2026 Faith Forward Booklet

Hosted by Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

THE

INNOVATION Conference MARCH 20, 2026 www.belenjesuit.org/faithforward

KEYNOTE SPEAKER

GEORGE COUROS George Couros is a worldwide leader in the area of innovative teaching, learning, and leading, and he has a focus on innovation as a human endeavor. Most importantly, he is a proud father and husband.

His belief that meaningful change happens when you first connect to people’s hearts is modeled in his writing and speaking. In his 20-plus years in the field of education, he has worked at all levels of school, from K-12 as a teacher, technology facilitator, and school and district administrator, and is currently an Adjunct Instructor with the Graduate School of Education at the University of Pennsylvania. George is also the author of the books The Innovator’s Mindset; Empower Learning, Unleash Talent, and Lead a Culture of Creativity, Innovate Inside the Box, “What Makes a Great Principal” series, as well as his latest book, Forward Together: Moving Schools from Conflict to Community in Contentious Times. George is also host of the popular education podcast “The Innovator’s Mindset.”

He has keynoted hundreds of conferences, including national conferences on five different continents. His work has been translated into multiple languages due to its worldwide impact.

You can learn more about George at his website georgecouros.com

EVENT SCHEDULE 8:00 9:00 10:05 10:20 11:30 12:40 1:30 2:15

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Sarría Family Dining Hall

KEYNOTE PRESENTATION

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SIGN IN & BREAKFAST

Roca Theater

BREAK Belen Jesuit Campus

MASS Our Lady of Belen Chapel

LUNCH Sarría Family Dining Hall

WORKSHOP 1

Click here to register for a session Various Locations

WORKSHOP 2 Click here to register for a session Various Locations

COMPANIONSHIP Sarría Family Dining Hall

Meet Our Presenters AI Power Hour Target Audience: Middle & High School Teachers AI Power Hour is a fast-paced, hands-on session designed to help educators explore practical ways to use artificial intelligence in the classroom. Participants will be introduced to a curated set of AI tools, which includes Padlet, NotebookLM, Brisk, Canva Patty Wyszkowski Education, and SchoolAI, through quick demonstrations and real classroom examples.

Educational The focus is on immediate application, showing how AI can support lesson planning, Technology Integrator, student engagement, feedback, and creativity without increasing teacher workload.

Gulliver Preparatory Educators will leave with a clearer understanding of how to use AI responsibly, confidently, and efficiently to enhance teaching and learning right away.

School Patty Wyszkowski is a dedicated educator with over 30 years of teaching experience in the elementary/middle school grades. After obtaining a Master's degree in Educational Technology, she was able to merge her love for technology with her educational expertise. Working in her dream role of Ed Tech Integrator for over 5 years, she combines her extensive classroom experience with innovative technology solutions to enhance teaching and learning. Ms. Wyszkowski is dedicated to empowering both educators and students to utilize technology effectively, ensuring they are well-prepared for the future.

Margie de Quesada

With 18 years of experience teaching elementary and middle school students, Margie de Quesada is an educator dedicated to fostering engaging and effective learning environments. She has led numerous professional development sessions, providing teachers with valuable strategies and tools to assist them in and out of the classroom. As an Educational Technology Integrator, she currently assists teachers on how to incorporate digital tools to enhance student learning and outcomes.

Educational Technology Integrator, Denelsa Febo is an accomplished educator with over 22 years of experience in teaching middle and high Gulliver Preparatory school students. Currently, she excels as an Educational Technology Integrator and Curriculum School Coordinator, where she combines her passion for technology and education to enhance learning

experiences. She has led many professional development sessions at her school. Her dedication and expertise have been recognized at the national level, reflecting her commitment to advancing educational practices and integrating technology in the classroom.

Denelsa Febo Educational Technology Integrator, Gulliver Preparatory School

Meet Our Presenters And the Tree was Happy...(ish): A Guide to Educator Burnout Target Audience: All are Welcome This presentation will focus on educator burn out. Specifically, the presentation will offer ways to make lasting changes to extinguish the feelings of burnout and reignite your passion for your work.

Teresita Gutierrez Director of School Counseling, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Teresa Gutierrez has been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in Florida since 2000 and has served as the Director of the School Counseling Department at Belen Jesuit School since 2007. With over 30 years of experience, she has worked extensively with children and adolescents in both school and community settings.

