Explore how leaders can leverage proven change models to address resistance, reduce barriers, and foster stronger collaboration within teams. Participants will examine practical frameworks for leading change, aligning stakeholders, and building collective ownership. Emphasis is placed on identifying obstacles, applying structured approaches to navigate them, and creating conditions that support trust, communication, and sustained improvement.
Support PLCs by asking the right questions at the right time. Whether teams are analyzing data or reflecting on instruction, we’ll explore the four support functions of leadership, with a focus on coaching. Help teachers unlock deeper conversations that drive impact, without taking over the process.
Teacher Trainer, Office of Professional Learning, WCPSS
Renee joined the Office of Professional Learning and the PLC Team in August of 2023. The WCPSS PLC Team is dedicated to supporting classroom teachers, grade chair facilitators, and school leadership with practical resources that will move learning and instruction forward. Prior to... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Room 14
The WCPSS Beginning Teacher Support Program (BTSP) equips mentor coordinators (MCs) and mentors to serve as instructional leaders, building coaching capacity through the Instructional Impact Cycle. MCs design and facilitate professional learning, lead Mentor PLCs, and use teacher development data to provide intentional, differentiated support for Beginning Teachers. The TSP team works in partnership with MCs and school leaders to strengthen instruction and promote growth. This session highlights how administrators can leverage the BTSP model to empower mentor coordinators as impactful leaders.
Coordinating Teacher - Talent Development / Teacher Support Program, WCPSS
I have been serving as a Coordinating Teacher with the Teacher Support Program since 2023. I support principals, mentor coordinators, mentors, and beginning teachers.
This session is built around a simple idea: fewer steps, clearer focus. We’ll narrow the PLC process to two essential moves that keep attention on teaching and learning. The result is a more focused PLC that spends less time on process and more time on improving instruction.
Senior Administrator - PLC, Wake County Public Schools
Erin is a proud member of the Office of Professional Learning's PLC Team, dedicated to creating practical and impactful resources for professional learning communities. She joined Central Service in 2023 after 20 years of working in schools across North Carolina and New Hampshire... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Room 17
Student Support Services and Special Education are partnering together to launch work around Restorative Mindsets in school climates. This presentation will talk about the opportunity to begin work focused on creating a restorative school climate in their school. We will discuss training and coaching that may be available to schools but also how schools might create systems within their school to move to a restorative mindset. Learning Model Connection: See Me
Assistanat Superintendent Student Support Services, WCPSS
With over 30 years of service in education, Michele Woodson brings a wealth of leadership experience to the mission of student success. Her career path—spanning roles from classroom teacher and instructional coach to Principal, Chief Academic Officer, and now Assistant Superintendent—reflects... Read More →
Assistant Superintendent Special Education Services, Wake County Public Schools
Lisa Allred is a career educator with 40 years of experience with Special Education students. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Special Education from Mercer University, a Master of Education Degree in Learning Disabilities from Georgia Southern University, and an Educational Specialist... Read More →
Board materials, policy manuals, and meeting videos — all in one place! (Well, three places actually!) We'll show you all of them and explain how to sort through over a decade of material to find exactly what you need. "Surely it's online" is technically correct, but a Google search may not get you there, and AI will confidently hallucinate something and tell you it found it. "I'll search for it later" only works if you know where to look. (Devices Suggested)
Julie began her career in WCPSS at Fuquay-Varina HS in 1995 where she taught English and served as School Improvement Team chair. She transitioned to Wake Education Partnership in 2007 where she managed and developed programs, provided professional development, and covered local... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 8:30am - 9:30am EDT Room 19
This session equips school-based and central services leaders to move from reacting to what’s urgent to curating what’s essential: the culture their teams experience, the capacity they protect, and the competency they build for the road ahead. Whether leaders serve from a school building or a district office, the experience is designed to help them stop bracing for impact and start building the conditions for whatever comes next.
