School board members make decisions that are legally sound yet often shaped by pressure, urgency and competing priorities. This interactive session centers on the governance role by examining how decisions impact student access and outcomes. Through guided reflection, real-world scenarios and structured discussion, participants will elevate board voice and strengthen their ability to assess impact, navigate complexity and lead with clarity, intention and a deeper understanding of equitable decision-making.

Sandra Dukhie, Trustee and Camille Hibbler, Superintendent, Ferndale Public Schools

This empowering session is designed to equip you with the mindset and tools needed to navigate challenges with confidence. Through powerful storytelling, real-life examples and practical strategies, participants will explore how resilience fuels personal and professional growth. This engaging presentation highlights the strength found in adversity and encourages attendees to embrace their journeys, build supportive networks and activate their ambition with purpose.

Dawn Kaiser, Ph.D., Vice President, Iosco RESA

Join MASB's legal counsel to hear the latest information and guidance on trending school law issues. The session will address recent court cases and new laws impacting school districts while providing board members the opportunity to ask legal questions.

Brad Banasik, J.D., Legal Counsel, MASB

Striking the right balance between transparency, trust and role clarity can be complex—but when done well, it creates a unified leadership team focused on student success. This session will explore how intentional communication structures—such as committee meetings, goal-setting processes, board training and superintendent evaluations—can strengthen alignment while honoring governance roles.

Dan Mesyar, Superintendent, Onekama Consolidated Schools

Transparency is more than a compliance requirement. It is the foundation of public trust. This session explores practical strategies for improving access to agendas, supporting documents, voting records, meeting recordings and historical records while using paperless meeting practices to create a more transparent, efficient and trustworthy board meeting experience. 

Isaac Houston, Customer Success Consultant, BoardBook

This session will help board members and superintendents evaluate high-quality regional CTE programs using meaningful data, including student outcomes, workforce alignment and sustainability. It will highlight how partnerships with districts, colleges, advisory committees and industry strengthen programs and inform decision-making. Participants will gain practical strategies to interpret data, ask the right questions and support strong, workforce-aligned CTE systems. 

Lou Adams, Board Secretary and Eric Johnson, Director of Career and Technical Education, Clare-Gladwin RESD

Every leadership pipeline has a blueprint, yet in K-12 education, the blueprint too often predetermines who can enter the building and who is left standing outside the door. This session presents research-based findings examining how women, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ superintendents navigate the architecture of access on the path to the superintendency. This session will highlight board members' roles as gatekeepers who can grant or inhibit access. 

Erin North, Ed.D., Executive Director of Curriculum, Instruction and Continuous Improvement, Swartz Creek Community Schools

What is resilience? And how does it develop in individuals and systems? Participants will explore practical strategies to strengthen resilience within school environments, focusing on culture, relationships and daily practices that support adaptability, well-being and sustained growth among students and staff. 

Yarden Blumstein, Executive Director, Resolution Services

Does your board feel anxious about school shootings and student mental health? Are you overwhelmed about what to do to ramp up your district's infrastructure, emergency planning and mental health supports–and, just as importantly, how to sustain long-term funding in these areas?  

Join one district on its journey and learn how YOUR district can take the lead on this complex, sensitive topic to create a safer environment for students and staff.

Josey Ballenger, Board Secretary and John VanWagoner, Ed.D., Superintendent, Traverse City Area Public Schools

Major construction projects and facility decisions are among a school board’s most visible and closely scrutinized responsibilities. This session offers practical guidance and a clear roadmap to navigate capital programs, utilization studies, dispositions and other facility initiatives. Board members will learn what questions to ask, what information to request and how to interpret key data, while hearing real-world examples and lessons learned from peer boards. The session emphasizes oversight, informed decision-making and community trust-building strategies. 

Colleen Burton, President, Livonia Public Schools; Keith McDonald, Vice President and Nicole Blocker, Partner, Plante Moran Realpoint

As enrollment declines reshape Michigan school districts, boards need a clear, longterm approach to facilities planning. This session shows school boards how to analyze enrollment trends, demographic data and key cost drivers to make informed, longterm facilities rightsizing decisions. Attendees will learn how to use objective data to reduce financial risk, support strategic planning and make transparent decisions that align facilities with future district needs. 

