Connect with a community of forward-thinking peers to refine your approach to teaching and innovation at the in-person EXSEED Summer Educator Conference, June 15-19, 2026. This immersive professional development experience is designed for K-12 educators looking to bridge the gap between traditional instruction and cutting-edge STEM+C (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math, + Computing) practices. 

Through collaborative workshops, world-class mentorship, and hands-on training in design thinking, we empower you to transform your classrooms and inspire the next generation of problem solvers. Join a community of innovative educators dedicated to changing the face of education.

The nominal $100 registration fee (non-refundable) includes conference programming, hotel accommodations, lunch, and dinner. You will also have the opportunity to earn 34 non-academic clock hours with completion of the entire conference. 

Registration Opens Soon

Registration Opens Soon

Save the date: June 15-19, 2026. We're excited to welcome you to a week of innovation, collaboration, and growth at the 2026 EXSEED Summer Educator Conference! Check back soon to register.

Conference Essentials

Who Can Attend?

Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To be eligible, applicants must be K-12 educators — including teachers, principals, or superintendents — who have a desire to learn how to integrate STEM into other subject areas.

Registration for the full conference is open to the following groups:

  • SDA K-12 teachers (includes in-service teachers)
  • SDA K-12 administrators
  • SDA higher education professors
  • SDA higher education administrators
  • SDA union & conference representatives
  • K-12 teachers from Indian Springs High School Health Academy
  • K-12 teachers from the San Bernardino City Unified School District
  • Alumni Participation: Alumni who attended previous EXSEED Summer Conferences prior to 2023 are generally eligible to attend again this year. However, if you are an alumnus/alumna who attended the conference in 2023 or 2024, you may only attend again if you wish to attend as part of a team (co-worker and administrator from your school). Please email us at [email protected] prior to applying to receive approval.

Registration and Cost

  • Cost: $100 registration fee (non-refundable). Includes hotel accommodations, lunch, and dinner. Breakfast is available at the hotel.
  • Limited capacity: Registration is limited to 50 participants. If you need to cancel your registration, please inform us as soon as possible so we can offer your spot to someone on the waiting list.
  • Attendance: Full attendance throughout the conference week (Monday through Friday) is required to maximize the learning experience and receive clock hours. The evening programming for Monday through Thursday is subject to change so please plan on required attendance until 8 p.m.

Check-In and Accommodations

Conference Site
  • Loma Linda University, Centennial Complex, 4th Floor Conference Center, 24760 Stewart St., Loma Linda, CA 92354
  • Participants are responsible for their travel to and from the EXSEED Conference at Loma Linda University.
  • Download LLU campus map to find your way around easier. 
Check-in
  • Date: June 16, 2025 (7:30-8:00 a.m.)
  • Check-in address: 4220 Centennial Complex Conference Center (Subject to change, please watch registration emails for updates.)
Internet
  • Wi-Fi provided
Dining Details
  • Lunch, dinner, and light snacks will be provided at the conference site (Note: Breakfast provided only at hotel for conference attendees staying there, M-F).
  • Download LLU campus map to find additional on-campus dining.
Fitness
  • Free access to facilities with the use of conference ID badge (M-F).
  • Address: Drayson Center, 25040 Stewart Street, Loma Linda, CA 92354
  • Full-week conference attendees: If family will be staying with you at the hotel and would like to use the facilities at Drayson, there is a fee of $5/day. (Note: Children are permitted to access the pool only, and this is at designated times during the day.)
  • Visit the Drayson Center website to learn more about our facilities.

Parking, Directions, & Transportation

  • There is free parking in parking lot X, adjacent to building. View our campus map to view lot X and other potential parking options.
  • Finding the Venue: After you park, enter the building and head south down the hall. The elevators will be at the end of the hall on the left. Take them to the 4th floor. Venue is located directly ahead.
  • If you're entering from the front entrance (facing the campus), head down the hall. Elevators will be on the right. Take them to the 4th floor and the venue is located directly ahead.