Building Structured Faith Forward Writers and Thinkers Target Audience: Middle School Teachers This professional development presentation will provide middle school teachers with effective, faith-integrated writing strategies for use across Social Studies and ELA Middle School Curriculum. It is designed to help educators scaffold student writing skills/strategies for students from 6th-8th grade that is academically rigorous, clearly structured, and rooted in Catholic values.

Jassenia Vazquez Social Studies Teacher, Teachers will learn to scaffold writing tasks so students can define, identify, and describe concepts with clarity; apply structured writing formulas to organize ideas and present Belen Jesuit evidence; integrate Catholic teaching principles authentically into writing; and empower Preparatory School students to propose creative solutions to real-world problems through a STEAMEngineering lens.

Jassenia Vazquez began her professional career as an Archdiocese of Miami Middle School Social Studies teacher, where she worked for 12 years. In August of 2019, she joined the Belen Jesuit family where she currently teaches 6th Grade World Geography and is the Assistant Department Chair for the Social Studies Department.

Meet Our Presenters Catholic Identity in Mathematics Instruction Target Audience: Middle & High School Teachers This presentation will explore ways to elicit Catholic identity in meaningful ways in mathematics courses. This will suggest ways that Math teachers can address Catholic identity in authentic ways that respect the integrity of their subject matter.

Lawrence Goodall, DMin

Larry Goodall, D.Min. has 32 years of teaching experience. Before joining the faculty at Belen Jesuit, he taught at St. John the Apostle and Archbishop Curley-Notre Dame. He holds a Doctorate in Ministry in Theology from Barry University. Currently, Dr. Goodall serves as the co-chair of the Theology Curriculum Review Committee at Belen Jesuit and assists with the elicitation of Catholic-Jesuit identity within the curriculum.

Philosophy and Theology Teacher, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Complementarity Between Science and Faith Target Audience: All are Welcome Far from contradicting each other, or being mutually exclusive, science and faith, together, actually give us a fuller view and meaning of the universe, life on earth, and even our own human life.

Rev. Alfred Cioffi, STD, PhD Director of the Institute of Bioethics, St. Thomas University

Rev. Alfred Cioffi, STD, Ph.D. is a Catholic priest of the Archdiocese of Miami, ordained in 1985, whose work sits at the dynamic intersection of science, theology, and ethics. He holds a Doctorate in Moral Theology (magna cum laude) from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, Italy, and a Doctorate in Genetics from Purdue University. At St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens, he serves as a Professor of Biology, Theology, and Bioethics, and as Director of the Institute for Bioethics at Biscayne College. His ministry extends beyond the classroom as Chaplain of the Miami Guild of the Catholic Medical Association, Chaplain of the Rescate Prison Ministry for the Archdiocese of Miami, and as a member of the Society of Catholic Scientists. His professional interests center on human life bioethics, environmental bioethics, and the ongoing dialogue between science and religion.

Meet Our Presenters Creating Effective Classrooms with St. John Bosco Target Audience: All are Welcome

Sr. Mary Louise Marck, O.C.D. Theology Teacher, Archbishop Coleman Carroll Catholic High School

Using St. John Bosco's three tiered approach, which incorporates reason, religion, and kindness, teachers can create classrooms in which teaching is effective and enjoyable.

Bosco's method not only benefits the students but helps teachers avoid burnout and stay connected with the real reason they are in teaching: to help change lives. The content of this workshop is applicable to all grade levels and the materials provided can easily be used for faculty development outside the workshop. Even support staff will benefit from a deeper understanding of Bosco's approach in their interactions with students.

Sister Mary Louise is a Carmelite Sister of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles. She has served in health care, retreat work, and education. She has taught a variety of subjects K-12 including theology, music, history, and language arts. While earning her teaching degree from Franciscan University of Steubenville, she was recognized for her work with St. John Bosco's educational philosophy. She is currently completing her masters in Catholic Studies from the same university. She has served in the Archdiocese of Miami for three years as a theology teacher at Archbishop Coleman Carroll Catholic High School.

