Call for Presenters

The WSSDA Annual Conference connects attendees with education leaders from around the state to share, learn and be inspired. The conference also provides the opportunity to be both a learner and a teacher 

WSSDA is now accepting breakout session proposals for the 2020 WSSDA Annual Conference. While proposals are welcomed from educational organizations and others, presentation proposals by school directors are given priority in the selection process.

WSSDA encourages school directors to share their experience and expertise with their peers, even if you don’t consider yourselves to be an expert or have all the solutions. Chances are, your board is tackling some of the same challenges as others. Please consider sharing your learnings with them. 

Strands

These six strands encompass the most important work of schools boards. Use them as a framework to think about topics on which other boards would benefit from your experiences. 

Visionary Leadership – Strategic planning and implementation, innovative practices, trends in education and technology, district culture, professional development, collaborative process, board-superintendent roles and responsibilities, superintendent search and evaluation, facilities planning, leadership in times of crisis

Effective Governance – Policy and legal issues, district oversight, accountability, board governance tools, finance, budgeting, collective bargaining, governing during a crisis, lessons from virtual meetings 

Strategic Advocacy – Connections with others (based on our theme), community engagement, legislative advocacy and outreach, partnerships, passing bonds and levies, new ways to connect virtually 

Educational Equity – Eliminating opportunity gaps; cultural competency and culturally-relevant practices; addressing disproportionalities regarding race, poverty, gender, special education status, second language learners and migrant status; implicit bias; the importance of representation; equity policies; ensuring equity during times of crisis

Student Success – Academic achievement; students prepared for life, college and career; student engagement; measurements of success; student voice; virtual instruction

Student Well-Being – Safety, social-emotional learning, counseling and mental health, physical health, Social Emotional Learning, trauma informed practices, addressing issues of homelessness and foster care, re-engaging dropouts, supporting students during times of crisis

Sponsored — topics presented by vendors relevant to school boards and districts

Tips

Breakout session proposals are most likely to be selected if they:

• Offer action steps and replicable ideas for the success of our students and schools
• Include school directors and/or students in the presentation team
• Incorporate student voice
• Include data or other evidence of success
• Provide insight into how a district has successfully tackled an issue and made improvements, even if not fully resolved yet
• Describe the school board’s role in the process

Proposals

• New deadline is 5 p.m. June 7
• Proposal criteria
• Expectations for presenters

Questions

Email wssda.presentations@kfevents.com or call 206-227-0669