AASPA's 87 ANNUAL CONFERENCE

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2025 Pre-Conference Sessions!
AM Pre-Conference Workshops: 9 am - 12 pm
With the All Access Registration you may choose 1 AM and 1 PM session.
Tuesday, October 7
1. Building Cultures of Value, Respect, Belong, Opportunity & Accessibility in the Workplace
Presented by Kevin Walton Sr., Director of Equity & Inclusion, Area Cooperative Educational Services, New Haven, CT and Michele Stephens, Chief Human Resources Officer, Rockdale County Public Schools, Conyers, GA
Attendees will gain practical strategies to develop and sustain policies that foster a safe, fair, and equitable workplace, ensuring every employee has access to the same opportunities. This session will include an interactive session to explore HR Storytelling and a discussion of personal identity. Whether enhancing current efforts or starting from scratch, this session will provide the tools and inspiration to make meaningful impact.
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2. FMLA – The Right Way
Presented by Barbara Erickson, Partner, Hodges, Loizzi, Eisenhammer, Rodick & Kohn LLP, Itasca, IL
Learn how to unlock and demystify the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Whether you are just starting out in HR or a seasoned professional, this session will equip you with the fundamentals of the FMLA and equip you with the knowledge of how to approach the FMLA as a step-by-step system and how to integrate it with other mandatory leave and benefit rights. Join us and master the FMLA the right ​
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3. Leveraging the 5 Shifts and Candidate Personas to Impact the Educator Shortage
Presented by Dr. Sara Skretta, Sr. Director of Accreditation, Placement & Licensure/Certification Officer, University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Lincoln, NE and Dr. Kelly Coash-Johnson, Executive Director, American Association of School Personnel Administrators (AASPA), Overland Park, KS
Using educator personas can be a valuable strategy for educator recruitment and retention. They can be used in strategic planning, systems review, and other processes related to recruitment and retention in your organization. This interactive session will engage participants in how to use personas in their human capital strategy program and provide practice and instruction on how to develop personas in your organization and strategies to elevate those reflections and findings into action.​​​​
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4. Navigating Difficult Conversations with Emotional Intelligence
Presented by Jodie Graham, Executive Director of Human Resources, Dr. Jeffery Grassmeyer, Principal and JD Hunter, Principal, Ankeny Community School District, Ankeny, IA
In this interactive session, participants will learn how to navigate tough conversations with empathy, self-awarenss and emotional intelligence (EI). Through practical strategies and real-life scenarios, attendees will explore how to stay calm, listen actively and express their thoughts constructively, ensuring that the conversation leads to positive outcomes. Participants will also learn how to recognize and manage their own emotional response, understand others' perspectives and resolve conflicts with respect and professionalism.
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Whether you're handling feedback, addressing conflict, or managing misunderstandings, this session will empower you to communicate with emotional intelligence and make a meaningful impact.
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5. Investigations & Documentation ​
Presented by John Hooks, Partner & Education Team Leader and Elizabeth Maron, Partner & Co-Chair of ARROW, Adams & Reese, LLP, Memphis, TN
While many Human Resource investigations never result in a lawsuit, sometimes we know at the outset that a matter has litigation potential and prepare accordingly. In other instances, the litigation potential is not as obvious. Following the processes we discuss will help your school system succeed in administrative hearings, investigations at the EEOC level, and in court.
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6. Drink the Kool-AID - AI in the HR Office
Presented by Dr. Dale Fisher, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Deerfield Public Schools District 109, Deerfield, IL and Dr. David Bruno, Assistant Superintendent for Human Resources, Glen Ellyn School District 41, Glen Ellyn, IL
Imagine a Human Resources department that works smarter, not harder. AI is transforming HR in K-12 education, and it's time to harness its full potential. Join us for an eye-opening professional development session where we’ll explore how AI can be a game-changer for K-12 HR teams, streamlining processes and freeing up your time to focus on what truly matters: your people.
In our session, you’ll gain actionable insights into implementing AI solutions designed specifically for K-12 HR, backed by real-world success stories. Don’t miss this chance to step into the future of HR.
PM Pre-Conference Workshops: 1 pm - 4 pm
With the All Access Registration you may choose 1 AM and 1 PM session.