Airport Transportation

We look forward to your visit to the LLU campus in June. If you will be traveling by air, there are several airports serving Southern California. Each provides options for ground transportation to Loma Linda, CA.

EXSEED will provide free transportation to and from the LLU campus for flights arriving at or departing from Ontario International Airport (ONT) ONLY during the following times:

  • Arrival: Sunday, June 15th, 2025, between 2:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. PST.
  • Departure: Friday, June 20th, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. PST.

Continuing Education & Clock Hours

We are pleased to offer professional development recognition for your participation in the full conference program.

  • Earn credit: Attendees are eligible to earn 34 non-academic clock hours upon successful completion of the entire conference schedule.

  • Documentation: To streamline your reporting, a formal clock hours document will be provided at the conclusion of the event.

  • Submission: You can use this document to log your specific sessions and hours. Once completed, please submit it directly to your union registrar to ensure your professional development records are updated.

Technology & Device Requirements

To ensure you can fully participate in our interactive sessions and hands-on workshops, please review the following technical requirements:

  • Bring your own device (BYOD): All participants are required to bring their own laptop. Our workshops are designed for desktop operating systems to ensure all software and tools function correctly.

  • iPad notice: Please note that iPads will not be provided, and many session tools are not fully compatible with mobile or tablet interfaces. A laptop is essential for the best experience.

  • Mac users & connectivity: If you are using a MacBook, please remember to bring a USB-C to USB adapter or a multi-port hub. This is necessary for connecting to shared hardware or transferring files during specific breakout sessions.

  • Power & charging: To keep you powered up throughout the day, charging stations will be located at every table. Please remember to bring your own power cables and adapters so you can stay connected right from your seat.

Attire

Dress is casual, but warmer clothing is strongly recommended for the conference site (full-length pants, long-sleeve shirts or light sweaters for layering, etc.). Don't freeze!

Contact Us

Do you have a question about our upcoming conference? Whether you need help with registration, information on our speakers, or details about the event schedule, our team is here to assist. Reach out and let’s make this our best conference yet! Email us at [email protected].

Conference Program

Schedule

View the full conference schedule (coming soon).

MEALS

M-F

  • Breakfast (7:00-7:45 a.m.)*
  • Lunch (12:00- 1:00 p.m.)
  • Dinner (5:15-6:00 p.m.)
*A continental breakfast will be available to attendees staying at the hotels.

*The evening programming for Monday through Thursday is subject to change so please plan on required attendance until 8 p.m.

Speakers

Plenary and Breakout Speaker

Robert Henley, M.A., MCSE, MCT, A+, Network+

  • Innovation Director | Office of Education
  • Director | Florida Conference Institute for Innovation
  • Innovation Lab Director | Forest Lake Academy
  • Florida Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Breakout Speakers

Rozaleth "RJ" Tenga, MS

  • Junior High STEM Teacher
    Loma Linda Academy

Amanda Darsey

  • Middle School Science and STEM Teacher
    North Tampa Christian Academy

Jacquelin Gunther

  • Kindergarten Teacher
    North Tampa Christian Academy

 

Plenary Sessions

In these hands-on plenary sessions, you will explore the framework of innovation — design thinking, problem-based learning, and mechatronics — within a classroom setting as you develop solutions to real-world challenges. Discover how to integrate innovation and STEM+C in an engaging way that transforms your classroom and school into an authentic learning environment that fosters critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration.
 
These sessions emphasize the constructionist approach to education, where learning is most effective when students actively construct knowledge through hands-on experiences. Educators will gain both theoretical insights and practical strategies to implement these methods, fostering deeper student engagement and innovation in STEM+C learning.
 
You will also receive a toolkit of strategies that you will be able to implement to transform your school into an innovation school that will equip your students with the competencies needed to thrive in the fourth industrial revolution. You will walk away with a comprehensive curriculum, including a textbook, lesson plans, and a scope and sequence with structured resources to implement in your classroom immediately. Topics include: Competency-based education, personalized learning, scrum, multiple intelligence in the classroom, generative AI, and much more.

