Conference Daily Online 2026

February 12

AASA's award-winning newsletter, providing daily coverage of key speakers, topical sessions, photos and video clips of the conference.

National Superintendent of the Year

Roosevelt Nivens delivers remarks as the winner of the 2026 National Superintendent of the Year Award. Photo by Angelea Yoder.

Chair Yoga in the Exhibit Hall

Laurie Eagle leads a chair yoga session in the Health & Wellness Center Thursday. Photo by Jordan Johnson.

Keynote Speaker

Keynote speaker Joe Sanfelippo at the Thursday evening General Session. Photo by Angelea Yoder

Workshops

Attendees enjoy educational sessions at this year's conference. Photo by Angelea Yoder.

General Session

Charlie Worsham and his All-Star Band performed at the General Session on Thursday. Photo by Jordan Johnson.

Program Changes

Event Change: The roundtable “It Takes a Village: The Power of Community Partnerships to Elevate Schools for Students and Staff” originally at 9 a.m. Thursday has been moved to 12:45 p.m. Friday at table 18.
Cancelled: Roundtable “Beyond the Acronym: Leading Inclusively in a Post-DEI World” at 12:45 p.m. Friday.

Top News

Texas Superintendent Roosevelt Nivens Named 2026 National Superintendent of the Year on Stage at AASA Conference’s Kickoff General Session

AASA Keynoter Joe Sanfelippo: Add Storytelling as Essential Duty to the Superintendent’s Workday

As Many Questions as Proprietary Answers Confront Superintendents Browsing at Artificial Intelligence Booths Everywhere Inside the AASA Exhibit Hall

Conference attendees explore exhibit hall vendors. Photo by Jordan Johnson.

Virtual Reality Glasses Can Move You Far from the AASA Exhibit Hall, But Then Stress-Reducing Flooring Might Take You Somewhere Else

AASA Awards

Profile of Roosevelt Nivens, 2026 National Superintendent of the Year

[Video] Remarks from AASA’s 2026 National Superintendent of the Year Award Winner (6:37)

Nivens Ties Real-World Skills to Students’ Proclaimed Interests via Lamar’s Innovative School Days

Roosevelt Nivens’ Odds & Ends: Delivering Hugs Galore, Absorbing Lessons from Tragedy and Touting a Proud Namesake

Topical Sessions

When Striving to Sustain Student Enrollment, School District Must Be Definitive, Not Defensive, Communications Experts Insist

Experts on Coping with Escalating School Safety Threats: ‘No One Person … Can Do It Alone’

[Video] Teaching Students Executive Functioning Skills (1:58)

[Video] Leaning into Community in the Wake of Tragedy (1:36)

North Carolina Leaders Share How Schools Play an Oversized Community Role in Disaster Recovery

How to Harness the Vast Potential of Generative AI in School Operations Comes Down to Leading, Not Bleeding, Trio of Superintendents Insist

[Video] Creative Uses for Artificial Intelligence as a District Leader (2:02)

Popular Tag Team of Lubelfeld and Polyak Pull No Punches on the Proper Mindset for Modern Leadership

[Video] Using Social Media to Center Student Voice (1:49)

Leveraging AI Across a District Hinges on What Humans Bring to the Table, Trio of Superintendents Tells a Conference Roundtable

[Video] Using Artificial Intelligence to Transform Human Resources (1:52)

Principal Pipelines Are Bolstering the Ranks in Three School Districts Intentionally, Their Leaders Say During Conference Thought Leader Panel

A Colorado Superintendent Delivers Her Guidance, Drawn From Recent Experience, on Bridging Divides Within a School District

Two Superintendents at Thought Leader Session Encourage School Districts to Integrate Student Wellness Measures as a Priority

Vanderbilt’s Research Base Undergirds Leadership Development in 84 School Districts, Conference Panel Explains

Four School System Leaders, at Thought Leader Session, Explore Student-Centered Learning as a Paradigm Shift Worth Pursuing

Panelists from Aldine, Texas, Delivers Their Distinct Approaches to Transforming School Culture and Modifying Student Behaviors

[Video] Bolstering Communication to Prepare for Crisis (1:35)

Leading with Compassion and Vulnerability: Why Humanizing the Role of Superintendent Is Important and How To Do It

A Legal Expert on Cyber Terrorists Sets Out a Path for Prevention for Vulnerable School Districts

[Video] Preparing for a Cyberattack on Your School District (1:53)

Just Get Started: How Schools Deploy AI to Ensure Inclusion in the Digital Classroom

A Small Rural District in Utah Models What It Takes to Expand College and Career Readiness

[Video] Expanding College and Career Opportunities for Rural Students (1:57)

Executive Function Skills Deserve Heightened Importance in Every Schools’ Instructional Program, Conference Panel Declares

A New Reality for Superintendents: Building Capacity as Political Leaders

[Video] Political Leadership as a Superintendent (1:51)

Future-Ready Leadership Panel: Effective Communication Comes Down to Credibility and Trust

Around the Conference

With Pups to Cuddle and Yoga for a Mind and Body Break, Exhibit Hall’s Health and Wellness Center Fills a Need Amidst Conference’s Hustle and Bustle

[Video] Exhibitors Explain How Artificial Intelligence Tools Can Support Education (2:22)

[Photo Gallery] 1st General Session, Thursday, Feb. 12

In Three-Way Conversation on Stage with AASA President and Executive Director, a Student Illustrates the Public Education Promise

Early Morning Freeze Failed to Deter Dozens of AASA Fun Run/Walk Participants Thursday

AASA Governance

AASA Conference’s Federal Relations Luncheon Explores Rocky Legal Terrain on Immigrant Children’s Rights to Schooling

[Video] Hear from AASA Past Presidents on the Evolving Association (2:10)

Conference Daily Podcast

[Podcast] Creating a Great Place to Work feat. Cassandra Schug

[Podcast] AI, Accessibility, and Agency feat. Shannon Cox