SEctionals 2026

• Many called workers feel overwhelmed by competing priorities, constant interruptions, and the never-ending demands of serving others. The result is often chronic busyness, frustration, and undone to-do-lists. But what if productivity wasn't about doing more in less time? What if it was more about stewardship and purpose? Faithful Focus provides a Christ-centered framework for productivity that helps participants move toward purposeful and sustainable effectiveness. Combining biblical principles, practical productivity strategies, and research-based habits, this session equips participants to align their daily actions with their calling and priorities.

• Mental Performance Mastery - Striving to master the physical aspects of performance student-athletes need to be successful on the field of competition is certainly important, but just as important (and often neglected) is mastering the mental game that plays out in the six inches between their ears. This sectional will provide practical strategies and skills coaches can use to help their student-athletes and teams learn the mindset, habits and routines they need to consistently perform their best, overcome obstacles, and be successful in reaching their potential. These mental performance strategies and skills can certainly be applied beyond athletics in any performance endeavor.

• Lutheran teachers pour tremendous energy, love, and faithfulness into teaching children about Jesus—but no influence compares with that of parents. Children are far more likely to remain connected to Christ when faith is practiced and nurtured in the home. So how can teachers help parents make the most of that influence?

In this session, we’ll explore practical ways Lutheran school teachers can encourage, equip, and partner with parents as they raise their children in the faith. Together, we’ll consider how we can move beyond simply teaching children about Jesus at school to helping families make the Word of God, prayer, worship, and Christian living a natural part of life at home.

• Strategic Thinking will share with participants how to use board games in the classroom not only as a recreational pastime but also as a practical teaching tool to integrate 21st-century learning skills into curriculum units and lesson plans. Participants will gain insights into board game mechanics, skill development, and even how to foster writing and student originality with board game creation. Come ready to play!

• Presentation

• Every school has a culture. Lutheran schools seek to cultivate a “grace-filled” one. Building a Christ-centered culture requires grace, trust, collaboration, and professional community. This session shares research-based practices that help Lutheran schools and classrooms foster cultures that boost student achievement, advance gospel outreach, and support teachers and families.

• Discover practical, classroom-ready literacy strategies that align with the Science of Reading and support students in grades 5–8 across all content areas. This session will explore evidence-based approaches for strengthening vocabulary, comprehension, background knowledge, fluency, and written responses while engaging students in meaningful learning.

• Strategic Thinking will share with participants how to use board games in the classroom not only as a recreational pastime but also as a practical teaching tool to integrate 21st-century learning skills into curriculum units and lesson plans. Participants will gain insights into board game mechanics, skill development, and even how to foster writing and student originality with board game creation. Come ready to play!

• Presentation

A look at what research says about AI's effects on learning. 

AI Paper

Presentation

In the Parable of the Sower and the Seed, Jesus talks about all the different ways people will respond to the Word of God. As ministers of God’s Word, we are not only trying to create an environment of good soil for the faith of those whom we are reaching and educating, but we need to make sure our faith remains in spiritually rich soil. Together, we will see the importance of feeding our faith and then some strategies and resources for growing our faith in our daily devotional lives.