Editor’s Note: Every year, NAESP opens the Ann Henley Conference Scholarship in memory of longtime staff member Ann Henley. The scholarship is open to NAESP members who haven’t yet attended an NAESP annual summer conference. Lydia P. Smith is one of three Ann Henley Conference Scholarship recipients in 2025. As a first-time attendee, she’ll be blogging about her experience at 2025 UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership. You can read more at naesp.org/blog.  

As I prepare to join fellow school leaders at UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership in Seattle, I find myself thinking about how important it is to step back from the day-to-day work and intentionally reconnect with purpose, strategy, and peers. Leading a K–5 school in Oregon means constantly balancing vision with urgency, and this conference offers the kind of deep learning space that allows me to zoom out so I can return better equipped to zoom in.

Goal 1: Gain Actionable Strategies to Strengthen Instructional Leadership

One of my primary goals for attending UNITED is to strengthen the way I support instructional leadership and student-centered systems at my school. I’m particularly excited to dig into sessions focused on early literacy, collaborative leadership, and integrating social-emotional learning (SEL) into everyday instruction. These areas are at the heart of our school’s goals, and I’m eager to bring back actionable strategies that can elevate what we already do.

Goal 2: Build New Connections that Last Beyond the Conference Experience

I’m also looking forward to building new connections with school leaders across the country. There’s something incredibly energizing about exchanging ideas with people who understand both the promise and pressure of this work. I hope to walk away with not just a notebook full of ideas but also a handful of new colleagues I can reach out to long after the conference ends. Whether it’s through conversations in breakout sessions, hallway chats between events, or informal gatherings, the opportunity to learn from others’ experiences is one I don’t take for granted.

Goal 3: Bring Back Tools and Ideas to Implement Right Away

Of course, the real power of a conference like UNITED is in what happens next. My plan is to bring back tools and ideas I can immediately implement, such as structured coaching cycles, more responsive SEL supports, and deeper use of data to guide our team’s decisions. I want our school leadership team to feel the impact of this learning, not just hear about it.

Goal 4: Grow as a School Leader

On a personal level, I’m excited to push my own growth as a leader. The work of a principal is complex and nonstop, and spaces like this help refuel both confidence and clarity. I’m particularly looking forward to the keynotes, which I expect will challenge and inspire me in equal measure.

At its core, this trip to Seattle is about becoming a better version of myself for my staff, for my students, and for the larger mission we all share. I’m proud to represent my school, and I can’t wait to bring back fresh ideas and renewed energy to help us keep growing.

Lydia P. Smith is principal of Ventura Park Elementary in Portland, Oregon.