The most valuable takeaways for me come from the conversations with colleagues from across the country.  This morning alone I was able to engage superintendents and assistant superintendents from Iowa, Michigan, Maryland, Colorado, New Hampshire, and of course Massachusetts.  The topics ranged from teacher contracts, budget formulation and management, teacher recruitment, career moves and pathways, curriculum and instruction, and many other professional and personal items.  There are many similar challenges and issues, but geography and context matter. I always learn a great deal from these interactions and have already walked away with some ideas that I want to investigate further.