Lead, Learn, Connect at Engage New York!
March 26th, 2026
1:00 - 5:00 pm
HANSA Workspace (Buffalo, NY)
Join us in Buffalo at Engage New York, Kognity’s free, in-person professional development event designed exclusively for high school science educators and school leaders.
Sessions are designed to be interactive, practical, and immediately applicable — whether you’re refining your use of phenomena, aligning assessments to performance expectations, or supporting teachers through instructional change. Plus, connect with like-minded professionals during our exciting networking social hour afterwards!
Keep your eye on the growing agenda!
Registration
Arrive at HANSA Workspace, register, and grab a coffee before the first session begins at 13:30!
Plenary Session
Details coming soon!
Coffee Break
Grace Boersma
Using phenomena to drive instruction
This session is designed for High School Science educators.
This session focuses on the central role of phenomena in three-dimensional teaching. Teachers will learn how to identify compelling, real-world phenomena that can serve as the anchor for a unit or lesson. The session will model how to use a phenomenon to engage students in a “storyline” of scientific inquiry, where they ask questions, collect and analyze data, and build explanations. Participants will walk away with a clear understanding of the difference between a phenomena-based and a topic-based lesson.
Learning Outcomes: Teachers will be able to identify and select high quality phenomena, design a coherent “storyline”, and formulate effective questions that engage students and align with the core ideas of NGSS.
Grace Boersma, the Professional Learning Specialist at Kognity, has over 8 years of experience as a high school chemistry teacher. With a degree in chemistry and sociology and a master’s in Secondary Education, she is passionate about helping teachers create engaging, inquiry-based learning experiences. Grace has received numerous accolades, including the Michigan Science Teachers Association Science Teacher of the Year award.
Coffee Break
Melanie Snow
Insights to Impact with Kognity
In this session, Melanie Snow will explore how students can transfer their knowledge to new contexts, and how teachers can leverage Kognity’s data analysis tools to inform effective test preparation. Together, we’ll look at ways to turn insights into action, ensuring students are not only learning but truly understanding.
Together, we’ll examine how to turn classroom insights into actionable strategies — ensuring students are not just learning content, but applying and understanding it with confidence.
Melanie Snow is a former high school science teacher who currently works as a Curriculum and Learning Designer at Kognity. She has spent the past 2 decades in science education as both a teacher and researcher with a focus in NGSS. She holds a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences from the University of Illinois-Chicago, an MEd. in Science Education from Georgia State University, and a BS in Earth and Atmospheric Sciences from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Discover Why Engage New York is a Must-Attend Event
Level Up Your Teaching
Walk away with actionable strategies and practical tools to enhance your daily teaching practice and boost student success.
Build Lasting Connections
Collaborate and exchange ideas with fellow educators throughout the day, and cap it off with a fun, complimentary networking social hour in the evening with snacks and beverages.
Inspire and Empower Your School
Discover fresh ideas to spark student engagement and create an environment where teachers and learners can thrive—bringing inspiration back to your school and classrooms!
Empower Your Growth Through Learning & Connecting
Check out these highlights from past Engage events and get a glimpse of the excitement, inspiration, and connections awaiting you at Engage New York!