The Kansas State Department of Education continues to work on the agenda for the 2025 Great Ideas in Education Conference, July 28-30, at the Hyatt Regency and Century II, in Wichita.

The following is a tentative agenda for the conference. Stay tuned to KSDEweekly, the conference events page, and other information outlets as the agenda continues to evolve. 

 Click here to register by July 15.  

Tentative agenda: 

Sunday, July 27 

6 – 8 p.m. - Registration opens 

Monday, July 28  

Theory of Action and the Four Fundamentals, supports and resources   

 8 a.m. - Registration opens; no breakfast served.  

 9:30 - 10:15 a.m. – General Session #1 

• Focus on Theory of Action  
• Objectives of the conference  
• Overview of breakouts, etc.  

  

10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Breakout #1 (Multiple sessions for each area below includes emphasis on early childhood) 

• Standards-Alignment toolkits  
• Balanced assessments 
• Structured literacy 
• The New Teacher Project (TNTP) supports for High Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) and quality instruction  

  

12 - 1:30 p.m. – Lunch and visit vendors  

1:40 - 2:20 p.m. General Session(s) #2 – District highlights – supports and resources for the Four Fundamentals 

2:20-2:40 p.m. - Break in vendor area   

2:45 - 4:15 p.m. - Breakout #2 (Multiple sessions for each area below includes emphasis on early childhood) 

• Standards alignment 
• Balanced assessments 
• Structured literacy 
• TNTP supports for HQIM and quality instruction  

  

 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. - District Leadership Team (DLT) collaboration and vendor fair  

• Finger foods and beverages   
• Visit with vendors (sign up for the drawing) 
• Discussions with your team for debriefing  
• Vendor drawings for giveaways will be held at 6:15 p.m. You must be present to win.             

  

Tuesday, July 29 

Focus on structures/lead indicators and measures of progress   

7 a.m. - Registration opens; breakfast available; table conversations encouraged 

8-8:30 a.m. – Welcome  

• Announcements  
• Facilitated conversations  

  

8:30 a.m. - Concurrent workshops (you may register for one day if you are only attending one of these sessions on Tuesday, July 29) 

• Literacy Summit – 8:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.  
• KESA School Improvement Days facilitator training – 8:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. 
• Safe and Secure Schools training 
• Budgeting information and questions  
• Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program (RTAP) training  

  

8:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. - Vendors open   

8:30-10 a.m.  – Breakout #3 – District Leadership Team (DLT) collaboration 

10 - 10:15 a.m. - Break in the Promenade   

10:20 - 11:50 a.m. – Breakout #4 – DLT collaboration with similar districts 

12 - 1:30 p.m. – Lunch and final chance to visit with vendors  

1:30 - 2:45 p.m. – Breakout Session #5 – Measures of Progress (multiple session options) 

2:45 – 3 p.m. - Break in the Promenade   

3:15 – 4:15 p.m. General Session # 3 – District highlights – Measures of Progress  

4 p.m. – Kansas State Superintendents Association (KSSA) meeting 

 

Wednesday, July 30

(Focus on back-to-school kickoff and Year 2 planning) 

8 - 9 a.m. – Breakfast and Welcome 

• Keynote address - Dr. Randy Watson  

  

9 – 10 a.m. – Breakout #6 – Back-to-school planning with staff – School improvement focus (multiple sessions) 

10:15 a.m. – 12 p.m. – General Session #4 - Finale   

• Closing speaker