CoachFest 2026: Full Schedule

10:30am EST

Wednesday November 4, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Limited Capacity seats available

Resistance isn’t defiance. It’s a signal. In this session, you’ll learn how to diagnose the root causes of hesitation, disengagement, and pushback using the Resistance Audit. Through the five Catalyst Mindsets™ including value, belonging, success, growth, and ownership, you’ll identify unmet needs and connect them to targeted responses. You’ll leave with practical tools and coaching moves to build trust and move the work forward.

Speakers

Becca Silver

Founder, Educational Speaker, Coach & Author, The Whole Educator

Becca Silver is an educational speaker, coach, author, and founder of The Whole Educator. She helps instructional coaches, school leaders, and district leaders understand resistance, identify the unmet needs beneath it, build trust, and create meaningful follow-through through a human-centered... Read More →

Wednesday November 4, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Chapel

Breakout, Courage

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

10:30am EST

Coaching with Courage: Using AI to Strengthen Reflection and Practice

LIMITED

Wednesday November 4, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST

Alumni

Limited Capacity seats available

Participants will engage in an interactive experience centered around one AI-supported coaching tool. They will analyze a short classroom video, use guided prompts within the tool to generate insights, and collaborate in small groups to discuss patterns and next steps. Coaches will also practice crafting feedback and reflect on how to apply this process within their own coaching cycles. Participants will leave having actively used the tool and with strategies ready to implement immediately.

Speakers

Kim Ramadan

Learning Consultant, Sibme

Kim is an educator and coach with 20 years of experience supporting teachers in growing their practice in real, practical ways. She works closely with teachers and school leaders to turn ideas into strategies that actually work in the classroom and leverages AI to enhance coaching... Read More →

Macie English

Account Executive, Sibme

Macie the Southeastern Account Executive, where she partners with districts to rethink feedback, coaching, and professional learning through video and AI. Macie works closely with school and district leaders across the Southeast to support practical, time-saving approaches that strengthen... Read More →

Wednesday November 4, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EST
Alumni

Breakout, Courage

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

1:00pm EST

Breaking Silos: Unified Coaching for New Teacher Success

LIMITED

Wednesday November 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Laboratory

Limited Capacity seats available

Break down the silos that limit coaching impact and new teacher success. This session explores how to build unified, cross-department coaching systems by navigating resistance and leading change with courage. Participants will learn practical strategies to align stakeholders, strengthen collaboration, and advocate for effective coaching structures. Attendees will leave with actionable tools and a clear plan to improve teacher support, retention, and instructional outcomes.

Speakers

Diana Demosiuk

Teacher Quality Specialist, Portsmouth Pulbic Schools

Diana Demosiuk has 18 years of experience in education and currently serves as a Teacher Quality Specialist for 12 Title I elementary schools in Portsmouth. Her teaching background includes middle school special education, general education English and history, and Title I elementary... Read More →

Dusti Johnson Brinker

DIrector of Office of School and Teacher Quality, Portsmouth Public Schools

With 36 years in education, Dusti Johnson-Brinker currently serves as Director of School and Teacher Quality in Portsmouth. Their experience includes roles as teacher, assistant principal, principal, English specialist, professional development and school improvement specialist, and... Read More →

Angela Randolph

Teacher Quality Specialist, Portsmouth

Angela Randolph has 18 years of experience in education and currently serves as a Teacher Quality Specialist for eight schools in Portsmouth, including all secondary schools, one elementary, and an alternative school. Her teaching background is in middle school English. She has also... Read More →

Wednesday November 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Laboratory

Breakout, Courage

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

1:00pm EST

Coaching Beyond the Playbook: Lessons from Not Your Average Principal

LIMITED

Wednesday November 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

SIRC Room

Limited Capacity seats available

Step into a session Inspired by Not Your Average Principal, this session equips new and veteran coaches to lead with purpose, authenticity, and resilience. Participants will gain practical strategies for building relationships, navigating challenges, and creating equitable environments. Leave with actionable tools and a clear plan to strengthen your leadership impact.

Speakers

Keisha Brown

Principal, Guilford County Schools

Keisha Brown is the Principal of The Middle College at UNC Greensboro, where she champions academic excellence, equity, and student empowerment. With nearly two decades in education, she is dedicated to dismantling barriers and creating opportunities for historically underserved students... Read More →

Wednesday November 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
SIRC Room

Breakout, Courage

Audience New Coaches

1:00pm EST

Finessing Feedback: No to Sandwiches, Yes to Real Talk

LIMITED

Wednesday November 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST

Weatherford

Limited Capacity seats available

Unlock the power of effective feedback by exploring why it often triggers defensiveness—and how to shift it toward growth. In this interactive session, participants will move beyond evaluative language to curiosity-driven dialogue. Through practical strategies and guided practice, attendees will build confidence in delivering feedback that fosters reflection, trust, and meaningful professional growth.

Speakers

Jennifer Snuggs

New Teacher Support Coach, Guilford County Schools

Jennifer Snuggs is a New Teacher Support Coach in Guilford County Schools dedicated to empowering early-career educators. She has supported more than 125 first-year teachers, offering guidance and practical strategies to help them build confidence and succeed. She believes strong... Read More →

Leslie Allred

New Teacher Support Coach, Guilford County Schools

Leslie Allred is an experienced elementary educator and instructional leader dedicated to supporting early-career teachers. Since joining the New Teacher Support Department in 2020, she has mentored and guided new educators through their first year in the classroom.

With 12 years at Falkener Elementary School, Leslie served as a K–3 teacher, reading specialist, IB coordinator, Lead Mentor, PTA president, and chair of the school improvement team. She holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina A&T State University and a master’s in E... Read More →

Wednesday November 4, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EST
Weatherford

Breakout, Courage

Audience New Coaches, Experienced Coaches, School or District Leaders

2:30pm EST

Prioritizing Feedback that Drives Reflection through Data and Mediative Questions

LIMITED

Wednesday November 4, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST

Robertson Room 2

Limited Capacity seats available

Is your feedback inspiring the kind of reflection that truly impacts and grows self-directed professionals? Join this session to polish your craft of generating and delivering feedback that sets the tone for successful coaching!

Speakers

Elisabeth Smith

Instructional Facilitator/Literacy Coach, Wake County

Elisabeth Smith is a lifelong learner, self-proclaimed nerd, and a lover of podcasts! With diverse experience in education since 2006, she has taught in all grade bands (including middle school!) and found her "home" in early literacy.

Her professional focus is on strengthening core/Tier 1 instructional practices as the foundational layer of the MTSS framework, driving total school improvement. She has coached at the district and school levels and is deeply committed to developing coaching tools for both herself... Read More →

Wednesday November 4, 2026 2:30pm - 3:30pm EST
Robertson Room 2

Breakout, Courage

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

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

10:30am EST

1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

1:00pm EST

2:30pm EST

10:30am EST

10:30am EST

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