Preconference Workshops

Arrive early and attend a preconference workshop on Friday, March 31. All preconference workshops are ticketed events. They are open to all conference registrants, and tickets must be purchased in advance. Register early to secure your spot.

• Morning Workshops | 9 a.m. – Noon

  Preconference #1: Becoming More Engaged and Inclusive Educational Leaders: Strategies for Supporting Our LGBTQ Students
  Given the importance and impact that diversity and equity issues play in the lives of students, it is imperative that school boards are prepared to meet the needs of diverse learners, such as LGBTQ students. There are key considerations for supporting LGBTQ students that educators must acknowledge. Come participate in this pre-conference workshop that features a highly customizable and interactive diversity and equity training that helps educators and school board members develop the competency necessary to support LGBTQ students.
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225

  Preconference #2: Professional Boundaries, Keeping Students Safe
  Learn how the Association of Alaska School Boards, with a state-wide working group, took on the task of helping school districts promote healthy boundaries and prevent childhood sexual abuse. Learn who was key to having on the working group, what tasks the working group took on, and how this work is being shared and promoted with school districts in Alaska, all with the goal of establishing healthy and appropriate professional boundaries when interacting with students.
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225

  Preconference #3: The Boards Relationship to Student Achievement Disaggregated by Poverty, Ethnicity, and Beyond
  Using both case study and statistical research, this session will (1) reveal a board’s influence on student achievement, (2) identify common deeds and misdeeds along with their positive or negative influences on achievement, (3) list the issues belonging only to the board (i.e., strategies), and those only to the superintendent (i.e., tactics), (4) recognize the influence of acts of commission, and/or omission, along with the benefits or harms to students, and (5) discuss how some board actions tend to disadvantage students living in poverty and/or identifying with certain ethnicities
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225

  Preconference #4: Understanding the Key Work of School Boards
  In today’s high-stakes educational environment, the daily pressure on governance leaders is enormous. The more effective the board, the better a school district’s students perform. The Key Works of School Boards provides a framework that reflects “best governance practices” that are traceable to high-performing boards and high-performing school districts. This session provides an overview of a relevant and reliable governance guide with strategies and ideas that reflect board best practices. You’ll explore the five Key Work action areas. Book included.
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225

• Afternoon Workshops | 1:30 – 4:30 p.m.

  Preconference #5: What You Do Matters: Using New Research to Guide Your Board in How it Governs to Serve Every Student and Close Opportunity Gaps
  New research reveals fascinating data about how school boards can have a positive (or negative) effect on students' success. Increasingly, there is a growing body of research on this topic, and 2021-2022 research from Washington state points to specific board actions that relate to better and more equitable student outcomes. Learn what boards in districts with small opportunity gaps do differently than those with large gaps. In this interactive workshop, you'll get your hands on this research and have the opportunity to consider how it could change how you govern your own district.
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225
  
  Preconference #6: Storytelling for Leaders: Sharing the Good News of Public Education in Your Community!
  If school board members do not tell the story of public education in their communities, someone else will — and that story may not accurately depict their schools. Learn how to craft and deliver an effective story that reflects the strengths, successes, small miracles, and good news of your district. Storytelling is a powerful communication technique that connects people and builds bridges, relationships, and trust. You will create your own inspiring story that shares your values, beliefs, and vulnerability in a manner that makes your message memorable, impactful, and powerful!
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225
  
  Preconference #7: Turn Your High-Poverty Schools into High-Performing Schools: How Boards Can Support and Accomplish this Goal
  Turning high-poverty schools into high-performing schools provides compelling insight into what it takes to successfully combat inequity and turn a high-poverty district/school around, particularly in this time of moving forward from the pandemic. This session will highlight the author's two recent studies and best-selling books, revealing the roadmap to transform any district/school into high-performance environments for ALL students. Participants will explore five specific practices essential to this work, common pitfalls to avoid, and emerge inspired and equipped to take immediate action.
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225
  
  Preconference #8: School Safety Leadership in Times of High Ambiguity and Uncertainty
  You may manage the threat and survive the crisis, but can you survive the leadership, political, and communications challenges that accompany it? This session examines research and best practices for strategic crisis leadership and emergency risk communications applied to PreK-12 security threats within highly ambiguous and uncertain school safety, security, and emergency preparedness contexts. What have we learned — and forgotten — over more than three decades of PreK-12 school safety research and practice? Discover insights on the lessons learned from high-stakes school security civil litigation cases on school shootings, sexual assaults, gang assaults, and other violence.
  
