From Monday, June 8 to Wednesday, June 10, over 200 educators, administrators, and partners convened at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College, in Asheville, NC, for the 2026 GEAR UP Academic Innovation Conference. This event was organized by Rachel Nave-Lewis and the AIC conference committee, consisting of Dr. Caroline Beam (NC New Teacher Support Director Northwest Region), Taylor Dodge (Swain County GEAR UP Coordinator), Takiyah McCathern (Administrator with Wilkes County Schools), Debra Rodriguez (AB Tech GEAR UP Coordinator), and Dr. Kevin Sutton (Professor at Appalachian State University).
This year’s conference’s theme was centered on the power of educational stories, both within school communities and in the personal lives of educators. This theme was threaded throughout the event to encourage and provide space for all attendees to engage in sharing their stories and their hopes for tomorrow’s education landscape in North Carolina.
This year’s Conference kickoff was hosted by CoolSpeak at Cedric’s Tavern in Antler Hill Village on Biltmore Estates. At the kickoff, conference attendees mingled and enjoyed live storytelling and poetry performances by CoolSpeak’s founder Carlos “Chu” Ojeda, Jr., poet Joaquin Zihuatanejo, and inspirational speaker Chris Collins. The microphone was later opened up for inspired attendees to share their stories in a slam poetry style format.
Tuesday morning’s conference convening began with words from keynote speaker, Carlos “Chu” Odeja Jr. Chu shared his personal story during his keynote, reminding attendees of the importance of fighting forward, not back.
Tuesday also featured the inaugural Luminary Showcase, an innovation showcase and competition event between GEAR UP districts. The showcase provided innovators a space to highlight not only their work from this year, but the work they hope to create in the years ahead. The Luminary Showcase is an extension of the established Innovator of the Year Award, designed to highlight the dedication, creativity, and impact of GEAR UP districts and partner Institutes of Higher Education.
This year, the AIC Conference Team, alongside NPSI (National Postsecondary Institute) partners, designated four categories to honor and celebrate the work of our partners:
- The Trailblazer Award, to recognize innovation through work that is both established and rooted in evolution to answer the changing needs of their school communities.
- The Greatest Impact Award, to highlight an initiative that has brought proven outcomes and a change of trajectory within a school community.
- The Future Promise Award, to acknowledge that every great program first starts with an idea to spark change and the courage to attempt something new and untested.
- The People’s Choice Award, to allow our community to decide what they feel is a project worthy of acknowledgement and support in the upcoming year.
The 2026 Luminary Showcase Awardees are:
- $12,000 was awarded to Swain County Schools winner of the Trailblazer Award for “P.L.A.N.S.: A Comprehensive Approach to CDPs & Managing the Middle to High School Transition”
- $12,000 was awarded to Alleghany County Schools, winner of the Greatest Impact Award for “Building Strength in Numbers: An Absenteeism Initiative”
- $12,000 was awarded to Burke County Schools, winner of the Future Promise Award for “Portrait Pathways: A Social-Emotional Learning Journey for Student Success”
- $8,000 was awarded to Macon County Schools, winner of the People’s Choice Award for “Workforce on Wheels: An Innovative Career & Technical Education (CTE) and Occupational Course of Study Workforce Development Program”
Following the day’s highlights of innovation, fueled by the Lumuniary Showcase, Partner Sponsored Breakout Sessions, and the 2026 AIM (Academic Innovation Mini) Grant PITCH Competition, attendees were invited to two networking events. First, all Innovator of the Year nominees and guests gathered at the “Asheville Club,” sponsored by Top School Speakers, for a celebration of excellence and karaoke.
Conference goers were also invited to a networking event at Hemingway’s Cuba, sponsored by Participate Learning. Attendees mingled and unpacked the events from the day while enjoying delicious Cuban food and beverages.
Wednesday morning began with a keynote from Jonathan Medina, founder of Top School Speakers. Inspired by his own journey that included family connections and a love of athletics, his interactive keynote encouraged educators to foster college-going attitudes in their students.
Wednesday also featured over 50 breakout sessions, ranging in topics from ethical use of AI, to fostering college-going mindsets in students. Additionally, external education partners offered interactive, hands-on activities during the Vendor Playground event. These unique breakout sessions included demonstrations from LEGO Education, Sphero, PARI (Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute, and The Book Room just to name a few.
At lunch, the Academic Innovator of the Year was announced. This year, GEAR UP honored eight district winners:
- Chelsie Bobbitt, Alleghany County Innovator of the Year
- Jonathan Greene, Ashe County Innovator of the Year
- Ryan Hyde, Burke County Innovator of the Year
- Jamie Gurney, Catawba County Innovator of the Year
- Kristin Menickelli, Jackson County Innovator of the Year
- Erin Long, Madison County Innovator of the Year
- Tyler Walker, McDowell Innovator of the Year
- Ashlee Zachary, Transylvania Innovator of the Year
Jonathan Greene from Ashe County Early College was named the 2026 GEAR UP Innovator of the Year Runner-Up, and was awarded $2,500 in grant funds to continue his innovative teaching practices.
Ashlee Zachary from Rosman Middle School in Transylvania County was selected as the 2026 GEAR UP Innovator of the Year. In addition to the title, Ashlee also received a prize package worth over $18,000. As part of this package, Ashlee will travel to Argentina in 2027 with GoGlobal NC to participate in their Global Teacher Fellowship, and was given a $1,000 monetary gift from Forest Ridge Assisted Living, as well as a $1,500 gift certificate to the Old Edwards Inn in Highlands, NC from Top School Speakers.
In addition to these titles, over $137,000 worth of AIM mini-grants were awarded across 21 schools to educators who competed in Tuesday’s Shark Tank-style pitch competition.
“This is the largest AIM Grant cycle we’ve had,” said Brittany Brady, GEAR UP Academic Innovation Specialist. “I am so proud and so thankful for everyone who helped make it possible. Even those who were not funded, have shown huge potential and I encourage them to try again next cycle.”
AIM grants help strengthen existing arts, STEM, and college pathway programs in GEAR UP districts. This year educators will use these grants to fund projects such as “From Clay to Culture: A Cross-Curricular Ceramics Program,” and “Code, Create, Cultivate: A Cross-Curricular STEM Initiative.”
The final award presented on Wednesday was the inaugural GEAR UP Student Leader of the Year award, which was given to Dreydon Conley of Graham County. Dreydon has exhibited leadership through his involvement with the L.E.A.D program, as well as through his work with the North Carolina General Assembly House Page Program.
Innovators interested in participating in next year’s AIC should mark their calendars for June 14-15. The event will once again be held in Asheville, NC. Proposals for next year’s sessions will open in October. If you have innovative ideas, research, or experiences to share, please consider submitting a proposal at that time. Educators interested in participating in next year’s Pitch Competition should look for marketing information to begin in January 2027 with an application window in March/April.
