What were the most impactful insights or lessons you gained from the conference?

I was most impressed by the high quality of speakers and presenters that were present throughout the conference and how much they all engaged with the attendees either in the exhibit hall and following their sessions. The NAESP and NASSP teams did a phenomenal job in selecting credible and relatable speakers. Many of them are current school administrators or past school administrators and have a great deal of experience in helping with a current issue, validating the great things that are already happening, or providing new thoughts to stir some curiosity in how we can best serve our students, staff, and communities.

How do you plan to apply these takeaways to your work?

Throughout the conference, I was able to connect with many different leaders from across the country that I look forward to reaching out to further regarding the ideas they shared or common initiatives that we are undertaking.

What were the most valuable connections or relationships you built at the conference?

In the past two national conferences I’ve attended through NAESP, I’ve greatly appreciated the opportunity to get to know more school leaders across the country and to hear about their solutions and ideas toward issues that we all face. Also, I am very grateful for the chance to meet up with other principals from my own home state and to spend some additional time together that doesn’t always happen due to the nature of our busy schedules as the school year gets rolling.

How do you intend to nurture and leverage these new professional connections moving forward?

As a part of my involvement in the national conferences over the past few years, I have felt compelled to help serve at another level in our local regions and to get more involved. This investment into the organization helps build my leadership capacity that can be leveraged to help those that I serve and can trickle down to the students in my building, which is the biggest reason for getting involved and improving my leadership craft.

Which conference sessions or speakers did you find most compelling, and why?

Some of my favorite breakout sessions were led by Joe Sanfelippo, Andy Jacks, Houston Kraft, and Robyn Jackson. Each one of these sessions were thought-provoking and encouraging, and left me with excitement for the upcoming year ahead and the opportunities that will be presented daily to lead my building and our students.

What were the most thought-provoking discussions or debates that you participated in?

Robyn Jackson’s dissection of the desire to generate alignment versus the desire to generate buy-in was such a revelation to me. As leaders, we want all of our initiatives that we bring to our people to be a smash hit for our students and staff. However, the perspectives of some staff members might not always be laden with the same passionate fervor that we feel toward the initiative or method we are trying to implement. When this happens, it is important to remember the importance of generating alignment over time and adopting a builder’s mindset.

I was so moved by her presentation that I finally got around to purchasing her book Stop Leading, Start Building that has been sitting in my Amazon cart for years. I can’t wait to start reading her book and continue the learning from attending her session.

In what ways did the conference challenge your existing perspectives or assumptions?

Jackson’s advice on generating alignment versus generating buy-in was incredibly thought-provoking to me. I love how she was able to clearly articulate the long-term benefits of seeking alignment within your staff toward initiatives as opposed to trying to make everyone happy with a decision.

Has your mindset or approach shifted as a result of attending the event?

100 percent. I came to this conference to learn from the best in the country and in a wide variety of different contexts, and I feel like I have done just that.

What was your favorite part of the overall conference experience?

My favorite part of the overall conference experience was the feeling of community among principals and assistant principals of all age ranges and from across the entire country, learning and growing together and feeling inspired for the upcoming year and the challenges that will undoubtedly find us.

How would you describe the energy, atmosphere, and community at the event?

I thought the overall energy from start to finish was indicative of the high quality of speakers and topics that were presented throughout the entirety of the conference. I feel like I only scratched the surface of what was all available to us and probably could have used a few more days, although probably unrealistic.

Based on the conference insights, what industry trends or innovations are you most excited about?

I’m excited to start leveraging the different relationships I built throughout the conference to help serve my students and staff. I made connections with many thought leaders throughout the conference and I look forward to reaching out to them personally when I’m in a jam.

How do you see the key themes from the conference shaping the future of your field?

Outside influences have pitted schools, states, and philosophies against each other to gauge if a school or a state or a way of doing something is more effective than another. It’s truly a shame. This line of thinking has bred competition against one another, instead of a culture of community and collaboration. Throughout the conference, I could feel the sense of community and collaboration toward helping one another that sometimes get lost or minimized due to the perceptions of others outside of our profession.

Moving forward, it will be important for us to tap into the purpose of this conference, which is to unite and to be in one another’s corner, no matter what corner of the country we come from. When we do that, our students, staff, communities, and schools will be elevated due to the power of our collective efforts.

Brad Luce is principal of Centennial Elementary in Utica, Nebraska.

Read more session notes in the NAESP Conference Blog.