CPS Googlepalooza 2026: Full Schedule

The Applied Computer Science Team will go over our eSports afterschool programming we have available for next year. We will also cover how to start your own eSports clubs and address any concerns in an ever changing CPS landscape.

Speakers

Rene Anaya

CPS Central Office, Chicago Public Schools

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Free Virtual STEM Programs!

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

SC Johnson offers 18 different virtual standards-based STEM programs to complement classroom curriculum. These grade-focused programs are offered throughout the school year, each with multiple times to participate. Teacher and student resources are also available at no cost for many of these programs. Come learn how you can get your class involved.

Speakers

Michelle Sweetman

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Gamify 1:1 Math Instruction: Engage Students with Lumio + Google

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Increase student motivation and participation by bringing gamification into your math instruction using Lumio and Google tools. This session explores how to transform Google Slides into interactive, game-inspired math experiences that promote problem-solving, collaboration, and friendly competition. Learn how to create self-paced challenges, team-based activities, and quick formative checks that keep students actively engaged while reinforcing key math concepts. You’ll also discover accessibility-focused features and strategies that help ensure all learners can fully participate and succeed.

Speakers

Dave Thielen

SMART

Alexandra Sophiea

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Gemini in Google Classroom: An Educator’s Guide

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Join us for this interactive session to discover how Gemini is now integrated into your Google Classroom workflow. In this session, we'll explore practical strategies to streamline lesson planning, differentiate assignments instantly, and generate creative resources that engage every learner. Leave with ready-to-use techniques to make AI your new favorite teaching assistant.

Speakers

Tammy Lind

Senior Strategist, Google for Education Programs, CDW, Google for Education Programs, CDW

Prior to joining CDW, Tammy Lind was an Instructional Coach based in Southeastern Wisconsin. With a background as a former special education teacher, Tammy is dedicated to incorporating innovative technologies to create inclusive and engaging learning environments for all stu... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Gemini to the Max: 10 ways to get even MORE out of your AI chatbot

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Supercharge your classroom productivity and student engagement with ten advanced, highly accessible strategies hiding in plain site right into Gemini. This hands-on workshop skips the basics to show educators how to seamlessly generate custom learning materials, design interactive activities, and automate tedious administrative tasks. You will walk away with a powerful toolkit of versatile prompts and workflows ready to save you hours of time every week.

Speakers

Brian Bates

Tim McIlvain

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Getting Started with Freckle Math

LIMITED

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Limited Capacity seats available

Support students with tier 1 support and practice as well as tier 2 intervention with Freckle. Learn the basics of Freckle and navigate the Freckle platform as a student and a teacher.

Speakers

Maureen Chase

Chicago Public Schools

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Meet Gale, Your New Favorite Social Studies SideKick

LIMITED

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Limited Capacity seats available

Designed for social studies classrooms, this session focuses on using Gale resources to drive inquiry-based learning aligned to historical thinking and civic reasoning skills. We will explore various Gale In Context resources to examine multiple perspectives, connect past to present, and support evidence-based claims. We’ll model how to use articles, biographies, news, primary sources, and more for warm-ups, document analysis, and DBQs that fit into daily instruction - not just end-of-unit projects and research. Teachers will leave with premade, ready-to-use social studies classroom activities that can be implemented the very next day!

Speakers

Cynda Wood

Training Consultant, Cengage (GALE)

Cynda is a training consultant with Gale travelling around the United States training educators on the instructional uses of Gale educational resources. Her expertise extends beyond Gale, as she is also serves as a professional development consultant with the CollegeBoard in AP US... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Remixing EdTech: Redefining Hybrid Learning With Paperless and Trauma-Informed Music Classrooms

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Discover innovative ways to transform your music teaching by creating vibrant, flexible, and trauma-sensitive hybrid learning environments using accessible tools. This session offers practical strategies to go paperless, foster student agency, and incorporate trauma-informed approaches— empowering educators to build inclusive music classrooms meeting the needs of all learners

Speakers

Carmella Berthia

Curie High School

I am a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT) in Vocal Music and an ISTE Certified Educator, currently pursuing my doctorate with a focus on Race-Based Traumatic Stress (RBTS) informed curriculum. I teach at a 9-12 Chicago Public School, where I am developing my own piano curriculum... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Supporting Multilingual Learners

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Do you design quality learning experiences that support multilingual learners wherever they are in their learning journey? Join us to discuss best practices and lesson ideas to meet individual student interests, levels, and learning styles. We’ll also explore built-in features on iPad that help strengthen language skills.

