NETA 2026: Full Schedule

The NETA Board is excited to welcome you to a dynamic learning experience on April 30-May 1,2026, at the Younes Conference Center North in Kearney, Nebraska.

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10:15am CDT

At the Heart of It All: Library Fun for the Whole School

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Silver 10

Make your library the heart of the school with creative programming that draws in students and staff alike. Discover the impact of themed events, whole-school celebrations, and fun passive programs (like Fat Bear Week, book brackets, or kindness challenges) that spark excitement without adding stress. Learn to design engaging, low-prep activities and big community events that build school spirit, highlight learning, and make the library an irresistible hub of curiosity and joy.

Speakers

Leia Rumsey

Media Specialist, Norris 160 Intermediate School

Jessie Andre

At the Heart of it all (1) pdf

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Silver 10

Concurrent Session

Company Library Media
Audience Creation/Design Tools, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Library Media, Middle Grades (6th-8th)
Subject Elementary, Middle
Area Novice

10:15am CDT

Top 10 Tech Tools for 2026

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT

Silver 12

Dive into a curated selection of some of the best tools to use this school year! Attendees will gain valuable insights into how these tools can be seamlessly integrated into various teaching contexts to foster student engagement, collaboration, and achievement.

Speakers

Jenna Krambeck-Reeh

Instructional Technology Facilitator, Papillion La Vista Community Schools

Instructional Technology Facilitator at Papillion LaVista Community Schools, educator, learner, bookworm, techie, and NETA member of the Board of Directors.
3 things I am currently working on:
1. Creating engaging and individualized professional development for teachers 2. Finding ways to use technology to differentiate instruction for students 3. Embracing courage over comfort... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Silver 12

Concurrent Session

Company Teaching & Learning, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Creation/Design Tools, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Secondary (9th-12th)
Subject Elementary, Middle, Secondary, Higher Education
Area All

1:00pm CDT

No Pressure: Practical Google AI for Beginners

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Silver 1

This is an "all questions welcome" session for educators who are skeptical, cautious, or simply new to AI. In a supportive, low pressure environment, you will explore Google’s AI tools, especially Gemini and NotebookLM, with a focus on what they are good for, what they are not, and how to use them in ways that make teaching work easier without changing who you are as an educator.

Speakers

Lynne Herr

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Silver 1

Concurrent Session

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience All, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Leadership, Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd), Middle Grades (6th-8th), Secondary (9th-12th), Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th)
Subject All Levels
Area Novice

2:00pm CDT

Level Up Learning: How I Tricked My Students into Loving Assessment

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Central Hallway

Assessment doesn’t have to mean silence and tears. See how Blooket turned reluctant 3rd-grade learners into fluency masters. Go beyond “hosting a game” and explore stealth assessment tools that track growth in real time. Walk away with three ready-to-use strategies: Homework mode for centers, creating custom sets with Spreadsheet Import, and using reports to form small groups.

Speakers

Brittany Carroll

3rd Grade Teacher, Seward Public Schools

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Central Hallway

Show and Share Poster Session

Company Elementary
Audience Assessment, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd)
Subject Elementary
Area Novice

2:00pm CDT

Unleashing Young Voices: The Cougar Talk Experience

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT

Central Hallway

Dive into the vibrant world of Sandy Creek Elementary's "The Cougar Talk," a dynamic morning show led by our spirited 5th graders. Discover how they kickstart each day with menus, birthday celebrations, and PBIS reminders. Fridays for "Fight Song Fridays" and the beloved "Highlights" wrap-up, where students showcase their creativity in wild outfits. Meet the young hosts, explore their process, and be inspired by their enthusiasm and teamwork. Don't miss this chance to see creativity in action!

Speakers

Krista Calderon

Technology Integration Specialist | Computer Science Teacher, Sandy Creek

I teach Computer Science, STEAM, Keyboarding, and High Ability Learner (HAL) classes, where students build critical thinking, problem-solving, collaboration, and digital literacy skills through hands-on learning experiences. In addition to teaching, I sponsor Elementary Student Council... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm CDT
Central Hallway

Show and Share Poster Session

Company Elementary, Teaching & Learning
Audience Creation/Design Tools, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Leadership, Multimedia
Subject Early Childhood/Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary, Middle
Area Intermediate

2:45pm CDT

Device Optional Integration

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT

Silver 4

Explore the potential of technology integration to energize K-5 learning with device-optional strategies and examples that require critical thinking, inspire creativity, promote collaboration, and reveal student thinking.

Speakers

Tina Williams

Technology Coordinator, McCook Public Schools

McCook Public Schools

NETA 2026 Device Optional Integration pdf

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT
Silver 4

Concurrent Session

Company Computer Science, Elementary
Audience Computer Science, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd)
Subject Elementary
Area Novice

2:45pm CDT

Girls Who Code

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT

Bronze 3

I am excited to share a program I am hosting called Girls Who Code, a club dedicated to introducing girls to coding skills and opportunities in STEM. Girls Who Code is a national organization working to close the gender gap in technology by providing free lessons, activities, and resources that make coding accessible and fun. By partnering with them, I am able to use a ready-made curriculum to bring meaningful coding experiences to students in our school.

Session Slides

Speakers

Kayla Kill

Special Education, LeMay Elementary

Michelle Boyce

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT
Bronze 3

Concurrent Session

Company Elementary, Teaching & Learning
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), High Ability/Gifted, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), STEM / STEAM
Subject Elementary
Area Intermediate

3:45pm CDT

It’s not the Screen, it’s the Learning: An Introduction to PIC-RAT

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT

Silver 8

Not all screen time is equal. This session explores the difference between passive screen time and purposeful screen use, highlighting practical ways to move lessons from consumption to creation. Using the PIC-RAT framework as a reflection tool, we’ll share simple strategies that amplify student voice, choice, and collaboration while helping educators reframe technology use with intention.

Speakers

Brittany Baker

Jessica Murray

Technology Trainer, Omaha Public Schools

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
Silver 8

Concurrent Session

Company Elementary, Teaching & Learning
Audience Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Middle Grades (6th-8th), Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd), Secondary (9th-12th)
Subject All Levels
Area Novice

3:45pm CDT

Standards + Creative Tasks = Future-Ready

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT

Silver 11

Project work doesn't have to require excessive time investments and extensive training. A simple shift in framing a task helps students go beyond a rote response to standards and learning goals to deep thinking and digital age communication.

Come explore and play with creative tasks like story adaptations, associative letter projects, wanted posters, fictitious interviews and more.
https://www.thecreativeeducator.com/2025/articles/creative-thinking-tasks

Speakers

Melinda Kolk

Editor, Creative Educator magazine

Melinda is the Editor of Creative Educator magazine. For the past 25 years, Melinda has led workshops at schools around the world and presentations at education conferences, such as CUE, ASCD and ISTE, on the topics of creativity, project-based learning, and open-ended technologies... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
Silver 11

Concurrent Session

Company Elementary, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Creation/Design Tools, Intermediate Elementary (3rd-5th), Multimedia, Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd)
Subject All Levels
Area Intermediate

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