Dr. Mary Hemphill is a human-centered leadership strategist, executive coach, and author with over 20 years of experience. As the CEO & Founder of The Limitless Leader LLC, she equips leaders to drive innovation, impact, and transformation through coaching, consulting, and executive... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 11:15am - 12:15pm EDT Main Auditorium
This session will provide an overview of school based Family Engagement data sets, and how different data points can lead schools to select a variety of School Improvement Indicators outside of E 1.06. This session will include existing data sets, ways to gather additional data from students, families & staff, and how the approach to specific data trends may live in an "E" indicator outside of E1.06.
Customer service in the field of education means wearing many hats—concierge, troubleshooter, guide, and sometimes referee. This engaging session blends quick tips, real-life examples, and hands-on activities to support leaders in developing lasting approaches that make excellent customer service the norm—in person, by phone, and in virtual spaces.
Senior Director - Student Assignment, Wake County Public Schools
Susan W. Pullium currently serves as the Senior Director of Student Assignment for the Wake County Public School System. In this role, she leads the annual enrollment planning process, including district-wide community engagement efforts, and oversees district level enrollment and... Read More →
Objectives* Understand the impact of feedback on teacher growth and student outcomes* Identify research-based best practices for giving feedback* Apply structured feedback tools like SBI (Situation–Behavior–Impact)* Practice giving timely, specific, actionable, and growth-oriented feedback* Develop a personal plan for improving feedback conversations
Director of Family and Community Engagement, WCPSS Family & Community Engagement
Dr. MariaRosa Rangel is a distinguished educational leader with more than 30 years of experience dedicated to advancing student success through family engagement, bilingual education, and community partnerships. Her career reflects a lifelong commitment to empowering families, supporting... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT Room 15
Mansfield Pete Key III, leading growth development strategist and international motivational speaker. He is a life coach, mentor, consultant, speechwriter, and certified HIV/AIDS Instructor. He holds multiple certifications in grief counseling, and 21st Century Leadership. He is certified... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT Main Auditorium
This session equips school leaders with practical strategies to build momentum, strengthen buy-in, and navigate resistance leading PLCs to move beyond compliance to a culture of shared ownership and results. Walk away with clear next steps to onboard teams, sustain engagement, and keep the work focused on what matters most: student learning.
PLC Coordinating Teacher, Office of Professional Learning, WPCSS
With 20 years of professional experience in education, DeJuana Richardson serves as a PLC Coordinating Teacher in the Office of Professional Learning at Wake County Public Schools. She is a two-time graduate of Fayetteville State University, where she earned degrees in Elementary... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT Room 13
There are many Board policies that are frequent fliers for staff at schools and at central services. Which policies give you flexibility in how you handle things (guardrails) versus those that are specific in their requirements (gates)? What happens if one is mistaken for the other? We'll explore real examples where mistakes happen. (No Devices)
Julie began her career in WCPSS at Fuquay-Varina HS in 1995 where she taught English and served as School Improvement Team chair. She transitioned to Wake Education Partnership in 2007 where she managed and developed programs, provided professional development, and covered local... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 12:25pm - 1:25pm EDT Room 19
Leading with courage requires clear, transparent, and efficient communication. In this session, we explore how Microsoft Teams can serve as the central nervous system for school-based leadership and central services. By streamlining internal workflows and professional learning communities, leaders can model the Creative Communicator (DLS.CC.6) standard. We will discuss how to move away from "email fatigue" and toward a more "Onward Together" communication model that fosters real-time collaboration, document security, and operational effectiveness.