Larry Bukowski, Chief Planner and Daryl Dombrow, Project Executive, Barton Malow

This session highlights how Holly Area Schools transformed family engagement through a comprehensive Parent Outreach Program grounded in connection, access and trust. Participants will explore high-impact strategies, including community partnerships, family-centered events, staff training and consistent communication systems that remove barriers and empower caregivers. Attendees will leave with a scalable, strategic plan-aligned framework to strengthen family engagement, improve student outcomes and build a culture where every family feels valued and connected. 

Cheryl Price, MA, LPC, District Counseling Specialist and Sydney Sinclair, MPhil, Family School Liaison and Parent Outreach Coordinator, Holly Area Schools

Conversations can be powerful, and solid facilitation skills are a must for productive, collaborative and effective board meetings. This clinic session will share facilitation skills, the warning signs that discussion/conversation meetings are being hijacked and how to regain control. Facilitation skills act as a critical lever for inviting psychological safety into board table culture and ultimately impacts student achievement. Join us and learn how to sharpen your facilitation skills with ready-to-use resources.

Deb Macon, Consultant, MASB and Birgit McQuiston, Trustee, Lake Orion Community Schools

Great boards don’t eliminate conflict—they channel it. Based on insights from Adam Grant’s Think Again and years of superintendent–board collaboration, this session explores how high-functioning boards distinguish between harmful relationship conflict and productive task conflict. Participants will discover practical strategies for fostering trust, encouraging candid dialogue, avoiding surprises and keeping governance focused on students. Learn how the right habits can turn disagreement into a powerful force for stronger decisions and a healthier board culture. 

Jim Beauchamp, Trustee; Coby Fletcher, Ed.D, Superintendent; JJ Johnson-Reeves, Secretary, Escanaba Area Public Schools

School boards play a critical role in ensuring inclusive education in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). This session highlights how districts, in partnership with MAASE, can implement system-wide supports for staff and students, including transition programs like MiTTIN and Project SEARCH. Participants will explore governance strategies, real examples and key questions to effectively oversee special education and improve student outcomes.

Cheryl-Marie Manson, Project Manager, MAASE; Sarah Winslow, State Director, Project S.E.A.R.C.H.

What do surgeons, pilots and attorneys all have in common? They never stop learning, because the cost of being outdated is too high. So why would you expect the person leading your school to be any different? This session helps board members understand why the professional growth of their superintendent is paramount and shares a clear, affordable plan to make it happen.

Shawn Bishop, Ed.D., Deputy Director; Cari Bushinski, MA, Director of Professional Learning; Steph Long, Ed.D., Director of Professional Learning, MASA

Setting policy for the school district is a critical function of every school board. Board policies affect every aspect of school operations and have an equally wide-spread impact on individuals, including the administration, staff, students, parents and community in general. While compliance with state and federal law is a priority, effective board policies must also be straightforward, well-organized and structured in a way to permit efficient implementation. 

Jessica McNamara, Thrun Law Firm, P.C.

Why do sales, use, property and other taxes matter to schools? What happens when the state makes changes to tax policies or economic development incentives? Understanding why and how Michigan’s tax structure affects state and local funding for schools is important to set an effective budget and better advocate for your district. Jennifer Smith, Director of Government Relations for MASB, will lead you through the various funding mechanisms, historical changes and current threats to school funding revenues and how you can enter the conversation in Lansing.

Jennifer Smith, Director of Government Relations, MASB

Alcona Community Schools, a small rural Michigan district, is proving that scale is no barrier to innovation. Through expansive outdoor and place-based learning, supported community partnerships and a school forest, we connect curriculum to community. We are also growing our own educators, with 25 staff and community members earning teaching certificates. Learn how our 100%-graduation online academy (CLAW) and team-teaching pilots reimagine learning. Where others see limits, we ask why not. 

Dan O'Connor, Superintendent, Alcona Community Schools

Attend this session to learn about the Michigan Education Guarantee—an initiative designed to ensure every student in the state has access to the learning opportunities they need to succeed. Launch Michigan will share the evidence base shaping the MEG, key findings from statewide and national research and insights from districts and communities informing the work. We will also be sharing the future role of board members in the MEG and seeking their feedback.

