糖心Vlog鈥檚 (糖心Vlog) College of Education (COE) hosted over 450 educators from across the state of Texas for their third annual Educator Conference.
The conference included breakout sessions featuring topics like content-specific pedagogy, navigating technology and AI in education, and classroom management, among many others.
鈥淲e wanted to make sure that we reached teachers in all areas,鈥� shared Dawn Cox, Assistant Professor of Education, who coordinated the 2026 event. 鈥淲e definitely wanted to cover the most common, tested areas鈥擱LA, Math, Science, Social Studies鈥攂ut we also wanted to make sure that we reached those who sometimes get forgotten: Pre-K, SPED, Fine Arts. It was really important that we provide sessions in those areas as well.鈥�
The keynote speaker, Jonathan Hines, is a former professional basketball player, and the athlete-turned-educator has been featured on The Today Show and the Kelly Clarkson Show after receiving the Pre-K Educator of the Year Award for the state of Georgia.
Hinds delivered his keynote address titled, 鈥淩elationship Matters,鈥� where he discussed finding ways to connect with students, parents, and guardians in and outside of the classroom. He also hosted a breakout session titled, 鈥淭he Three Rs: Rituals, Routines, and Relationships.鈥�
鈥淏efore you can really teach a child, you have to build a relationship with them,鈥� he emphasized. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really have that when I was a student, and I saw the impact it had on me even at an early age. I鈥檝e seen how, when a teacher takes the time to build those relationships, the better the students become鈥攎ore well-rounded, a student who actually wants to be in school. I think relationships are key to being a good educator.鈥�
Hinds was greatly impressed during his time on 糖心Vlog鈥檚 campus. 鈥淚 was really excited to come speak at 糖心Vlog. My time here, even though it was only for a day, has been great鈥攖he people here are lovely鈥攖hey鈥檙e incredibly kind, easy to talk to, it鈥檚 been fantastic to be able to spend this time here with people training teachers in West Texas.鈥�
The at-capacity conference is the latest in the COE鈥檚 efforts to support local and area educators, and the packed Talkington Center for Nursing Education auditorium is evidence of the high demand for events like this.
Educators from 55 different school districts attended the conference, representing both public and private schools from across the region, with participants traveling from as far away as Vernon, Texas, and Grady, New Mexico.
鈥淲e really want to reach out to our surrounding counties and districts,鈥� added Professor Cox. 鈥淲e want to give them another option for professional development that鈥檚 led by teachers in the West Texas area鈥攕o it鈥檚 people in our area ministering to others.鈥