7. Questions You Should Ask Before Firing an Employee
Presented by Brent Siler, Partner, Adams & Reese, LLP, Memphis, TN
One of the most common challenges for Human Resources professionals is advising your internal clients when they want to terminate an employee. How do you determine what the risk is? How do you know when to tell them no or tell them they need to get more documentation? How do you know when to give them the green light?
In this presentation, I will cover what employment counsel will ask you if you ask, “Can I fire this employee?” I will explain why I ask each question and what potential legal issue each one is designed to uncover, including the most common employment law risks and how to know if those risks are present in your situation. I will discuss how to use the information you receive, when to ask more questions, and how to know when to say no. I will cover the basics of disciplinary documentation and how to guide your managers to making good decisions to minimize the risk. We will discuss the role of Human Resources as the advisor and how to work with your managers to get them to make the right decisions. The goal of this presentation is to give you a system to use every time you have to consider a termination or significant disciplinary matter to help you make defensible decisions.​
8. Hot Topics in School Law
Presented by John Hooks, Partner & Education Team Leader and Elizabeth Maron, Partner & Co-Chair of ARROW, Adams & Reese, LLP, Memphis, TN
Updates to the federal legal framework of employment… From Title VI, VII, and IX to FMLA and ADA. This session will provide the latest insights on compliance, policy changes, and how these updates impact school HR practices.
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9. Got Candidates in Low Places? Improve Recruitment, Retention, and Onboarding Culture by Starting at the Bottom.
Presented by Jamie West, Instructional Recruitment Partner, Lake County Schools, Tavares, FL
As Garth taught us all so well, friends in low places can be the secret to success that you never knew was possible. Let’s use that mindset to help grow our recruiting strategy with a focus on overall retention after an awesome onboarding experience. With this workshop, y’all will interact with districts across the nation who are in the same boat. If past practice is pulling you down and new ideas are too tough to implement, let’s work as a team to bring light to the low places in our processes. We will discover new ideas to ease the onboarding process and make it fun for candidates. We will discuss the retention-focused recruitment strategies that can be highly effective and time-efficient for your HR teams.
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10. A Whole New World: Navigating the Civil Rights Landscape in K-12
Presented by Jackie Gharapour Wernz, Legal Consultant, ECR Solutions LLC, and Holly McIntush, Partner, Partner, Thompson & Horton, LLP, Dallas, TX
The civil rights landscape is shifting, and K—12 administrators are on the front lines. In this extended pre-conference session, we’ll explore the evolving legal standards, federal enforcement priorities, and compliance expectations under Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, and Section 504/the ADA as they relate to school personnel. Participants will explore recent case law, updated regulations, and executive actions that are reshaping how schools should approach hiring, workplace conduct, investigations, and employee protections.
Through case studies, interactive discussion, and expert insights, this session will equip you with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate today’s civil rights environment with clarity and confidence. Whether you're managing employee complaints, completing investigations, decisions, or appeals, or advising school leaders, this session will provide the tools to meet your obligations and support sound decision-making in a complex regulatory climate.
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11. Total Rewards Remix: Designing Talent-Centered Strategies That Resonate
Presented by Emily Douglas-McNab, Co-Founder & Chief and Dr. Kate Heynoski, Co-Founder & Chief, Experience Management Institute, Delaware, OH
Step to the rhythm of today’s talent expectations! This high-energy session helps school HC leaders explore Total Rewards as a key driver of employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Grounded in research and aligned with HCLE standards, you'll explore AI hacks and walk away with practical tools and fresh ideas to revamp your approach to compensation, benefits, work-life integration, and career growth. Expect a mix of strategic thinking and actionable takeaways you can tune into right away.
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12. Strategic School Staffing: Best Practices for Large and Small Districts
Presented by Michele Thomas, HR Supervisor, Cobb County Schools and DeMarcos Holland, CHRO, Marietta City Schools,
Marietta, GA
In today’s evolving educational landscape, effective staffing is critical to student success. This session explores strategic staffing best practices tailored to the unique needs of both large and small school districts. Participants will examine data-driven approaches to recruitment, retention, and resource allocation; learn how to align staffing decisions with instructional goals; and explore innovative scheduling and staffing models. Real-world case studies will highlight how districts of different sizes navigate common challenges—such as budget constraints, talent shortages, and equitable staffing—while adapting strategies to their scale and community needs. Ideal for district leaders, HR professionals, and school administrators, this session will equip you with practical tools to build a strong, sustainable workforce.
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