Venessa Keesler, Ph.D., President and CEO, Launch Michigan

Adolescent sleep deprivation is a nationwide public health crisis exacerbated by early school start times. This session will present evidence linking insufficient teen sleep to poorer academic, health and safety outcomes and will share results from districts that have shifted to later start times. A multidisciplinary panel including a sleep physician, school board member, high school student, transportation consultant and public health researcher will deliver research-informed strategies to help districts implement healthy school start times.

Barrie Frankel, M.Ed., Trustee, Berkley School District; Andy Jones, Ph.D., Associate Professor, University of Michigan; Elijah Morrow, Student, Ann Arbor Public Schools; Vishal Saini, M.D., FAASM, Research and Medical Director, Mid-West Center for Sleep Disorders, President, Michigan Academy of Sleep Medicine

Most school design processes are shaped by professional expertise, with students positioned primarily as end users rather than contributors to architectural authorship. This session examines how student participation can function not as consultation but as intelligence, influencing architectural intent. Through the KRESA Career Connect Campus case study, presenters will unpack a multi-day co-design process in which CTE students collaborated with architects, educators, entrepreneurs and industry partners to generate and present spatial narratives and design propositions. 

Christine Kennedy, ALEP, Education Market Sector Specialist, Wightman 

Many school districts face decisions about aging, vacant or underutilized buildings. This session explores strategies for rehabilitation and adaptive reuse - transforming facilities while preserving their character. Participants will examine options such as continued educational use or conversion to community-focused spaces like housing or cultural centers. Learn how to evaluate restoration versus reuse, navigate regulatory and preservation requirements, and engage stakeholders in decisions that balance historic value with current needs and future community impact.

Ryan Bill, Superintendent, Tri County Area Schools and Dan Schneider, Senior Project Manager/Preservation Architect, Kingscott Associates, Inc.

School boards must extend beyond traditional systems to cultivate trusted, sustainable partnerships deeply rooted in community life. Faith-based institutions represent one of the most underutilized yet influential networks available to support student success, family engagement and community stability. Participants will explore how board members—with relationships and influence in faith communities—can serve as bridge-builders. Together, they will help shape policy and activate resources that directly support students and families.

Corletta Vaughn, Ph.D., Vice President, Detroit Public Schools Community District

We will explore the hidden dynamics that often undermine effective board governance—including ego, grandstanding and off-agenda distractions—and reframe them through a student-centered lens. This session helps participants recognize and navigate these challenges with purpose and clarity. Participants will leave equipped to foster unity and maintain a focus on improving student outcomes.

Rob Begg, Bendle Public Schools and Penny Kentish McWilliams, Consultant, MASB

As board members, opportunities to have hard conversations with parents, educators, administrators and one another abound, but sometimes, we avoid these conversations because we don't want to ruffle feathers or because we don't know what to say. This session will explore how we can build the skills necessary to have hard conversations in effective and productive ways.

Rebekah Schipper, Executive Director, Opportunity Thrive and Trustee, Holland Public Schools

Strong school boards play a critical role in student success. In this session, we'll explore how board members' decisions shape student achievement and examine the Seven Conditions for School Renewal as a framework for creating thriving schools. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of the board's influence and practical insights for fostering continuous improvement in their districts.

Scott Morrell, Consultant, MASB

A strong relationship between the Superintendent and Board President sets the tone for effective governance and district success. This session will explore strategies for building trust, maintaining communication, and establishing aligned leadership between these two roles. Participants will gain practical insights and tools to strengthen collaboration, navigate challenges, and foster a productive partnership that supports the work of the entire board/school community, aligned with best practices promoted by MASB.

Nick Angel, Ed.D, Superintendent, and Amy Humbarger, President, Grass Lake Community Schools

Our board holds two monthly meetings, designating the first as a work session. Utilizing a Committee of the Whole (COW) ensures that all members receive identical information simultaneously. This structure facilitates informal inquiry, rigorous data review and administrative follow-up before formal voting occurs. This predictable, efficient method fosters a candid culture, successfully shifting the focus from "winning the debate" toward a collaborative, shared effort of understanding and solving complex organizational issues as a unified team.

James Anderson, Ed.D., Superintendent; Theresa Crnkovich, President; Kathleen Kane, Vice President, Wyandotte Public Schools

Income instability, limited healthcare access, housing insecurity, social isolation alongside lack of privacy, mistrust of institutions and transportation barriers – any of this sound familiar? In communities like ours, these challenges overlap and show up in our schools, at board meetings and other events. We will share what we’ve learned and how superintendents and school boards might respond, connect and coordinate when students and families consistently face real-life challenges.