Meet Our Presenters From Client to Classroom: Bringing Real-World Design Projects into Education Target Audience: Elementary, Middle, & High School Teachers

Javier Cruz STEAM Teacher, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

This session will explore how teachers can bring authentic engineering experiences into the classroom through client-based product design projects. Participants will learn how to structure projects where students interview a “client,” gather requirements, and design a solution that meets real needs. The presentation will walk through the full process, from client interviews and defining constraints to prototyping and final delivery, while highlighting how these projects build communication, collaboration, and problemsolving skills. Teachers will leave with practical strategies and project ideas they can implement to make learning more engaging, hands-on, and connected to real-world engineering.

With 11 years of teaching experience, including 8 at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, Javier “Javo” Cruz began his educational career as a middle school Math teacher before transitioning to high school Engineering education. His passion for how things work, real-world problem-solving, and hands-on building projects inspired this shift. He teaches Honors Principles of Engineering, Introduction to Engineering Design, and Robotics. Javo also coaches basketball and track, fostering growth both in the classroom and on the field.

Kenneth Riggs is a Technology Integration and Data Analytic enthusiast at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, where he teaches introductory and honors Computer Science courses. He holds a Bachelors of Science degree in Information Science and Technology from Penn State University with a minor in Security Risk Analysis and an Masters in Business Administration from Florida International University specializing in business/data analytics. Kenneth is also the founder of FCI, a nonprofit dedicated to expanding IT education for underrepresented students. He holds Six Sigma Green and Yellow Belt certifications and is committed to fostering innovation in technology education.

Kenneth Riggs STEAM Teacher, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Meet Our Presenters Future-Ready Learners: Why STEAM Still Matters in the Age of AI Target Audience: All are Welcome AI can write the essay. It can solve the equation. But it can't teach a student to fail, reflect, and try again — and that's exactly where STEAM comes in.

Adriana Salazar, PhD STEAM Director, Belen Jesuit Preparatory

This hands-on session will kick things off with a quick unplugged activity that puts educators in their students' shoes. Then participants will explore why the skills built through STEAM projects — grit, perseverance, creative problem-solving, and collaboration — are more valuable than ever in an AI-powered world. Participants will walk away with plugged and unplugged examples ready to use in their classroom, no matter what subject you teach."

Adriana Salazar, Ph.D. is an innovative STEAM educator and curriculum leader with over 12 years of experience transforming teaching and learning at the secondary level. She serves as STEAM Director and Director of the Innovation Center at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, where she leads the school's makerspace, drives cross-curricular STEAM integration, and provides professional development for a faculty of 125+. She holds a Ph.D. in Curriculum & Instruction in STEM Education and is also the founder of STEMulating Minds LLC, through which she consults with schools on STEM curriculum development and teacher training. Her work is driven by a commitment to student-centered, hands-on learning and equipping educators with the tools and strategies to inspire the next generation of innovators.

Meet Our Presenters Innovation Education Workshop Target Audience: Middle & High School Teachers & Administrators

Mike Gardner Educator, Head of House, and School Counselor, Boston College High School

Five years ago, Boston College High School launched its Centers of Human Excellence model. Each Center is a hub responsible for co-creating a culture, curriculum, and community around one of our five focus areas: Innovation, Leadership, Global Education, Spirituality, and Justice & Belonging. These Centers build each student's gifts and talents so they may use them in service to others through our courses, co-curriculars, and other opportunities.

Learn how BC High's Centers of Human Excellence are catalysts for character formation and depth of learning through a hands-on workshop. As context, we will briefly describe how we have advanced our school's mission and partnered with faculty to co-create new opportunities for students.

We will then lead an innovation education design challenge, inviting attendees to imagine the possibilities in their own school context. Participants will identify opportunities and pitch actionable innovation education experiments for their schools.

Mike Gardner, Head of House and School Counselor, has worked in Catholic education for 20 years. As the inaugural head of BC High's Day House, he established the Individualized Formation Protocol, a framework intended to create a long-term, collaborative, and relational space between students and their mentors (Head of House, counselor, advisor, etc.) that cultivates self-awareness, a shared sense of purpose, and ongoing support.

Joe McNamara, an alumnus of BC High, is in his fifth year as the inaugural Director of BC High's Shields Center for Innovation. He works at the intersection of innovation and education and previously led high school entrepreneurship programs at Babson College.

Joseph McNamara Director, Shields Center for Innovation, Boston College High School

Meet Our Presenters Is There Innovation in Play?