Director of Digital Content and Instruction, WCPSS
I serve on the Digital Learning and Libraries team for WCPSS and work with the Digital Learning Coordinators to support all staff on the selection and integration of digital resources to meet instructional needs. I am actively involved in our AI policy development and training, implementing... Read More →
Creating thriving educational environments requires more than effective systems or strong leadership; it begins with people. This session explores two essential, research-based dimensions of whole-school wellness often overlooked in school improvement efforts: the well-being of school principals and the sense of belonging experienced by students. Drawing on two qualitative studies in North Carolina schools, the researchers examine how principals’ personal, psychological, and professional wellness, combined with students’ sense of belonging, shape school climate, engagement, and achievement. Principals and school leaders are uniquely positioned to champion this work through daily practice, school culture, and strategic vision. This session provides practical tools, reflective practices, and real-world insights to help leaders cultivate schools where wellbeing is foundational for themselves, their staff, and their students alike.
Dr. Jennifer Lecorchick is an educational leader and speaker who redefines the metrics of student success by centering wellness and academic excellence within school cultures. Serving as an Assistant Principal within the Wake County Public School System, Dr. Lecorchick leverages more... Read More →
Educators are reaching breaking points in massive numbers and need meaning, clarity, and psychological safety. Leaders are buffers of energy and morale for groups they support. Safety and empowerment come from facilitating, not influencing the outcome when leading groups. This session invites leaders to examine how their mindsets either constrain or unlock the collective intelligence, resilience, and well-being of their teams. Grounded in the Teachers As Facilitators (Garmston & McKanders), this interactive session moves beyond strategies to focus on how leaders show up – especially in moments that matter most. Participants will experience practical shifts that increase psychological safety, deepen trust, and build more empowered, self-directed teams. Leaders will leave with tools and processes they can immediately apply to create environments where people feel seen, valued, and capable of doing their best work.
Devices are welcome. Both hard copy and digital handouts will be available.
Org Development & Inclusion Specialist, Become Better Global, LLC
Dr. Echols is an organizational development and human connection consultant, speaker, and facilitator with more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals, teams, and organizations. A former teacher, school counselor, and professional learning leader, he works across education... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:35pm - 2:35pm EDT Room 17
As artificial intelligence, automation, and workforce shifts continue to reshape education and industry, leaders must rethink how schools prepare students to thrive in a rapidly changing world. This interactive session explores how human-centered leadership, durable skills, innovation, and authentic engagement can drive instructional transformation, empower staff and students, and help future-proof schools while keeping relationships and purpose at the center of the work.
Dr. Mary Hemphill is a human-centered leadership strategist, executive coach, and author with over 20 years of experience. As the CEO & Founder of The Limitless Leader LLC, she equips leaders to drive innovation, impact, and transformation through coaching, consulting, and executive... Read More →
In an era of rapid social and technological change, the traditional blueprints for school leadership are being rewritten. This session is designed for principals who recognize that navigating today’s "dynamic environments" requires more than just steady management—it demands a fundamental shift in approach. We will explore the leadership moves necessary to move beyond the status quo, grounded in the reality that to get different results, we must do school differently. Stability is not the absence of change, but the ability to maintain direction while in motion. This session explores the technical tools and leadership mindset to ensure your school doesn't just react to the environment but shapes it.
Kimberly Hall Burton, a veteran educator with 30 years of experience in public education, is currently employed by the Wake County Public School System in Cary, North Carolina. Kimberly joined the Wake County Public School System in 2000. She began her career, in 1994, in the state... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:35pm - 3:45pm EDT Room 14
Title I Funded Schools Only: Ready to turn Panorama Family Survey survey numbers into a narrative for your school? In this session, we’ll walk you through the essentials of the Panorama platform, from initial login to navigating your results with ease. You will get a first look at the newly enhanced survey reporting features, which make visualizing trends and pinpointing family needs faster and more intuitive than ever. We will wrap up by discussing how this data serves as a cornerstone for effective school planning. Best fit for: Educators and staff who need foundational support accessing the platform and interpreting initial data sets.
Kimberly Hall Burton, a veteran educator with 30 years of experience in public education, is currently employed by the Wake County Public School System in Cary, North Carolina. Kimberly joined the Wake County Public School System in 2000. She began her career, in 1994, in the state... Read More →
Wednesday July 22, 2026 1:35pm - 3:45pm EDT Room 19