  Identify the critical components of a crisis and how we can apply a strategic focus on managing threats — and even a critical incident — along with the political and communications challenges accompanying them. Discover what we can learn about preventing and managing school crises from the research on how high-reliability organizations manage threats in highly ambiguous and uncertain contexts. Learn what the research tells us about the importance of comprehensive school safety planning and the challenges in implementing these plans. Plus, what risk and crisis communications research tells us about communicating effectively with parents and school-community stakeholders.
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225
  
  Preconference #9: Crisis Communications for Senior Education Leaders
  From sexual misconduct, accusations of fiscal mismanagement, labor issues, and board chair-superintendent disputes to diversity, equity, and inclusion controversies, community outrage, cyberattacks and active shooter situations, we live in a 24-minute news cycle where everyone is instantly capable of posting their problem or complaint directly to Facebook, which often results in a story in the media.  It’s a simple fact: Controversies today are tried in the Court of Public Opinion more often than in the Court of Law. 
  
  “Reputation” is a school district’s largest uninsured asset. Since it takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a few seconds to destroy one, crisis communications is a necessary skill set for senior education leaders and the attorneys serving their districts.
  
  This fast-paced talk by veteran crisis management and communications specialist Bruce Hennes, from Hennes Communications in Cleveland, Ohio, focuses on a highly strategic approach to communicating, offering methods for establishing and maintaining “control of the message,” enabling leaders to emerge from a crisis situation with a reputation that is intact or possibly enhanced.
  CUBE/NATCON: $200 | REGULAR: $225
  
  
  
  
  

Experiential Learning Visits

Experiential learning visits offer a rare opportunity to explore education in practice. Visits will be scheduled for Friday, March 31. Stay tuned for more information.

Conference Information

• Hotels & Rates

  You must be registered for the conference before you can reserve housing. All reservations should be made prior to March 17, 2023. Room availability and conference rates cannot be guaranteed after this date.

  View the Orlando hotel map and rates.

• Air Travel Discounts

  NSBA has negotiated special travel discounts with Delta Airlines for up to 10% off applicable tickets. Restrictions apply and not all classes of service apply for the discount.
  
  Orlando International Airport (MCO)
  (Distance from the Orange County Convention Center, 11.8 miles)
  
  Delta Airlines
  1.800.328.1111
  Meeting Event Code: NY23D
  Monday–Friday, 7 a.m. – 7:30 p.m. (CT)

  Click here to book your flight.

  *Please note there is not a service fee for reservations booked and ticketed via our reservation 800 number.

• Safety Protocols & Requirements

  Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination OR COVID Negative Test Required to Enter the Event
  While we strongly encourage all participants to be vaccinated against COVID-19, we will also offer a testing alternative to vaccination proof.
  
  Vaccine Requirements
  All attendees must show proof of full vaccination as defined by the CDC guidelines OR a negative test. Testing must be conducted within one day for an antigen test and two days for a PCR test in order to pick-up your conference badge on-site.
  
  NOTE: Any attendee who does not provide proof of vaccination OR a negative test by these deadlines will not be permitted into the event venue.
  
  Mask Requirements
  Although masks are not required, we encourage attendees to wear a mask if they choose.

Call for High School Performing Arts Nominations

Showcase Your Student Performers
Help shine a light on the importance of music and the arts in public education. Three high school performance groups are invited to perform in person or virtually at NSBA 2023. The submission window is Sept. 1- Oct. 7, 2022. Review the guidelines to help prepare your submission. Direct questions to Performance@nsba.org for more information.

Submit Your Nomination

• FAQs

  If my state is not a member of NSBA, can we still submit a nomination for our school district?
  Yes, you can.

