All Pre-Conference Workshops will take place on
Wednesday, March 5.
- 1:00 – 4:00pm
THE BOLD WOMEN COLLABORATIVE
Presenters:
Deborah Kerr, Superintendent, St. Francis Public School District, St. Francis, WI
Shari Camhi, Past President, AASA, Superintendent Baldwin Union Free School District, Baldwin, NY
Patricia Nedecker, Past President, AASA, Baileys Harbor, WI
Gail Pletnick, Past President, Lead Superintendent of Aspiring, AASA, Glendale, AZ
Amy Sichel, Past President, Lead Superintendent for Certification, AASA, Philadelphia, PA
Kristy Wilson, Past President, Strategic Mentor Learning 2025 Network, AASA, Litchfield Park, AZ
Future Cain, Founder and CEO, The Future of SEL, Milwaukee, WI
All women rise when we lift one another. Join in this inspiring opportunity with AASA past presidents and highly successful superintendents, led by Dr. Deb Kerr, to build your personal and professional network. No matter where you are in your leadership journey, we will strengthen your personal vision of who you are as a leader, amplifying your leadership with empathy and compassion.
- 1:00 – 4:00pm
BLENDED COACHING
Presenters:
Gary Bloom, Author of Blended Coaching: Supporting the Development and Supervision of School Leaders, Aptos, CA
Jackie Wilson, Executive Director, National Policy Board for Educational Administration, Educational Leadership Consultant, Frankford, DE
Leslie Torres-Rodriguez, Superintendent, Hartford Public School District, Hartford, CT
Learn how to use a model of blended coaching to support the development and supervision of school leaders, and coaching for systems change. Participants will learn how to listen, observe, question and stretch coaches, using facilitative, instructional, collaborative, consultative and transformational coaching skills, through role-play designed around relevant school problems of practice.
- 1:00 – 5:00pm
NEXT EDUCATION WORKFORCE: TRANSFORMING SCHOOLS WITH TEAM-BASED STAFFING MODELS
Presenters:
Brent Maddin, Executive Director, Next Education Workforce, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
Jan Vesely, AASA Liaison with the Next Education Workforce, Retired Superintendent, AASA/ASU, Tucson, AZ
Andi Fourlis, Superintendent, Mesa Public Schools, Mesa, AZ
Laura Toenjes, Superintendent, Kyrene School District, Tempe, AZ
Rebecca Hutchinson, Superintendent, Concord Community Schools, Concord, MI
Jay Reutter, Principal, Mason City Middle School, Mason City, OH
James Niedermeier, Associate Superintendent, Questar III BOCES, Castleton, NY
Discover Arizona State University’s Next Education Workforce and the evolution of team-based staffing models now adopted by over 40 school systems. These models address staffing needs while fostering sustainable, positive change. By leveraging teams, educators distribute tasks, improving teacher recruitment, retention, and student engagement. Learn from superintendents and leaders implementing these strategies, participate in a virtual site visit, and access resources to redefine educator roles and prepare for your own pilot launch.
- 1:00 – 5:00pm
SCHOOL SAFETY & SECURITY - PATH TO SAFER SCHOOLS WORKSHOP
Presenters:
Kevin Eberle, COO, Buffalo Public Schools, Buffalo, NY
Jonathan Kassa, School Board Director, North Penn School District, Lansdale, PA
Shahe Bagdasarian, Superintendent, Oaklawn School District, Oak Lawn, IL
Jill Lemond, Former Assistant Superintendent, Oxford Community Schools, Rochester, MI
Guy Grace, Retired School Safety Director, Littleton Colorado School, Littleton, CO
Todd Bauer, Superintendent, North Penn School District, Lansdale, PA
Brandon Rhone, Coordinator of Emergency Management, North Penn School District, Lansdale, PA
This session is designed to provide resources and tools to effectively plan and institute or enhance school safety.
Attendees will receive a workbook for reflection and assessment featuring the following areas of learning and discussion:
- Building a Safety Team
- Assessing District Vulnerabilities
- Funding your Safety Program
- Preventing Harm: Building a Culture of Safety
- Being Prepared
Responding to Threats with Confidence - Reunification
Featuring industry speakers and experts who will ensure participants leave with actionable takeaways and resources.
- 1:00 – 5:00pm
PARTNERING ON A COMPREHENSIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGY
Presenters:
Jennifer Blaine, Superintendent, Spring Branch Independent School District, Houston, TX
Linda Buchman, Associate Superintendent for Communications & Community Engagement, Spring Branch Independent School District, Houston, TX
Barbara Hunter, Executive Director, National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA), Rockville, MD
Erin McCallum, Associate Executive Director of Strategy & Communications, AASA, The School Superintendents Association, Alexandria, VA
Ashley-Michelle Thublin, Director of Strategic and Crisis Communications, Dublin City Schools, Atlanta, GA
Frederick C. Williams, Superintendent, Dublin City Schools, Dublin, GA
Participants will explore the NSPRA Rubrics of Practice to build comprehensive communication programs. Topics include board policies, cabinet-level training, research based communication plans, social media and branding. The importance of aligning with district strategic plans will be highlighted, along with examples of successful superintendent-communications director teams and strategies for superintendents in small districts.