Target Audience: Elementary School Teachers In an era dominated by standardized testing and digital saturation, "play" is often dismissed as a break from learning rather than the engine of it. This fast-paced, hands-on workshop redefines play as the ultimate laboratory for innovation. Participants will explore the latest neuro-educational research, engage in a "Rapid Prototyping" play challenge, and leave with a concrete toolkit to transform their classrooms into hubs of creative experimentation.

Jeannie AdamsPeña Myers, EdS Director, Academics and Outreach Los Niños Primero, Inc

Jeannie Adams Myers, Ed.S., is a passionate education professional with nearly 20 years of experience supporting underserved communities. Her journey has taken her through Dual Language Immersion (DLI) programs, special education settings, and instructional coaching, with a strong foundation in Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS). Deeply committed to equity and culturally responsive education, she works towards empowering educators and students with innovative, research-based practices. As Director of Academics and Outreach, she leads the effort to uplift Latino children and families while helping them become the best advocates for their children’s education.

Launching Forward from the Text: Engaging Learners in Social Studies and the Humanities Target Audience: Middle & High School Teachers This workshop is designed for Social Studies, English/Literature, and Humanities teachers who want to bring student-centered, engaging experiences into their classrooms.

Participants will explore strategies that spark curiosity, sharpen visual literacy, foster guided research, and deepen content understanding and critical thinking through innovative approaches to creative student projects. The session offers fresh perspectives María Inés on traditional methods, transforming how students interact with texts, historical narratives, works of art and architecture, and engage in cultural analysis. By the end of the Leáñez Humanities Teacher workshop, teachers will leave with practical strategies and ready-to-use lesson ideas that inspire curiosity, foster critical thinking, and strengthen students’ connection to the and Ignatian Formation Humanities.

Program Coordinator for Educators, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

María Inés Leáñez is a graduate of the University of Miami with 22 years of professional experience in education. She has taught World History and Spanish and currently teaches Art History. She also serves as the Ignatian Formation Program Coordinator for Educators, facilitating the integration of new Belen faculty into the Jesuit educational community and guiding them in learning, living, and embracing the principles of Jesuit education. In addition, she has served as an Adjunct Leader for the Seminar in Ignatian Leadership for the Jesuit Schools Network.

Meet Our Presenters Learning Science: Neuroscience-Based Strategies Proven to Increase Learning Target Audience: All are Welcome

Matthew Jordan, EdD Director of Faculty Development, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Participants will examine research-backed evidence to understand how the adolescent brain learns. This session demonstrates how to apply these neurocognitive insights directly to your daily lesson planning. By aligning instructional strategies with how students naturally process information, you can effectively optimize learning outcomes in the classroom without sacrificing your love of teaching!

Matthew Jordan, Ed.D. serves as the Director of Faculty Development at Belen Jesuit, where he works with teachers to refine instructional pedagogy, optimize educational technology, and implement alternative assessments. In addition to teaching Social Studies and Theology, he shares his passion for teaching as an adjunct professor of education at Nova Southeastern University. He holds a Doctorate in Applied Learning Sciences from the University of Miami and a Master of History from Norwich University.

Make a Game out of Practice Work with Claude AI Target Audience: Elementary & Middle School Teachers

Ana Maria Aldarondo Middle School Math Teacher, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

This session demonstrates how to use AI effectively to design engaging games and escape rooms that reinforce student skills. Participants will create interactive learning activities using Claude AI and leave with ready-to-use artifacts. The session will also cover how to craft clear, strategic prompts that reduce the need for troubleshooting and allow for precise customization of targeted skills.

Ana Maria brings 20 years of diverse teaching experience across multiple educational settings.

Beginning her career in a clinical ESE environment serving students with Dyslexia, ADHD, and Gifted LD profiles, she has taught grades 3-12 in Language Arts, sciences, social studies and math across Catholic, Episcopal, and secular schools. For the past eight years, she has specialized in mathematics education, serving as an Elementary Math Coach before transitioning to Middle School mathematics instruction.

Her unique background enables her to make rigorous content accessible and engaging for all learners.

