The Social Media Lounge is back at the AASA national conference, located at Booth 729 in the Music City Center‘s exhibit hall in Nashville.

The lounge provides school district leaders with a welcoming space to learn, connect and recharge. The site will host three topical sessions focused on significant issues. When sessions are not underway, attendees can stop by to charge devices and grab a quick snack before heading to their next conference commitment.

This year’s Social Media Lounge schedule of one-hour sessions is as follows:

• “Centering Student Voice: Storytelling on Social Media That Builds Trust,” 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, with moderator Colon Lewis, vice president of AASA’s Leadership Network, and panelists Zandra Jo Galván, superintendent of Salinas Union High School District in California; Tori Holloway, superintendent of Vicksburg Warren School District in Mississippi; Glenn Robbins, superintendent of Brigantine Community School in New Jersy; Heidi Sipe, superintendent of Umatilla School District in Oregon; and Robert Wallace, chief of staff of Metro Nashville Public Schools in Tennessee.
• “Cutting Through the Noise: Effective Crisis Communication Strategies in a Social-First World,” 12:45 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12, with moderator Shane Haggerty, senior director of brand and client strategy at AASA, and panelists Heather Daniel, director of communications and policy in Edison Township Public Schools in New Jersey; Lisa Leali, superintendent of Lake Bluff Elementary School District 65 in Illinois; Matthew L. Montgomery, superintendent of Lake Forest School Districts 67 & 115 in Illinois; and Martha Salazar-Zamora, superintendent of Tomball Independent School District in Texas.
• “Investing in People: Social Media That Strengthens Your Educator Pipeline,” 12:45 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 13, with moderator Gladys Cruz, superintendent, Questar III BOCES in New York and AASA past president, and panelists Krestin Bahr, superintendent of Peninsula School District in Washington; Carol D. Birks, superintendent and chief executive officer of Allentown School District in Pennsylvania; Vallerie Cave, superintendent of Allendale County School District in South Carolina; and Michael Lubelfeld, superintendent of North Shore School District 112 in Illinois.

The Social Media Lounge will host a happy hour-style reception, where conference attendees can network, from 1:45 to 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 12.

Raffle giveaways return for the second year. Attendees simply need to attend the sessions for a chance to win, with one lucky participant receiving a complimentary registration to the 2027 National Conference on Education in Atlanta, Ga.

The interactive social media wall will feature the latest posts using the conference hashtag #NCE2026. Attendees can join the conversation in real time by posting directly to the wall or capturing a photo with fun stickers, frames and backgrounds. The lounge also will host live polls during the sessions, giving participants the opportunity to weigh in on timely topics and see results instantly.

Finally, the Social Media Lounge’s revamped photo area will feature music-themed props, perfect for group shots or selfies.

The 2026 Social Media Lounge co-sponsors are ACT, Finalsite, Toddle and Xello.

(Christianna Papalexopoulou is AASA’s social media specialist.)