Lindenwood University hosted educators and district leaders from across Missouri for EdPlus’ Innovate, ELevate, and Celebrate conferences. Held June 2-4, the conferences welcomed nearly 600 attendees from 60 member schools and districts. Sessions focused on a variety of topics including artificial intelligence in the classroom, student engagement, and educator wellness.
Lindenwood President Dr. John R. Porter and Associate Vice President for Advising and Retention Experience Dr. Kevin Manley welcomed the school district leaders, directors, superintendents, and other education professionals. Lindenwood Associate Professor of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Amanda Aldridge said hosting the event “provided tremendous value for both the University and the College of Education and Human Services.” She added, “bringing about 600 educators, administrators, and educational leaders from across the state of Missouri to Lindenwood created meaningful visibility for our campus, our teacher preparation programs, and our commitment to innovation in education.”
Alongside education leaders, 20 undergraduate and graduate students in the College of Education and Human Services attended the event, giving many their first professional conference experience. The students engaged with professionals on topics at the forefront of education. LindenTeach interns interviewed keynote speakers and published authors Rick Wormeli and Homa Tavangar. The paid internship creates professional experiences for Lindenwood teacher education undergraduate and graduate students. The interviews were a learning opportunity for the student interns and will be shared via LindenTeach’s podcast for a larger audience. The Lindenwood students in attendance connected their classroom learning with professional practice. By taking part in a conference designed for current educators, students gained an early look at the work happening in the field they are preparing to enter.
To Aldridge, the conferences created value outside the professional learning sessions. She noted that the hundreds of educators who visited Lindenwood gained a firsthand view of the University and will share those experiences with their students and colleagues. “Hosting an event of this scale on Lindenwood’s campus reinforced the University’s role as a hub for educational leadership and innovation,” she said. Aldridge added that the impact “extends far beyond a single event, strengthening partnerships, elevating visibility, and inspiring the next generation of educators.”