2026 AAEA Summer Conference

2026 AAEA Summer Conference

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)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 • Dr. 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

Enhancing Communication Through Improv Miller (SCC)Charles Warren

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

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

The Leadership Balancing Act: Where Hard Work Meets Heart Work Riverview (MCC)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 • Dr. Christy 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)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

Signaling Change: AI and School Communication Salon C (M)Greg Turchetta

The Leadership Balancing Act: Where Hard Work Meets Heart Work (Repeat) Riverview (MCC)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 • Dr. Christy Smith

Waiting on Info Salon A (M)

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

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

School Safety Partnership (Building Administration & Law Enforcement) Pope (SCC)Dr. Kate Worley • Dan Worley

The Code of Ethics: How Administrators Can Support Educators in the Prevention of Ethics Violations Conway (MCC)Whitney James • Laura Shelton

Transition Grade Configuration Arkansas Ballroom (M)Shane Patrick

Vision Casting to Create Systems of Communication Salon B (M)Micah House

9:30am CDT

ATLAS Hack! Harris Brake (MCC)Dr. D.J. Vincent

Regional Career Center Arkansas Ballroom (M)Dr. Debbie Jones • Kelly Boortz

The Code of Ethics: Updates on Processes and Procedures Conway (MCC)Whitney James • Laura Shelton

Transformational Leadership Playbook: Doing What Works Salon A (M)Charles Blacknall • Hiram Sumlin

What Effective Arkansas Principals Are Doing to Lead Academic Growth: Lessons from a Study of Arkansas Principals White Oak (MCC)Dr. Michael Hensley

Why Am I Still Here? Chicot (MCC)Robert Fitzgerald