Spark Curiosity EDU Conference 2026

Name: Spark Curiosity EDU Conference 2026
Start: 2026-07-31T18:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-08-02T10:00:00-05:00
Location: Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown

Schedule

Fri, 31 Jul, 2026 at 06:00 pm to Sun, 02 Aug, 2026 at 10:00 am

UTC-05:00

Location

Cambria Hotel Austin Downtown | Austin, TX

Learn to lead with curiosity, design for wonder, and use AI in creating classrooms where students think, question, and grow.
About this Event

FROM CURIOSITY TO LEADERSHIP: WHY WONDER MATTERS MORE THAN EVER

July 31 - August 2, 2026 | Austin, Texas

Cambria Hotel Austin

In an age where AI can answer any question instantly, the ability to ask the RIGHT questions has never mattered more. Join 150+ visionary educators for three transformative days exploring why curiosity isn't just a teaching strategy. It's the cornerstone of ethical leadership, deep learning, and human connection in the age of technology.

Discover how to lead with wonder, design for discovery, and use AI as your assistant (never your replacement) in creating classrooms where students think, question, and grow.

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WHY ATTEND

Spark Curiosity EDU 2026 is designed for educators who believe learning should begin with wonder, not worksheets. In a world increasingly automated, the human capacity to question, imagine, and connect is our superpower.

You'll leave with frameworks for designing curiosity-driven learning experiences, practical strategies for fostering authentic inquiry, and yes smart ways to use AI as your teaching assistant. But make no mistake: YOU are the spark. Technology is just the kindling.

WHAT YOU'LL EXPERIENCE

Design Learning That Starts With Wonder

Walk away with the Spark Curiosity framework for transforming any standard into a question worth exploring with or without technology

Lead Inquiry That Transforms Teams

Learn to facilitate curiosity-driven collaboration that deepens thinking, strengthens relationships, and creates lasting instructional change

Navigate Technology With Humanity

Develop a decision-making framework for using AI tools ethically and effectively while keeping the human experience at the center

WHY 2026 IS A CRITICAL INFLECTION POINT

For years, Kampus Insights has helped thousands of educators ignite student engagement through curiosity-driven instruction. But 2026 marks a critical moment: as AI reshapes what's possible in education, the ability to spark genuine wonder, ask powerful questions, and create human connection is more vital than ever.

Spark Curiosity EDU 2026 is not another conference about AI tools. It's a conference about TEACHING: the kind of teaching that makes students sit forward, ask questions, and fall in love with learning. The kind that transforms classrooms into communities of inquiry. The kind that can't be automated, replicated, or replaced by any algorithm.

Yes, we'll show you how AI can support your work. But only as your assistant, never your replacement. Because in a world where machines can generate content instantly, the uniquely human work of sparking curiosity, building relationships, and designing transformative learning experiences becomes our greatest strength.

This year, curiosity isn't just strategy. It's survival. Wonder isn't optional. It's essential. And educators aren't being replaced. They're being elevated to do the work that matters most: igniting the human spark that no technology can replicate.

CONFERENCE TRACKS: THREE PATHWAYS, ONE TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE

Spark Classroom

For teachers who want to design learning experiences that begin with wonder, not content delivery. Learn inquiry-based strategies that work in any subject, any grade level—with smart use of AI as your lesson design assistant, not your lesson designer.

LeadSpark Team

For instructional coaches and teacher leaders ready to facilitate teams that ask better questions, design deeper learning, and create cultures of curiosity. Learn collaborative systems that strengthen human connection and professional growth—with technology supporting (not driving) the work.

Technology + Humanity

For school leaders navigating the tension between innovation and integrity. Develop frameworks for adopting AI tools responsibly while protecting what matters most: student agency, teacher expertise, authentic learning, and human relationships that technology can never replace.

FEATURED SPEAKERS & LEADERSHIP PANEL

Conference Host & Moderator:

Olivia Odileke

Founder & CEO, Kampus Insights | Author of Unleashing Curiosity

Olivia has trained over 25,000 educators worldwide in curiosity-driven instruction, blending her background in Industrial Engineering and Instructional Technology to design transformative professional learning experiences.

Afternoon Leadership Panel: "Leading with Curiosity in the Age of AI: Why Human Leadership Matters More Than Ever"

Saturday, August 1, 2026 | 3:15 to 4:30 PM

Panel Speakers:

- Dr. Darryl J. Henson - Interim Superintendent, Hitchcock ISD

- Dr. Carnelius D. Gilder - Superintendent, West Sabine ISD

- Marcia Narine Weldon, JD - Law Professor & AI Governance Strategist, University of Miami School of Law

- Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce - Chief Education Officer, Stephanie Boyce & Associates, LLC

Featured Session Speaker:

Rodrick Johnson - Founder, The Energized Educator | Author & Literacy Coach

This interactive panel brings together superintendents, legal experts, and classroom innovators for honest dialogue about a critical tension: As AI transforms what's possible in education, how do we lead in ways that protect and amplify what's human? Live audience polling ensures YOUR questions and concerns drive the conversation.

FEATURED SIGNATURE SESSIONS

Hands-on workshops, breakthrough strategies, and tools you can use Monday morning:

- Spark Curiosity AI Coach: Launch Wonder in Under 5 Minutes

Led by Olivia Odileke

- Beyond the Buzz: Culturally Responsive Teaching in the Age of AI

Led by Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce

- Creating Music with AI to Inspire Learning (Fearless Educator Radio Experience)

Led by Olivia Odileke

- The OS for School Improvement: Installing a Collective Collaboration System That Actually Works

Led by Olivia Odileke

- AI Governance for Educational Leaders (Protecting What Makes Education Human)

Led by Marcia Narine Weldon, JD

- Curiosity + Energy: Understanding Your Students Through Human Connection

Led by Rodrick Johnson

Plus 2 More Breakout Sessions

Our program features 8 concurrent breakout workshops across three tracks. We're finalizing our guest presenter lineup and will announce additional sessions soon.

SCHEDULE SNAPSHOT

Friday, July 31, 2026

6:00 PM - 9:00 PM | Kickoff Networking Event

Rooftop Bar, Cambria Hotel Austin

Mix, mingle, and spark connections under the Austin skyline

Saturday, August 1, 2026 (Main Conference Day)

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM | Morning Keynote: "From Curiosity to Leadership: Why Inquiry Is the New Instructional Equity"

9:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Hands-On Practice Sessions & Breakout Workshops (Sessions 1 & 2)

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | Lunch + Fearless Educator Radio Listening Session

1:00 PM - 3:00 PM | Breakout Workshops (Sessions 3 & 4)

3:15 PM - 4:30 PM | Afternoon Leadership Panel

4:30 PM - 6:00 PM | Applied Practice + Closing Reflection