Welcome

Team WASA

Jeff, Tim, Marissa, Kim, Dominique, Ryan

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Featured Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Diamond Level

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Hike Organized by Scott Mauk,Chimacum SD

Golf Tournemant

Wi-Fi

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Password:

Relax@2025

Conference Website

2026 WASA Superintendent Conference

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Schedule Highlights

Sunday, May 3

    Welcome & Keynote:

Dr. Gene Sharratt - The Furure We Build

Rueben Mayes -Where there’s a will, there’s a way!

    6:00 p.m. – Dinner

    7:15 p.m. – Reception & Dessert

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Monday, May 4

• 7:45-8:15 a.m. – Breakfast Buffet
• 8:30 a.m. -12:00 p.m. Learning Sessions
• 2:15–2:45 p.m. – Extended Reflection Break
• 2:45-4:15 p.m. – Learning Sessions
• 5:00-6:00 p.m. – Evening Reception
• 6:00 p.m. – Dinner & Keynote

Dr. Mandi Rehn

Leading the Ascent | Lessons in Leadership from the Mountains

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Tuesday, May 5 (District Spirit Day)

• 7:45-8:15 a.m. – Breakfast Buffet
• Finalize Team Products
• Sharing of team learning and next steps
• Adjourn at 11:30 a.m. (lunch-to-go available if pre-ordered)

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

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Strategic Goals

• Portrait of a Leader: Continue to develop the standard of leadership for WASA.
• Build Collective Efficacy: Moving resources towards the summit, professional learning, and advocacy next steps.
• Experiential Outcomes: A safe learning space where we are roped up as a team.

Our Time

• Our standard - evolving portrait of a leader
• Our process - collectives, individual voice
• Content - our guiding questions

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Collective Time - 4+ hours tomorrow

• Basecamp - get to know your team, the research, and your guiding question
• Climbing together - talk about the work, share thoughts, questions, challenges and opportunities
• Elevation checks - individual reflection to process and prioritize

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Your Guides…

…help keep us on the path

…help focus the conversations

…help bring us and hold us together

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Insert learning leaders photo

Team Photo

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

������������The Future We Build������

WASA May 3-5, 2026 genesharratt25@outlook.com

Jim Whittaker, first American �to summit Mt. Everest in 1963

“I have discovered that individual and communal learning takes place when we find ourselves at �the edge of our comfort zone.”

“Being out on the edge is where we learn and grow the most.”

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Jim Whittaker, 2020

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David McCullough �Two-time Pulitzer Prize winner - author of Truman and John Adams

Harvard Business Review��How do we know when a leader is special?

“It is important to look at how leaders have handled setbacks. Did it break them? Or did they get up and get going again?”

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“What I admire in leaders and write about is

courage and worthy accomplishments.”

“If

Vulnerability

is not weakness;

it’s our most accurate

measure of Courage.

Brene Brown

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The headwinds ahead are brisk

Headwinds . . .

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Political Polarization

Budget Constraints

Financial Challenges

Student and Staff Wellness

AI and Academic Integrity

School Safety

Community Trust

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Five things that can help . . .

Acknowledge the uncertainty

Focus on what can be controlled

Create space for dialogue and support

Model calm and steady leadership

Prioritize well-being and boundaries

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“Reconnect to purpose and mission: Reminding staff

why they entered education – serving students

and making a difference.”

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Peter DeWitt & Michael Nelson on Ed. Week site.

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Knowing is not doing . . .

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Doing is leadership.

Leadership is . . .

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a matter of will and skill.

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Michael Fullan

COLLABORATION IS KEY!

Staying Connected Matters

Amanda Gorman �“The Hill We Climb”

“There is always light, if only we’re brave enough

to see it.

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If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

For every child.

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And every dream still to come.

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We won’t stop.

Rueben Mayes and Nora

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Where There’s a Will There’s a Way

…Building Capacity, Teamwork and Resilience

CONTENT�SLIDE

Slide Subtitle

Providing Hope, Care & Cures to children and families across WAMI Region (Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho) regardless of ability to pay.

