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.

10:15am CDT

Novel Ideas: Tech Tools to Help Students Publish Their Stories

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

Bronze 1

Inspire your students to become real authors! Learn how to guide them from that first spark of an idea to holding their published novel in hand. You’ll also hear amazing success stories from middle and high school students who turned their writing dreams into books sold online and in stores.

Speakers

Jen Schneider

High Ability Learner Facilitator, Papillion La Vista Community Schools

Dr. Jen Schneider is a Middle School High Ability Learner facilitator in Papillion, Nebraska and a graduate of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in Lincoln, Nebraska with a PhD in Education with a specialization in Innovative Technologies. She currently serves on the Nebraska Educational... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Bronze 1

Concurrent Session

Company Library Media, Teaching & Learning
Audience Creation/Design Tools, High Ability/Gifted, Language Arts, Library Media
Subject Elementary, Middle, Secondary
Area All

10:15am CDT

Chromebook as a Game Board

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

Silver 6

Turn student Chromebooks into interactive game boards where learning feels more like Mario Kart and Battleship than a worksheet.

Speakers

Ryan O'Donnell

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Silver 6

Featured Speaker

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience All, Business, Assessment, Classroom Management, Cross Curriculum, Language Arts, Math, reading, Science, Secondary (9th-12th), Staff Development
Subject All Levels
Area All

11:15am CDT

AI and the Art of Teaching Writing to Humans

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

Silver 12

How should we teach writing when AI can now write for students? This session invites participants to explore that question through research, reflection, and hands-on practice. Educators will leave with one concrete policy, practice, or tool to immediately refine their approach to writing instruction in an AI-infused world. The session begins with a reflective writing warm-up, followed by discussion and a three-part framework for developing effective AI policies.

Speakers

Adam Sparks

Evi Wusk

Assistant Professor of Education, Nebraska Wesleyan University

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

Concurrent Session

Company Higher Education, Teaching & Learning
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Higher Education, Language Arts
Subject Middle, Secondary, Higher Education
Area All

11:15am CDT

Digital Storytelling in the Primary Grades

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

Silver 8

Use a digital approach to promote effective pedagogy and build essential communication skills. Inspire your emerging writers with a multimedia approach that builds essential writing skills by taking advantage of multimodal forms of communication. authentic opportunity to build reading, writing, speaking, and listening literacy skills.

https://www.thecreativeeducator.com/2018/articles/digital-storytelling-in-the-primary-classroom

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 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT
Silver 8

Concurrent Session

Company Elementary, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Creation/Design Tools, Language Arts, Library Media, Primary Elementary (Pre K-2nd)
Subject Early Childhood/Pre-Kindergarten, Elementary
Area Novice

2:00pm CDT

Canva Magic Media for Projects

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

Central Hallway

Move students from consumers to creators! Learn to leverage Canva's Magic Media AI (Text-to-Image and Text-to-Graphic) to generate visually stunning projects and artifacts in any class. This session provides examples of: 8th Grade Reading students creating AI-illustrated storyboards and visual character studies, and High School Spanish students creating vocabulary guides, cultural posters, and differentiated learning task cards using AI-generated imagery.

Speakers

Megan Haag

8th Grad Reading/High School Spanish, Norris

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

Show and Share Poster Session

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Canva, Language Arts, World Languages
Subject Middle, Secondary
Area Intermediate

2:00pm CDT

Fixer to Facilitator: Gemini for Meaningful Writing Revision

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

Central Hallway

Tired of feedback students barely read? This session introduces a high-impact, low-prep strategy for transforming revision with Gemini Gems. Using four ready-to-use prompts—reverse outline, self-critique, evidence integration, and grammar & style—students pair their draft with the rubric and targeted skills. See how Gemini acts as a personalized writing coach grounded in your expectations and their own writing.

Speakers

Kaylen Rodrigues

8th ELA Teacher, York Public Schools

NETA pdf

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

Show and Share Poster Session

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience Language Arts, Middle Grades (6th-8th), Secondary (9th-12th)
Subject Middle, Secondary
Area All

2:00pm CDT

Tech-Powered Tools for the English Classroom

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

Central Hallway

Participants will leave with a ready-to-use toolkit of digital resources that can be immediately used in ELA instruction, along with practical strategies for improving student engagement, writing, and classroom efficiency. Accessible tools, such as First Five, Short Answer, We Will Write, Snorkl, SchoolAI, and NoRedInk will be highlighted.

Tech-Powered Tools for the English Classroom

Speakers

Bethany Neuhart

English Teacher, Shickley Public School

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

Show and Share Poster Session

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Language Arts, Middle Grades (6th-8th), Secondary (9th-12th)
Subject Middle, Secondary
Area Intermediate

2:00pm CDT

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Using ChatGPT to Streamline Your Teaching

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

Central Hallway

Discover how ChatGPT can simplify your workload and elevate your instruction. We’ll explore real examples of how teachers can use AI to save time, boost creativity, support students, and streamline everyday classroom tasks. You will walk away with plug-and-play ideas that you can implement immediately—no tech background required, just curiosity!

Speakers

Nicole Zvolanek

6th grade English Teacher, Norris Middle School

Work Smarter, Not Harder Using ChatGPT to Streamline Your Teaching pdf

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

Show and Share Poster Session

Company Higher Education, Special Education
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Assessment, Language Arts, Middle Grades (6th-8th)
Subject Middle
Area Intermediate

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

Rachel Jussel

School librarian/Media Specialist, Elkhorn Grandview Middle School

Thursday April 30, 2026 3:45pm - 4:30pm CDT
Silver 10

Concurrent Session

Company Library Media, Teaching & Learning
Audience Language Arts, Library Media, Middle Grades (6th-8th), Secondary (9th-12th)
Subject Middle, Secondary
Area All

3:45pm CDT

Engaging students in and out of the classroom w/ Newline Signage Pro"

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

Bronze 2

Come see what Newline can do to help maximize student engagement, community involvement, and awareness using your existing displays. We will be exploring signage use, advancements in display technology, and new ways to break down language barriers in your classrooms.

Speakers

Randy Hinrichs

G Lake

Regional Sales manager, Newline Interactive/ Computer Hardware

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

Exhibitor Session

Company Library Media, Teaching & Learning
Audience Assistive Technology, Conversation, Language Arts, Multimedia
Subject All Levels
Area Intermediate

1:00pm CDT

Use a Maker Approach to Engage Students in Literacy

Friday May 1, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT

Silver 10

Come and get making with your favorite books! Come explore ways to get students actively playing with ideas and characters in their favorite stories like Ten Black Dots, It Looked Like Spilt Milk, and more.. Learn how to scaffold and coach them as they cut, glue, build, and create in real life and expand with digital tools.

Speakers