  How do I nominate my district?
  Visit the Performance Group application page which is supported by ReviewR. You will have to create an account before you can submit. You may make multiple submission under your account. Please contact reviewr.com if you need assistance.
  
  How are the nominations judged?
  The judges will look for programs that:

  • Seek to remove barriers to achievement for vulnerable or underserved children, based on race, ethnicity, gender, special needs, geography, or socio-economic status
  • Reflect and support your school board’s equity mission and vision for the district

  
  What are the deadlines?

  • Thursday, September 1, 2022, Nomination submission opens
  • Friday, September 30, 2022, Nomination submission closes
  • October 10, 2022, Judging begins
  • October 21, 2022, Judging ends
  • October 26, 2022, notification of three winners

  
  Who is eligible?
  Your school district must be a public school in the United States or the U.S. Virgin Islands and a member in good standing of your state school boards association.
  
  How many nominations can we send in?
  You can submit one per category.
  
  If I have nominated a program previously, can I nominate it again?
  Yes, you can.
  
  How do I know you received my nomination?
  After you complete your nomination, you will receive an email notification that it has been received. It is important that you provide us with your valid e-mail address on the nomination form. This is the vehicle we will use to communicate with you about your nomination.
  
  What backup materials are needed?
  You can upload a YouTube video on the nomination form, and they will be viewed by the judges.
  
  When and where is the judging?
  The judging occurs October 10-21, 2022, with notifications on October 26, 2022.
  
  Who are the judges?
  The panel of judges are the NSBA Past Presidents who volunteer to be judges.
  
  What happens if we win?
  If you are a winner, you will be notified on October 26, 2022. Notification will be sent to the program’s nominator, the executive director and president of your state association by e-mail.
  
  Are there any permissions required for students to attend and perform?
  The nominator is responsible for getting all written permissions from parents/guardians for students to travel and participate.
  
  Who is allowed to travel with the students?
  The students must be accompanied by an adult school representative and additional two adults if necessary, depending on the size of the group.
  
  Who is responsible for paying for housing, all meal costs, transportation to and from the performance city, and any additional costs?

  • NSBA provides two nights of complimentary housing for the students (three to four to a room) in the group and for two or three accompanying adults who will be expected to assume responsibility for the safety and deportment of the group.
  • Transportation to and from the performance city and venue, all meal costs, and all other cost associated with bringing your group to the NSBA conference is the sole responsibility of the respective school boards.

  
  Tips on Making Your Nomination
  Please review the guideline criteria before you submit your nomination and make sure that your nomination meets each criterion. Provide proof that your program meets the state criteria in your nomination’s narrative and backup materials. Be sure to document any evidence that your program meets the state criteria in your nomination.

  
  

• Submission Guidelines

  • Performing groups must represent a public school or group of public schools and have school board approval to represent their district. The school district must be in good standing with its state school boards association. If the school district is not in good standing with its state association, then the school will not qualify for the judging process.
    
    
  • The total size of the group may not exceed the following:
    • Jazz Groups – 12 students
    • Choirs – 25 students
    • Show Choirs – 20 students
    • Big Bands – 20 students
    • Orchestra – 20 students
    • Mariachi Groups – 15 students (including instrumentalists, singers, dancers, accompanists, etc.)
    • Dance Groups – 12
      
      
  • NSBA requests your specific requirements including quantity of instruments, chairs, microphones and a stage plot showing your typical setup to ensure compatibility with onsite production.
    
    
  • Your videos should be uploaded to YouTube. Please do not submit your videos via Drop Box or Google Docs as they will be disqualified.
    
    
  • General Session performance times are strictly held to 15 minutes.
    
    
  • NSBA’s General Session is inclusive and respectful of all attendee backgrounds, and we request that the performing group refrain from religious based performances.
    
    
  • NSBA provides two nights of complimentary housing for the students (three to four to a room) in the group. NSBA does not cover the cost for accompanying adults. However, we will secure a room at the NSBA rate for adults attending with the group. Accompanying adults will be expected to assume responsibility for the safety and deportment of the group.
    
    
  • Transportation to and from the performance city and venue, all meal costs, and all other cost associated with bringing your group to the NSBA conference is the sole responsibility of the respective school boards.