Education Week’s 2024 Leadership Symposium will take place live and in person in Arlington, VA, just 5 minutes outside of Washington, DC. Join school and district leaders from across the nation for 3 days of empowering strategies, networking, and inspiration.
Hyatt Regency Crystal City
Arlington, VA
May 1 - 3, 2024
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Explore and discuss some of the most critical issues education leaders are facing and discover ideas for solutions through a variety of session formats, guests, and topics. You will leave inspired by new ideas, empowered with actionable takeaways that can be applied in your own schools and districts, and connected to an expanded network of K-12 leaders.
Gain insights and ideas to:
- Build momentum and sustainability for student learning
- Get proven tactics to help guide your strategy for the 2024-25 school year
- Discover the latest findings and best practices from EdWeek’s journalists and researchers
- Find inspiration, empowerment, and community
Need some help convincing your boss or school board that you should attend? Most Leadership Symposium attendees have the costs of their registration badge paid for by their school or district. that you can use to convince your school board or administrator to approve and fund your trip.
This year’s symposium will feature two half-days (Wed. 5/1 and Friday 5/3) and one full day (Thursday 5/2) of content focused on Teaching & Learning, Thriving 69ý, and Resilient Leadership.
Click on each day below to see the schedule and check back as we continue to fill the program with empowering sessions, inspiring speakers, and valuable networking opportunities.
Wednesday, May 1
Check-In and Networking
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Leaders to Learn From Recognition Ceremony
Panel Discussion: The State of Teaching: Big Takeaways for School and District Leaders
Industry Perspective: Successfully Navigating the Staffing Crisis
Districts are challenged with fulfilling staffing requirements in addition to individual student needs while managing increasing financial constraints. Join Amergis Educational Staffing and Sunburst Workforce Advisors for an intimate fireside chat. Hear what staffing experts think about the current staffing crisis, how districts can overcome it, and how K-12 leaders can get back to what matters most - their students.
Networking Break
Interactive Polling Session: Teacher Morale and Satisfaction
Learn & Reflect: De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
• Define de-implementation and what constitutes low value practices
• Identify how our mindsets force us to contribute to our own workload
• Decide what to replace or reduce and begin decluttering
• Start getting their lives back and rediscover the joy in teaching, learning and leading
Day 1 Closing Remarks
Cocktail Reception
Thursday, May 2
Topic-Focused Networking Breakfast
Flash Briefing: Taking the Pulse on AI's Uptake in 69ý
Panel Discussion: Embracing AI in Education
Industry Perspective: Beyond Survival: Thriving with Innovative Leadership in Today's 69ý
The educational landscape is rapidly and constantly evolving. New technologies, ever-shifting expectations, and changing student needs demand innovative leaders who are committed to pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. Join us for a dynamic conversation with two visionary superintendents from the Digital Promise League of Innovative 69ý, where they'll share their insights on:
• Why innovative leadership is critical in today's schools - challenges and opportunities that necessitate a shift towards innovative leadership
• Key strategies for fostering innovation - practical tips and tools to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement, creativity, and experimentation in your district.
• Leading from the front lines - how superintendents make the case for and drive innovation in their districts
Interactive Polling Session: Emotional Intelligence of Leaders (What You Think; What Teachers Think)
Networking Break
Keynote: Fostering Purpose and Inclusion to Drive Student Success in College and Careers
Industry Perspective: Insights from Educators: Making In-School, High-Impact Tutoring Work
As we transition into the post-pandemic period, school systems have highlighted the critical role of high-impact tutoring as an efficient and scalable intervention approach to foster equity in education. During this session, we will examine the fundamental aspects of high-impact tutoring and showcase methods for its integration within the regular school schedule. We will also explore how high-impact tutoring programs contribute to academic recovery and address teacher shortages and diversity issues.
Lunch
Book Signing by Freeman Hrabowski
Interactive Breakout Session 1: Collective Leader Efficacy: How to Strengthen Instructional Leadership Teams
Participants will:
· Define collective leader efficacy
· Develop an understanding of how leadership teams should function
· Understand the drivers necessary to develop collective leader efficacy
· Engage in a cycle of inquiry and begin developing an action plan
Interactive Breakout Session 2: The Perils of Speaking Out: How Education Leaders Can Deftly Navigate Public Debates Over Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Politics
Interactive Breakout Session 3: Write a Smart AI Policy for Your School or District
Interactive Breakout Session 4: Give 69ý a Voice--Get Big Results
Networking Break
Panel Discussion: Real Talk With 69ý on the Mental Health Supports They Say Help Most
Industry Perspective: Thriving Learners: Design for One, Design for All
All students learn differently, and all can thrive with the right support. Research suggests that up to 20% of us are neurodivergent, and that inclusive strategies benefit all students. In this session, Dr. Andy Kahn, who identifies as neurodivergent and served as a school-based psychologist for 20 years, and Juliana Urtubey, 2021 National Teacher of the Year, will discuss how we create neuroinclusive classrooms by leveraging the power of behavioral science.
Leadership Interview: What Happens When School and District Leaders Prioritize Family Engagement
Industry Perspective: Exploring Effective Instructional Strategies in a Diverse School District
Discover the transformative impact of effective research-based strategies in diverse learning environments. During this session, an administrator will share firsthand experiences with both teachers and English Language Learners (ELL) students in their district, highlighting specific language acquisition boosts and academic improvements. Hear about the challenges faced during the integration process and get insights on how to overcome these obstacles. You’ll increase your understanding of the practical benefits and educational shifts prompted by effective methodologies.
Featured Speaker: U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
Day 2 Closing Remarks
Friday, May 3
Breakfast
Interactive Polling Session: Student Engagement and Motivation
Travel to Breakout Sessions
Interactive Breakout Session 1: Collective Leader Efficacy: How to Strengthen Instructional Leadership Teams
Participants will:
· Define collective leader efficacy
· Develop an understanding of how leadership teams should function
· Understand the drivers necessary to develop collective leader efficacy
· Engage in a cycle of inquiry and begin developing an action plan
Interactive Breakout Session 2: The Perils of Speaking Out: How Education Leaders Can Deftly Navigate Public Debates Over Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Politics
Interactive Breakout Session 3: Write a Smart AI Policy for Your School or District
Interactive Breakout Session 4: Give 69ý a Voice--Get Big Results
Networking Break
Learn & Reflect: How to Teach 69ý to Be the Ultimate STEM Problem Solvers
Leadership Interview: Improving Literacy Instruction and Achievement at Scale: Lessons From a State Chief
Dr. Wright is a former member of the Chiefs for Change Board of Directors. Notably, the U.S. Secretary of Education appointed her in 2019 to the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for NAEP, the Nation’s Report Card. Her honors include the 2022 Mississippi Top 50 Most Influential Leaders Award. She is a University of Maryland graduate, earning undergraduate, advanced and doctoral degrees in education.
Closing Remarks
Who will I hear from?
Learn from senior K-12 district and school leaders and nationally recognized leadership and policy experts. Check back for an updated speaker list.
Thank you to all our symposium sponsors