oout f thevault LEAD ON CONFERENCE GUIDE Charlotte
Dear Educators,
Charlotte
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Welcome to the GYTO 2025 Charlotte Regional Conference! We're thrilled to have you join us for a celebration of learning, collaboration, and inspiration. Get ready for an exciting journey as we throw it back to some of the most beloved sessions from previous years, promising unmatched content that will invest in you as an educator and a human.
Come as you are, and get ready to be in a room surrounded by inspiring humans who understand your day in and day out, and are here to collaborate and support you every step of the way!
Your dedication to education is commendable, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Let's embrace this opportunity to learn, grow, and create lasting connections. Together, we'll make this conference a memorable and enriching experience. Thank you for all that you do for our students and the community.
We are ready for two days of light, laughter, love, and learning, and we hope you are, too! Get your notebooks, colorful pens, and get ready to get hands-on. Because it is go time for best instructional practices - GYTO style!
Amelia, Chris, & LaNesha
saturday feb. 15, 2025
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hedule is subject to change
REGISTRATION & COLLECTIVE OPEN 5:00-7:00pm oout vfthe ault
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8:00-9:40am SESSION 1
10:00-11:30am SESSION 2
11:30-1:00pm LUNCH
1:00-2:30pm SESSION 3
2:40-4:10pm SESSION 4
8:00-9:40am SESSION 1
10:00-11:30am SESSION 2 11:30-1:00pm LUNCH 1:00- 2:30pm SESSION 3
Charlotte
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CRAFTING MEANINGFUL PD with Hope King
Prepare yourselves for an eerie expedition into the realm of transformative professional development! Join Hope King, as she unlocks the cryptic doors of educational excellence in our exclusive session: Crafting Meaningful PD:
A Haunting (or should we say daunting) Experience. As leaders and coaches, we understand the haunting challenges of engaging, enriching, and empowering the instructional leaders in your buildings. So we invite you on an immersive journey, where the paranormal meets pedagogy, and the supernatural sparks innovation.
In this session, we will reflect on the ghosts of professional development past and learn from our experiences, both spectral and successful, as we share insights on what works and what haunts the effectiveness of PD. As your Ghost Hosts, we will guide you in banishing the checkbox mentality to craft experiences that transcend mere compliance, leaving a lasting impact on both educators and students. Your haunted journey will conclude with a spellbinding finale, as we unveil the secrets to crafting professional development experiences that not only meet the standards but elevate the educational landscape, leaving a legacy that echoes through the haunted halls of your school Dare to join us in this one-ofa-kind adventure that promises to breathe life (or perhaps unlife) into your approach to professional development This session is not for the faint-hearted, but for those brave leaders seeking to transform their schools into educational mansions of excellence.
THE LEADER RESET
with Hope King
Hope will guide you through a transformative journey aimed at reshaping your leader practices by focusing on the power of prioritization.
In the challenging landscape of education, the desire for change is universal among educators. However, the answer lies not in attempting to change everything at once, but rather in strategically setting your sights on the most important things to ignite change, and well, going ALL IN. Hope brings her wealth of experience to help you streamline your priorities and establish a roadmap for success
This workshop is not just about doing less; it's about doing what matters most with precision and intentionality She will share practical insights and proven strategies to help you identify your core priorities, allowing you to maximize your impact in the classroom while minimizing the feeling of being overwhelmed. You'll leave with a clear understanding of how to set achievable goals, take actionable steps, and witness tangible results. By the end of the session, you'll be equipped with a personalized plan that aligns with your teaching goals, fostering a sense of accomplishment and reigniting the joy that brought you into the profession. "Prioritize to Maximize" is not just a workshop; it's a catalyst for creating a fulfilling and effective teaching experience that will positively impact both you and your students.