Kendra Durga, President and Judy Walton, Superintendent, Harrison Community Schools

Is your school seeing the full picture? School improvement plans often struggle when student data is trapped in isolated silos, leaving leaders with a fragmented view of student needs. This session explores how the MAISA actionable data applications will connect academic, behavioral and social-emotional data. Learn how these tools will identify "whole child" needs, link your goals to research-based interventions and empower your educators to move beyond compliance to a mindset of continuous, data-driven growth.

Doug Leisenring, Project Director - MiGreatDataLake, Michigan Association of Intermediate School Administrators

Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) can be more than a negotiation method—it can be a form of community leadership that strengthens trust and problem-solving. In this interactive session, a board trustee, administrators and union leaders will explain and demonstrate IBB plus share what school and community relationships felt like before and after IBB. Participants will better understand IBB, its alignment with effective board governance and what board members should consider when encouraging this approach.

Bill Barnes, Ed.D., Superintendent; Denise Dufort, Trustee; John Ellsworth, Director of Communications, Grand Ledge Public Schools; Melissa Mazzola, President, Grand Ledge Education Association

Artificial intelligence isn't just for tech companies and classrooms—it's a powerful tool that school board members can use right now to work smarter and communicate more effectively. In this session, you'll get a hands-on introduction to generative AI and how it can help you manage your inbox, draft policy language, prepare speeches and talking points and even support your district's social media presence. Most importantly, you'll leave understanding that you are in control. No technical background is required. Just bring your curiosity—and maybe a few tasks you've been putting off.

Kimberly May, Consultant, MASB

What does the future of learning look like through the eyes of Michigan students? In this engaging session, a diverse panel of students shares what’s working, what needs to change and how AI, declining enrollment and student mental health are reshaping education. Board members will gain powerful insight into the value of student voice when planning future learning environments.

Roger Bearup, Superintendent and Nandita Mishra, ALEP, AIA, LEED AP, Client Lead and Educational Planner, Grandville Public Schools

Learn how districts and boards can support community-led advocacy for school bond campaigns. This session explores practical strategies for building trust, organizing effective bond committees and mobilizing voters. Using a real case study from Wayland Union Schools, presenters will share lessons on coalition-building, transparency, marketing and voter outreach. Participants will leave with actionable tools for engaging stakeholders, countering misinformation and turning community support into successful bond approval. 

Jeff Koon, President; Tim Reeves, Superintendent; Erin Stepek, Trustee, Wayland Union Schools

Thirty years of national research and Michigan’s MiFamily Engagement Framework highlight the importance of relationships, but what does that look like in practice? This session brings the framework to life. Board members will explore how relational leadership translates into governance actions that strengthen trust, support authentic school-family-community partnerships and create the conditions for student success through shared responsibility and collaboration.

Angela Brigham, Region IV MiFamily Engagement and Early Literacy Coordinator, Ottawa Area ISD; Al Thomas, Family Engagement and Early Literacy Consultant; Melissa Manko, Family Engagement and Early Literacy Consultant, Michigan Department of Lifelong Learning, Education, Advancement and Potential

Many organizations depend on heroic leadership—talented people solving problems under pressure. But when performance relies on heroics, systems remain fragile. In this interactive leadership experience, participants explore real organizational scenarios, diagnose structural weaknesses and learn how leaders move from reacting to problems to designing the systems behind the work. Participants will leave with new insights into how leadership, systems and culture interact to create sustainable performance.

Tennille Woodward, Ed.D., Founder and CEO, Architecting Excellence

This session explores how curiosity serves as a transformative leadership tool for board trustees, regardless of their role or tenure. In an increasingly complex educational landscape defined by shifting community needs and the demand for innovation, curiosity is no longer just a trait—it is a necessary governance strategy. By harnessing the power of curiosity–with fellow board members, district staff and community–trustees can leverage the collective intelligence of the entire district to create success.

Greg Janicki, Leadership Coach, Forty-Two Consulting and Consultant, MASB

The role of superintendent is challenging, especially for someone new to the role. Board members can take specific steps to support a new superintendent and help ensure early success for the board, district and leadership. This session will provide you with a wide variety of tools, strategies, methods and factors to significantly increase the chance of early and ongoing success for your new superintendent and ultimately your district.

