Education Week’s 2024 Leadership Symposium will take place live and in person in Arlington, VA, just 5 minutes outside of Washington, DC. Join school and district leaders from across the nation for 3 days of empowering strategies, networking, and inspiration.
- 1 / 6
Explore and discuss some of the most critical issues education leaders are facing and discover ideas for solutions through a variety of session formats, guests, and topics. You will leave inspired by new ideas, empowered with actionable takeaways that can be applied in your own schools and districts, and connected to an expanded network of K-12 leaders.
Gain insights and ideas to:
- Build momentum and sustainability for student learning
- Get proven tactics to help guide your strategy for the 2024-25 school year
- Discover the latest findings and best practices from EdWeek’s journalists and researchers
- Find inspiration, empowerment, and community
Need some help convincing your boss or school board that you should attend? Most Leadership Symposium attendees have the costs of their registration badge paid for by their school or district. Download this letter template that you can use to convince your school board or administrator to approve and fund your trip.
Teaching & Learning
The State of Teaching: Big Takeaways for School and District Leaders; Improving Literacy Instruction and Achievement at Scale; Lessons From a State Chief; Write a Smart AI Policy for Your School or District
Thriving Students
Real Talk With Students on the Mental Health Supports They Say Help Most; Embracing AI in Education
Resilient Leadership
De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works; The Long Game: A Superintendent's Lessons on Leading a Multi-Year Improvement Effort; Collective Leader Efficacy: How to Strengthen Instructional Leadership Teams; The Perils of Speaking Out: How Education Leaders Can Deftly Navigate Public Debates Over Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Politics; Be an Emotionally Intelligent Leader
This year’s symposium will feature two half-days (Wed. 5/1 and Friday 5/3) and one full day (Thursday 5/2) of content focused on Teaching & Learning, Thriving Students, and Resilient Leadership.
Click on each day below to see the schedule and check back as we continue to fill the program with empowering sessions, inspiring speakers, and valuable networking opportunities.
Wednesday, May 1
1:00pm - 2:00pm ET
Check-In and Networking
2:00pm - 2:15pm ET
Welcome and Opening Remarks
2:15pm - 2:35pm ET
Leaders to Learn From Recognition Ceremony
Get to know this year's honorees - leaders who are driving innovation in their districts.
2:35pm - 3:15pm ET
Panel Discussion: The State of Teaching: Big Takeaways for School and District Leaders
The teaching profession is at a critical inflection point. The increasing demands of the job, along with intense public scrutiny and sometimes negative storylines in the media, are straining all parts of the profession’s talent pipeline. At the same time, the supports that students need to develop and succeed academically and socially are more complex. Through presentation of new nationally representative data and conversation with experts, this panel will highlight what district and school leaders need to know and what they can do to build and keep a more satisfied workforce of teachers.
3:15pm - 3:30pm ET
Industry Perspective
More details coming soon
3:30pm - 3:45pm ET
Networking Break
3:45pm - 4:00pm ET
Interactive Polling Session: Teacher Morale and Satisfaction
Give your take on the state of teacher morale and satisfaction in your schools and districts and what you think the longer term outlook is for the profession. See how your impressions and ideas on this critical issue compare to those of your colleagues.
4:00pm - 5:00pm ET
Learn & Reflect: De-implementation: Creating the Space to Focus on What Works
Principals’ workloads have increased over the last two decades, putting them at risk of constantly being reactive rather than proactive. Learn how to declutter ineffective practices, understand why it’s important, and find the balance between implementation and de-implementation.
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
• Define de-implementation and what constitutes low value practices
• Identify how our mindsets force us to contribute to our own workload
• Decide what to replace or reduce and begin decluttering
• Start getting their lives back and rediscover the joy in teaching, learning and leading
By the end of this session participants will be able to:
• Define de-implementation and what constitutes low value practices
• Identify how our mindsets force us to contribute to our own workload
• Decide what to replace or reduce and begin decluttering
• Start getting their lives back and rediscover the joy in teaching, learning and leading
Peter DeWitt
Opinion Contributor, Education Week
A former K-5 public school principal turned author, presenter, and leadership coach, Peter DeWitt provides insights and advice for education leaders. He pens an opinion blog for Education Week, Finding Common Ground and is the host of A Seat at the Table.
5:00pm ET
Day 1 Closing Remarks
5:15pm - 6:45pm ET
Cocktail Reception
Join us for food, drink, and networking.
