April 23, 2026

The AESA Annual Conference & Expo is strongest when it reflects the ideas, innovations, and experiences of our members—and we need more breakout proposals to make that happen.

If your agency is doing impactful work, others can learn from it. Breakout sessions are where real-world strategies and solutions are shared, helping ESAs across the country grow and improve.

This year’s theme, ESAs in Action: Leading, Innovating, and Elevating Education, is your opportunity to showcase how your work is making a difference.

Proposals are due in ONE WEEK (April 30, 2026). If you need a little more time, please reach out to Ann Fiene, Chief of Staff.  

Don’t assume your story is too small—what’s routine for you could be transformative for others.

AESA’s Business Strategy Workshop Series is heading across the country in 2026, offering multiple opportunities for ESA leaders and teams to strengthen strategic decision‑making, refine pricing approaches, and build sustainable business models.

Business Strategy Framework 1.0 launches the series with two in‑person options designed to help participants establish a strong foundation for aligning mission, strategy, and operations.

• May 18-19, 2026 – Waco, TX (Region 12) Register NOW >>
• December 4-5, 2026 – Orlando, FL, immediately following the AESA Annual Conference & Expo

For those ready to go deeper, Business Strategy Framework 2.0 builds on earlier work with advanced tools and applications:

• October 26-27, 2026 – Tampa/St. Petersburg, FL area

AESA will also host Strategic Pricing and Experimentation in Action ahead of the Summer Leadership Conference. This one-day workshop equips teams with practical tools to make smarter pricing decisions, test ideas before scaling, and capture missed opportunities for growth.

• July 14, 2026 – Riverside, CA, prior to the AESA Summer Leadership Conference

Whether you are beginning to formalize your business strategy or refining an established model, this lineup offers flexible entry points and practical learning opportunities throughout the year.

More details and registration information will be shared soon.

The challenges facing ESAs aren’t slowing down, and neither is the need for strong leaders at every level. The AESA Leadership Academy goes beyond professional development. It builds leadership capacity so more people are ready to step up and move the work forward.

In the Leadership Academy, participants strengthen their day-to-day leadership, build meaningful connections with peers across the country, and expand how they think about what’s next through a global lens.

For 2026-27, the Academy will include both ESA CEOs and cabinet-level leaders, creating an even stronger, more dynamic cohort. The experience includes in-person and virtual sessions, along with an international learning experience in April 2027 to Austria and Hungary.

We encourage interested leaders to apply soon, as space is limited and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

If you’re considering the Leadership Academy and have questions, Sheila King, Chief Strategy Officer, would be happy to connect.

The Building Capacity workshops were originally designed for district leadership teams to engage in hands-on planning using the Gen AI Maturity Tool. However, AESA is seeing strong interest from ESA teams as well. ESA staff who are exploring AI service models, regional supports, or system-level strategy are encouraged to participate. Below are upcoming workshops.

Central Indiana Education Service Center

• Dates: April 30-May 1, 2026

• Trainer: Tanika Kinartail, Professional Learning Specialist, and Ryan Murray, Professional Learning Specialist

• Location: CIESC, 3500 DePauw Blvd. Pyramid Two, Suite 2020, Indianapolis, IN 46268

• Register Here

Northeast Georgia RESA

• Dates: June 10-11, 2026

• Trainer: Shona Foster, Instructional Technology & Digital Learning Director

• Location: Braselton Civic Center, 27 E. Lake Drive, Braselton, GA 30517

• Registration Flyer

Southwest West Central Service Cooperative

• Dates: July 15-16, 2026
• Trainer: David Berner, Technology Integration Program Coordinator
• Location: 100 London Rd, Marshall, MN
• Registration Flyer