Speakers

Apple Education

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

Teach Students to Use AI for Learning

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

AI is a serious challenge to education in 2026. Students need to be taught how to use AI effectively and in a way that doesn't shortcut their own learning. In this session I will share tips and tricks that will help students use AI for learning and within parameters that you provide for them. I'll also teach YOU how to be a model of how to use and cite AI tools that you use as an instructor.

Speakers

Jenn Adams

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

10:00am CDT

The Upgraded Operations Toolkit: Managing Projects and Operations Better with Google Workspace and AI

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT

Virtual for CPS

Speakers

Shruti Saxena

Director, Strategic Operations and Initiatives, CPS - Talent Office

In my current role with Chicago Public Schools, the fourth-largest school district in the US, I am a Director of Strategic Operations and Initiatives in the Talent office, and manage a data and workforce analytics and strategic project team of four. I am the Co-chair for the AI Subcommittee... Read More →

Monday August 10, 2026 10:00am - 11:00am CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

Assigning Audiobooks as Tiered Support

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

The Learning Ally Audiobook Solution® is designed to bridge the gap between a student’s ability to decode text and their capacity to understand the content. Hearing a human narrated voice helps bring the text to life, and each sentence is highlighted so students can follow along and learn. With the Audiobook Solution, educators can provide immediate access to grade-level content, assign titles to as many students as needed without wait times or limits, and increase the rate of students’ reading growth with specific skills development.

Speakers

André Smith

Lynette Johnson

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

Be a Week Zero Hero: Tips and Tricks for Starting the New School Year Off Right

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Start the school year strong without the stress! Discover actionable checklists, digital templates, and workflow strategies to organize your classroom, build student trust, and conquer "Week Zero" and beyond

Speakers

Joy Blake

Middle School Math Teacher, Poe Classical

Hi, my name is Joy Blake, an educator with technology at the forefront. I am a 6-8th grade Math Teacher at Poe Classical.the Prior to this position, I worked as the Manager of STEM Implementation and Supports for the STEM Department. a Skyline Math Curriculum Designer, an Instructional... Read More →

Michael Levy

Sr

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

Best Practices for Integrating and Enhancing Creativity in the Classroom

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Creativity is critical to effective problem solving, analytical thinking, and collaboration. But it can be challenging to clearly define —much less cultivate — in the classroom. Join us to discuss best practices for integrating creativity into your school’s curriculum.

Speakers

Apple Education

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

Happy Little Algorithms: AI for Creativity and Multimedia

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Speakers

Brian Bates

Tim McIlvain

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

Leading and Learning with Curiosity with Britannica Education!

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

In this session, we will learn how to lead with curiosity using Britannica Education tools designed for today’s classrooms. We will explore how to teach with Britannica School, support multilingual learners with Britannica Escolar, and enhance instruction through powerful visuals in ImageQuest. We will also introduce Teach Britannica as a guide for planning and delivering engaging, inquiry-driven lessons.

Speakers

Hunter Dewey

Britannica Education, Britannica Education

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

More Than a Guidebook: Testing the Future of CPS Chatbots

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Exploring the vast landscape of AI requires a solid blueprint, which is exactly what we are building with the new CPS AI Guidebook assistant. This session shares our active journey of testing various AI models, platforms, and bot types to find the perfect fit for navigating district policy. Attendees will get a behind-the-scenes look at how we are piecing together this foundational project to establish the infrastructure for a larger ecosystem of enterprise-ready chatbots.

Speakers

Hala Habahbeh

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

Stop Scrolling—Start Reading: Find Books You’ll Actually Love

LIMITED

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Limited Capacity seats available

Discover help for students and teachers to move beyond “I don’t know what to read” by discovering books they’ll actually enjoy. In this session, you’ll learn how to use NoveList to find read-alikes, explore genres, and match the right book to the right reader based on interests, reading level, and style. Walk away with practical strategies to spark reading engagement and make book selection faster, easier, and more meaningful.

