Engaging Alabama's Gifted Students With Real World-Stem

  • March 17, 2026
  • 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM
  • Zoom

Registration


Register

Engaging Alabama’s Gifted Students with Real-World STEM

With Scott Mains

March 17, 2026

6:00 - 7:00 PM CT

STEM is all around us. In this webinar, we’ll talk about how STEM connects what students learn in the classroom to real jobs and careers. We’ll also look at how Learning Blade gives advanced learners meaningful, real-world challenges that strengthen critical thinking and problem-solving skills while helping them explore career paths. You’ll get practical ideas for meeting the needs of gifted students, boosting engagement, and staying aligned with Alabama standards. You’ll leave with simple, ready-to-use strategies you can bring straight into your classroom. Visit www.LearningBlade.com/AL to request your free account. 


Scott Mains is the Alabama State Manager for Learning Blade, where he works closely with districts and schools to help them make the most of the platform. Drawing on his 20+ years in education, in and out of the classroom, Scott brings a thoughtful, student-centered approach to supporting educators. He’s passionate about helping schools integrate hands-on, career-connected STEM learning into everyday instruction so students gain the real-world skills they’ll need for the future.

The Zoom link will be sent the day before the meeting. 





PD Webinar Series

February 17, 2026

6:00pm 

Designing Math That Moves: Fluency, Acceleration, and the Courage to Explore

With Casey Warmbrand

High-ability learners don’t simply need “more”; they need mathematics that moves—fluidly, flexibly, and creatively. This session uses the Alabama Mathematics Course of Study and the Numeracy Act as anchors for designing instruction that supports acceleration, deep conceptual understanding, and mathematical risk-taking. Participants will explore how to design rich task sequences, investigations, and open problems that promote multiple strategies, multiple representations, and authentic mathematical reasoning. We will examine approaches to curriculum compacting, flexible grouping, and grading structures that reward exploration and align with the Standards for Mathematical Practice. Teachers will leave with practical tools, classroom-ready examples, and a clear framework for cultivating fluency, creativity, and productive struggle in high-ability mathematics learners.


 

Casey Warmbrand is a mathematician, curriculum architect, and national leader in gifted mathematics education. With 25 years of experience spanning middle school through university instruction, he has contributed to state standards development, redesigned mathematics pathways, and led national professional learning for NAGC, NCTM, and international organizations focused on mathematical creativity. Casey’s work centers rich-task design, curriculum compacting, mathematical creativity, and equitable assessment practices aligned with the Standards for Mathematical Practice. He currently supports mathematics program innovation for gifted learners in Arizona, advances systemic change in mathematics education nationally, and directs an initiative focused on affordable housing reform. Outside of his professional work, Casey enjoys time with his wife, Erica, and son, Zeke, and is an avid pickleball player supporting the national governing body, USA Pickleball.


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