Thursday, May 2
8:00am - 9:00am ET
Breakfast
9:00am - 9:15am ET
Flash Briefing: Taking the Pulse on AI's Uptake in Schools
See how much teachers, principals, and district leaders are using ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools to work in their roles and other key insights on the rapidly evolving tech.
9:15am - 10:00am ET
Panel Discussion: Embracing AI in Education
What does smart and responsible use of artificial intelligence look like in districts and schools and how can educators keep up with the rapid proliferation of the tech? What policies and guidance should districts and schools be developing and providing to administrators, teachers, and students? In this discussion, experts dig into some of the key philosophical, practical, and logistical facets of AI in education.
10:00am - 10:15am ET
Industry Perspective
More details coming soon
10:15am - 10:35am ET
Leadership Interview: A Superintendent's Lessons on Leading a Multi-Year Improvement Effort
Leading schools and districts now often brings a nonstop barrage of urgent demands, not to mention a chorus of critics or naysayers who can undermine or derail important initiatives. So how can leaders respond to the crisis of the moment without wavering from the long game of shoring up enrollment, fostering equity, and improving teaching and learning? Hear how one big-city superintendent is navigating these dynamics as she leads her district through a multi-year improvement strategy.
10:35am - 10:50am ET
Networking Break
10:50am - 11:45am ET
Featured Speaker
More details coming soon
11:45am - 12:00pm ET
Industry Perspective
More details coming soon
12:00pm - 1:30pm ET
Lunch
1:30pm - 2:45pm ET
Interactive Breakout Session 1: Collective Leader Efficacy: How to Strengthen Instructional Leadership Teams
Collective leader efficacy is a school or district leadership team’s ability to develop a shared understanding and engage in collaborative work that includes evaluating the impact they have on the learning of adults and students in a school. Many school leadership teams never take the time to be intentional about their focus, which means they miss an opportunity to foster a whole school approach to professional learning. In this session, Peter DeWitt and Michael Nelson will provide the research, explain the drivers, and engage participants in the cycle of inquiry that will help leadership teams develop collective leader efficacy.
Participants will:
· Define collective leader efficacy
· Develop an understanding of how leadership teams should function
· Understand the drivers necessary to develop collective leader efficacy
· Engage in a cycle of inquiry and begin developing an action plan
Participants will:
· Define collective leader efficacy
· Develop an understanding of how leadership teams should function
· Understand the drivers necessary to develop collective leader efficacy
· Engage in a cycle of inquiry and begin developing an action plan
Peter DeWitt
Opinion Contributor, Education Week
A former K-5 public school principal turned author, presenter, and leadership coach, Peter DeWitt provides insights and advice for education leaders. He pens an opinion blog for Education Week, Finding Common Ground and is the host of A Seat at the Table.
Michael Nelson
Michael Nelson is the assistant executive director for the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).
1:30pm - 2:45pm ET
Interactive Breakout Session 2: The Perils of Speaking Out: How Education Leaders Can Deftly Navigate Public Debates Over Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Politics
For the foreseeable future, divisive politics and genuine debates in education will challenge how--or if--a school system's most visible leaders speak out on issues like racism, war, and the curricula and lessons being used in classrooms. The questions of how and whether leaders communicate in these strained times has never been more critical. How should district and school leaders weigh the very real risks and challenges, but also the potential benefits of weighing in on controversial topics in their communities? In this session, we'll discuss best practices for leadership communications, knowing who your key audiences are, and how to decide when to speak out and how. Participants will: Delve into the experiences of leaders who've seen a positive impact of speaking out; get tips from seeking input from key communities before crafting a message; ideas for framing communications clearly and inclusively; and a roadmap for thinking through the potential pitfalls of speaking out.
1:30pm - 2:45pm ET
Interactive Breakout Session 3: Write a Smart AI Policy for Your School or District
Figuring out how to write a good and adaptable policy to guide the use of AI in districts and schools is challenging given how new and rapidly evolving the technology is. But some good models are emerging that can help district and school leaders develop their own. In this session, experts will provide an overview of why having a policy is critical, what the key building blocks are, and which stakeholders need to be involved in shaping it.
