CCLAsummit2025

Born, raised, and educated in Sacramento, Kevin Bracy, AKA Coach Greatness, is a motivational entertainer, executive producer, speaking coach, and the author of "Scared Great: How to Steer Your Fear Towards Greatness," as well as his youth book, “Greatness Leaves Clues.” Over his 26-year career, Kevin has been privileged to speak to millions of people across America. For the past 10 years, he has been actively changing the culture and climate of California school campuses with his R.E.A.C.H. One Alliance program. ​

As Sacramento's top anti-bullying speaker, character coach, and the voice of KDEE's motivational segment, "Minute To Win It!” he has made it his mission to “dream globally, but focus locally.” These days he invests his time with his family, his fitness, mentoring for the future, and speaking several times a week to audiences ages 4 to 94, encouraging them all to be the greatest version of themselves and to positively reach out to one other person in kindness every day.

This session will delve into how artificial intelligence (AI) can accelerate literacy development across all content areas. Participants will discover how AI can be used to support learning acceleration by focusing on building knowledge bridges—helping students connect prior knowledge with new concepts—rather than merely filling gaps. Educators will explore AI tools that enhance productivity and instructional design, enabling more effective planning and delivery. Additionally, the session will highlight strategies for engaging students in meaningful and responsible AI use, empowering them to develop stronger literacy skills in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Collaborative conversations are an essential strategy in K-12 instruction, significantly enhancing student engagement and comprehension across all content areas. By facilitating meaningful discussions, students are encouraged to actively think, articulate, and refine their ideas, which fosters deeper critical thinking and collaborative learning. Conversations enable students to explore diverse viewpoints, question assumptions, and clarify misunderstandings, leading to a more thorough understanding of the subject matter. In content areas like math, science, history, and literature, discussions help students connect abstract concepts to real-world situations, enhancing retention and application of knowledge. These interactions also promote language development, social skills, and emotional intelligence, creating an inclusive and dynamic learning environment. By making learning more interactive, and providing effective scaffolds & structures, classroom conversations play a critical role in accelerating both academic achievement and social-emotional growth, making them an indispensable part of effective instruction.

This session will explore key strategies for building foundational language and literacy skills in transitional kindergarten classrooms. Participants will gain practical tools for fostering phonological awareness, letter recognition, and print knowledge through play-based learning and interactive read-alouds. We’ll also discuss how to create a language-rich, print-filled environment that supports multilingual learners and ensures every student is set up for future academic success. Join us for an engaging discussion aimed at empowering educators to shape young minds for a bright future.