August 13, 2026

A new school year brings new priorities, new challenges—and new opportunities to grow.

AESA is here to help you make the most of them.

Whether you’re looking for an intensive leadership experience, opportunities to strengthen your skills alongside ESA colleagues, or a timely webinar you can fit into a busy schedule, AESA professional learning connects you with ideas and people who understand the unique work of educational service agencies.

Take a look at what’s coming up and make professional learning part of your plans for the year ahead.

As we prepare for the next AESA Academy for Women Leaders, we’re expanding who the Academy is designed to serve.

AESA recognizes that leadership comes in many forms and at many levels of an organization. In addition to executive leaders, the Academy now welcomes Chiefs of Staff, Executive Assistants, department and division leaders, and women leading key functions, initiatives, or one-person departments.

This yearlong experience is an opportunity to strengthen your leadership, expand your perspective, and build a national network of women working in ESAs.

For many ESAs, financial sustainability is demanding more attention than ever. Shifting funding structures and an uncertain political environment can make it difficult to focus solely on what matters most: serving schools, educators, and students.

While you may not control the forces affecting your funding, you can strengthen how your organization responds.

AESA’s Business Strategy Framework workshops help ESA leaders think differently about pricing, customer needs, innovation, and long-term sustainability. The goal is not simply to react to financial pressures, but to build a stronger strategy for what comes next.

Business Strategy Framework 2.0 | October 26-27 | St. Petersburg, FL
Offered just once each year, this advanced workshop is led by MIT Sloan professor Dr. Duncan Simester with AESA consultants Andy Pechacek and Doreen Marvin. It combines world-class business strategy with practical application specifically for ESAs.

Register here>>

Business Strategy Framework 1.0 | December 4-5 | Orlando, FL
New to the framework? Join us immediately following the AESA Annual Conference & Expo for an excellent introduction to the tools and thinking that can help your ESA build for the future.

Register here>>

The financial landscape may be changing.

Your strategy can change with it.

Sometimes one great idea can change the way you approach an entire project. Sometimes it’s a conversation with a colleague who has already solved the problem you’re facing.

That’s the power of AESA Networks.

AESA Networks bring together ESA professionals from across the country who share similar roles, responsibilities, and challenges. They’re a convenient way to exchange ideas, ask questions, discover what’s working in other agencies, and build connections with colleagues who understand your work.