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

Looker Studio getting started with Data Visualization

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

Silver 2

Looker Studio is Google's free visualization tool, and it's a game-changer for anyone who leverages spreadsheets. It creates dynamic reports that use live data.
This means no more manually updating charts to get the latest insights! This is useful in all sorts of ways—from visualizing student data to keeping an eye on school improvement indicators or even tracking device checkouts.
This session will cover practical steps to collect and convert that data into a customized dashboard.

Speakers

Jennifer Davis

Technology Integration Specialist, ESU 1

Jennifer has twenty-one years of experience as an educator and has taught biology, chemistry, physics, physical science, computer science, and undergraduate education courses. She is the Technology Integration Specialist and Teaching and Learning Specialist at ESU 1.

Jennifer comp... Read More →

20260430 NETA Data Dashboards for Educators pdf

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Silver 2

Concurrent Session

Company Tech Coordinators, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Administrative Planning, Information Technology (IT), Staff Development, Math, reading
Subject All Levels
Area All, Advanced

10:15am CDT

Chromebook Accessibility Tools

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

Silver 7

Chromebooks really are the computer "For Everyone" as they have powerful accessibility tools to support any learner. In this session we will explore the built-in text-to-speech tools (select-to-speak), alternative input tools (dictation, on-screen keyboard, digital handwriting), readability tools (magnifier, zoom, high contrast), navigation tools (automatic clicks, sticky keys, and mouse cursor adjustments), and other supports (quick answers, PDF markup). For more details see: https://bit.ly/curts-cbaccess

Speakers

Eric Curts

National Consultant and Speaker, ControlAltAchieve

With over 30 years of experience, Eric works as an EdTech Specialist in Ohio, and provides training to schools and organizations around the world. He shares all his EdTech resources for AI, Google tools, accessibility, and more on his websites at ControlAltAchieve.com and EduGems... Read More →

Thursday April 30, 2026 10:15am - 11:00am CDT
Silver 7

Featured Speaker

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience Staff Development, Classroom Management, Assistive Technology, Assessment, Cross Curriculum
Subject All Levels
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

Cybersecurity Tips for Staff

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

Silver 5

In this session, we will cover important tips for teachers to know about
Cybersecurity. Including checking strength of passwords, checking for exposures in
data breaches, how to remove personally identifiable information online, being able
to identify different forms of spam/scams, and more.

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 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT
Silver 5

Concurrent Session

Company Computer Science, Teaching & Learning
Audience Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Information Technology (IT), Staff Development
Subject All Levels
Area All

11:15am CDT

Inside LPS: A Snapshot of Our Accessibility Journey

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

Bronze 2

This session offers an inside look at how Lincoln Public Schools is approaching accessibility and ADA-aligned digital practices. While not a full how-to, this presentation gives a concise overview of the structures, decisions, and strategies guiding LPS’s work. Perfect for attendees interested in real examples of district-level implementation of accessibility in digital content to meet Title II requirements.

Session Slides

Speakers

Emily Jacobs

Library Instructional Leader, Lincoln Public Schools

Thursday April 30, 2026 11:15am - 12:00pm CDT
Bronze 2

Concurrent Session

Company Library Media, Teaching & Learning
Audience Assistive Technology, Google Suite, Library Media, Staff Development
Subject All Levels
Area Intermediate

1:00pm CDT

Social Studies Primary Sources Strategies

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

Silver 6

Engage students with primary sources using interactive, game-based, and inquiry-driven strategies that go beyond the textbook.

Speakers

Ryan O'Donnell

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Silver 6

Featured Speaker

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience All, Staff Development, Social Studies
Subject All Levels
Area All

1:45pm CDT

CS FUTURES: A Model for Recruiting and Preparing Pre-Service Teachers

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT

Lobby

Poster, Short presentation or roundtable –:
Explore Nebraska’s K–12 Computer Science teaching. Using data from the Nebraska Department of Education, this session examines who teaches what, identifies workforce gaps, and shares strategies to expand pre-service pathways.. Using data from the Nebraska Department of Education, this session examines who teaches what, identifies workforce gaps, and shares strategies to expand pre-service pathways.

