Davidson County Schools Summer Symposium 2026

During this session, participants will specifically cover the North Carolina educational system's onboarding flow, from NCEdCloud login to IEP management.

The beginning of the school year sets the tone for everything that follows, for every classroom. This session will equip teachers and staff with practical strategies to establish clear expectations, consistent routines, and structured environments that support success for all learners. While grounded in proven practices from special education, these strategies are effective across general and inclusive classrooms as well.

Participants will explore ways to create smooth daily transitions, minimize disruptions, and promote student independence and engagement. With a focus on proactive planning, this session provides adaptable tools and real-world examples that can be implemented immediately and sustained throughout the entire school year.

Strong relationships are the foundation of student success. When students feel seen, valued, and supported, they are more engaged, motivated, and ready to learn. This session will focus on practical strategies educators can use to intentionally build meaningful relationships with students while creating a structured, supportive classroom environment where all learners can thrive. Participants will explore how connection, consistency, and care positively impact behavior, academic growth, and classroom culture. Attendees will leave with ready-to-use strategies that can be implemented on the first day of school, including ways to build trust, establish routines, support diverse learners, and foster a sense of belonging for every student.

Key Takeaways:
•Practical relationship-building strategies for the first days of school
•Ways to create consistency and emotional safety in the classroom
•Approaches for supporting diverse learners through connection
•Tools to improve student engagement, behavior, and motivation
• Actionable ideas educators can implement immediately

Join us for an engaging and practical professional development session focused on mastering Indicator 13 monitoring and creating compliant, meaningful transition plans for students. Participants will gain a clear understanding of Indicator 13 requirements, common compliance errors, and best practices for developing high-quality transition components within the IEP.

Want to increase student engagement, strengthen classroom discussions, and help students think more deeply about their learning? This interactive session will explore how accountable talk can transform classroom conversations into meaningful learning experiences. Participants will walk away with practical strategies, discussion routines, and classroom-ready ideas that encourage students to listen, respond, justify their thinking, and build on the ideas of others.


Designed with elementary classrooms in mind, this session will highlight ways to create a safe and structured environment where all students feel confident sharing their thinking. Teachers will experience engaging discussion activities firsthand and leave with resources that can be implemented immediately across content areas. Whether you are looking to increase participation, improve academic vocabulary, or strengthen student reasoning skills, this session will provide tools to make student conversations more purposeful, collaborative, and impactful.

“Every Student, Every Day” is a professional learning session focused on core Davidson County Schools MTSS practices that strengthen instruction, intervention, and student support. Participants will explore how strong Tier 1 instruction, data-informed decision making, and targeted supports work together to meet the needs of all learners. The session will highlight practical systems and strategies participants can use to identify needs early, respond effectively, and ensure every student has the opportunity to grow every day.