THE CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE
With Kellée Merritt
Join Kellee Meritt in an engaging and insightful session tailored for administrators who are eager to transform their classrooms and schools into hubs of excellence. In this dynamic presentation, she will share proven strategies and practical insights on how to establish and maintain a culture of excellence within your classroom and school community. Discover the essential elements of setting and articulating high expectations for students and the overall learning environment. Learn how to foster a no-excuses mentality that encourages accountability“Every Student, Every Time.” Explore effective strategies to inspire and empower your reluctant learners Join us for this transformative session and equip yourself with the knowledge and tools needed to create a thriving educational culture where excellence is not just a goal but a way of life
ACTLIKEALEADER
Sometimes teachers feel leaders "forgot where they came from" or are too far removed from the classroom to know what is "really" going on! In this interactive session, Hayward will share evidence-based strategies leaders can implement to create a culture of administrator collaboration with teachers; improve overall school climate and teacher morale; and create a psychologically safe place for teachers to grow, be innovative, and develop into teacher leaders. Leaders will be provided actionable techniques that will help them protect teachers' instructional time, facilitate purposeful professional development, effectively support teachers' classroom management and discipline, and help teachers improve classroom instruction! Get ready to have the best school year ever as you Act Like a Leader, and Think Like a Teacher!
THE VERTICAL ALIGNMENT CLUB
With Amelia Capotosta & LaNesha Tabb
Get ready to be a member of the iconic Breakfast Club as we transport ourselves back in time to revolutionize education through an exciting professional development session! Join us for a dynamic exploration of vertical alignment in PreK-12 schools, using research-based strategies. Strap on your leg warmers and tease your hair as we embark on a journey to dive deep into the era of power standards. We will uncover the essential standards that drive educational success, and learn how to align them vertically for a curriculum that rocks! LaNesha and Amelia will lead this experience with hands-on activities that bridge the gap between theory and practice. Leave with tangible resources and tools to implement vertical alignment strategies in your own school, ensuring that learning transcends generations. We don’t want you stuck in detention forever! This process will propel your school into the futurewhere vertical alignment transforms schools! Grab your scrunchies and synthesizers – it's time to get vertical!
with Hayward Jean
MAKING YOUR SCHOOL CLIMATE & CULTURE SHIMMER!
With Lindsey Smestad & Rachel Mott
In this presentation, we'll embark on a tour to make your school climate and culture SHIMMER like never before! We'll explore dynamic strategies and transformative practices that radiate positivity and foster a sense of belonging among staffulty to make your school a place where everyone wants to be. Each stop on our tour will SPARKLE with practical insights and actionable steps. You’ll leave the tour prepared to transform your school climate and culture into an environment where teachers feel valued, inspired, and ready to SHINE brighter than ever before. Let's make your whole school SHIMMER by shaking up your school environment with a burst of creativity and celebration!
INSTRUCTIONAL SYSTEMS
With Lindsey Smestad & Rachel Mott
"Shake It Off" and embrace the rhythm of effective instruction! In this presentation, we'll explore how establishing robust school-wide systems and structures can be the ""key"" to unlocking academic success. Just like Taylor Swift's catchy tunes, a well-orchestrated instructional framework sets the stage for a harmonious learning environment.
We'll delve into how "We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together" with outdated methods by embracing innovative instructional strategies, systems, and data-driven decision-making.
We'll showcase how these structures create a "Blank Space" for personalized learning experiences tailored to each student. Moreover, we'll emphasize the importance of "Style" in instructional delivery, illustrating how structured frameworks empower educators to infuse student-centered tasks in their everyday lessons while maintaining alignment with academic standards.
Just like Taylor Swift's evolution in music, instructional systems evolve to meet the dynamic needs of students and the educational landscape. In conclusion, by adopting Taylor Swift's mantra of ""Fearless"" experimentation, administrators can lead the charge in establishing school-wide systems and structures that amplify instructional excellence, ensuring that every student's educational journey is a chart-topping success! "
Two days filled with our favorite research-based workshops that will guide you in creating rigorous and engaging lessons all year long!
