadow IT. We’ll discuss why securing your district means looking beyond standard PII to protect the "learning process data" that vendors use to train their commercial models. Attendees will leave with a clear risk-mitigation framework and a comprehensive AI Data Protection Checklist. We will wrap up with a hands-on vetting scenario where you will practice using our data protection worksheet to evaluate a hypothetical vendor and defend your district's digital ecosystem.