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Concurrent Education Session

These sessions will equip and inspire participants to use tools that can be implemented immediately within the school or district level, inspire positive change to the profession, foster new collaborations and networks among education leaders, influence how the world sees the field, and more! *More information coming soon

Safety Strand
We Are All On Duty- Even in a Social Media World

With acts of violence spearheading the news cycle, school security and mental health are critical topics on the radar. What do we need to do to keep everyone safe? What role does social media play in the mental health and safety of our students? We must recognize the warning signs present in others within the walls of our schools and on social media as we continue to build relationships and educate all stakeholders. We are all on duty.
Presented by Lori Downs & Chele Gillon, Barren Co. Schools

#KYGA2025 & the 119th US Congress: Updates and Impact

Learn about new laws and regulations, lawsuits, and the impact on Kentucky’s public schools and communities. Join us to explore the intersection of policy and practice and understand how schools are being impacted by these advocacy initiatives (Topics to include key safety legislation).

Presented by Abby Piper & Bob Rowland, KASA

Ensuring Safe School Events: Insights from a Retired State Trooper
Join James Stephens, security director to US Senator Rand Paul, for an essential session on event security tailored for public school leaders. Gain valuable knowledge on best practices for planning and executing secure school events, including threat assessment, emergency response protocols, and effective communication strategies. Learn from real-life experiences and enhance your ability to create a safe learning environment for students, staff, and visitors.
Presented by James Stephens, SafeTSources

Enhancing Emergency Reunification Plans in Crisis Situations
This session will focus on developing effective emergency plans and communication strategies for smooth reunification during crises. Participants will discuss the critical importance of reunification and the need for backup plans to address potential obstacles like inclement weather. Key topics will include collaboration with local law enforcement, fire chiefs, and school resource officers, as well as considerations for waiting areas for families. Additionally, we will explore solutions for maintaining communication during emergencies, including contingency plans for Wi-Fi outages. Insights from experienced speakers will equip attendees with actionable strategies to strengthen their district’s emergency response and reunification efforts.
Presented by Billy Thrope, Trent Lovett & Patricia Grear, Marshall Co. Schools

Wellness Strand
Nurturing Ourselves - Intentional Wellness for Women in Education
As women in educational leadership, we often find ourselves juggling countless responsibilities—balancing our roles as educators, caregivers, and advocates. In the midst of this whirlwind, it's all too easy to forget about one crucial aspect: our own health and well-being. This session is designed to remind us of the power we hold as nurturers and survivors while emphasizing the importance of being intentional about our self-care. Join me for an engaging and interactive discussion where we will explore the unique challenges we face as women leaders. We will talk about how these challenges can affect our physical, mental, and emotional health, and why it is essential to prioritize our own needs. By practicing self-care, we can become more effective leaders and support those around us even better. Throughout the session, you will have the chance to participate in reflective exercises and share your own strategies for integrating wellness into your busy lives. We will also highlight the importance of building supportive networks and how creating a community of care can help us all thrive.

Presented by Sara Smith, Lewis Co. Schools

The Cost of Caring - Compassion Fatigue Solutions to Support Administrator and Staff Mental Wellness
What are the costs of caring? This session addresses compassion fatigue, debunks self-care myths, and explores mindfulness techniques. With teacher burnout at crisis levels—44% report feeling burned out, and 28% experiencing symptoms of depression —self-care and supporting our staff is more critical than ever. Participants will gain strategies to build resilience, develop a personalized care plan, and receive a Compassion Fatigue Resiliency Guide for ongoing support.
Presented by Sarah Walsh, Cook Center

A Leadership & Happiness Perspective - Empowering Family Mental Health for Long Term Well-Being
This session is strategically designed to blend the science of happiness with the vital skill of leadership-- highlighting their interdependence and offering crucial skills to cultivate thriving schools, contented staff, and successful students. Join us as we unlock the brain science behind leadership and happiness. Discover innovative solutions to transform the culture of your schools and communities through knowledge taught in the most requested course at Harvard Business School.
Presented by Sarah Walsh, Cook Center

Rural Schools Strand
Bridging the Gap - Rural School Initiatives Empowering Students to Strengthen Communities and Promote Service Learning

This session explores how three Kentucky school districts are creating meaningful connections between students and their communities through rural service-based learning. Participants will learn about the Owen County’s “REBELSoutREACH”, Rockcastle’s “Rockets Nourishing Neighbors”, and the Washington Commander(ettes) “All-Ability Opportunities.” Attendees will discover strategies for implementing student-led initiatives that foster leadership, rural community pride, and inclusivity. The session will be interactive, with examples, discussions, and practical takeaways for creating impactful community-centered programs in rural schools.
Presented by Robin Cochran, Ed.D., Washington Co. Schools, Carrie Ballinger, Ed.D., Rockcastle Co. Schools, & TJ Wesselman, Owen Co. Schools

Rural Schools Matter - The Work of the National Rural Education Association and Addressing Rural Teacher Staffing Challenges
The National Rural Education Association (NREA) is a member organization promoting rural education. Rural schools make up more than 40% of schools in Kentucky. Rural schools have unique strengths, from natural resources and beauty to small communities where teachers can get to know their students. They also face unique challenges such as funding and access to resources and teacher shortages. NREA President Devon Brenner will discuss the ways NREA supports rural educators including findings from the most recent Why Rural Matters report, which synthesizes national data about the state of rural education in each state; The Rural Educator, NREA’s research and practice journal; and NREA’s policy and advocacy priorities for state and federal policies that addresses the unique strengths and needs of rural schools. Teacher staffing is often one of the biggest challenges for rural schools. Brenner will discuss strategies rural schools can employ to address rural teacher staffing challenges. These include supporting new teachers in learning about and putting down roots in the community, leveraging local resources to support place-based education, helping new teachers who might be the “only” in their discipline to build a network of colleagues, “grow your own” and other strategies that create licensure pathways for local residents, including paraprofessionals, providing housing or relocation support, and more.
Presented by Devon Brenner, National Rural Education Association

Special Education
Principal's Playbook: Mastering Special Education & 504 with Expert Q&A

Superintendents are not expected to be experts in the highly regulated area of Special Education, but they must have a working knowledge base of its fundamental elements. This session will explore the areas superintendents need to understand in order to work effectively with the special education staff and building administrators in their district.
Presented by Teresa Combs, Fowler Law Firm

Leading with Knowledge: Special Education & 504 Expectations for Superintendents

Principals have a role in providing special education services that differs from others - teachers, directors, therapists - but are still integral in ensuring certain students receive appropriate instruction and services. Bring your toughest questions to this session for answers that will help you be an effective principal in navigating special education and 504 situations.

Presented by Teresa Combs, Fowler Law Firm

Director's Dialogue: Navigating Special Education Challenges
Special education directors are ultimately responsible for the entire spectrum of services provided to special education students. The magnitude of the task brings both familiar and new challenges. This interactive session will provide an opportunity for discussion of those challenges with colleagues and experts who can share new perspectives and help craft solutions.
Presented by Teresa Combs, Fowler Law Firm

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