Swag that will make you want to bring an extra suitcase! Not to mention all the free goodies from our sponsors!
r e g i s t e r n o w L E T ' S G E T
Training specifically designed for your position from some of today's top educators and administrators who are experts at their craft, with strategies that can be implemented the very next day!
Each attendee receives a professional development certificate for hours of quality professional development over the conference’s two days. two days of content hands-on workshops free swag certificate for 12 pd hours gyto 2-day all access pass: $450
REGISTER NOW WITH JUST A DEPOSIT! Final payment won’t be due until January 2025 Invoice and check options are also available for schools and districts.
a t t e n d e e s ! P R I C E S C O M I N G S O O N ! c h a r l o t t e R E G I O N A L C O N F E
Charlotte
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THE WESTIN CHARLOTTE
s t a y i n t h e h e a r t o f t h e a c t i o n !
W e h a v e d i s c o u n t e d r o o m r a t e s f o r
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Charlotte hope king
m e e t y o u r p r e s e n t e r s
Hope King is a decorated educator with over eleven years of experience teaching first through sixth grades. Hope holds a Master’s Degree in Reading. Since working and traveling with Get Your Teach On, Hope has trained thousands of educators.
Hope enjoys meeting teachers from all over the country as she shares her passion for student engagement and rigorous content-driven instruction Hope is the popular blogger behind the website Elementary Shenanigans and is a teacher author for the website Teachers Pay Teachers Hope is the co-author of the book “The Wild Card” written with her husband Wade King
Hope is a cofounder of the Get Your Teach On Conference.
amelia capotosta
Amelia has been making learning magical in Ohio classrooms for over 12 years. She has a passion for literacy and using authentic texts to create engaging and rigorous lessons. Her classroom is a place where students feel loved and empowered, and she strives to ignite a love of reading in all of her students. Amelia enjoys spreading the effectiveness of authentic texts in the classroom and she does this on her social media platforms @ameliacapotosta.
Amelia believes in the power of taking research-based strategies, and tackling the toughest standards with engaging lessons. Her goal is to enable educators to design and implement differentiated lessons that reach all learners in their classrooms.
She is also a mama to 3 wonderful boys and loves spending time reading, playing, and exploring with them!arious conferences all over the country, and oh yeah, being a wife and mom! LaNesha firmly believes that little kids can do BIG things! She is passionate about authentic, global, and culturally relevant teaching strategies from the youngest grades
lanesha tabb
LaNesha Tabb is a proud kindergarten teacher from Indianapolis. When she's not in the classroom, you can catch her working with school districts, speaking at various conferences all over the country, and oh yeah, being a wife and mom!
LaNesha firmly believes that little kids can do BIG things! She is passionate about authentic, global, and culturally relevant teaching strategies from the youngest grades.
Hayward Jean
Hayward Jean is the Director of Student Services for Orangeburg County School District. As a former award-winning Principal of Mellichamp Elementary School, he led the school to a remarkable transformation, earning it an "A" rating from an initial "F" in just one year. Mellichamp received prestigious awards, including the Palmetto Silver Award and the NIET School of Promise award in 2019-2020.
Jean is an accomplished author, having written a book on countering negative influences of hip hop on youth and co-authored a Marriage Prayer Journal. His teaching career includes accolades such as Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year Finalist. Jean is actively involved in education advocacy, serving on the Steering Committee for (National Institute for Excellence in Teaching) NIET and receiving awards like the NAACP Presidential Citation Award. He is a motivational speaker, founder of Speak Life Enterprises, and an inaugural member of Call Me MISTER®, providing professional development in education.
Jean is recognized for his community service, receiving awards such as the Claflin University Young Alumnus Visionary Award and the SC Male Achievement Conference "Fatherhood/Man of the Year." Jean was a guest on the internationally syndicated television program, The 700 Club, where he discussed growing up without his father to now being like a father to students who call him “Dad.” He is involved in various community leadership roles and currently plants a church with his wife, Starlette Jean. They have three children: Hayward, Malachi, and Imani.
