5 Powerful Insights from Garfield Gini-Newman at CEESA 2026

Garfield Gini-Newman CEESA 2026 Conference

In March 2026, international educators will converge in Sofia, Bulgaria for the 36th Annual CEESA Conference, held at the luxurious Grand Hotel Millennium and hosted by the Anglo-American School of Sofia. This year’s theme explores the “heart and art of teaching”—a concept perfectly embodied by one of the event’s leading figures: Garfield Gini-Newman.

Whether you’re a classroom teacher, instructional coach, or school leader, the CEESA 2026 Garfield Gini-Newman sessions promise to be a standout element of this highly anticipated educational gathering.

About Garfield Gini-Newman

Garfield Gini-Newman is widely recognized for his groundbreaking work in critical thinking and educational transformation. As an Associate Professor at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) and a Senior Consultant with The Critical Thinking Consortium, Garfield has spent over two decades collaborating with thousands of educators worldwide. His mission? To design curriculum, assessment, and learning environments that prioritize critical, creative, and collaborative thinking.

He is the acclaimed author of Creating Thinking Classrooms and is currently co-authoring Flourishing By Design with Laura Gini-Newman, a timely work that delves into designing educational spaces where learners thrive – not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.

Pre-Conference Highlight: Deep Learning That Transfers Through Sustained Critical Inquiry

Date: March 12, 2026
Location: Anglo-American School of Sofia
Format: Full-day, pre-conference workshop

Inquiry in schools can take many forms-from basic fact-finding to tightly structured investigations. But what does sustained critical inquiry really look like in practice? During this immersive workshop, Garfield will unpack how inquiry can become a truly transformative learning strategy when it goes beyond surface-level engagement.

Drawing directly from Creating Thinking Classrooms, the workshop will support educators to:

• Define what sustained critical inquiry looks like within their unique contexts.
• Create engaging “critical challenges” that make students’ thinking visible.
• Anchor inquiry in criteria that emphasize the process of thinking, not just the end product.
• Embed assessment within inquiry for feedback that’s both timely and actionable.
  Apply these ideas to real-world units and assessments through collaborative design labs.
  
  

This day promises a blend of interactive modeling, collaboration, and strategic planning. Whether you’re part of a teaching team, a coach, or an instructional leader, you’ll walk away with usable tools and clarity for building thinking-rich environments – especially relevant in a rapidly changing, AI-driven world.

Keynote: Keys for a Flourishing Classroom

Date: March 13, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

Garfield will officially open the CEESA 2026 Conference with a keynote titled Keys for a Flourishing Classroom: Creating the Conditions for Flourishing Learners. This powerful talk explores what it means for students not only to succeed academically but also to experience a deep sense of wellbeing, belonging, identity, and joy.

Educators can expect to gain:

• Practical routines that nurture agency in students.
• Strategies to foster thinking-rich classrooms.
• Techniques that empower teachers to feel confident, not burdened.

Assessment as Kindness: A Session That Reframes Evaluation

Date: March 13, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

In this session, Garfield challenges the conventional view of assessment. Instead of being a tool for grading, what if it became an act of kindness? Through this reframe, he presents assessment as an integral support for learning—woven directly into instruction.

Key takeaways include:

• Making assessment a continuous, manageable part of daily instruction.
• Using feedback as guidance rather than judgment.
• Encouraging student ownership and self-direction.

Teaching Content Through a Thinking Approach

Date: March 13, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

This session brings content to life by placing thinking at the center of instruction. Garfield emphasizes that content still matters – but how students engage with it makes all the difference.

You’ll explore:

• How to “problematize” content so each lesson becomes a thinking opportunity.
• Strategies for moving beyond textbook questions toward rich provocations.
• Making critical and creative thinking second nature for learners.

Enriching the Learning Experience Through Assessment Practices That Work

Date: March 14, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

Garfield revisits the power of formative assessment in this interactive session. Expect actionable tools like thinking organizers, “learning launches,” and “Guides to Success.”

Participants will learn how to:

• Turn students into active assessors of their learning.
• Deliver feedback that is timely, encouraging, and effective.
• Reduce teacher workload while enhancing learning outcomes.
  
  

Aligning Practices for Optimal Success

Date: March 14, 2026
Location: Grand Hotel Millennium

In this closing session, Garfield will address the inevitable complexities of modern teaching: diverse learners, shifting mandates, and constant change. His focus? Alignment.

You’ll be guided through:

• Clarifying your school’s core learning goals.
• Designing daily instruction that reflects these priorities.
• Making sure your assessments and teaching strategies work in harmony.

Thanks to Our Sponsors

The remarkable opportunity to learn from Garfield Gini-Newman and other CEESA 2026 speakers is made possible through generous sponsorships from CEESA’s partners and VIP members. Key supporters include the Office of Overseas Schools, Insurance Services International, International Schools Services, Clements Worldwide and ISAM360.

See You in Sofia!

Garfield Gini-Newman’s presence at CEESA 2026 is not just another conference session – it’s an invitation to rethink the very fabric of how we teach, assess, and support learners. From his immersive pre-conference to his energizing keynote and four targeted sessions, Garfield will offer concrete strategies that bring thinking-rich instruction and learner flourishing to life.

Don’t miss your chance to experience CEESA 2026 in Sofia, Bulgaria, from March 12–14, 2026. Register now and don’t forget to add Garfield’s full-day workshop to your learning plan.

Your students – and your future self – will thank you.