41

“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” — Arthur Ashe

Impose Your Will

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Building Capacity

• Bold Vision
• Playing Hurt and Being Your Best Everyday
• Investing Time and Energy in Everyone Around You

20XX

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Building Resilience

• Maintain Your Core Mission even when the “Playbook” is Falling Apart
• Shift Mindset (5 Questions)
• Stay Hopeful and Open to Change

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Building Teamwork

• Relationships are Everything
• Building Team Culture
• The “Will” to Collaborate

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45

Scott Adams’ legacy at PRH was defined by community engagement, cultural transformation, and forward-thinking healthcare leadership, ensuring the hospital remains a vital, responsive, and inclusive healthcare provider for Pullman and the surrounding region.

Thank You

Featured Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Dinner & Reception Sponsors

Dinner Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Reception Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA President

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Shaun Carey

Lynette Blackburn

Brewster School District

Curt Guaglianone

Mt. Adams School District

Tim Pairno

Kittitas School District

Tim Payne

Almira School District

Ellen Perconti

Goldendale School District

Randy Russell

Freeman School District

Brian Talbott

East Valley School District

Greg Whitmore

Entiat School District

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Ryan Swanson

Piper Sandler & Co

Until 9:00 PM Reception on the Terrace

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7:15-8:30 AM Breakfast Buffet

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8:30 AM Program Begins

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Monday

Featured Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Platinum Level

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Wi-Fi

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Password:

Relax@2025

Conference Website

2026 WASA Superintendent Conference

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

8:30 AM - 9:45 AM Learning Session 1

ELEVATION CHECK 1

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9:45 AM - 10:00 AM Transition to Collectives

Strategic Goals

• Portrait of a Leader: Continue to develop the standard of leadership for WASA
• Build Collective Efficacy: Moving resources towards the summit, professional learning, and advocacy next steps.
• Experiential Outcomes: A safe learning space where we are roped up as a team.

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

The Portrait of a Leader reflects what our communities need from their leaders—clarity, trust, and a shared commitment to delivering on the promise of public education for every student. It is a work in progress: a standard we aspire to, hold ourselves accountable to, and continue to refine as our communities, challenges, and understanding evolve.

Conference Website

2026 WASA Superintendent Conference

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

http://bit.ly/4vNSRG2

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Your Guides…

…help keep us on the path

…help focus the conversations

…help bring us and hold us together

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Insert learning leaders photo

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

The Dignity Index

1. Overview
2. Listen to Tim
3. Go to the Landing Page & review the Barometer Study Findings
4. Discuss - where’s the opportunity?

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

These numbers show that our divisions are troubling and destructive, but there is good news in here, too. Americans not only call out the problem, they point to a solution: Perhaps we’re too divided to solve our problems precisely because of the way we’re treating each other.

The Dignity Index - opportunity

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

The Dignity Index - opportunity

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

The Dignity Index - opportunity

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

The Promise of Public Education: Student Centered

Student

Constitution

RCW

SBE

OSPI

ESDs

Districts

Schools

Classrooms

Family

Student Centered

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• Go to the landing page and find: The Promise of Public Education in WA
• Take 5 minutes to familiarize yourself with the document.
• How do all the circles work together?

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Learning Session 1

The Promise of Public Education in WA

Outcomes:

• Shared understanding of the promise we make to our community through public education
• Develop hope and excitement for the opportunity ahead :-)

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

The Promise of Public Education: Student Centered

Student

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Constitution

RCW

SBE

OSPI

ESDs

Districts

Schools

Classrooms

Family

Collective Time

• Basecamp - get to know your team, the research, and your guiding question
• Climbing together - talk about the work, share thoughts, questions, challenges and opportunities
• Elevation checks - individual reflection to process and prioritize

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Collective Time - Today

• Getting to know each other, getting to know our guiding question and the research; current Context Elevation Check (120 min)
• Identifying promising leadership practices Elevation Check (75 min)
• Consolidating Leadership Practices and Identifying Advocacy Elevation Check (60 min)

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Moving the Work: Guiding Questions

Coalition Building How do we build coalitions in our community, starting with our school boards, that not only strengthen our public education system, but advance opportunity and success for each student, now and for future generations?