Speakers

James Jacobson

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

Super Sites: Building SItes That Save The Day

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Google Sites can do much more than hold links. In this practical session, participants will see how Google Sites can organize curriculum, support student learning, house substitute plans, share staff resources, showcase student work, and connect multiple Google Workspace tools in one clear place. Attendees will leave with a flexible site structure they can adapt for their own classroom, department, team, or office.

Speakers

Carmella Berthia

Curie High School

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

11:00am CDT

What's New? Dive into Fresh Features on TeachingBooks!

LIMITED

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Limited Capacity seats available

Already familiar with TeachingBooks? Come learn about the exciting latest additions on TeachingBooks that support your literacy work, save you time, and enhance connections to books. Discover our new Early Literacy Expansions, the latest graphic organizer additions, Sora connections, and more! TeachingBooks is a comprehensive Pk-12 literacy service provided to CPS educators through CPS Libraries.

Speakers

Deborah Salyer

Monday August 10, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

1:00pm CDT

Accessibility: Empowering All Learners

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Given the range of learning styles and abilities of students today, educators need technology and resources to accommodate and personalize learning. Apple builds accessibility features into every product, so everyone can use them in ways that work best for them. Join us for an interactive learning session to learn about built-in accessibility features on iPad.

Speakers

Apple Education

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

1:00pm CDT

Educational Games student create on on two non publish websites

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Students will learn to create games on both educational and non profit websites. Using two programs. To keep.them busy and informed.

Speakers

Vivian Jones

TEACHER, CPS

Iam a teacher for CPS schools.

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

1:00pm CDT

How about: AI as a Partner, Not Your Autopilot: Practical GenAI Skills for CPS Educators

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Generative AI can be a real time-saver for teachers, but only when it's used with intention and a human-in-the-loop mindset. In this session, we'll explore how Brisk Teaching's SOPPA-approved AI tools can help CPS educators differentiate materials, refine and strengthen the feedback you're already giving, and create scaffolds that maintain rigor, all in alignment with CPS's Instructional GenAI Playbook. You'll leave with hands-on strategies for using AI to support the high-quality, culturally responsive instruction your students deserve. Whether you're AI-curious or already experimenting, this session will help you move from just trying a tool to building skills you can actually carry forward.

Speakers

Whitney Noel

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

1:00pm CDT

Interactive Flat Panel Sustainability

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

How would like to have no teacher down time because the technology is old? How would you like to cut your install fees in half because you don't have to replace your entire panel. Clear Touch is able to stretch your technology budget with the industries first upgradeable hardware interactive flat panel. This panel has a lot of teacher eccentric tools to take the curriculum to the next level.

Speakers

Sean West

Tristan O'Connor

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

1:00pm CDT

Money Talks: Helping Students Build Money Skills for Life

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Empower your students with the real-world financial skills they need to succeed beyond the classroom. In this session, explore how Everfi’s engaging, standards-aligned resources make it easy to teach critical topics like budgeting, saving, and credit in a way that resonates with learners. Walk away with turnkey lessons, interactive tools, and strategies to build confident, future-ready students—no prep required. We’ll discuss how to use our courses to meet CPS financial literacy graduation requirements with our high school suite of courses while also building foundational money skills for 4th-8th graders with our elementary and middle school courses.

Speakers

Darren Scott

Senior Implementation Specialist, Everfi

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

1:00pm CDT

Simplifying school and district communication through digital signage

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

See how to streamline your district's daily communications and keep your campuses connected using Rise Vision. This live demo covers how to manage centralized digital signage, broadcast instant emergency alerts, and use AI-powered tools to simplify content creation. You will walk away knowing how to easily turn your existing school displays into effective tools for student engagement and safety.

Speakers

Blake Freeman

Frank Wang

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

1:00pm CDT

The GC Glowup: Elevate Your Curriculum Output In Google Workspace

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Ready to transform your digital classroom from a chaotic digital filing cabinet into a self-running learning hub? This session reveals the exact workflows and automation hacks you need to streamline curriculum delivery inside Google Workspace. You will learn how to connect Google Sheets, Classroom, and Docs to build an automated system and recover hours of prep time.