Meet Our Presenters Making a Makerspace: From Cart to Center Target Audience: All are Welcome

Peter Perez Associate STEAM Director, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Every makerspace begins with a vision and in this session, we'll show you how to bring that vision to life, one intentional step at a time. We'll walk through the practical progression of building a maker program from a handful of classroom supplies to a fully equipped fabrication space, exploring how to advocate for dedicated space, equip it strategically, and grow it with purpose. We'll also explore how hands-on making develops the whole student — building grit, creativity, and problem-solving skills that reflect our deeper calling to cultivate young people as capable, confident creators.

Peter Perez is the Associate STEAM Director and FabLab Specialist at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami, where he has spent nearly seven years designing hands-on engineering and fabrication programs for grades 6–12. Holding a BS in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Miami and an MS in Industrial Engineering from UCF, Peter is a Fab Academy graduate, instructor, and Advisory Board Member at Moonlighter Makerspace, and coaches FRC Team 10177 Cyberclaws. He is passionate about helping educators build high-impact maker programs through strategic, resourceful design.

More Learning, Less Worry: Effects of Ungraded Structures on Student Motivation Beliefs and Goal Orientations Target Audience: Elementary, Middle & High School Teachers

Karla Rivera Caceres, PhD Associate Teaching Professor, Florida International University

Traditional grading systems emphasize performance over genuine learning, which can raise student stress and reduce motivation. My research explores how alternative grading — where the focus is on mastering skills, receiving helpful feedback, and having chances to improve without penalty — affects students’ motivation and attitudes toward learning.

Current findings show that students in ungraded classes view the material as more meaningful, useful for their future goals, and more enjoyable to learn. They also felt less pressure to outperform others or avoid failure. These results highlight how rethinking grading practices can make science education more motivating, inclusive, and supportive for all learners.

Karla Rivera Caceres, Ph.D. graduated from Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico with a degree in Biological Sciences in 2010. She obtained her Ph.D .in Evolutionary Biology from the University of Miami in 2017 and joined the Department of Biological Sciences at Florida International University as an Assistant Teaching Professor in 2019. She currently holds the position of Associate Teaching Professor and teaches high-enrollment courses in Genetics, Organismal Biology, Science Literacy, and Ecology. Her research is funded by NSF and tackles questions about the impact of ungraded structures on student motivation and content learning.

Meet Our Presenters Reflecting Back to Move Forward Target Audience: Middle & High School Teachers

Diana SudasassiBilbao High School Math Teacher, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart

This course is meant to show educators the benefits of self-reflection journaling in the classroom, specifically in the math classroom, as a means of empowering students to take ownership of their strengths and inventory their weaknesses. By guiding students through thoughtful prompts and letting them take time to assess their own work, students come to see themselves as an integral part of the learning process, not just someone to be taught to. By allowing students to focus on the content being assessed instead of the grade assigned to it, the student shifts to a growth mindset more easily.

They come to realize that intelligence and ability can be developed rather than being a fixed trait or innate talent. Students will learn that mistakes are the cornerstone of learning and not the roadblock to it.

Diana Sudasassi-Bilbao has worked as a high school math teacher at Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart and Gulliver Preparatory School. She has also worked as a middle school math teacher at St. John Neumann Catholic School. Prior to becoming a teacher, she worked for 20 years as a professional civil engineer in roadway and drainage design. Her goal as a teacher is to have students experience the relevance of mathematics not solely as an academic requirement, but as a real-life application and tool that is integral to their lives.

Teach Boldly: Embracing AI as a Tool for Purposeful Education Target Audience: Middle & High School Teachers

Patricia Saenz Science Teacher, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

As educators formed by faith, we are called to meet students where they are and equip them for the world they will inherit. This session explores how AI tools like Diffit, Brisk, and Eduaide can help us do exactly that, differentiating instruction, personalizing support, and reclaiming time for what matters most. Discover AI for Educators' robust prompt library and infographics designed with teachers in mind. And let's have an honest conversation about AI literacy: our students are using these tools whether we guide them or not. Walk away with a toolkit and a plan.

