CoachFest 2026: Full Schedule

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10:30am EST

Coaching Across the Triangle: Aligning Principals, Coaches, and Teachers for Real Impact

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Limited Capacity seats available

Instructional improvement requires alignment across leaders, coaches, and teachers. In this interactive session, participants will explore the Coaching Triangle framework to clarify roles, strengthen collaboration, and build coherent coaching systems. Learn strategies for courageous conversations and aligned feedback, and leave with practical tools to improve instruction and support a focused, supportive school environment.

Speakers

Stephanie Gibb

Instructional Coach, Warren County Public Schools

Stephanie Gibb is an instructional coach and experienced elementary educator with over 12 years of teaching in grades 3–5. She serves at E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School, where she leads professional development, supports coaching cycles, and collaborates with teachers and administrators... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Robertson Room 2

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

10:30am EST

Coaching Through the Evidence: Supporting Teachers with Writing Data

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Blue Bird

Limited Capacity seats available

Learn how to leverage text-dependent writing as a powerful coaching tool within a year-long model grounded in student work. Analyze authentic writing, identify patterns in comprehension and evidence, and use protocols to guide teacher conversations and instructional next steps. Explore data-driven coaching moves, collaboration structures, and targeted “boost” cycles to strengthen student outcomes and teacher practice while creating a personalized plan for your school.

Speakers

Lynn Kelley

Literacy Coach, Chester County School District

Lynn Kelley is a literacy coach in the Chester County School District with 23 years of experience in education. She has taught at the elementary and middle school levels, as well as in higher education. She holds master’s degrees in Middle Level Language Arts and Literacy, is a... Read More →

Elizabeth Bridges

Director of Literacy, Chester County School District

Elizabeth Bridges is an experienced literacy leader with 26 years in public education and currently serves as the K–12 Literacy Director in Chester County School District. She has worked as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, and district literacy specialist. Elizabeth is... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Blue Bird

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

10:30am EST

Coaching with Clarity: A 4 Step Framework for Feedback

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Chapel

Limited Capacity seats available

Feedback is one of the most powerful tools in coaching, yet many coaches struggle to deliver it with clarity and confidence. In this session, you’ll learn a practical 4-step framework to structure feedback conversations that are focused, actionable, and relationship-centered. Through guided practice and real coaching scenarios, you’ll strengthen your ability to navigate difficult conversations with a clear process to support meaningful change in your next coaching conversation.

Speakers

Courtney Tate

Education Consultant, AlignEd Coaching and Consulting

Dr. Courtney Tate is an instructional leader, coach, and founder of AlignEd Coaching and Consulting. She partners with schools and districts to strengthen coaching practice, build aligned systems, and support leaders in driving meaningful instructional change. As a former Curriculum... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Chapel

Breakout, Courage

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

10:30am EST

Game Changers: A Supportive Playing Field for Open Dialogue

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Weatherford

Limited Capacity seats available

Game Changers: A Supportive Playing Field for Open Dialogue explores how instructional coaching strengthens teacher efficacy and instructional practice. Using a sports-themed framework, participants examine research-based strategies, engage in collaborative discussions, analyze real instructional scenarios, and build a personalized coaching playbook for their schools. This interactive session equips educators with tools for fostering meaningful collaboration and instructional growth.

Speakers

Kelly Shaver

Instructional Coach, Roanoke City Public Schools

Kelly Shaver has been a middle school English teacher, middle school instructional coach, and middle school softball coach. She served as an E3 Collaborative teacher, English Department Chair and Grade Level Team Leader. Ms. Shaver holds a bachelor’s degree in Middle School Education... Read More →

Kevin Bowman

Supervisor, School Improvement, Roanoke City Public Schools

Kevin G. Bowman has been an elementary school teacher, an assistant principal at both the middle school and high school levels, an elementary school principal, and a state championship boys' basketball coach. He has formerly served as the City of Suffolk's Youth Services Coordinator... Read More →

Andi Johnson

Targeted School Improvement Mentor, Roanoke City Public Schools

Andi Johnson is a Targeted School Improvement Mentor with Roanoke City Public Schools, supporting elementary and middle school teachers through instructional coaching, PLC facilitation, and data-driven professional development. With over a decade of secondary education experience... Read More →