Family Partnership What must we build to ensure every family is engaged as a trusted partner in shaping a public education system where every child can thrive and contribute?

Mathematics Literacy and Extended Learning Pathways What will it take to build district systems that guarantee high quality mathematics in every classroom, so every student becomes mathematically powerful and prepared not just to navigate the future, but to shape and invent it?

AI and the Future of Learning What must we build to ensure AI strengthens learning, protects students, and expands every student’s capacity to think, create, and lead in a digital world?

Inclusion, Access, and Belonging What will it take to build the systems and culture that ensure every student experiences meaningful access and authentic belonging, and create school communities where each member both contributes to and benefits from the success of others?

Accountability for the Washington State Public School Promise What commitments must we make to ensure accountability strengthens learning, builds public trust, and guarantees results that matter for every student?

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Elevation Checks

• Five Elevation Checks are embedded throughout the conference to capture individual thinking at key moments in the learning process
• Each checkpoint creates intentional space for every participant’s voice, ensuring individual perspectives shape the direction of the collective
• Each Elevation Check includes multiple question options, allowing participants to engage with the prompts most relevant to their thinking
• There is always an open-ended response option to ensure participants can contribute ideas beyond the structured prompts
• After each Elevation Check, AI will be used to synthesize participant input, providing timely insights to learning leaders to inform facilitation of the next session
• These checkpoints reinforce that collective progress depends on individual reflection and contribution, aligning with the conference’s focus on shared leadership and forward momentum

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Committed to Continuous Improvement

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Peter DeWitt

Author and

Education Consultant

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Mike Nelson

Author and

Education Consultant

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Elevation Check 1 LINK

Defining the Promise

Questions:

1. What elements of the promise of public education in Washington most strongly resonate with your community and where do you see gaps, tensions, or lack of clarity?
2. Whose perspectives are most shaping your current definition of the promise of public education in Washington and whose voices are underrepresented or missing?
3. If the promise of public education in Washington were fully realized for every student what would be visibly different in their experience and outcomes?

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

QR CODE

9:45 - 10:00 AM Transition to Your Team’s Room

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10:00 - 11:00 AM Learning Session: Grounding in Our Collective and

Guiding Question

11 AM - Noon Learning Session: Assessing Current Conditions

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ELEVATION CHECK 2 prior to leaving collective group

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Woodin

Ave

We are

here

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Accountability for the Promise of Public Education

Family Partnerships

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Inclusion, Access, and Belonging

AI and the Future

of Learning

Coalition Building, Starting with your Board

Mathematics Literacy & Pathways

and transition to your collective’s room

Learning Session (60 min)

Grounding in Our Collective and Guiding Question

Outcomes:

• Build relationships and establish trust within collective teams
• Develop a shared understanding of the collective guiding question and supporting research

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Learning Session (60 min)

Assessing the Current Context

Outcomes:

• Analyze current context through the lens of research, identifying what is affirmed, challenged, or newly learned
• Synthesize team insights to clarify strengths and identify opportunities for improvement

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Elevation Check 2 LINK

Current Conditions

• What is affirmed, challenged, or newly learned from the research? Cite or provide specific examples.
• How would you describe the current readiness of your system and our state system to move this work forward with coherence and urgency?
• Where do you see the greatest alignment between vision and practice and where are the most significant gaps or contradictions?
• What conditions such as structures, resources, beliefs or policies are currently enabling or constraining progress?

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

QR CODE

Help yourself to the lunch buffet and enjoy the company of your colleagues.

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Featured Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Gold Level

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

1:00 PM-2:15 PM Learning Session: Leadership Practices

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ELEVATION CHECK 3 prior to leaving collective

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2:15-2:45 PM Extended Reflection Break

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2:45-3:45 PM Learning Session: Advocacy

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3:45-4:30 PM Closing: ELEVATION CHECK 4

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2:15 - 2:45

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Optional Activities:

• Alone Time
• Walk on your own or with a group
• Chair Yoga Stehekin B Upstairs
• Zentangle West Rm. Upstairs

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Transition to Collectives

1:00 Start

Learning Session (75 min)

Leadership Practices

Outcomes:

• Identify leadership practices and moves that are contributing to progress
• Surface and prioritize key leadership actions for collective consideration by WASA members to move the work forward

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Elevation Check 3 LINK

Leadership Practices

Questions:

1. What are the highest leverage leadership moves you can make to create meaningful progress in your system?
2. Where must leadership shift from current practice to new ways of working to better align actions with the promise of public education in Washington?
3. What does it look like to lead this work in a way that builds coherence across people systems and priorities, not just isolated improvement?

