5 Things: May/June 2018

Attending national conferences is an effective way to expand your professional learning network (PLN), as well as to build the knowledge and skills you need for school leadership. With NAESP’s Pre-K–8 Principals Conference just around the corner, here are five to-dos to enhance your experience this summer in Orlando—or at any conference.


Give back in a major way.

What better way to show your appreciation and commitment to education than volunteering with your peers? At NAESP’s annual con­ference, hundreds of principals will volunteer together with Landscape Structures to help build a play­ground for students.


Follow the conversation.

Social media is an efficient way to stay engaged at conferences. NAESP’s Pre-K–8 Principals Conference is no different! Follow #NAESP18 to stay in the know, share your favorite moments, and expe­rience the conference from your colleagues’ digital POV. Find us on Twitter


Great minds conference alike.

Before you travel to a conference, arrange to meet up in person with colleagues you previously met online. Attend a session or networking event together; it might be an opportu­nity to find your own “Match Made in Education”!


Teamwork makes the dream work.

Attend with your colleagues, and then divide and tackle the sessions together. Make sure to share notes and new ideas. Bonus: Teams of four or more save $50 per person at NAESP’s conference in Orlando. Learn more


Blog about it.

Share your conference experience by blogging, vlogging, or podcast­ing. Other school leaders are always interested in session summaries or takeaways that can help implement new ideas or enhance current prac­tices. If you don’t have your own blog, consider documenting your experience for NAESP’s e-newsletter, Principal magazine, or your state publication. Write for NAESP



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