Patricia Saenz is a dedicated middle school science teacher with ten years of experience, currently in her second year at Belen. Previously, she taught in Northern Virginia’s public schools and is passionate about creating hands-on, authentic learning experiences that connect real-world examples to scientific phenomena. Specializing in Physical Science and Earth & Space Science, she strives to ignite curiosity and critical thinking in her students, making science both meaningful and exciting

Meet Our Presenters Teaching Ethical AI Use: Reverse Prompts for Critical Thinking Target Audience: Middle & High School Teachers & Administrators

Luis-Alejandro DinnellaBorrego, PhD, DMin Director of the Office of International Studies/Dual Enrollment U.S. History Instructor, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

This workshop introduces a simple, flexible way to help students notice the hidden assumptions in AI-generated answers, no matter what subject they’re studying. Using “reversible prompts,” students learn to take an AI’s response, flip it, and see how the meaning changes. This helps them recognize when an answer reflects a particular viewpoint or bias instead of being completely neutral. By comparing the original and reversed versions, students start to understand how wording and emphasis shape interpretation. The strategy works with any topic—history, science, literature, current issues—so teachers in all subjects can use it. Participants will see how reversible prompts turn AI into a tool for deeper thinking rather than something students accept at face value. The goal is to build students’ ethical awareness, critical thinking, and ability to question and evaluate AI responsibly.

Luis-Alejandro Dinnella-Borrego, Ph.D., D.Min is a historian and theologian whose work explores the intersections of politics, culture, and spirituality, with a focus on American and African American history.

He holds a Ph.D. in History from Rutgers University and a D.Min. in Spirituality from The Catholic University of America. With over a decade of teaching experience at both the secondary and collegiate levels, he is the author of The Risen Phoenix: Black Politics in the Postbellum South (UVA Press, 2016). He currently teaches Dual Enrollment U.S. History and serves as Director of the Office of International Studies at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School. His teaching emphasizes helping students understand how spirituality, identity, and historical interpretation shape the modern world.

Meet Our Presenters The Post-Digital Teacher: Using Educational Technology to Increase Student Engagement and Learning Outcomes While Simultaneously Decreasing Workload Target Audience: Elementary, Middle & High School Teachers In an era of rapid digital transformation, educators are consistently called to use digital tools to reshape the modern classroom. This presentation explores the advantages and disadvantages of educational technology (EdTech), demonstrating how purposeful integration can foster deeper student engagement, improve learning outcomes, and provide much-needed relief for the modern educator’s workload.

Maria Reid, PhD Associate Teaching Professor, Florida International University

We will discuss some of the more common EdTech tools: Harmonize, Yellowdig, Mentimeter and Kahoot and show how easily they can be integrated into the classroom.

Furthermore, we will address the practical "burden of the desk." Digital assessment tools and automated feedback loops do more than just save time; they liberate the educator from administrative exhaustion. By decreasing manual workloads, teachers can reclaim their primary calling: building meaningful, mentorship-focused relationships with their students.

Both Maria Reid, Ph.D. and Arlene Garcia, Ph.D. are developmental psychologists and licensed mental health therapists, having graduated with PhDs in Life-Span Human Development from Florida International University. Both are Associate Teaching Professors with over a decade of teaching experience in different modalities.

Arlene Garcia, PhD Associate Teaching Professor, Florida International University

Meet Our Presenters The Power of Godincidence: Recognizing God's Quiet Work in Catholic Education Target Audience: All are Welcome

Tommy de Quesada, EdD Executive Director of Enrollment & Community Outreach, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Every Catholic educator has experienced it: a moment that seems too perfect, too meaningful, or too timely to be mere coincidence. These are Godincidences, moments when God’s work becomes visible in the daily life of our schools. This session shares powerful stories from Catholic education that reveal God at work in relationships, classrooms, and unexpected encounters. Participants will learn how becoming attentive to Godincidences can renew their sense of mission, deepen gratitude, and inspire them to live their vocation with greater purpose and joy.

Tommy de Quesada, Ed.D. is a Catholic Jesuit educator with 29 years of experience forming young men through rigorous academics, mentorship, and faith. Over the course of his career, he has served as a social studies teacher, coach, mentor, Dean of Students, Director of Advancement, Principal, and Director of Enrollment at two storied Jesuit institutions: Belen Jesuit Preparatory School in Miami and Fairfield College Preparatory School in Connecticut. Throughout his work in education, he has been especially passionate about harnessing educational technology and the power of storytelling to deepen learning, inspire curiosity, and prepare students to lead in a rapidly changing world.