Activities

  • Grade K – 8 teachers will learn how to use the BBC Micro:bit microcontroller to create a toy for children with disabilities or a communication device for non-verbal children.
  • Grade 7 – 12 teachers will learn how to use the Arduino Microcontroller to create a medical device that address pusher syndrome.
 
No matter what grade you teach, you will leave equipped, inspired, and ready to transform your classroom into an innovation powerhouse. No prior tech experience is required—just a growth mindset! Join us for an inspiring week of exploration, collaboration, and growth as we empower you to cultivate the next generation of problem-solvers and innovators!

Breakout Sessions

Breakout Sessions Grades K-2: Amanda Darsey & Jacquelin Gunther

Prepare for four dynamic workshops packed with hands-on learning and practical strategies to transform your K-2classrooms.

We'll be diving deep into the world of Design Thinking and Problem-Based Learning (PBL), equipping you with the tools and techniques to ignite creativity and critical thinking in your young learners. Expect engaging activities, collaborative projects, and plenty of opportunities to explore cutting-edge educational technology.

You'll participate in collaborative design challenges that illustrate the design thinking process and explore real-world problem-solving scenarios to understand the application of PBL in early childhood education. We'll also equip you with user-friendly AI tools to streamline your planning, demonstrating how to leverage AI to speed up brainstorming, content generation, and personalize learning experiences. This will provide you with the resources and support you need to create impactful unit plans that you can implement right away.

Get ready to collaborate, innovate, and leave feeling inspired and empowered to bring fresh, exciting learning experiences to your classroom! We can't wait to see you there!

Breakout Sessions Grades 3-8: Rozaleth Tenga

These breakout sessions are designed to empower grades 3-8 teachers to integrate technology and design thinking into their teaching practices. Participants will begin by learning strategies for unit planning that align with standards and incorporate design thinking principles. They will then explore hands-on tools like Micro:bit, cardboard robots, circuitry, and 3D printing, getting an introduction on how to use and teach these technologies to students. Building on this foundation, teachers will develop project ideas using these technologies within a design thinking framework. The final session ties everything together, allowing participants to refine their unit plans, collaborate, receive peer feedback, and prepare for classroom implementation.

  • Session 1, Design Thinking and Foundations of Unit Planning with Technology: Introduce the design thinking process and equip teachers with strategies on how to create unit plans integrating technology and design thinking.
  • Session 2, Exploring Tools and Technologies Part I:  Teachers will have hands-on experience using the micro:bit and circuitry, creating their own cardboard robot.
  • Session 3, Exploring Tools and Technologies Part II: Teachers will have hands-on experience creating 3D designs and using a 3D printer. Teachers will integrate this session with Session II, collaborating and brainstorming how 3D printing can be involved in the use of micro:bits.
  • Session 4, Bringing It All Together: Teachers will create a unit plan that involves a project idea to implement in their classrooms. Teachers can collaborate, brainstorm with peers, and receive feedback.

Breakout Sessions Grades 9-12: Robert Henley

Unlock the full potential of engineering design in your classroom with this comprehensive workshop on Autodesk Fusion 360 (Computer Aided Design). Tailored specifically for educators, this hands-on workshop will equip you with the knowledge, skills and strategies needed to inspire the next generation of designers, engineers, and innovators. Educators will also learn how to 3D print their designs. Topics will include: Problem-based learning, competency-based education, design thinking, iterative design and project management with SCRUM.

EXSEED Summer Conference 2025 Amanda Darsey Presenting K-2 Workshop
EXSEED Summer Conference 2025 Amanda Darsey Presenting K-2 Workshop
What EXSEED Attendees Say
Last summer (2025), I was honored to be a breakout presenter at EXSEED and led a large K-12 NTCA team to the LLU EXSEED program for training . . . I am thrilled to announce that design thinking is fully incorporated campus-wide . . . I truly could not have accomplished what I have done at my school without the incredible support from the EXSEED team . . .
Amanda Darsey
North Tampa Christian Academy, Middle School Teacher
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