At NACSA, we believe that ideas can shape futures. For our 2015 Leadership Conference, hosted October 19-22 in Colorado, we’ve focused on big ideas in public education, all directed at shaping brighter futures for our nation’s kids.
Like some of you, I’m a NACSA conference veteran. This will be my sixth year welcoming attendees to our annual event. Each year, I promise that this conference will be the best yet. This year, it is more true than ever.
What makes 2015 different? Here are a few:
ADVANCED SESSIONS
Year after year, you provide feedback on the event—from content to coffee breaks. While I can’t speak to the quality of this year’s beverage selection, I can tell you that we have some great breakout sessions planned. You told us you wanted more advanced authorizing topics; we’re delivering. Attendees will tackle big topics in our field, like diversity in charters, school quality, network accountability, and restart authorizing.
CUSTOMIZATION
For the first time ever, conference participants can indicate which sessions they are most likely to attend. We will use this information to make sure our facilitators know how to gear the session content to the audience. You can sign up for sessions during the registration process. If you have already registered, you can edit your session preferences at any time.
DEEP DIVES
For those who want to “dive deep” into a topic, we are offering two in-depth workshops: one on creating a mission for quality charter school authorizing and another on executing annual reports—two subject areas we know many authorizers need help with from our annual survey. These workshops provide attendees the opportunity work through issues with their peers and walk/fly/drive away from Colorado with the tools they needs to implement these essential practices in their own offices.
INSPIRATION
Stay tuned to your inbox for an official announcement: we have a pretty special guest lined up to join us. He has been known to bring a room full of adults to their feet with a tear or two running down their cheeks. Come prepared to be inspired and energized.
The ideas NACSA conference attendees share next month will undoubtedly help to shape the futures of hundreds of thousands of public education students across this country. It is going to be a great event—the best ever, in fact. We hope to see you there.
