Some things to know:

• Tabletops are short (35 minute) informal presentations for groups of up to 10 attendees.
• The focus is on what attendees learn and can take away and use
• Preference is given to SAANYS member presenters
• Some Tabletop submissions may be appropriate for inclusion on panels or as full length presentations. If that is the case, you will be notified, but please start by filling in this form. Thank you.

Here are some ideas, but please feel free to submit topics not included here that relate to the Priorities theme:

As a NYS school leader, what do you see as your priorities, both professionally and personally, for the 2026-2027 school year and beyond?

What do you want to know more about, focus upon, strive for? What are you most concerned about? What keeps you up at night? What emerging trends, issues, challenges and opportunities do you see on the horizon?

Here are some topics your colleagues have shared. There are many more possibilities…

• Improving student attendance and engagement
• Emotional intelligence in leadership
• Implementing NY Inspires / Portrait of a Graduate
• Understanding appropriate use of AI and emerging policy guidelines
• Becoming more adept at using AI to manage workload
• Managing disruptive behaviors and clarifying appropriate consequences for students with IEPs
• Complying with new state initiatives re student attendance, climate education, APPR transition to STEPS
• School Leadership – recruitment, preparation, pipeline
• Teacher recruitment, retention, attendance, mental health
• Working within school budgets; being asked to do the same or more with less
• Solid writing instruction and assessment at the elementary level
• Raising awareness: needs and challenges of Essential Service Leaders: IT, Building and Grounds, Facilities, Transportation, Health, Food Service…
• Needs and challenges of Athletic Directors
• MTSS: Reducing referrals to special education
• Pension reform / enhancement
• Engaging reluctant families
• Volatile environments / managing political differences
• Managing special education issues
• Student mental health and well being
• Balancing professional and personal life; dealing with stress; staying mentally and physically healthy as leaders

Again, these are just some suggestions. Think about your own priorities inside and outside of school, and submit a proposal that shares an idea, a practice, an example that is reflective of that priority.

We are looking for proposals from school leaders in all roles at every stage of their professional journey, with the emphasis on a ‘how to’ that participants can learn and take away. As always, please be creative and think out of the box! All topics, from the most concrete to the most reflective or inspirational, will be considered!

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A PROPOSAL FOR CONSIDERATION, FILL OUT THIS FORM AND SUBMIT NO LATER THAN FRIDAY, MAY 1, 2026