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

11:15am CDT

Lights, Camera, Action: Creating a School News Show with Canva

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

Silver 10

Learn to guide students in creating a bi-weekly news show with Canva. This session covers planning, roles, and hands-on production, turning the yearbook into a dynamic media project. You'll get practical tips on using Canva's video tools to teach students real-world skills in journalism and digital media.

Speakers

Lise Wagner

Librarian, Elkhorn Middle School Library

Hi, I’m Lise Wagner! I’m currently the Librarian at Elkhorn Middle School. While I’m in my 4th year as a librarian, I’ve spent 20 years in the world of education. I love finding new ways to spark a love of reading and discovery in middle schoolers and collaborating with fellow educators to make the library the heart of the school... Read More →

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

Concurrent Session

Company Library Media, Teaching & Learning
Audience Canva, Creation/Design Tools, Library Media, Middle Grades (6th-8th)
Subject Middle, Secondary
Area Intermediate

1:00pm CDT

Planting the Seeds of Reading: Growing Your Community with Beanstack

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

Silver 10

Are you tired of chasing wrinkled paper reading logs, deciphering handwriting, and manually tallying minutes? In our district, we faced the same frustrations until we adopted Beanstack.

This 45-minute session is a practical, "from-the-trenches" look at how our school library transformed its reading culture. We'll show you exactly how we use the platform to plant the seeds of reading and grow a vibrant, engaged community.

Speakers

Jessica Breitkreutz

PK-12 Media Specialist/District Technology Integration, Centennial Public School

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Silver 10

Concurrent Session

Company Library Media
Audience Library Media
Subject All Levels
Area All

2:45pm CDT

Beyond Chatbots: Teaching the Real Lessons Behind Fake Content

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

Silver 10

Generative AI is changing what we see, hear, and believe—and it’s time our classrooms caught up. In this interactive session, educators will explore how generative AI tools that create images, videos, and voice content can be used to teach critical thinking, media literacy, and ethics. Participants will safely experiment with AI generation and detection while uncovering the real lessons behind fake content.

Speakers

Kimberly Ingraham-Beck

Computer Science Teacher/Esports Coach, Gretna Public Schools

Kimberly Ingraham-Beck is a high school Computer Science teacher at Gretna Public Schools with a background in music education, technology, and curriculum development. She holds a Bachelor’s in Music Education from the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) and three master’s degrees... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 2:45pm - 3:30pm CDT
Silver 10

Concurrent Session

Company Computer Science, Library Media
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Computer Science, Cross Curriculum, Digital Citizenship
Subject Middle, Secondary, Higher Education
Area All

3:45pm CDT

Book Clubs: GAME ON!

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

Silver 10

This session will explore innovative strategies for creating engaging and effective book clubs. We will uncover how to transform traditional book discussions into engaging interactive experiences through both physical and digital games. We will delve into the power of game mechanics to increase student engagement. Participants will learn how to incorporate these elements into their book clubs through themed challenges, online games, and mini-games that can be incorporated into any book club.

Speakers