K-12 Leaders to Gather in Nashville for ’s 2026 National Conference on Education
January 16, 2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Alexandria, Va. – January 16, 2026 – More than 5,000 K-12 public school superintendents, district administrators and advocates from across the country are set to gather in Nashville, Tennessee from February 12-14 for the hosted by AASA, ܲAVƵ.
“The Future is Ready” is the theme of this year's conference, because the future isn’t waiting – it's already here. The duty of educators and school system leaders is to ensure every child in every community is prepared to find success on a path of their choosing. That means embracing innovation and equipping students, staff, and community with the tools and essential skills they need to thrive in a fast-changing world. ’s National Conference on Education unites leaders to fulfill the “Public Education Promise” for every student across the nation – and to help shape what’s next.
Conference keynote speakers include:
- Joe Sanfelippo, Leadership Coach, Joseph M Sanfelippo LLC, Fall Creek, WI (February 12)
- Marcus Whitney, Co-Founder and Minority Owner of MLS team, Nashville Soccer Club; Founding Partner of Jumpstart Health Investors, Nashville, TN (February 13)
- Marcelle Haddix, Dean, Karen A. Falk Distinguished Chair of Education, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education, Madison, WI (February 14)
NCE will hold various as well as and on topics such as:
- Building Capacity for Political Leadership
- Summer Learning and Student Success: Lessons from the Field
- Why Rural Matters: From Data to Advocacy for Your District
- Grow Your Own, Keep Your Own: A Proven Strategy to Cultivate and Retain High-Impact Educators
- People First: A Superintendent Panel on Boosting Morale, Retention and Pride in Public Education
- Using Lessons from the NFL Draft Board to Address the Teacher Shortage
- The Happiness Advantage in Education: A Proven Path to Thriving Schools
- AI in HR: Transforming School District Personnel Management.
The conference includes an that houses an Advocacy Action Center and a where conference goers can relax and recharge with yoga and meditation, drink fruit-infused water, enjoy meeting friendly pups in the dog-petting lounge, and learn about sleep hygiene for better rest.
’s is also located in the Exhibit Hall, where superintendents and school administrators can enhance their communication skills and attend sessions such as “Centering Student Voice: Storytelling on Social Media that Builds Trust” and “Investing in People: Social Media That Strengthens Your Educator Pipeline.”
The 2026 National Superintendent of the Year® winner will be announced on the first day of the conference. Recipients of the 2026 Dr. Effie H. Jones Humanitarian Award as well as the winners of the Women in School Leadership Award will also be recognized at NCE.
Attendees and those interested in the conference can follow . The award-winning, multimedia publication is updated each day and provides a comprehensive report on conference proceedings and events, coverage of key speakers, award winners and ܲAVƵgovernance activities, along with photos, video clips and blog postings.
For more information about the 2026 National Conference on Education, visit the .
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AASA, ܲAVƵ, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. ’s mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to equitable access for all students to the highest quality public education. For more information, visit www.aasa.org.