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Colleen Incandela

Colleen Incandela

Education Instructional DesignerExhibit Concepts

Colleen Incandela is an education instructional designer, former kindergarten teacher, early childhood administrator, museum educator, and professional development provider with more than 25 years of experience creating meaningful learning experiences for young children. Her career spans both formal and informal learning environments, giving her a unique perspective on how children learn through exploration, play, and authentic experiences.

 

Currently serving as Education Instructional Designer at Exhibit Concepts, Inc., Colleen develops experiential learning environments, classroom resources, and teacher support materials that help educators bring hands-on learning to life. She collaborates with school districts and museums to design engaging spaces and instructional tools that support student curiosity, creativity, and discovery.

 

Prior to joining Exhibit Concepts, Colleen worked in classrooms, led early learning centers, and served as Manager of Program Development at the Adler Planetarium, where she designed programs and professional learning opportunities for educators, children, and families. Throughout her career, she has remained passionate about empowering teachers with practical strategies that connect research-based practices to real-world implementation.

 

Colleen holds a Master of Arts in Early Childhood Professions from Roosevelt University and a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from North Central College. She has contributed to experiential learning projects and professional development initiatives for educators across the United States.

Wed Oct 288:00 AM – 9:00 AM

From Petrochemical to Play: How Community Shapes Immersive Pre-K Classrooms

What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest learners? Texas City ISD and Exhibit Concepts share how a petrochemical-based e…What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest learners? Texas City ISD and Exhibit Concepts share how a petrochemical-based economy was translated into an immersive Pre-K environment that is developmentally appropriate, instr…What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest learners? Texas City ISD and Exhibit Concepts share how a petrochemical-based economy was translated into an immersive Pre-K environment that is developmentally appropriate, instructionally aligned, and rooted in students’ lived experiences. Attendees will explore the full journey from vision to implementation, and learn practical strategies for turning community identity into…What happens when a community’s primary industry inspires its youngest learners? Texas City ISD and Exhibit Concepts share how a petrochemical-based economy was translated into an immersive Pre-K environment that is developmentally appropriate, instructionally aligned, and rooted in students’ lived experiences. Attendees will explore the full journey from vision to implementation, and learn practical strategies for turning community identity into engaging, flexible learning environments that support student engagement, teacher practice, and real-world relevance.Show MoreClick the title to see all detailsShow More

EDsession (60 minutes in classrooms)Session TypeTRACK 1: Learning Spaces, Reimagined — Evolving physical spaces shaping the future of learningSession Track
Sarah Pfeiler
Colleen Incandela
Melissa Duarte
Rebeca Troconis
Sarah Pfeiler
Sarah PfeilerEducation Consultant, Exhibit Concepts
Colleen Incandela
Colleen IncandelaEducation Instructional Designer, Exhibit Concepts
Melissa Duarte
Melissa DuarteSuperintendent of Schools, Texas City ISD
Rebeca Troconis
Rebeca TroconisPrincipal, Calvin Vincent Early Childhood Center, Texas City ISD
Sarah Pfeiler
Sarah PfeilerEducation Consultant, Exhibit Concepts
Colleen Incandela
Colleen IncandelaEducation Instructional Designer, Exhibit Concepts
Melissa Duarte
Melissa DuarteSuperintendent of Schools, Texas City ISD
Rebeca Troconis
Rebeca TroconisPrincipal, Calvin Vincent Early Childhood Center, Texas City ISD
Tags:Group E
Allow Registration:No
Capacity Unlimited:No
Indicate how the topic is applicable to Health, Safety, Welfare (HSW) Design credits.:NA
Learner Engagement:This session is being submitted alongside Exhibit Concepts’ anticipated sponsorship of a session room designed to model flexible, immersive learning environments. If assigned, participants will experience the space firsthand while engaging in guided reflection, small-group discussion, and applied exercises tied to real project scenarios. The session will be interactive through storytelling, project visuals, and structured discussion, prompting participants to connect the content to their own district context and real-world constraints such as budget and implementation.
Learning Objective 1:Identify strategies for integrating community identity into the design of early learning environments to increase student engagement, relevance, and real-world connection