The National School Plant Management Association (NSPMA) is seeking engaging presenters for the 2027 NSPMA Annual Conference.
NSPMA's Annual Conference is the only national event designed specifically for public K–12 school facilities professionals. Our attendees are the leaders responsible for creating safe, healthy, efficient, and sustainable learning environments for millions of students across the country.
Building on the tremendous success of our 2026 Conference in Kansas City, which welcomed public school facilities professionals from 27 states, the 2027 conference will once again bring together the right mix of decision-makers, practitioners, and industry partners to exchange ideas, solve challenges, and strengthen our profession.
This isn't simply another trade show with educational sessions. NSPMA is committed to delivering meaningful, practical content that attendees can immediately apply within their own schools and districts.
We encourage presentations that inspire discussion, share innovative ideas, and provide honest perspectives—including lessons learned and challenges overcome. Some of the best learning comes from experiences that didn't go exactly as planned.
Who Should Submit:
We encourage presentation proposals from:
Public K–12 school facilities professionals
State and federal agencies
Educational institutions
Architects, engineers, and design professionals
Industry partners and solution providers
Nonprofit organizations supporting school facilities
Collaborative presentations featuring multiple perspectives are highly encouraged.
Presentation Topics:
We're looking for educational sessions that help public school facilities professionals become stronger leaders and better stewards of their schools.
Topics may include, but are not limited to:
Preventive maintenance and asset management
Custodial operations and healthy schools
Indoor air quality, cleaning, and infection prevention
Sustainability and energy management
Capital planning and facility modernization
School safety and emergency preparedness
Leadership, workforce development, and succession planning
Recruitment, retention, and employee engagement
Technology, AI, automation, and smart buildings
Risk management and regulatory compliance
Architecture, design, construction, and renovation
Budgeting, procurement, and operational efficiency
Case studies, best practices, and lessons learned
If your presentation helps school facilities professionals better serve students, staff, and their communities, we'd love to hear from you.
Presentation Guidelines:
Successful presentations should be:
Educational – Provide practical knowledge and actionable takeaways.
Industry-Agnostic – Focus on best practices rather than promoting a specific product or manufacturer.
Relevant – Address current issues, emerging trends, and real-world challenges facing school facilities professionals.
Engaging – Encourage discussion and audience participation whenever appropriate.
Presenters should leave attendees with ideas, tools, or resources they can immediately implement in their own schools.
Vendor & Industry Partner Presentations:
NSPMA welcomes educational presentations from our industry partners.
To ensure a high-quality educational experience for attendees:
Vendor presenters must be registered 2027 EXPO exhibitors or Annual NSPMA Sponsors.
Sessions should remain educational and industry-agnostic, not sales presentations.
Product demonstrations and detailed marketing discussions should take place in the exhibit hall.
A brief company introduction and distribution of educational handouts at the conclusion of the session are permitted.
Whenever possible, vendor-led sessions should include a public K–12 school facilities professional as a co-presenter or panelist to provide real-world experience and perspective.
NSPMA reserves the right to request revisions to accepted presentations that contain excessive promotional or commercial content.
Presentation Details
Session Length: 60 minutes or 120 minutes depending on topic and schedule
Presentations will be scheduled throughout the conference based on the final program.
Presenters are responsible for their own travel, lodging, and incidental expenses.
Proposal Evaluation: Presentation proposals will be evaluated based on:
Educational value
Relevance to public K–12 school facilities
Practical takeaways
Originality and innovation
Speaker experience and expertise
Audience engagement
Priority consideration may be given to proposals submitted early.
Submission Deadline
Friday, January 8, 2027
Selected presenters will be notified following the proposal review process.
Scholarships:
Limited scholarship opportunities may be available for public school employees and representatives of NSPMA affiliate state associations who are selected to present.
Please contact the NSPMA office for additional information.
Questions?
Ken Wertz
Executive Director
National School Plant Management Association (NSPMA)
📧 exec@nspma.org
We appreciate your interest in sharing your expertise and helping strengthen the future of public K–12 school facilities across the United States.
