Behind the Scenes of the Invention Education Leadership Summit

Welcoming educators from school districts across the country, the National Inventors Hall of Fame^® premiered its first-ever Invention Education Leadership Summit in March 2026. Hosted at the Hall of Fame’s headquarters in North Canton, Ohio, this two-day summit included innovative professional development, exclusive leadership insights and collaborative experiences in invention education — an approach that guides students through the act of hands-on invention to build an I Can Invent^® Mindset and essential skills.

Focused on leveraging creativity to transform educational experiences throughout the country, this milestone event highlighted participants’ shared commitment to making an impact. The innovative solutions and teaching strategies shared at this summit will help shape the future through invention education pedagogy, resources and curricula.

Read on to take an inspiring look behind the scenes of this special event.

Sharing a Meaningful Experience

Throughout the Invention Education Leadership Summit, attendees participated in project-based and inquiry-based learning sessions, mock classroom implementation, roundtable strategic planning, and networking with national peers and National Inventors Hall of Fame leaders. As participants explored the innovative pedagogy and tested hands-on experiences, they shared candid feedback that will influence future curricula.

Adding their voices and expertise to a national conversation on invention education, teachers from across the country shared their insights during the summit.

“From the time we walked through the door, I felt the sense of community and family,”  shared educator Latonya Miles. “All the collaboration, everybody sharing all the knowledge they bring from different places. I'm from North Carolina. I met people from Minnesota and Texas. It's just a beautiful thing to see everybody come together in a safe space where they can share.”

“The most impactful part of the summit was the collaboration and ideas that I get to take back to my district,” Miles explained, adding, “I expected nothing less from the National Inventors Hall of Fame because they give us quality everything.”

During an exclusive tour, educators visited the Hall of Fame’s on-site warehouse to see where the organization’s education materials are carefully packaged and shipped directly to thousands of school districts, ensuring a reliable partnership educators can count on, year after year.

“The recognition of teachers and [our] skill sets, and bringing us all together provides an invaluable sense of community and valuable content for us to bring back to our classrooms,” shared Sara Lancaster, Minnesota’s 2022 Teacher of the Year.

Emerging As Invention Education Leaders

The event featured several keynote speakers, including invention education experts from the National Inventors Hall of Fame, trusted education thought leaders and National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductee Eric R. Fossum.  Learning about the long-term benefits and the research that informs the Hall of Fame’s invention education programs, participants developed a greater appreciation for equipping educators with the knowledge they need to implement invention education successfully.

“We need to make sure we're educating adults in the way that they learn best. And for children, we know that that's hands-on, kinesthetic-involved learning. We need to do the same for adults and educators,” Lancaster noted.

Educator Susan Jose of Poway Unified School District in California shared, “It was an honor to be invited to the summit. I'm really searching for ways to engage my district, as well as my own campus, during the school year. I've interacted with Camp Invention^® and Club Invention^®, and I know [the National Inventors Hall of Fame] has more to offer. Being able to collect some professional development and return to my campus [with] a proof of concept, I really felt like this conference was the right way to do that.”

Demonstrating the success of the summit, survey results echoed the positive impact of the event. In fact, 100% of those who responded to surveys gathered after the event said the information shared throughout the summit was beneficial, relevant to their roles and aligned with their organization's education goals. Participants also agreed that the experience helped them feel prepared to build student confidence, reduce STEM anxiety, and support persistence and problem solving.

Among the cohort of educators, participants shared an appreciation for making new professional connections and a renewed enthusiasm about the efficacy of invention education. “It was my best professional experience in 25 years in the profession. It was inspiring and refreshing,” one participant wrote.

Bringing Invention Education to More Schools

Educators at the Invention Education Leadership Summit discussed how this innovative pedagogy has been an effective solution for schools across the country. Dedicated to making a lasting impact through exploratory learning and self-led discoveries, they gained new strategies for making invention education a staple of their districts’ STEM enrichment initiatives.

Jessica Lofton, the afterschool director for Pender County Schools in North Carolina, shared her perspective on bringing invention education to students in out-of-school time. “We implement Invention Project^® through our 21st Century Afterschool program. This is an opportunity for students to be able to experience Invention Project [and] create those lifelong learning opportunities that ignite an interest in STEM, so that maybe one day they may want to go to school for engineering or pursue a career in that field.”

After the summit, 100% of surveyed participants said they are excited to incorporate elements of invention education into classroom instruction, expanded learning and STEM programs.

Emphasizing the value of the National Inventors Hall of Fame’s invention education programs, Lancaster noted, “I think all classrooms need to have these experiences. Just the care that goes into making sure a teacher's job is as streamlined as possible, making sure we have all the materials we need [and] teachers can get this into their students' hands with ease. Our time is our most valuable resource as an educator. If you want to grow as an educator and you want your students to grow as inventors and learners and to expand their world, this is a wonderful opportunity for both students and educators alike.”

Shaping the Future of Invention Education

The Invention Education Leadership Summit was made possible, in part, by support from Overdeck Family Foundation. The National Inventors Hall of Fame is grateful for the foundation’s continued support in ensuring greater access to invention education.

In a world shaped by curiosity, this event marked a step toward expanding the Hall of Fame’s partnerships with forward-thinking educators and providing even more learning opportunities to educators and students.

Keep exploring our website to learn more about the National Inventors Hall of Fame’s trusted programs, and to find more ways to get involved in bringing invention education to communities across the country.