Speakers

Guy Trainin

Williams Kwabena Boakye

Graduate Research Assistant, University of Nebraska Lincoln

Thursday April 30, 2026 1:45pm - 2:45pm CDT
Lobby

UNL

Company Computer Science, Elementary
Audience Administrative Planning, Computer Science, Information Technology (IT), Staff Development
Subject Secondary
Area All

2:00pm CDT

Gemini for the Win: Reclaim Your Prep Period

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

Central Hallway

Stop drowning in administrative tasks! Discover actionable ways to use Google Gemini to automate the boring stuff. We will cover instant lesson differentiating, drafting parent emails in seconds, and generating rubric criteria. Leave this session with a cheat sheet of prompts that will literally save you hours next week. Perfect for Google Workspace users ready to work smarter, not harder.

Speakers

Molly Bartels

Teacher, Crete Public Schools

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The Reclaim Your Prep Prompt Library slide Google Slides pdf

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

Show and Share Poster Session

Company Teaching & Learning
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Classroom Management, Google Suite, Staff Development
Subject All Levels
Area Novice

3:45pm CDT

Teaching Beyond the Prompt: Authentic Learning with AI

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

Silver 4

Discover how to integrate artificial intelligence in K–12 classrooms without losing authentic learning. This session helps teachers design lessons where students think critically, create meaningfully, and use AI responsibly. Attendees will learn how to balance technology use with cognitive engagement and ethical classroom practices that promote deeper understanding.

Speakers

Kelly Gatewood

Instructional Design and Technology Professor, Keiser University

Hi,
My name is Kelly Gatewood. I have been active with NETA for 30+ years. My interests include instructional design for motivating student through technology use and events of instruction.

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

Concurrent Session

Company Teaching & Learning, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Assessment, Digital Citizenship, Staff Development
Subject All Levels
Area All

1:00pm CDT

Let’s Talk About AI: A Roundtable on Teaching, Ethics, and Experience

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

Silver 4

Join an interactive roundtable where educators discuss how AI is transforming their classrooms. From lesson design to student accountability, participants will share successes, challenges, and questions about using AI in real learning environments. The goal is open conversation and collective problem-solving.

Speakers

Kelly Gatewood

Instructional Design and Technology Professor, Keiser University

Hi,
My name is Kelly Gatewood. I have been active with NETA for 30+ years. My interests include instructional design for motivating student through technology use and events of instruction.

Friday May 1, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Silver 4

Concurrent Session

Company Teaching & Learning, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Artificial Intelligence (AI), Conversation, Digital Citizenship, Staff Development
Subject All Levels
Area All

1:00pm CDT

Play to Learn: Gamifying PD for the Win

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

Silver 11

Get your staff excited about professional development through the power of play! This session explores how gamified PD can motivate educators to learn, compete, and collaborate. You’ll walk away with fresh ideas and resources to make learning fun, memorable, and effective in your own district.

Session Slides and Resources

Speakers

Trina Popple

Erica Walsh

Technology Integration Specialist, Gretna Public Schools

Friday May 1, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Silver 11

Concurrent Session

Company Teaching & Learning, Tech Integration Specialist
Audience Leadership, Staff Development
Subject Higher Education
Area Intermediate

1:00pm CDT

The last dance. Tips & tricks after 28 years of being a tech director.

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

Silver 2

Learn some tips and tricks from 30+ years in the business as well as a Q&A along the way. Topics will range from planning, budgeting, hiring, saving time and money, trends, and possibly...how to keep your head above the water and survive in this business. This presentation will be like popcorn - It will pop here and there and all over the place and hopefully you will have something to take away.

Speakers

Noel Erskine

Technology Director, Norris School District 160

I am currently the technology coordinator for Norris School District. I also teach several technology classes for Doane University. I am passionate about working with educators to incorporate technology into the classroom. We are currently a Google Reference District and have been... Read More →

Friday May 1, 2026 1:00pm - 1:45pm CDT
Silver 2

Concurrent Session

Company Tech Coordinators
Audience Administrative Planning, Staff Development, Systems Admin, Technical Issues
Subject All Levels
Area All

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