1:30pm - 2:45pm ET
Interactive Breakout Session 4: Be an Emotionally Intelligent Leader
Leaders need to be emotionally intelligent in order to build and maintain healthy, trusting, and productive relationships with teachers, staff, parents, and students. In this session, learn about the traits that comprise emotional intelligence and how you can develop and strengthen those. Participants in this session will: Understand what emotional intelligence is and the traits it encompasses; why it matters for leaders, and how you can develop it.
2:45pm - 3:00pm ET
Networking Break
3:00pm - 3:45pm ET
Panel Discussion: Real Talk With Students on the Mental Health Supports They Say Help Most
How much can schools do to help students' emotional, physical, and mental well-being, especially in an era of nonstop use of tech and social media? Hear directly from students on what they think about cellphone bans, tech use at school, and other supports they say actually work to improve their mental health and overall well-being.
3:45pm - 4:05pm ET
Interactive Polling Session: School Start Times
The research is clear: Teens need more sleep, but deeply ingrained policies, practices, and traditions both inside and outside schools make it difficult to adjust school schedules. Weigh in on this always lively issue and see what your peers think, too.
4:05pm - 4:20pm ET
Industry Perspective
More details coming soon
4:20pm - 4:50pm ET
Leadership Interview: What Happens When School and District Leaders Prioritize Family Engagement
Students are most successful when their families feel connected to their childrens' teachers and larger school community. Those connections matter for attendance, engagement, academic achievement, and overall well-being. Two district leaders will discuss their philosophies, strategies, and lessons for districts and schools on how to build relationships and collaborate with families in ways that benefit students, educators, and school communities.
4:50pm ET
Day 2 Closing Remarks
Friday, May 3
8:00am - 9:00am ET
Breakfast
9:00am - 9:15am ET
Interactive Polling Session: Student Engagement and Motivation
Share how levels of student engagement and motivation look in your schools and districts this year, how it compares to others, and how your peers view the challenges and possible solutions.
9:15am - 9:30am ET
Industry Perspective
More details coming soon
9:30am - 10:45am ET
Interactive Breakout Session 1: Collective Leader Efficacy: How to Strengthen Instructional Leadership Teams
Collective leader efficacy is a school or district leadership team’s ability to develop a shared understanding and engage in collaborative work that includes evaluating the impact they have on the learning of adults and students in a school. Many school leadership teams never take the time to be intentional about their focus, which means they miss an opportunity to foster a whole school approach to professional learning. In this session, Peter DeWitt and Michael Nelson will provide the research, explain the drivers, and engage participants in the cycle of inquiry that will help leadership teams develop collective leader efficacy.
Participants will:
· Define collective leader efficacy
· Develop an understanding of how leadership teams should function
· Understand the drivers necessary to develop collective leader efficacy
· Engage in a cycle of inquiry and begin developing an action plan
Participants will:
· Define collective leader efficacy
· Develop an understanding of how leadership teams should function
· Understand the drivers necessary to develop collective leader efficacy
· Engage in a cycle of inquiry and begin developing an action plan
Peter DeWitt
Opinion Contributor, Education Week
A former K-5 public school principal turned author, presenter, and leadership coach, Peter DeWitt provides insights and advice for education leaders. He pens an opinion blog for Education Week, Finding Common Ground and is the host of A Seat at the Table.
Michael Nelson
Michael Nelson is the assistant executive director for the Washington Association of School Administrators (WASA).
9:30am - 10:45am ET
Interactive Breakout Session 2: The Perils of Speaking Out: How Education Leaders Can Deftly Navigate Public Debates Over Curriculum, Culture Wars, and Politics
For the foreseeable future, divisive politics and genuine debates in education will challenge how--or if--a school system's most visible leaders speak out on issues like racism, war, and the curricula and lessons being used in classrooms. The questions of how and whether leaders communicate in these strained times has never been more critical. How should district and school leaders weigh the very real risks and challenges, but also the potential benefits of weighing in on controversial topics in their communities? In this session, we'll discuss best practices for leadership communications, knowing who your key audiences are, and how to decide when to speak out and how. Participants will: Delve into the experiences of leaders who've seen a positive impact of speaking out; get tips from seeking input from key communities before crafting a message; ideas for framing communications clearly and inclusively; and a roadmap for thinking through the potential pitfalls of speaking out.
9:30am - 10:45am ET
Interactive Breakout Session 3: Write a Smart AI Policy for Your School or District
Figuring out how to write a good and adaptable policy to guide the use of AI in districts and schools is challenging given how new and rapidly evolving the technology is. But some good models are emerging that can help district and school leaders develop their own. In this session, experts will provide an overview of why having a policy is critical, what the key building blocks are, and which stakeholders need to be involved in shaping it.