Morgan Hill

Targeted School Improvement Mentor, Roanoke City Public Schools

Morgan Hill holds a Bachelors from Roanoke College, a Masters from Virginia Tech, an Educational Leadership certificate from Radford, and is now pursuing a doctorate at Radford University. She is a Targeted School Improvement Mentor with Roanoke City Public Schools, supporting teachers... Read More →

Alisha Perkins

Targeted School Improvement Mentor, Roanoke City Public Schools

Alisha L. Perkins holds a Bachelors Degree in Science, majoring in Elementary Education, and brings 16 years of experience in education with Roanoke City Public Schools. She is currently serving her fourth year as a Targeted School Improvement Mentor at a Pre-K through 5th grade elementary... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Weatherford

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

10:30am EST

High-Impact Coaching Strategies to Build Capacity and Improve Teacher and Student Outcomes

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Alumni

Limited Capacity seats available

Ready to elevate your coaching impact? This session explores high-impact strategies like modeling, co-teaching, whisper prompting, and targeted feedback. Participants will learn how to make real-time coaching decisions that strengthen teacher practice and improve student outcomes. Walk away with practical tools and a clear framework to immediately apply in your coaching work.

Speakers

Sherri Williams

Improvement Specialist (ELA), MGT

Sherri Williams is an accomplished Educational Literacy Leader and MGT ELA Coach with over 24 years of experience in K–12 education. With a strong foundation in Coaching and Curriculum and Instruction, she specializes in literacy development, instructional coaching, and building... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Alumni

Breakout, Courage

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches

10:30am EST

Lead with Purpose. Recharge with Intention. Coach with Impact: A Self-Care Framework for Sustainable Practices

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

SIRC Room

Limited Capacity seats available

Discover how clarity, courage, and care can transform the way you lead and sustain your coaching practices. This session will explore a practical self-care framework designed specifically for coaches, helping participants build resilience and align their well-being with their professional purpose. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and a plan to support sustainable, impactful coaching.

Speakers

Allison Castle

Director of Counseling Services, Harnett County Schools

Allison R. Castle has served as a counselor and high school social studies teacher, the high school director, director of academic innovation and special programs, and director of counseling services for Harnett County Schools. She serves as the AVID District Director and coordinates... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
SIRC Room

Breakout, Care

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

10:30am EST

Maximize Student Learning Retention

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Robertson Room 1

Limited Capacity seats available

In this interactive workshop, educators will explore the cognitive science behind memory retention and move beyond traditional lecture-based teaching. Learn how to transform the classroom into an environment where knowledge is not just received, but retained, using evidence-based methods. Participants will leave with a toolkit of practical, low-stakes activities that improve student engagement, combat the "forgetting curve," and strengthen long-term memory.

Speakers

Holly Pore

Executive Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE), Guilford County Schools

Dr. Holly Pore is the Executive Director of Career and Technical Education (CTE) for Guilford County Schools (GCS). Dr. Pore is an accomplished educator with 21 years of service. Creating the first ever youth apprenticeship program, Student Opportunities for Apprenticeship Readiness... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Robertson Room 1

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches

10:30am EST

Other Duties As Assigned: Optimizing the Coaching Role & Coaching Reality

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Laboratory

Limited Capacity seats available

Instructional coaching rarely looks like it does “on paper.” Between coaching cycles, PLCs, and data analysis, coaches are often pulled into coverage, meetings, behavior support and countless “other duties as assigned.” This session explores how to navigate the hidden task trap, prioritize high-impact work, protect coaching time, and make confident decisions about what to take on-or decline. Participants will leave with ready-to-use tools and a practical plan for impactful, sustainable coaching.

Speakers

Amanda Pembroke

Instructional Coach, Rowan Salisbury Schools (China Grove Middle)

Amanda Pembroke grew up in Western North Carolina and is a proud product of public schools. She attended UNCC (‘11) as a NC Teaching Fellow with the dream of one day creating the same sense of community, service, and learning that shaped her own upbringing. While she started her... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Laboratory

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches

1:00pm EST

Aligned by Design: Vision, Data, and Coaching Through the Refined Instruction Framework

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Weatherford

Limited Capacity seats available

What happens when vision, observation data, and coaching all point in the same direction? In this hands-on, discussion-rich session, coaches and leaders explore how the Refined Implementation Framework connects vision to a shared instructional priority — creating coherent coaching experiences for every teacher. You'll leave with a mental model and practical language to make alignment real in your school.

