Memphis teacher residency university
“MTRU” Spring Conference
Saturday, February 28, 2026
DATE
8:30am - 1:00pm
TIME
MTR Offices
Crosstown Concourse (1350 Concourse Ave. Suite 366)
LOCATION
WHAT TO EXPECT
Join MTR for a day of teachers leading and learning together! You’re welcome to bring and share with teacher friends who did not do MTR — this is open to any Memphis local teachers. Please feel free to come as casual as you’d like. Donuts and a grab-and-go lunch will be provided.
Sign up today & see sessions
and presenters below!
Melody Barham,
T-LPC/MHSP-CRC,
Child & Adult Therapist, Rediscovering Me Counseling & Coaching
Workplace Wellness
Audience: all attendees, LIFE TRACK
Navigating the workplace can be daunting with ever-changing processes and procedures, metrics that must be met, and the general unpredictability that is inherent in human interaction. All of this can be challenging, especially for new professionals. How does one develop the ability to contribute as a team players while simultaneously implementing practices that support individual personal well-being?
This is workshop will support those who are in the process of developing their work identity and who are seeking to create personal sense of wellness in the workplace.
Rebekah Berlin, Ph.D,
Senior Director, Product Management, TeachStone
Mental Models for Supporting Engaged Classrooms
Audience: K-12 teachers, all subjects
When we look at our students’ data, sometimes the gap between where we are and where we need to be can feel daunting. It can be tempting to feel like you need to overhaul everything or launch new initiatives and the result is often that everyone ends up over capacity. It does not have to be this way.
In this session, we’ll explore how to work smarter, not harder, by aligning what you already do with how thinking and learning actually happen. You’ll learn about the power of mental models in teaching, see examples of how they can be applied, and walk away with simple, high-leverage shifts that deliver on your objectives without adding more to your plate.
Ashleigh Bettis,
MTR Class of 2012
The Five Home Purchasing Languages
Audience: All attendees, LIFE TRACK
When it comes to one's motivation to purchase a home, not everyone speaks the same language. Come learn what type of buyer you are, what type of home would be best for your goals, and how to make those goals come to fruition. In this practical and conversational session, participants will explore various home buying scenarios and topics like renting vs buying, down payment assistance, and house hacking. Come with any and all real estate related questions as there will be plenty of time for Q&A.
Emily Dobesh,
MTR Class of 2023
Kalli Harrell,
MTR Instructional Coach
Content Sessions: Secondary Science Test Prep and End of Year Best Practices
Audience: 6-12 teachers, science
As Tennessee science standards continue to evolve and the TNReady assessment shifts each year, it’s essential to use the final weeks of school wisely. This session will help secondary science teachers understand what to expect on this year’s Science TNReady and how to implement high-impact, standards-aligned review strategies that go beyond simple test prep.
We will also explore how to make the most of the post-testing window, when pressure is lower and opportunities to build student engagement and science identity are high. Participants will leave with practical ideas for both effective review and meaningful instruction after testing ends.
Jarmeisha Gladney,
6-12 Social Studies Instructional Coach, Soulsville
Stay TNReady: The Secondary ELA/SS Test Prep Playbook
Audience: 6-12 teachers, ELA & History
Test prep season doesn't have to be a period of burnout—for you or your students. The truth is that you haven't received the right playbook yet to move past "general review" and into strategic "Unit Sprints" that will not only achieve your student mastery goals, but will also take the guesswork out of how to review for the TNReady.
In this session, you won't just hear about best practices. This workshop you will execute these best practices, using ELA & SS models to guide your thinking. So stop guessing what to review and get (TN)ready on the final stretch. Leave the session with your plan done, your investment hooks ready, and your path to EOC/TCAP success mapped out.
Cory W. Jones,
MTR Class of 2020
Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing: Practical Strategies to Overcome Workplace Distractions
Audience: all attendees, life track
Attendees will name the habits and mindsets that make the workplace unbearable and learn how to recenter themselves when things get hard. They will practice building resilience by identifying their why, reflecting through writing, and sharing with a partner. Each person will leave with a template to post their why in the classroom as a visible commitment to staying grounded. There will be time to talk, reflect, and hear from others.
Rachel Moss,
MTR Class of 2024
Bring the JOY!
Audience: K-5 teachers, all subjects
You and your students have been grinding all year in preparation for TCAP. You have nothing left to teach them. Your hard work paid off and they crushed the test. But now that the test is over, you’re left with a month of school with no lessons to guide your time together. What do you do? This session will provide some ideas for game-ifying the skills you taught this year, bringing in the joy and building lasting memories with your students before summer break!
Anne Pingel,
MTR Class of 2017
Closing the Loop (Without Losing Your Mind): Communication Lessons for Educators
Audience: all attendees, life track
In the fast-paced school environments, educators and leaders are inundated with communication from every which way, – emails, texts, Class Dojo, Slack, car-line chats, and even a note on the torn corner of paper to call ASAP! Every message requires attention, prioritization, and action, while also juggling a dozen other tasks.
With so many channels and so little time, things get lost in translation: intentions are misunderstood, messages fall through the cracks, and someone inevitably misses the memo that today’s schedule changed.
In this session, we will discuss the common communication pitfalls that impact all stakeholders. Through shared stories and practical insights, we will unpack what we have learned (sometimes the hard way) and how we can refine our communication to keep the focus where it belongs: on supporting students and building strong school communities.
Taylor Price,
MTR Class of 2022
Modifying Scripted Lesson Plans for Student Success
Audience: 6-12 MSCS TEACHERS, all subjects
MSCS TEACHERS ONLY: The new MSCS lesson plans have a robust amount of information for students to unpack. While helpful in arrangement of ways, internalizing the lessons and making decisions in instruction for student needs can be difficult within the framework. This Lesson Plan Internalization session is tailored for secondary MSCS employees who are looking for techniques to internalize and refine their MSCS provided lesson plans. Attendees will learn how to pick the most relevant power standards to focus their lessons and utilize efficient and practical data practices to justify sequencing and adjustments.
Hannah Rogers,
MTR Class of 2023
Preparing Math Thinkers, Not Just Math Test-Takers
Audience: 3-5 teachers, Math
This session will center on how leaning into conceptual math, especially during testing season, can actually make teaching feel more purposeful and student learning more durable. We’ll dig into practical ways to surface student thinking, address misconceptions, and teach concept-driven instruction so students aren’t just preparing for a test, but truly understanding the math in front of them.
Alani Williams,
MTR Class of 2025
Val Weiss,
MTR Instructional Coach
Content Sessions: Secondary Math Test Prep
Audience: 6-12 teachers, Math
This is what we've been working for ALL year...testing! Come learn and experience how to make test prep motivating, fun, and beneficial for students and teachers alike. You won't want to miss it!
Burst sessions to be announced…
