That’s a Wrap: My First National Conference on Education
By Lance Gibbon When I came to my first National Conference on Education, I hoped to experience what I wrote about in my first blog post: “Stepping Away to See More Clearly.” Well, mission accomplished! After several days of thought-provoking speakers, enthusiastic conversations, and interesting vendor exhibits, I certainly have renewed perspective. I’m returning home […]
AI in Education: Tools for Small Schools
By Dr. Lance Gibbon At the final keynote of the National Conference on Education, Christian Jackson, CEO of Edapt Schools, delivered a powerful message: AI isn’t here to replace us—it’s here to support us. For leaders like me from small, rural districts, this is an opportunity we can’t afford to ignore. AI as a Personal […]
Reimagining School Mental Health: From Crisis to Opportunity
By Dr. Rui Dionisio The hallways of our schools have changed. As I walked through our schools last week, I was struck by the courage and resilience of our students. I noticed something that would have been incredibly rare a decade ago: students openly discussing their scheduled therapy appointments, with teachers incorporating helpful mindfulness practices, […]
Two Superintendents Candidly Share Their Past Struggles with Mental Health and Stress The Importance of Self-Care
Superintendents often struggle with unspoken mental health issues due to the stress of the job, and the presenters at an AASA national conference session on Saturday morning shared some distinctive personal strategies that benefitted their mental states. During “A Tale of Two Superintendents: Leadership, Resilience and the Journey Through Mental Health,” Doug Stilwell and Maria […]
Cohort-Style Instruction and Career Academies Benefit Current Needs of Students, According to a Conference Panel from Mesa, Ariz.
The Mesa Public Schools in Arizona operate on the promise of “knowing every student’s name and preparing them for college, career and community.” This ambitious goal was shared by the panelists from Mesa at ”Transforming Education Through Work-Based Learning Opportunities and Partnerships” on Saturday morning at the AASA national conference in New Orleans. “Robust academic […]
[Video] Integrating AI and Educational Technology (2:25)
Alena Zachary-Ross, alongside two superintendents and one chief academic officer, discussed Saturday morning how they moved from developing artificial intelligence policies to integrating its use among staff, teachers and students. Zachary-Ross shares innovative approaches and practical strategies for using the latest trends in educational technology. This video was produced by Emercyn Randolph at the 2025 […]
Dealing with Declining Enrollment? Here’s How One Colorado District Turned Emergency Closures into Better District Planning
As Tracy Dorland became the superintendent of Jefferson County Public Schools in Colorado in 2021, the district was facing some big challenges. She arrived on the heels of an emergency closure of an elementary school because it was underused. Soon after, the forced closure of another school triggered Dorland to initiate a plan to combat […]
[Video] Using AI to Create Academic Lessons (1:40)
Kelly May-Vollmar, superintendent of Desert Sands Unified School District in California, spoke on a panel Saturday morning discussing the benefits of using artificial intelligence platforms to enhance the creation of academic lessons. May-Vollmar emphasized the importance of upholding academic integrity when navigating the unknowns of implementing AI. She also discussed the positive impact AI has […]
[Video] Superintendent-Board Relations and Communications (1:22)
Bhavna Sharma-Lewis, superintendent of Diamond Lake in Illinois, spoke on a panel Saturday morning discussing the importance of relationships between superintendents and school board members. Sharma-Lewis conveyed her experiences as a superintendent and how upholding communication with the board was the most important step to success in her district. This video was produced by Bennett […]
Topeka’s Superintendent Delivers a Discourse on Building Districtwide Engagement Among Families to Contribute to Better Student Outcomes
Tiffany Anderson knows how to bring her community together to get things done, no matter what. “Programs come and go. Systems remain and they will outlive you,” said Anderson, the first African American female superintendent of the Topeka Public Schools in Topeka, Kan., and the author of Building Parent Capacity in High-Poverty Schools: Actions for […]
