2026 AAEA Summer Conference

2026 AAEA Summer Conference

Martin Mahan

Fort Smith School District

FSPS

Fort Smith, AR.

fortsmithschools.org/

7:30am CDT

Registration Open Caddo & Osage (SCC)

11:00am CDT

Exhibit Hall Open Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC)

1:00pm CDT

Opening General Session Wally Allen Ballroom (SCC)

3:30pm CDT

AAA Governing Body Meeting Wally Allen Ballroom (SCC)

7:30am CDT

Breakfast Available Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC) Registration Open Caddo & Osage (SCC) Visit Exhibits Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC)

8:30am CDT

General Session: Admin of the Year and DESE Updates Wally Allen Ballroom (SCC)Secretary Jacob Oliva

10:15am CDT

Crisis Communications when Minutes Matter Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Jared Cleveland • Trent Jones

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)Justin Swope

11:30am CDT

Lunch Available Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC) Own It! Accountability in Instruction Caraway I-III (SCC)Dr. Dondre Harris

Enhancing Communication Through Improv Miller (SCC)Charles Warren

Turning Leadership Vision into Measurable School Impact Manning (M)Dr. Bethanie Hale

12:20pm CDT

Energy, Identity, and Change: Leading Adults to Transform Student Outcomes Caraway I-III (SCC)Chrissy McNabb • Dr. Kelly Hankins

Fiscal Leadership: Mastering the "Buckets" of School and District Finance Izard (SCC)Dr. Mickey McFetridge

1:20pm CDT

The Leadership Balancing Act: Where Hard Work Meets Heart Work Riverview (MCC)Shavon Jackson • Nancy Madison

What Every District Leader Should Ask Their Technology Director to Protect Students and District Assets Drew (SCC)Ray Girdler

2:50pm CDT

Mastering the Maze: Navigating FOIA and Legal Requests, Technical Strategy Meets Legal Compliance (Repeat) Drew (SCC)Paul Miller • Kendra Clay

Leading District Improvement Salon B (M)Hope Worsham • Brooke McCain

Read the Room, Lead the Room: Unlocking the Hidden Language of Communication Neosho (MCC)Judy Pennington • Sarah Monfee

7:30am CDT

Breakfast Available Governor's Halls I-IV (SCC) Registration Open Caddo & Osage (SCC)

8:15am CDT

How Districts are Removing Communication Barriers to Transform Outcomes Salon C (M)Greg Turchetta

Leading with AI Initiatives Drew (SCC)Dr. Robin Finley

9:30am CDT

Organizing Effective Communication and Planning Pope (SCC)Dr. Kate Worley • Brad Etters

10:40am CDT

Closing Genereal Session Wally Allen Ballroom (SCC)