AASA’s annual conference always attracts a large crowd of diverse participants bringing an array of experiences, perspectives, practical insights and expertise.

The association this year is tapping into that diversity by hosting two affinity group sessions for people of color in school system leadership on Thursday, Feb. 12, the opening morning of the conference at the Music City Center in Nashville.

In this session, attendees will join like-minded leaders in a safe space to share challenges and celebrations on their leadership journeys and a time for networking.

At 9 a.m., Affinity Groups for Black Educators will be led by Ann Levett, senior vice president of AASA and former superintendent of Savannah Chatham County Public Schools in Savannah, Ga.

At 10:15 a.m., Affinity Groups for Latino/a Educators will be co-led by Maria Ott, the Irving R. and Virginia A. Melbo chair at University of Southern California’s Rossier College of Education, and Francisco Duran, superintendent of Arlington, Va., Public Schools. Ott has led the AASA-USC Urban Superintendents Academy for more than a decade.

The successful launch of affinity groups for Black and Latino/a educators at the 2025 National Conference on Education drew a standing-room-only crowd of roughly 200 Black educators and several dozen Latinos/a leaders to their respective sessions.

“You don’t have to identify as Black or Latino/a to come to this session,” Levett says. “Everyone is welcome, as we can learn from each other.”

Levett said it’s wise to be intentional about finding people and topics of interest. Educators are encouraged to consider their school district’s goals and their personal well-being when making selections.

A popular affinity group program is Friday’s annual Dr. Effie H. Jones Memorial Equity Luncheon. The event honors educational leaders committed to the advancement and mentorship of women and groups in America’s public schools. This ticketed event sells out early, so purchase a ticket online prior to arrival by adding this charge to your conference registration.

A potentially intriguing affinity group roundtable is scheduled at 10:15 a.m. Thursday titled “Why Leaders of Color Need a Greenbook: The Resilient Representative Leadership Framework.” The session will be led by three educators. The Green Book refers to a publication that listed safe and welcoming businesses for traveling African Americans during the Jim Crow era.

Also, AASA will launch the National Women’s Leadership on July 9 at AASA headquarters in Alexandria, Va. Other affinity groups with annual or semi-annual events include the AASA Effie Jones Leadership Institute, the Urban Superintendents Academy and the Aspiring Superintendents Academy for Latino and Latina Leaders.

For details, contact Valerie Truesdale, senior vice president of AASA’s Leadership Network, at vtruesdale@aasa.org or Levett at alevett@aasa.org. Further details are available at  www.aasa.org.

(Liz Griffin is a senior editor of Conference Daily Online and managing editor of AASA’s School Administrator magazine.)