Are you ready to be inspired?
General Sessions will help you bring home new ideas to your district that are inspired by thought-provoking education keynotes.
AASA’s National Conference on Education will feature three influential and knowledgeable education keynote speakers to headline each day of the conference in daily General Sessions. Get a high-level view of education policy, transformational leadership strategies, and more.
There is one General Session each day. They include the award presentations, special appearances, and keynote addresses.
Download the NCE Mobile App to add General Sessions to your schedule and so much more.
Joe Sanfelippo
Leadership Coach, Joseph M Sanfelippo LLC, Fall Creek, WI
Thursday, February 12 | 3:30 - 5:30PM
With a Special Performance!
Leading for Variance?
The time has come to take a look at our education workforce, not from a recruitment and retention perspective but from a workforce design and development perspective. Who is in our workforce, who should or could be in that workforce, how do they work together, and what do our learners need to reach their human potential? These are questions that must be answered now and with urgency if we have any chance of sustaining and growing our public education system.
Joe Sanfelippo, retired Superintendent of the Fall Creek School District in Wisconsin, is an educational leader and author. During his tenure, the Fall Creek School District was recognized as an Innovative District twice by the International Center for Leadership in Education. Joe authored multiple books, including best-sellers “Hacking Leadership” and “Lead From Where You Are.” Honored as one of 117 Future Ready Superintendents and among the 50 Personalized Learning Leaders by the US Department of Education, Joe was also named one of the 100 Most Influential Educators by District Administration Magazine. In 2019, Education Dive awarded him National Superintendent of the Year.
Marcus Whitney
Co-Founder and Minority Owner of MLS team, Nashville Soccer Club; Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors, Nashville, TN
Friday, February 13 | 9 - 11AM
Preparing Students to Succeed in a Divided Society: The Power of Leadership, Education, and Stories
Dr. Hrabowski will focus on the power of stories in understanding who we are as a society and as individuals. He will place particular emphasis on the evolution of our nation as it has struggled to become more inclusive of all populations. He will draw on his own background as a child leader in the civil rights movement in Birmingham, AL and his more than four decades of academic leadership with a particular emphasis on STEM and inclusive excellence.
Marcus Whitney is a Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors (JHI), the most active early-stage healthcare venture capital firm in America. Of JHI’s funds, Marcus leads Jumpstart Nova, JHI's institutional, strategic, healthcare seed fund.
Marcus is also co-founder and minority owner of Major League Soccer team, Nashville Soccer Club.
Marcus is the author of the Amazon #1 best-selling book “Create and Orchestrate”, about claiming your Creative Power through entrepreneurship. His work has been featured by Entrepreneur, CNBC, Inc., NPR, Fast Company, and The Atlantic.
Marcus is an Aspen Health Innovators Fellow, and a member of the board of the Healthcare Finance Management Association, Celtic Bank, the Country Music Hall of Fame® and Museum, the Nashville Convention and Visitors Corporation, OZ Arts, and Scott Hamilton CARES.
Marcus actively competes in Jiu Jitsu, is a 3X IBJJF Masters World Champion, and trains on the competition team at Renzo Gracie Nashville under Shawn Williams.
He has an incredible, supportive family.
Marcelle Haddix
Dean, Karen A. Falk Distinguished Chair of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education, Madison, WI
Saturday, February 14 | 10:30AM - 12NOON
Leading as AI Architects: Leading the Charge for Lasting District Achievement
In an era where educational leaders are constantly navigating brand-new technological challenges, AI offers unprecedented opportunities to enhance decision-making and streamline administrative processes. In this session, Christian, CEO of Edapt Schools, will reveal actionable strategies for leveraging AI to not only optimize workflows but also to truly empower educational leaders. By focusing on practical applications and avoiding the pitfalls of overhyped tech trends, attendees will leave with a clear roadmap to harness AI effectively—turning it into a tool that hones their leadership rather than hinders it. Discover how to lead with clarity among all of the tech noise and a forward-thinking mindset that prepares your district for the future.
Marcelle Haddix is the dean of UW–Madison’s No. 1 ranked School of Education. During her tenure as dean, Haddix has championed a “One School” vision that unites the School’s 10 departments across the arts, education, and health with a shared commitment to collaboration, growth, and community engagement.
Haddix is a leading scholar in literacy and teacher education, with a particular focus on the experiences of students and teachers of color. Her award-winning book is titled, “Cultivating Racial and Linguistic Diversity in Literacy Teacher Education: Teachers Like Me.”
Prior to arriving at UW–Madison, Dean Haddix spent 16 years in numerous leadership positions at Syracuse University, including most recently as associate provost for strategic initiatives. She is passionate about the arts, theater, and dance, and oversaw campuswide arts and humanities affiliates and programs during her tenure at Syracuse University. She is also a 500-hour-trained yoga instructor and reproductive health doula.
She received her bachelor’s degree from Drake University, master’s degree from Cardinal Stritch University, and doctoral degree from Boston College.
Page Last Updated: November 11, 2025.