2026 AAEA Summer Conference has ended

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2026 AAEA Summer Conference

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10:15am CDT

A Principal & Counselor’s Journey to School Improvement Manning (M)David Yates • Jessica Ashcraft • Dr. Heather Williams Building a Leadership Pipeline: Growing District Leaders from Within Harris Brake (MCC)Mathew Thornton • Blake Campbell Crisis Communications when Minutes Matter Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Jared Cleveland • Trent Jones Dodging the Docket: Smart Moves Before and After a Due Process Filing Fulton (SCC)Shasta Wagner • Leila Seigrist • Claire Wilkinson From Minor League to Major Leagues: Systems that Will Help You "Go Yard" with Feedback and Growth Caraway I-III (SCC)Kelley Krogman • Josh Lyra • Ashley Hammett Mic Drop Session: Effective Leadership Strategies Riverview (MCC)Jennifer Harper • Justin Swope SHIFTing from Surviving to Thriving Neosho (MCC)Dr. Brandy Howell • Jennifer Spriggs

11:30am CDT

Enhancing Communication Through Improv Miller (SCC)Charles Warren From Surviving to Thriving: Reimagining School Culture with the DILTS Nested Levels of Learning White Oak (MCC)Christie Cremo Future-Proofing Your Pipeline: The Paid Residency Blueprint Harris Brake (MCC)Dr Jeremy Owoh • Dr. Jermall Wright • Rachel Eells Operationalizing RTI: Aligning PLCs, Scheduling, and Student Needs Fulton (SCC)Callie Sanchez • Danielle Renfroe • Joe Herrington School Based Intervention Team (SBIT) Come To The Table! Chicot (MCC)Barbara Kirkpatrick • Philip Alderman • Tabitha Turner • Londria King Turning Leadership Vision into Measurable School Impact Manning (M)Dr. Bethanie Hale

12:20pm CDT

Best Year Yet- Leading Successfully Through Change Riverview (MCC)Dr. Dawn Childress Built of T.H.A.T. Fulton (SCC)Dr. Micheal Stone Energy, Identity, and Change: Leading Adults to Transform Student Outcomes Caraway I-III (SCC)Chrissy McNabb • Dr. Kelly Hankins Every Problem is a Leadership Problem: Own the Solution or Own the Failure Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Doug Adams Fiscal Leadership: Mastering the "Buckets" of School and District Finance Izard (SCC)Dr. Mickey McFetridge From Absent to Present: Building a Collaborative Culture using Technology to Combat Chronic Absenteeism and Increase Student Achievement Harris Brake (MCC)Dr. Roger C. Guevara • Dr. James Gibbens Helena-West Helena: From Failing to Successful Hoffman (M)Dr. Xavier M. Hodo, Sr. • Dr. John M. West, Jr. Teacher-Centered Leadership: Practical Strategies for Culture Building Pope (SCC)Dr. Michelle Miller The Art of the Controlled Meeting Miller (SCC)Charles Warren We Know the Why and What of a PLC, But the Difference Is in the How Grampas (MCC)Justin Rasnick

1:20pm CDT

"D4" Ways To Deescalate Conflict Harris Brake (MCC)Mr. Stacy DeFoor • Stephanie DeFoor Merit Pay in Mena: Development of an In-District System Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Lee Smith • Bridget Buckley Own Your Growth. Fuel Student Success: Creating Meaningful Access in High School Hoffman (M)Sarah Merayo • Lisa Overstreet Recharging the Evaluation Process for Growth Salon A (M)Amy Gayle, NIET The Leadership Balancing Act: Where Hard Work Meets Heart Work Riverview (MCC)Mark Lewis • Shavon Jackson • Nancy Madison Thriving in Tough Moments: Tools for Navigating Conflict Salon C (M)Dana Lamb Vision to Impact: Igniting Leadership from Within Caraway I-III (SCC)Dr. Marcia Smith • Christy L. Smith What Every District Leader Should Ask Their Technology Director to Protect Students and District Assets Drew (SCC)Ray Girdler When School Boards Disagree: Arkansas Data and Practical Strategies for District Leaders Ouachita (MCC)Dr. Matthew White • Dr. Rick Gales You Need to Calm Down: Staying Professional When Advocates & Attorneys Enter the Room (Repeat) Fulton (SCC)Natalie Gosdin • Haley Hatch

2:50pm CDT

Building Instructional Systems That Drive Student Growth Hoffman (M)DarShauna Shepherd Leading District Improvement Salon B (M)Hope Worsham • Brooke McCain Let 'Em Know: Old School Skills for New School Challenges Manning (M)Dr. Dondre Harris • Preston Echols Merit Pay in Mena: Development of an In-District System (Repeat) Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Lee Smith • Bridget Buckley Read the Room, Lead the Room: Unlocking the Hidden Language of Communication Neosho (MCC)Judy Pennington • Sarah Monfee Recharging the Evaluation Process for Growth Salon A (M)Amy Gayle, NIET Signaling Change: AI and School Communication Salon C (M)Greg Turchetta Teachers to Troops White Oak (MCC)AR Army National Guard The Leadership Balancing Act: Where Hard Work Meets Heart Work (Repeat) Riverview (MCC)Mark Lewis • Shavon Jackson • Nancy Madison Tiers to Distinction: Building Support for All Teachers Ouachita (MCC)Mr. John Unger • Andrea Ward Vision to Impact: Igniting Leadership from Within (Repeat) Caraway I-III (SCC)Dr. Marcia Smith • Christy L. Smith Wired for Success: Building Executive Function Skills to Boost Learning and Belonging Harris Brake (MCC)Megan Strain • Courtney Gunter You Need to Calm Down: Staying Professional When Advocates & Attorneys Enter the Room (Repeat) Fulton (SCC)Natalie Gosdin • Haley Hatch