Thought Leaders
Monday, January 27
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Ballroom F
Catherine Knepp
Senior Adviser, Data & Analytics, Frontline Education
Dollars & Sense: Talking About Your Budget to Decision-makers
Elected officials and taxpayers do not run your schools, but they have a huge say in the funding your school system receives. Earning their trust and communicating with them about your budget and financial position is key, but is not easy. This presentation will provide guidance on what information is helpful for these decision-makers and how to navigate relationships with them. Due to policy challenges like the pandemic, rising inflation, declining enrollment and teacher shortages, leaders have forged a new path in their legacy as leaders. They have had to become policy advocates and school finance instructors. The presenter for this session has served as both a CFO and as a Capitol staffer and has insights to share with administrators about the dos and don’ts of talking about their budgets to decision-makers.
Session Sponsor
Monday, January 27 | 10:45 – 11:45 a.m. | Ballroom F
Jeff Turner
Executive Director, TAS/MUS
Karen Rue
Executive Superintendent, TASA
Stephen Waddell
Executive in Residence, University of North Texas
Jeff Burke
Superintendent, Splendora ISD
Jana Reuter
Superintendent, Elgin ISD
Diana Sayavedra
Superintendent, El Paso ISD
TASA’s Public Education Visioning Institute: Reflections, Challenges, and Opportunities
As TASA celebrates 100 years of leadership in public education, this session revisits one of the most significant events in the association’s history. In 2006, 35 superintendents convened as participants in TASA’s Public Education Visioning Institute, sharing ideas on how to transform Texas schools to meet the needs of 21st-century students. The result of their work, Creating a New Vision for Public Education in Texas, has been widely circulated, gained the attention of the Texas Legislature, and continues to guide the association’s efforts to transform public education. Institute participants envisioned a public school system that fosters innovation, creativity, and a thirst for learning — and one that champions new more meaningful assessment and accountability measures. This session features several superintendents who participated in the Visioning Institute who will reflect on their work, alongside current superintendents who are actively working to implement the principles and premises embraced by the Institute as part of TASA’s ongoing initiatives.
Session Sponsor
Monday, January 27 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Ballroom F
Amanda Patterson
Senior National Director, Innovations and Analytics, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Brian Joseph
Director, Academic Planning & Analytics, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
AI for Educators
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is here and being used in myriad ways in our schools, homes, and by our teachers and students. Want to learn how to get ahead of its use? Join our session to learn more about the impact of HB 2060 and the instructional changes necessary to be proactive and not reactive in your district. Leaders will learn how AI is changing the education landscape, delve into case studies from successful district implementations, and participate in interactive discussions of challenges and opportunities using AI in education.
Session Sponsor
Monday, January 27 | 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | Ballroom F
Dave MacLeod
CEO and Co-Founder, ThoughtExchange
AI Ethics and Policy: Student Engagement, Achievement,
and Learning Outcomes
As educational leaders grapple with the transformative impact of AI, come explore the critical next steps in the AI journey for K-12 school districts amid the rapid acceleration of this technology. Hear from an expert with years of experience in AI who will share the challenges and best practices from districts across the U.S., emphasizing the ethical considerations and policy frameworks necessary for successful implementation. Attendees will explore the importance of equity and data justice through the lens of student voice, valuable strategies to approach AI responsibly and foster a more inclusive environment, and real-world examples of how districts are successfully implementing AI to enhance student engagement, achievement, and learning outcomes.
Session Sponsor
Tuesday, January 28
9 – 10 a.m.
Ballroom F
Tuesday, January 28 | 10:15 – 11:15 a.m. | Ballroom F
Michael Hinojosa
Retired Superintendent of Dallas ISD, Author, Superintendent-in-Residence, CGCS, K12 Insight
Marcus Ferrara
Director of Academic Planning and Solution Development, Scholastic Education Solutions
Karmen Logan
Executive Director of Elementary Education, Waco ISD
Winning the Student Market: The Power of Customer Service Excellence
In an era of declining enrollment and growing competition, exceptional customer service isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s essential for the future of public education in Texas. Join Dr. Michael Hinojosa, retired Dallas ISD superintendent and nationally recognized leader in education, as he shares how a customer service culture can foster trust, rebuild public confidence, and support excellence in your district. Drawing on decades of experience and his work training future superintendents with the Council of Great City Schools (CGCS), Hinojosa will highlight the pivotal role of superintendents in driving districtwide transformation. He will explore how embracing tools like unified service desks, generative AI, and automation can streamline operations, enhance efficiency, and help public schools prevail where it matters most — attracting more students and providing better education for all.
Session Sponsor
The Power of Summer: A Key to Unlocking Endless Possibilities
The power of summer learning can unlock endless opportunities and set the stage for a successful feature. Summer break is often viewed as a time for relaxation and leisure, but it also presents a unique opportunity for growth and development through learning. Engaging in educational activities over the summer can have a profound impact on personal and academic progress. In this session, participants will understand the benefits of summer learning for preventing learning loss and enhancing academic achievement, recognize the challenges and barriers that some students face in accessing summer learning opportunities, and identify the key features and best practices of effective summer learning programs, such as alignment, engagement, personalization, and character education. By embracing summer learning, individuals can gain a competitive edge, build confidence, and develop a love for lifelong learning.
Session Sponsor
Tuesday, January 28 | 1 – 2 p.m. | Ballroom F
Christy Thompson
Vice President of Global Marketing and Communications, Milliken Flooring
The Power of Brand to Recruit, Retain, and Influence
In a landscape where recruiting and retaining top talent is paramount, learn how to harness your school’s brand to attract and keep the best educators. Explore strategies that not only elevate the value for students but also foster a culture of excellence and engagement. Dive into innovative approaches to connect with your community, leveraging your school’s brand as a powerful tool for building relationships and garnering support.
Session Sponsor
Tuesday, January 28 | 2:15 – 3:15 p.m. | Ballroom F
Ron Chandler
Leader, US Education Customer Engagement, Apple Inc.
Shape Tomorrow’s Skills, Today
As new technologies catalyze changes in the workplace, learning environments are impacted as well. Students must build and develop new skills to succeed in the classroom and beyond. And it’s more important than ever to empower educators to teach those skills. Join Apple to discuss how to invest in your educators so they have the technology and tools needed to engage, instruct, and assess students so they thrive today and into the future. This session discusses how to prepare students for success in the classroom, the workplace, and beyond. We’ll look at the role of technology in developing future-ready skills, and how to invest in your educators to ensure they have the resources they need.