TransformED 2026: Full Schedule

You will be able to validate your attendance (Check-In to sessions) using your personal schedule.

11:20am EDT

ASVAB Utilization for Career Exploration

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Limited Capacity seats available

The primary focus of the presentation will be explaining how the ASVAB can be utilized as more than just a military entrance exam. While the ASVAB is used to determine eligibility and career opportunities for students interested in military service, it can also be a valuable career exploration and aptitude tool for students who have no interest in joining the military.

Speakers

Jordan Morrison

Staff Sargeant, Recruiting and Retention NCO, Albion Michigan Army National Guard Armory

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Career and College Readiness/Grad Requirements

Company High School
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

Beyond the Checklist: Rethinking Graduation in Michigan

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Many educators view graduation requirements as a fixed checklist of courses that every student must complete. In reality, the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC) was designed around demonstrated proficiency of high school content standards, not seat-time or a one-size-fits-all sequence of courses. The MMC provides far more flexibility than most educators realize.
This engaging session will challenge common misconceptions and demonstrate how districts can leverage MMC flexibilities and Personal Curriculum (PC) options to create meaningful, individualized pathways to a diploma. Participants will explore practical examples, dispel common myths, and discover innovative approaches that connect graduation requirements to students' Educational Development Plans (EDPs), career aspirations, and postsecondary goals.
Let's Rethink High School Together!

Speakers

Rashell Bowerman

Educational Consultant, MDE

Rashell Bowerman has been an Instructional Consultant with the Michigan Department of Education for over 14 years. As the department’s resident expert on Michigan’s graduation requirements, the Michigan Merit Curriculum (MMC), she supports local districts in ensuring that students... Read More →

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Career and College Readiness/Grad Requirements, High School Teachers, ELA Teachers, Math Teachers, Science Teachers, Social Studies Teachers, Administrators/Leadership, Special Educators

Company High School
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership, Special Education

11:20am EDT

Go Green, Go Competitive: Creating Our Envirothon Team and Green School Legacy

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

This session will share the journey of how we successfully launched a school Envirothon team and used that momentum to earn our official Michigan Green Schools certification. By aligning the hands-on, competitive training of Envirothon with the state's green school activity requirements, we created a powerful ecosystem where student passion drives school-wide environmental action. Most importantly, we will describe how this dual initiative served as a bridge for our science department, breaking down traditional subject silos and uniting biology, chemistry, and earth science under a shared, real-world mission.

Speakers

Marcelo Leonardi

Vandercook Lake MS/HS Principal, Vandercook Lake Public Schools

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Envirothon and Michigan Green Schools, High School Teachers, Science Teachers, Administrators/Leadership

Company High School
Audience Classroom Teacher, Administrator/Leadership

11:20am EDT

Building Resilient Minds : SEL and Employability

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Why do some students thrive in the workplace while others struggle to adapt? The answer lies in Resilience. This session examines the vital link between SEL and employability, offering a fresh perspective on how emotional regulation serves as the foundation for professional success.

Speakers

Sydney Sumner

Jackson Area Career Center Instructor, JCISD

Monday October 19, 2026 11:20am - 12:35pm EDT
Middle School at Parkside 2400 4th St Jackson, MI 49203

Social/Emotional/Mental Health, High School Teachers

Company High School
Audience Classroom Teacher

1:45pm EDT

Making Social Studies Engaging with Student Choice and Projects

LIMITED

Monday October 19, 2026 1:45pm - 3:00pm EDT

Middle School at Parkside

Limited Capacity seats available

Transform Engagement Across Every Social Studies Classroom
From 6th-grade Geography to High School Economics, discover a flexible framework that empowers students to choose how they demonstrate their content knowledge and skills—whether through dynamic, hands-on projects or traditional coursework.

Speakers