Speakers

Carmella Berthia

Curie High School

Monday August 10, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

Beyond Algebra: Using Geometry, Tessellations, and Fractals to Build Logical Reasoning in Engineering Students

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Geometry is the most underutilized tool for teaching logical reasoning in secondary education — and engineering design is its most compelling context. In this session, participants will explore how tessellations and fractal geometry, expressed across multiple coding environments including Python, Autodesk Fusion 360, and CUDA on NVIDIA hardware, build the same spatial logic that governs the hexagonal crystal domain morphology of transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs), atomically thin semiconductors at the frontier of post-silicon electronics. Whether you teach math, CTE, or write grants for STEM programs, you will leave with a replicable framework connecting classroom geometry to cutting-edge semiconductor science — scalable from a student Chromebook to a research-grade GPU, no advanced background required.

Speakers

Phillip Moore

CTE Teacher, Chicago Public Schools

Pre-Engr, ECS and Mathematics Teacher

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

Fix My Google Form 3.0

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Google Forms can do much more than collect basic responses. In this hands-on session, participants will learn how to improve confusing, inefficient, or underused Forms by applying better question design, branching, response validation, prefilled links, quizzes, file uploads, and connected Sheets workflows. Attendees will leave with practical strategies for building Forms that are clearer for users and more useful for the people managing the data.

Speakers

Carmella Berthia

Curie High School

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

Khan Academy, Reimagined

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

You know Khan Academy? Not like this. Take a guided tour through our reimagined classroom experience for students and educators. We'll put a special focus on the connected classroom loop of Teach - Learn - Assess.

Speakers

Amber Doering

Nick Joe

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

Launching AI Literacy in the 6-8 Classroom

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Welcome your new students back to school with a fresh understanding of the digital world through this session on AI literacy for 6-8. Discover how artificial intelligence works and explore age-appropriate ways to introduce these concepts, helping young students move from passive tech users to critical thinkers. You will leave equipped with practical, ready-to-use strategies to foster safe, responsible, and creative AI exploration in your classroom from day one.

Speakers

Jennifer Ehehalt

Senior Regional Manager, Common Sense Media

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

Meet Gale, Your New Favorite Social Studies SideKick

LIMITED

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Limited Capacity seats available

Speakers

Cynda Wood

Training Consultant, Cengage (GALE)

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

Ready, Set, TEACH! Session 1: Using Gemini for Structured Teaching in Action: Building Independent Learners Through Systems That Work

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Students with autism and other neurodiverse learning profiles often benefit from predictable, organized learning environments that promote independence and reduce reliance on adult support. In this session, participants will explore practical structured teaching strategies, using Gemini, that can be implemented immediately in the classroom. Drawing from real-world experiences in a middle school low-incidence classroom, this session will demonstrate how classroom zoning, visual schedules, structured work systems, work-break routines, and prompting hierarchies can increase student engagement, independence, and success.

Speakers

Melanie Malone

Michelle Reed

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

Science in 3D: Embodied STEM Learning on Everyday Devices

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Discover how the new Merge 3D platform brings science and STEM concepts to life through interactive 3D objects, simulations, and embodied learning experiences — all right in your web browser. In this 45-minute hands-on professional development session, Chicago Public Schools educators will explore how to use Merge on everyday student devices with no app downloads required. Participants will learn practical ways to engage students through 3D Mode, Hand Tracking, Head Tracking, and Cube Mode while making complex science concepts more visual, interactive, and memorable.

Speakers

Sheri Omernik

Educational Consultant, Mackin Educational Resources

Mackin has been a preferred vendor for Chicago Public Schools for many years. Sheri has been leading CPS sessions at Tech Talk and Googlepalooza since 2019.

Sheri can support classroom libraries, school libraries, makerspace products, augmented reality in science, digital products, summer reading, and more. Mackin is linked with CPS Marketplace and Sheri can assist with ordering... Read More →

Isabella Gipson

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

2:00pm CDT

What's New with BrainPOP for 2026-2027?

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT

Virtual for CPS

Kick off the 2026-2027 school year by exploring the latest from BrainPOP designed to deepen student engagement and simplify teacher workflows. This professional learning session provides a look at our newest features -- AI Literacy, BrainPOP Unplugged, Live Mode, and more -- ensuring you are ready to leverage the "magic of Moby" from day one.

Speakers

Charlie Ferriola

Christina Knabe

Monday August 10, 2026 2:00pm - 3:00pm CDT
Virtual for CPS

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