Speakers

Chris Moses

Founder, Refined Implementation

I'm the founder of Refined Implementation, where I partner with districts and schools to build coherent systems for instructional improvement. My work helps leaders move past initiative overload by clarifying what high-quality instruction looks like and designing structures that make... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Weatherford

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

1:00pm EST

Coaching That Keeps Teachers: A Retention-Focused Model

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Laboratory

Limited Capacity seats available

What if coaching could actually keep teachers in the classroom?
This session draws from the real-world success of Breakthrough Birmingham's Thrive Teacher Coaching Program to show how coaching can be intentionally designed around teacher retention — not just instructional improvement. Participants will explore practical structures that address burnout, build sustainability, and help early-career teachers find purpose and confidence in the profession.

Speakers

Cathy Clark

Coaching Manager, Breakthrough Birmingam

Cathy Clark is an Alabama native with over 30 years of experience as a teacher and instructional coach in Birmingham City Schools. In 2022, she left the classroom to design and launch Breakthrough Birmingham's Thrive Teacher Coaching Program, growing it from 8 to 25 teachers across... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Laboratory

Breakout, Care

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

1:00pm EST

Impact by Design: Coaching with Purpose and Precision

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Alumni

Limited Capacity seats available

This session focuses on coaching for impact across content areas in a high-impact, time-efficient learning experience. Participants engage in a structured protocol from lesson scripting to planning rehearsals and live demonstrations with peer observation and feedback. Through role-based scenarios, educators practice high-leverage coaching moves. This approach fosters a collaborative culture of learning while providing practical strategies to strengthen instruction and improve student outcomes.

Speakers

Christine Ekstrom

Math Content Coach, MGT

Christine Ekstrom is an educational leader and Improvement Specialist at MGT who focuses on coaching for impact to strengthen mathematics achievement. With over a decade of experience, she supports teachers through data-driven instruction, modeling, and job-embedded professional learning... Read More →

Sherri Williams

Improvement Specialist (ELA), MGT

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Alumni

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

1:00pm EST

Step Up to the Plate: Coaching Literacy Across the Content Areas

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Blue Bird

Limited Capacity seats available

Ready to knock content literacy out of the park? In this session, coaches will explore how to bring evidence-based literacy strategies into every classroom. Participants will discover literacy strategies for all content areas and explore real-world examples of literacy in action beyond ELA. Coaches will leave with ideas and strategies to “step up to the plate”, champion literacy school-wide, and leave with the confidence to support every teacher in making literacy part of their game plan.

Speakers

Tabitha Carter

Literacy Coach, Rockingham County Public Schools

Tabitha Carter is in her fifth year as a Literacy Coach for Rockingham County Public Schools. Prior to that she was a reading specialist at both the elementary and secondary level as well as a 1st grade teacher. She is currently working toward her Doctorate of Education in Curriculum... Read More →

Anne Bragg

Literacy Coach, Rockingham County Public Schools

Anne Bragg, M.Ed., is an experienced literacy educator with over 26 years in education and a strong commitment to ensuring that every child has the opportunity to become a successful reader. She is certified in Orton-Gillingham and LETRS (PK–8), and also serves as a LETRS Facilitator... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Blue Bird

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches

1:00pm EST

When More Coaching Creates Less Change: Why Clarity, Not More Input, Drives Action

LIMITED

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Robertson Room 2

Limited Capacity seats available

Coaching conversations are designed to support growth, yet they can unintentionally stall change when feedback becomes overloaded, unfocused, or difficult to act on. In this interactive session, participants will learn how to spot common coaching pitfalls, reduce overload, and strengthen conversations through greater clarity and actionable next steps that lead to meaningful change.

Speakers

Heather Bowden

Office of School Improvement: Advanced Teacher Roles Program Manager, Guilford County Schools

Heather has worked in the field of education for 23 years, serving in diverse roles that have shaped her perspective on leadership, learning, and change. Her passions have led her to partner with school leaders to untangle complexity through coaching, thoughtful leadership, and reflection... Read More →

Thursday November 5, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Robertson Room 2

Breakout, Clarity

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

10:30am EST

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