GRITC 2026: Learning, Innovating and Preparing for What’s Next
Baldwin County Public Schools and the Baldwin County Education Coalition once again brought educators together for the annual Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference (GRITC), held July 13–15 at Fairhope Middle School.
More than 750 educators attended this year’s three-day conference, spending the week learning from one another, exploring emerging technology, discovering new teaching strategies, and gathering practical ideas they can take back to their classrooms when students return for the new school year.
GRITC has become a unique professional development opportunity for educators across Baldwin County and the Gulf Coast region because of its emphasis on learning that is relevant, interactive, and immediately applicable in the classroom. Sessions span grade levels and content areas and give educators opportunities to explore everything from pedagogy and curriculum to collaboration, student engagement, artificial intelligence, and educational technology.
“Investing in our educators is one of the most meaningful ways we can invest in the success of our students,” said Terry Burkle, Executive Director of the Baldwin County Education Coalition. “GRITC gives teachers the opportunity to learn from one another, explore new tools and strategies, and return to their classrooms with ideas they can put into practice right away. The Coalition is proud to partner with Baldwin County Public Schools each year to provide this kind of meaningful professional development for educators across our region.”
“Our classrooms are full of technology today because that’s what’s in the world,” said Jeremy King, Education Technology Support Services Coordinator for Baldwin County Public Schools. “We want to make sure that we give teachers the skills that they need to be able to work with students and come into their classrooms today.”
That focus was especially timely at GRITC 2026, where educators had opportunities to explore how rapidly changing technology can be used thoughtfully to support student learning. Sessions included conversations surrounding responsible uses of artificial intelligence, strategies for keeping students engaged, new classroom tools, and ways technology can extend learning rather than simply replace traditional instruction.
Jaime Tillman of Daphne Middle School shared the importance of providing educators with opportunities to explore those tools before returning to the classroom.
“I feel like technology changes from one week to the next, sometimes one day to the next,” Tillman said. “So conferences like this, where we get to come in and kind of play around with it and learn how to make some mistakes when it’s not in the moment, are so precious.”
The conference kicked off with keynote speaker Carl Hooker, an educator, author, consultant, and educational technology leader with more than 27 years of experience. Hooker has served in roles ranging from classroom teacher to district-level leadership and has built his career around the belief that students should play an active role in driving their own learning.
His keynote, “Designing for What’s Next: When the Answer Is Easy, Thinking Matters More,” challenged educators to consider how teaching and learning must continue to evolve in a world where information—and increasingly, answers—are readily available. Hooker is the author of 10 books covering topics including mobile learning, productive failure, artificial intelligence in education, and digital wellness.
At the heart of GRITC remains its peer-to-peer approach to professional development. Many sessions are led by educators who are already putting these strategies and tools to work in their own schools and classrooms. That format gives teachers the opportunity not only to learn from experts in education and technology, but also to exchange ideas with colleagues who understand the day-to-day opportunities and challenges they face.
The learning extended beyond individual sessions. Throughout the conference, educators connected with vendors, sponsors, and community partners who provide resources, technology, programs, and services that support Baldwin County schools and students.
Community partners participating in the conference included Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Gulf Coast, Drug Education Council, Goodwill Gulf Coast, United Way of Baldwin County, South Baldwin Literacy Council, ACOE, AEA, Alabama Coastal Foundation, the Baldwin County Education Coalition, and others.
GRITC 2026 was also made possible through the support of conference sponsors, including Arey Jones Educational Solutions, Trafera, ClearTouch, Baldwin County Sewer Service, Novelis, Baldwin EMC, GeoCon, Performance Contractors, Inc., Flashlight Learning, FORTÉ, eMINTS, Cambium Learning, Discovery Education, Howard Education, Horace Mann, and hand2mind.
Their investment, along with the work of Baldwin County Public Schools staff, volunteers, presenters, donors, community partners, and participating educators, helped make three days of meaningful professional development possible.
As GRITC 2026 came to a close—with plenty of door prizes and celebration to end the week—more than 750 educators left Fairhope Middle School with more than conference materials in hand. They took with them new strategies, new technology, new connections, and new ideas to put to work for students throughout the coming school year.
The Gulf Regional Innovative Teaching Conference is held annually and is open to educators from Baldwin County and beyond. GRITC reflects the Baldwin County Education Coalition’s commitment to investing in educators and helping ensure teachers and administrators have access to the professional development and resources they need to support student success.
To learn more about GRITC and the Baldwin County Education Coalition’s work to support public education throughout Baldwin County, visit www.BetterBaldwin.com.