Meet Our Presenters The Soul of the Classroom: Teaching with GenAI through a Catholic Social Teaching Lens Target Audience: High School Teachers

Thais de LeonPerez

In the Catholic high school classroom, Generative AI is more than a tool for efficiency; it is a challenge to our understanding of Human Dignity and Intellectual Stewardship. This workshop moves beyond the "detection and punishment" mindset. Instead, it equips teachers with a framework based on Catholic Social Teaching (CST) to help students use AI as a "co-pilot" rather than a "replacement” for specific assignments and appropriate tasks.

Participants will explore how the principles of Catholic Social Teaching, especially the Director of RECS , concepts of subsidiarity and the common good, can transform AI from a threat into an Carrollton School of the opportunity for moral formation.

Sacred Heart Thais de Leon-Perez serves as Director of Robotics, Engineering, and Computer Science (RECS) Education at her alma mater in Miami, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart. She has expanded the RECS curriculum through innovative coursework and co-curricular programs, including the CarrollSun Solar Car/Electric Vehicle initiative and Underwater Robotics. Thais holds an MS in Analytics from Georgia Institute of Technology and a BS in Biomedical Engineering from The Catholic University of America. A former medical device engineer and homeschooling parent, she is deeply committed to faith-centered, mission-driven education.

Amanda Baumgartner has worked in Catholic school education for 14 years, serving as a religion teacher at Holy Names Academy in Seattle, Washington and Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart in Miami, Florida. She currently serves as the M-12 Religion Discipline Chair at Carrollton. Amanda earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Religious Studies from Gonzaga University and her Master of Arts degree in Pastoral Studies from Seattle University. She is currently completing a post-graduate certificate focused on the integration of faith, Catholic Social teaching, and instruction.

Amanda Baumgartner M-12 Religion Discipline Chair, Carrollton School of the Sacred Heart

Meet Our Presenters Using AI to Enhance Research in the Lesson Target Audience: High School Teachers

Alexis Mabe, EdD Educational Technology Specialist, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

Students are already using AI for research. The question is whether we’ve taught them to use it well. This roundtable explores a practical, classroom-ready framework for teaching students to use generative AI as a research tool while maintaining academic rigor and critical thinking. Grounded in College Board AP guidelines and aligned with Jesuit educational values of discernment and intellectual integrity, the session introduces a 5step AI-enhanced research workflow that pairs AI with credible academic databases like JSTOR. Participants will see how to shift the conversation from policing AI use to teaching expert research skills, explore coaching checkpoints that keep students accountable for original analysis, and leave with strategies they can implement immediately across any discipline.

Alexis Mabe, Ed.D. is an educational technology leader with over 15 years of experience driving innovation in K-12 education. As the Educational Technology Specialist at Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, she specializes in integrating cutting-edge tools to enhance teaching and learning.

What It Means To Be Human in an AI Age Target Audience: All are Welcome

Brendan McCauley Dean of Mission and Formation and Theology Teacher, Belen Jesuit Preparatory School

As artificial intelligence reshapes how we live, work, and relate, one question becomes urgent: What does it mean to be human? Drawing on St. John Paul II's Theology of the Body, this session explores the human person — body and soul, created in God's image — and what that means for our lives today. We will reflect on how to navigate an AIdriven world while safeguarding the dignity, meaning, and sacredness of human life.

Brendan McCauley is a proud member of the Catholic Speakers Organization. He currently resides in Miami, Florida, where he serves as the Dean of Mission & Formation at Belen Jesuit Preparatory. Brendan holds a Master's in Theological Studies in Marriage and Family from the Pontifical John Paul II Institute and is certified by the Theology of the Body Institute. Over the past eight years, he has given presentations to audiences of all ages on topics related to identity, with notable appearances on EWTN.

Prayer for Teachers Lord God, your spirit of wisdom fills the earth and teaches us your ways.

Look upon these teachers.

Let them strive to share their knowledge with gentle patience and endeavor always to bring the truth to eager minds.

Grant that they may follow Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life, forever and ever.

R/. Amen.

THE INNOVATION CONFERENCE

Steering Committee José E. Roca '84, Principal Patricia Bustamante, Assistant Principal for the Middle School

Peter Perez Associate STEAM Director

Matthew Jordan, Ed.D. '08, Director of Faculty Development

Adriana Salazar, Ph.D., STEAM Director

Alexis Mabe, Ed.D., Educational Technology Specialist

Olivia Zarraluqui, Assistant Principal for the High School

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