FallEdCon26: Moving from Theory to Practice
Monday, October 12, 2026 · Three locations across Marquette, MI
Featuring returning FallEdCon speakers Brian Buffington & Tommy Thompson
Oct 12
Conference Day
7:45 AM
Check-In Opens
3
Marquette Locations
3:30 PM
Dismissal
Moving from Theory to Practice
FallEdCon is MARESA’s flagship fall professional learning conference, bringing together K-12 teachers, paraprofessional educators, and early childhood staff from across Marquette and Alger counties for a full day of learning with nationally recognized education leaders.
FallEdCon26 — Moving from Theory to Practice— is Monday, October 12, 2026, and marks the third year of our continuing focus on visible learning, AI and change, and real-life application of learning, pairing national talent with local voice. Built for teachers, by teachers, this year’s sessions are action-oriented and hands-on — designed around usable takeaways you can put to work in your classroom the next day.
We listen to your conference survey feedback and act on it. Sessions this year are led by local educators alongside presenters from the MiMTSS Center and Oakland ISD, with a paraprofessional strand designed specifically for parapros — free for paraprofessional educators to attend — and a mental health focus for mental health professionals at Marquette Senior High School (standard registration applies).
Three Locations, One Conference
NMU Northern Center
K-12 educators, all disciplines
Marquette Senior High School
Paraprofessional educators and mental health professionals
Free for paraprofessionalsThe mental health focus is not free — standard registration applies.
Marquette-Alger RESA
Early childhood: GSRP & junior kindergarten educators
Check-in begins at 7:45 AM and dismissal is at 3:30 PM at all locations.
Returning FallEdCon Speakers
Brian Buffington
Returning favorite — artificial intelligence in education (FallEdCon 2025 featured speaker)
Tommy Thompson
Returning FallEdCon speaker — 2026 session topic to be announced with the full program
Thank You for a Great 2025 Conference
FallEdCon 2025 was held Monday, October 13, 2025 across three venues — the Northern Center (K-12 all disciplines), St. Michael’s Catholic Church (paraprofessional educators), and Marquette-Alger RESA (early childhood, GSRP & junior kindergarten). Thank you to every educator who joined us.
2025 Keynote: Myron Dueck
Myron Dueck opened and closed the 2025 conference, sharing his 25 years of practitioner and leadership experience helping educators navigate grading, assessment, reporting, and student voice.
His published work includes Grading Smarter, Not Harder — Assessment Strategies that Motivate Kids and Help Them Learn (ASCD, 2014) and Giving Students a Say! Smarter Assessment Practices to Empower and Engage (2021).
More about Myron Dueck (opens in new tab)2025 Featured Speakers
Brian Buffington
Artificial Intelligence in Education
John O'Connor
Special Education and MTSS
Dr. Sonja Hollings-Alexander
Visible Learning
2025 Conference Schedule
How the day ran at FallEdCon 2025 — the 2026 schedule will be posted here once finalized.
Keynote
Myron Dueck
Breakout 1
Choose your session
Breakout 2 / Lunch
Group A
Breakout 3 / Lunch
Group B
Breakout 4
Choose your session
Close Note
Myron Dueck
Professional Learning Credits
Credit options offered at FallEdCon 2025 — 2026 credit details will be confirmed with the full conference announcement.
SCECHs — Free
- For in-state educators only
- Complete daily sign-in
- Complete conference feedback form
- Have your PIC# ready
Graduate Credit — ED 596
- Through Northern Michigan University
- Additional info & course registration available
6 SSW CEUs
- Available through Social Work CEU process
Join Us for FallEdCon26
Monday, October 12, 2026 · Check-in begins 7:45 AM · Free for paraprofessional educators · Registration through Wisdomwhere.