June 17, 2025

AESA is proud to launch the Academy for Women Leaders, a bold new initiative designed to support and elevate women Superintendents, Executive Directors, Deputy Superintendents, and others in similar positions in the ESA community. This yearlong professional learning experience replaces the former Women’s Leadership Network, offering a deeper, more intentional structure focused on professional growth, peer connection, and sustained leadership development. 

Through a dynamic blend of in-person and virtual sessions, participants will explore topics such as systems thinking, executive presence, innovation, and navigating the complexities of leadership as a woman in the educational landscape. The Academy is more than a leadership program—it’s a movement to support, retain, and advance women leaders who are shaping the future of educational service agencies.

2025-2026 Schedule

October 7–8, 2025 | In-Person Retreat | Chicago, IL
Theme: Leading Boldly – Empowered Women Shaping the Future
Includes team-building, strategy sessions, and restorative leadership practices

November 13, 2025 | Virtual Session | 2:00–3:30 pm ET

December 4, 2025 | In-Person Meetup | Annual Conference & Expo in Colorado Springs, CO

February 2, 2026 | Virtual Session | 2:00–3:30 pm ET

March 10–11, 2026 | In-Person Retreat | Location TB

April 29, 2026 | Virtual Session | 2:00–3:30 pm ET

“The Academy for Women Leaders was created in response to what we heard from the field: women leaders want a space that fosters connection, growth, and authentic leadership. We’re proud to answer that call.”
— Sheila King, AESA Chief Program Officer

This opportunity is designed to support women leaders' whole leadership journey—with time to reflect, grow, connect, and recharge alongside other exceptional women in ESA leadership.

Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind experience!

Our professional networks for the 2025–2026 year are already gaining interest! With a handful of early signups, it’s clear there’s strong enthusiasm to connect, collaborate, and grow together.

• Business & HR Officials Network – Designed for CFOs, business managers, and HR leaders ready to tackle challenges and lead with confidence.
• Consultant Network – A dynamic space for professional development consultants to swap ideas, spark innovation, and grow their impact.

• Executive Assistant to the CEO Network – A supportive network where executive assistants to the CEO can connect, collaborate, and grow together.

• Special Education Director Network – A supportive community for special education leaders focused on improving services and driving real change.

• Technology Leaders Network – Explore current and emerging technologies, best practices, and real-world application.

If you haven’t joined yet, now is the ideal time to secure your spot. If there are colleagues in your ESA who would benefit from these conversations, be sure to pass the invitation along.

Together, we’re building stronger networks—don’t miss your chance to be part of it!

Due to high demand, our room block at the JW Marriott Austin is filling quickly for the 2025 Summer Leadership Conference!

To accommodate our attendees, we’ve arranged an overflow hotel option just steps away. A courtesy room block is now available at the Marriott Austin Downtown, located at 304 East Cesar Chavez Street—just a 3-minute walk to the JW Marriott Austin. Conference attendees will still use shuttles from the JW Marriott to Region 13, the conference site.

The special discounted rate is $269/night (plus tax and fees). But don’t wait—this courtesy block expires Monday, June 30, 2025.

Be sure to register soon for the conference. Hotel booking details will be included in your registration confirmation email.

We can’t wait to see you in Austin!

In today’s dynamic education landscape, a clear and compelling strategy isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity. That’s why AESA is excited to offer the Fall lineup of Business Strategy Development Workshops designed specifically for Educational Service Agencies (ESAs) that want to position themselves for sustainable growth, innovation, and impact.

These workshops are hands-on, highly collaborative experiences that guide ESA leaders through building a living strategic business plan. Whether you're launching a new service, entering a new market, or rethinking your agency’s direction, these sessions are built to meet you where you are—and take you further.

• Designed for ESA teams (CEOs, CFOs, service leaders, and board members)
• Aligned to real-world ESA challenges and opportunities
• Delivered by experienced facilitators from AESA’s Business Strategy team

Upcoming Workshop Dates & Locations

🔹 Business Strategy Framework 1.0

Earlier this month, the Administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court for an immediate pause on a court order forcing USED to reinstate nearly 1,400 employees who were fired during the mass RIF initiated in March. This emergency appeal to the Court came after the appeals court declined to stay the preliminary injunction put in place by the trial court. 

Great new piece in Washington Post details how public education today faces a landscape skeptical of, if not outright hostile to, its policies and priorities. The shifts could put new strains on schools’ budgets and change how they handle controversial topics. That’s particularly true for school districts in liberal states and communities, whose policies on race and gender are being challenged. But many of the threats and changes affect conservative communities, too. Read the article here. 

K-12 Dive reports that Texas is poised to become the 14th state since 2023 to legally define what it means to be a man or a woman, a move that sets the stage for restricting transgender students’ access to facilities and athletic teams aligned with their gender identities.

A recent State Department order to pause the scheduling of student and exchange visitor visa appointments has created uncertainty for school districts that rely on visa holders, such as teachers, summer counselors, and other staff, to support key programs.

This article examines the connection between sleep and student achievement, highlighting how rising sleep deprivation among youth may be contributing to absenteeism, reduced learning, and other long-term challenges.

Noelle Ellerson Ng, Associate Executive Director-Advocacy & Governance, was featured on a webinar with the National Press Foundation. The panelists’ conversation unpacked the Education Department’s role in schools, which many Americans don’t realize is relatively limited. The panelists highlighted the potential for this issue to have far-reaching consequences for the quality and equity of education, and urged journalists to find the stories that would bring context and clarity for families. Check out the recording here.

Looking to stay ahead of the curve on AI in education? EdAdvance

s ChatEDU is your go-to source for insightful conversations at the intersection of artificial intelligence and K–12 learning.

Hosted by Matt Mervis, Director of Skills21 and AI Strategy at EdAdvance, and Dr. Elizabeth Radday, Director of Research & Innovation, the podcast explores the evolving role of AI in classrooms, curriculum, and educational leadership. Each episode features timely discussions, expert perspectives, and practical insights for educators navigating the future of EdTech.

When the largest K-12 cyber incident in history–impacting over 60 million students and 10 million teachers–can be caused by a teenage hacker logging into a vendor’s customer service portal with just a contractor’s username and password, what can states and districts do to protect their students, teachers, and families? What could have happened had the hacker used their access to shut down all of the districts at once, rather than just extorting the victims for money not to release the data? Join the Institute for Security and Technology at 3:00 pm ET on June 17.  Register today.

Join AASA and NSAA on July 11 at 12:00 pm ET for an insightful webinar exploring the latest and most significant U.S. Supreme Court cases affecting K-12 public education. In this session, Sonja Trainor, executive director of the National School Attorneys Association (NSAA), will break downkey decisions from the current and recent terms, providing context, analysis, and practical takeaways for superintendents. Register here!