9:30am - 10:45am ET
Interactive Breakout Session 4: Be an Emotionally Intelligent Leader
Leaders need to be emotionally intelligent in order to build and maintain healthy, trusting, and productive relationships with teachers, staff, parents, and students. In this session, learn about the traits that comprise emotional intelligence and how you can develop and strengthen those. Participants in this session will: Understand what emotional intelligence is and the traits it encompasses; why it matters for leaders, and how you can develop it.
10:45am - 10:55am ET
Networking Break
10:55am - 11:25am ET
Leadership Interview: Improving Literacy Instruction and Achievement at Scale: Lessons From a State Chief
Mandates to dramatically shift how young students are taught to read continues to have strong momentum as more than half of all states have passed 'science of reading' laws or policies in the last 5 years. But passing laws and approving new policies is hardly a guarantee that the evidence-based practices that make up the science of reading will change teachers' practice and reach students in classrooms. Dr. Carey Wright, the interim state superintendent for Maryland and the former state chief in Mississippi where reading achievement has significantly improved over a 10-year-period, discusses what that state did, the lessons she learned, and best practice advice she has for school and district leaders.
Dr. Carey Wright Ed.D.
Carey M. Wright, Ed.D., was appointed Interim State Superintendent of Education by the Maryland State Board of Education in October 2023. A native Marylander, she previously served for nine years as State Superintendent of Education for Mississippi, where she is credited with its elevation as a national leader in literacy instruction and outcomes.
Dr. Wright is a former member of the Chiefs for Change Board of Directors. Notably, the U.S. Secretary of Education appointed her in 2019 to the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for NAEP, the Nation’s Report Card. Her honors include the 2022 Mississippi Top 50 Most Influential Leaders Award. She is a University of Maryland graduate, earning undergraduate, advanced and doctoral degrees in education.
Dr. Wright is a former member of the Chiefs for Change Board of Directors. Notably, the U.S. Secretary of Education appointed her in 2019 to the National Assessment Governing Board, which sets policy for NAEP, the Nation’s Report Card. Her honors include the 2022 Mississippi Top 50 Most Influential Leaders Award. She is a University of Maryland graduate, earning undergraduate, advanced and doctoral degrees in education.
Area of Expertise: Interim State Superintendent of Schools, Maryland
11:25am - 11:55am ET
Featured Speaker
More details coming soon
11:55am ET
Closing Remarks
Who will I hear from?
Learn from senior K-12 district and school leaders and nationally recognized leadership and policy experts. Check back for an updated speaker list.
Dr. Freeman Hrabowski
President Emeritus, University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Carey M. Wright Ed.D.
Interim State Superintendent of Schools, Maryland
Mike Nelson
Assistant Executive Director, Washington Association of School Administrators
Thank you to all our symposium sponsors
View pricing and register below. This event is exclusively for district and school leaders. Education Week reserves the right to review and revoke registrations from individuals who are not employed in this capacity.
IN-PERSON |
ONLINE* | ||
BASE PRICE | $649.00 | $399.00 | |
EARLY BIRD BASE PRICEthrough Feb 23, 2024 | $549.00 | $299.00 | Register Now |
EARLY BIRD GROUP ACCESSRegister 3 or more attendees from your organization and automatically save $100 per ticket. | $449.00 | $199.00 | Register Now |
Registration payment is taken via credit card. To inquire about alternate forms of payment, please contact Emma Prillaman at eprillaman@educationweek.org
*Online event includes access to livestream content on the main stage and online extras.
Education Week Group Online Subscribers can receive an additional $150 off per ticket.
Enter code EDWEEKGROUP at checkout on the Order Summary screen to receive your discount. Not sure if you have a group subscription?
Click here to check
or contact Ryan Lanier at rlanier@educationweek.org
Questions about registration? Email events@educationweek.org
Hotel & Travel Information
The Symposium will be held at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA. Located just 5 min. outside of Washington, DC, it features stunning views of the nation’s monuments and easy access to the city's historic structures, diverse neighborhoods, and green spaces.
The nearest airports are Ronald Raegan National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI).
The nearest airports are Ronald Raegan National Airport (DCA), Dulles International Airport (IAD), and Baltimore Washington International Airport (BWI).