Kellée Merritt
Kellée Merritt is an educator with over twenty-five years of experience She is also the mother of two teenage girls Kellée has been fortunate to serve in Indiana as a classroom teacher, instructional coach, educational consultant, and administrator at both the elementary and secondary levels. As an instructional leader, she is passionate about high-quality, culturally responsive instruction and fostering learning environments where leadership capacity can be developed at multiple levels: student, teacher and administrator.
As the principal of Spring Mill Elementary, she is committed to ensuring that all stakeholders have access to differentiated instruction within an environment where educational excellence is prioritized Kellée is the 2024 receipient of the Inno Power Conference Black Excellence in Education Awardwas. For the 2022-2023 school year, Kellèe was selected as the MSD Washington Township Administrator of the Year. Since she began her role as building principal, the school culture has experienced a transformational shift.
The culture of urgency is evidenced through high expectations for student achievement. Spring Mill's academic performance data has increased from being the lowest performing school in the district to being the second highest performing school in the district. Under Kellèe's leadership, Spring Mill has consistently exceeded all performance and benchmark goals set by Washington Township School district. If you were to visit Spring Mill Elementary, you would observe engagement opportunities that are customized to specific areas of acdemic, behavioral and social needs It is a diverse learning enviroinment where every learner is encouraged to take risks, both students and teachers alike. Kellée believes this is foundational in terms of educational equity. She is passionate about creating a culture where academic excellence is the goal for every student, every time.
You can follow her at @yas.I'mtheprincipal and https://www.facebook.com/SpringMillElementar
Rachel Mott
Rachel Mott brings over 13 years of dedicated experience in education to her role as an enthusiastic Principal in Orange County Public Schools. Starting her career in the classroom as a Kindergarten Teacher, she has also served as an ESE teacher, a MTSS Coach, an award-winning Instructional Coach, an award-winning Reading Specialist, and an Assistant Principal continually fostering environments where students and staff are excited to arrive and excel each morning! Rachel’s passion for education was ignited by the positive influences of her own teachers, propelling her to create similarly impactful experiences for others.
Known for her creative and energetic leadership, particularly in Title I schools, she has a knack for transforming educational challenges into opportunities for innovation and growth Her commitment shines in her ability to orchestrate school days that feel more like adventures in learning rather than routine schedules. She frequently creates and facilitates engaging and effective Professional Development sessions that empower teachers to grow professionally and enhance student engagement and achievement. Whether she’s planning and supporting school-wide initiatives or quietly helping a struggling student find their confidence, Rachel believes in the power of education to change lives—and she lives by this belief every day.
Lindsey Smestad
Lindsey Smestad was born in the vibrant city of Orlando, Florida Her educational journey began within the halls of Orange County Public Schools, where she not only received her formative education but also dedicated two decades of her career to shaping young minds and developing teachers and leaders within the same district.
She has worn many hats within Orange County Public Schools - from nurturing young learners as a dedicated classroom teacher to guiding district-wide initiatives as a mathematics and science coach. Her passion for educational leadership led her to serve as a senior administrator at the district level, where she had the privilege of implementing transformative policies to enhance student success and currently serves as a principal in turnaround schools.
Her academic pursuits led her to the University of Central Florida, where she earned both her undergraduate degree in elementary education and a graduate degree in educational leadership. Equipped with a solid foundation in pedagogy and a visionary approach to leadership, she has always strived to create an environment conducive to learning and growth, particularly within Title I schools where the need for transformational leadership is paramount Described as a high-energy individual with an unwavering commitment to excellence, she has been honored to receive recognition as both an educator and administrator
Her dedication to fostering a culture of achievement has been acknowledged through various awards, culminating in being named a top-three finalist for Principal of the Year As she continues her journey in education, she remains steadfast in her mission to empower students and educators alike, ensuring that every individual has the opportunity to thrive and succeed in their academic pursuits and holds a belief that excellence is not an option but the only pathway to success.