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

QR CODE

2:15 - 2:45

Optional Activities:

• Alone Time
• Walk on your own or with a group
• Chair Yoga Stehekin B Upstairs
• Zentangle West Rm. Upstairs

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Learning Session 5 (60 min)

Leadership Practices & Advocacy

Outcomes:

• Synthesize and prioritize key leadership practices for collective agreement
• Develop clarity on the most critical leadership actions needed moving forward
• Identify opportunities for collective advocacy that support and amplify the work

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Closing: Reflection and Collective Momentum (45 min)

Outcomes:

• Share highlights and emerging themes from collective work
• Reinforce a sense of shared purpose and collective leadership
• Build momentum and alignment for continued learning
• Prepare participants for final refinement and sharing in the next session

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Camp II

Thank you!

• Tomorrow morning reconvene in teams after breakfast, document your elevation, prepare to share

Next Steps

• Publish
• Professional Learning Plan
• Advocacy Plan

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Elevation Check 4 LINK

Advocacy and Collective Action

Questions:

• What are the most critical policy, practice, or system level changes needed to better deliver on the promise of public education in Washington?
• Where is there the greatest opportunity for collective advocacy to create meaningful leverage across districts and the state?
• What should we prioritize first and what would it take to build alignment and momentum around that starting point?

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

5:00 PM Reception on Terrace

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6:00 PM Dinner

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6:45 PM Leading the Ascent: Lessons in Leadership from the Mountains

Dr. Mandi Rehn

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7:30 PM Adjourn

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Featured Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

7:45-8:30 AM Breakfast Buffet

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8:30 AM-9:00 AM Learning Session in your Team’s Room

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9:10 AM-11:00 AM Sharing, Next Steps & Closing

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TUESDAY

7:45-8:30 AM Breakfast Buffet

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8:30 AM-9:00 AM Learning Session 5 in your Team’s Room

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9:10 AM-11:00 AM Sharing, Next Steps & Closing

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Learning Session 6 (30 min)

Ready to Share

Outcomes:

• Refine and align group thinking for coherence and clarity
• Finalize key leadership practices
• Finalize opportunities for advocacy
• Prepare Learning Leaders to effectively share the group’s work

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Thank You, Facilitators!

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Panel Discussion

1. Why did you say yes?
2. Tell us about the time leading up to the conference…
3. What was the learning leader experience like?
4. How did you grow as a leader?

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

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Table Group Discussion

What was the experience like?

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How did you grow as a leader?

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

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Panel Discussion

• Leadership Priorities
• Advocacy Priorities
• Other?

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Conference Wrap Up

What are you taking away from this conference experience?

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Any thoughts, comments, suggestions, feedback about the conference?

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Elevation Check 5 LINK

Sharing Our Collective Work

Accountability for the Promise of Public Education

Kelly Aramaki

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Accountability

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

AI and the Future of Learning

Nik Bergman

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Artificial Intelligence

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Inclusion, Access, and Belonging

Laurie Dent

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Belonging

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Coalition Building, Starting with your Board

Ingrid Colvard

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WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Building Coalitions

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Family Partnerships

Tabatha Mires

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Family Partnerships

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Mathematics

Literacy & Pathways

Ken Russell

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Mathematics

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

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For every child. And every dream still to come.

We won’t stop.

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Unite. Grow. Lead with Purpose.

What’s your path?

Upcoming Events

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Featured Sponsors

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

Final Instructions

WASA Superintendents Conference 2026

1. Drop off your name badge
2. Pick up a clock hour form
3. If you ordered a Lunch to Go pack it up on your way out.

Unsure if you ordered? Check the list at the registration table.

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DRIVE SAFELY