Every year, thousand of teachers, administrators, EdTech leaders, and specialists gather in different places around the country with the ultimate goal of becoming better educators.
From small grassroots meetings to huge gatherings to topic-focused conferences, education conferences can have a major impact on an educator’s motivation and interest. Keynote speakers can provide the actual steps educators need to make real changes in schools. Engaging sessions can teach new skills and practices to bring back to schools. Figuring out which ones to attend depends upon your goals. Here’s a list of the must-attend education conferences in 2019.
EdTech and Innovation Conferences
TCEA Convention and Exposition – San Antonio, TX
February 4–8, 2019
“Thousands of educators are on a mission to discover the knowledge and resources they need to engage students, enhance curriculum, and increase productivity. Campus and district-level administrators, curriculum and technology leaders, teachers, librarians, and champions of ed tech will all discover innovative strategies and best practices for integrating technology into their schools, classrooms, and libraries.”
Featured Speakers: Dr. Mae Jemison, Alison Levine, Gerry Brooks
MACUL 19 – Detroit, MI
March 20–22, 2019
“MACUL is one of the Midwest’s largest educational technology conferences with 5000+ educators from across Michigan, the region, and Canada.The MACUL conference gives attendees an opportunity to explore new tools, discover the latest trends, gain valuable resources and network with like-minded educators.”
Featured Speakers: Stephen Ritz, Gerry Brooks
ISTE 2019– Philadelphia, PA
June 23–26, 2109
“We help educators around the world use technology to solve tough problems in education.”
New Tech Annual Conference 2019 – Orlando, FL
July 15–19, 2019
“New Tech’s annual conference provides project based learning sessions and keynotes for every demographic and community type. Teacher and school leaders can learn all the ins and outs of project based learning.”
DT&L Conference
August 6–8, 2019
“DT&L isn’t just a conference, it’s a community of educators with ideas and experiences to share. You’ll laugh, you’ll be moved, and you’ll come away with new ways to approach your work and put research into practice.”
Featured Speakers: Patti Sanchez, Alec Couros, Susan C. Aldridge
Leadership Conferences
AASA 2019 National Conference on Education – Los Angeles, CA
February 14–16, 2019
“Your job is unique. How often do you have the chance to interact with another, much less many other superintendents? This is your chance! Build the relationships that will support you through years to come.”
2019 Yale SOM Education Leadership Conference – New Haven, CT
April 4–5, 2019
“Each year, the Yale SOM Education Leadership Conference gathers over 750 education experts, practitioners, and leaders to discuss innovations in K–12 education reform. The theme of this year’s conference, Education as Empowerment, asks participants to explore the role of educational institutions and leaders in promoting economic empowerment, racial equity, and social mobility.”
2019 NAESP Pre-K–8 Principals Conference– Spokane, WA
July 10–12, 2019
“NAESP advocates for the support principals need to be successful 21st century leaders—to achieve the highest results for children, families, and communities.”
NASSP National Principals Conference – Boston, MA
July 18–20, 2019
“Learn, collaborate, and grow as part of a national community of school leaders working to empower each student and prepare even the youngest for their education journey to college and beyond.”
Student Engagement and Pedagogy Conferences
Comprehensive Literacy and Reading Recovery Conference – Chicago, IL
January 23–25, 2019
“Designed to provide superb professional development and networking opportunities for K-8 classroom teachers, intervention (Reading Recovery, Special Education, ESL) teachers, instructional coaches, program specialists, and administrators.”
Featured Speakers: Jennifer Serravallo, Todd Hartman, Peter DeWitt, Jan Richardson
Learning and the Brain – San Francisco, CA
February 15–17, 2019
“Explore the ‘Science of Human Goodness’ and how empathy, compassion, and kindness are hardwired in the brain and are essential for human survival. Learn how to cultivate empathy and compassion in your students; discover how to reduce bullying and suspensions; and examine new ways to strengthen compassion, cooperation, collaboration, and achievement in children and teens.”
ASCD Empower 19 – Chicago, IL
March 16–19, 2109
ASCD Empower19 empowers educators—teachers, teacher leaders, principals, central office staff, and superintendents—to create their own personalized professional learning experience.”
Featured Speakers: Ron Clark, Sir Ken Robinson, Ashton Kutcher
School Climate and Culture Forum– Orlando, FL & Las Vegas, NV
March 21–24, 2019 – Orlando
July 9–12, 2019 – Las Vegas
“This event features practical, real-world initiatives that are successfully transforming the quality, character and personality of schools. It showcases programs, assessments and tools proven to improve school culture and climate. Evidence-based and research-based interventions will be introduced, while the forum also highlights high-potential efforts currently being implemented in the laboratory of everyday school life.”
Featured Speakers: Baruti Kafele, Larry Thompson, Brian Mendler
Teach Your Heart Out– Atlanta, GA
March 29–30, 2019
“Want to learn some new and innovative classroom strategies? Are you looking for some strategies that are on the cutting edge and research based? Does your passion for teaching need to be reignited? You will be learning from top educators all while having loads of fun!”
nErDcamp – Parma, MI
Summer 2019, 2019
“Nerd Camp is free literacy conference that brings together teachers and authors who are obsessed with getting their students obsessed with reading.”
Special Needs Conferences
26th Statewide Annual CARD Conference on Autism – Orlando, FL
January 18–20, 2019
“This interactive two-day workshop offers teachers of English Language Learners time to delve into combining English Language Development Standards and Science Practices. In collaborative groups of educators, we will develop a common understanding of academic language in a science and engineering environment.”
Special Education Convention and Expo 2019 – Indianapolis, IN
January 29–February 2, 2019
Join us for the largest, most comprehensive special education professional development event ever.
Join the great conversations going on about school leadership in our Facebook groups at Principal Life and High School Principal Life.
Plus, check out this article about rethinking professional development.