Matthew Montange, Superintendent, Plainwell Community Schools

School board members play a critical role in supporting sound financial governance amid increasing funding pressures and regulatory complexity. This session equips board leaders with practical strategies to guide budget development, support district compliance with federal and state requirements through effective policy and oversight, and understand fundamentals of cost allocation. Attendees will gain tools to ask informed financial questions, promote transparency and make governance decisions that safeguard district resources and long-term stability.

Joshua Dyer, Senior Manager, Public Sector Solutions, Rehmann

This session focuses on preparing the next generation of school leaders to innovate within board-approved policy frameworks. Participants will explore strategies for embedding policy awareness into leadership development, identifying opportunities for innovation within regulatory boundaries and fostering a leadership culture that balances vision with accountability and financial stewardship.

Phil Mikulski, Senior Associate, Neola and Dr. Paul Salah, Superintendent, Huron Valley Schools

School boards and district leaders play a critical role in ensuring all students—especially those with disabilities—receive appropriate services in inclusive settings. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires education in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), not only for compliance, but as a foundation of equity and civil rights. This session will examine why LRE matters and the actionable steps school boards can take to advance inclusive systems.

Alex Agius, District Leadership Consultant; Shelley Dickerson, Special Education Compliance Consultant; Kim Wooster, Special Education Compliance Consultant, Oakland Schools ISD

After recovering from an embezzlement crisis, Grand Haven Area Public Schools set out to rebuild trust by transforming its financial operations. This session explores the district's journey from crisis to an award-winning Financial Services team, highlighting how modern technology, AI and strengthened internal controls have increased transparency, enhanced accountability and restored community confidence. Discover practical strategies for modernizing financial systems while creating a culture of integrity and continuous improvement.

Marc Eickholt, Vice President and Michael MacDonald, Executive Director of Business Services, Grand Haven Area Public Schools

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping teaching, learning and school system operations, but most school board members are not prepared for what this means in their role. This session provides a clear overview of how AI is currently being used in K–12 education, what is coming next and where boards must pay attention. Participants will explore key areas including instructional use, operational efficiencies, risks and limitations and emerging policy considerations.

Aaron Baughman, Associate Director of Innovation, MASSP

Explore the transformative impact of Michigan’s $101.6 million investment in statewide technology consolidation and its implications for K–12 education. This session will provide an overview of the MiCH Infrastructure initiatives, including the Michigan Statewide Educational Network (MiSEN), MiSecure and MiCloud. Participants will learn how intermediate school districts, local districts and public-school academies are leveraging these grant-funded projects to enhance, secure and centralize technology services across the state.

Michael Coats, MiCloud Director, Kalamazoo RESA; Merri Lynn Colligan, Director, MiSEN; Matt McMahon, MiSecure Director, MAISA

In 2024, the "Safe Homes, Safe Schools" legislation was passed, requiring all MI school districts to inform families about the secure storage of firearms. Discover how your district can make secure storage education part of everyday policies and events. These simple steps help reduce and prevent youth suicide, accidental injuries and violence—while empowering parents to protect vulnerable kids from unauthorized access to firearms.

Lauren Jasinski, Trustee, Royal Oak Schools and Alyssa Moore, Youth and Education Organizer, End Gun Violence Michigan

Successful school bonds require more than voter approval—they depend on clear direction, strong governance and disciplined leadership. Join Hartford Public Schools' board members, their superintendent and Miller Davis as they share their real-world experience guiding a bond from vision through construction while staying in their lanes. Attendees will gain practical strategies to define roles, maintain alignment, build community trust and deliver on promises long after the vote.

Nick Blackmer, Superintendent, Hartford Public Schools and Megan Gernaat, Marketing and Communications Manager, Miller Davis

School boards prioritize community engagement, yet many struggle to translate it into meaningful partnerships that improve student outcomes. This session explores how to move from conversation to action by identifying high-impact partners, aligning efforts with district goals and supporting implementation. Through real-world examples and an interactive exercise, participants will leave with a practical framework to develop partnerships that create measurable impact in their communities.

Lex Hallberg, Assistant Director of Community Affairs, Saginaw Valley State University and Sara Parker, Director of Workforce Development, Bay Area Chamber of Commerce