If we could just manage our time better, we could get everything done, right? Wrong! There is not enough time, no matter how well organized, to meet everyone’s needs and check all the tasks off your to- do list. The first step towards reclaiming leadership purpose is to stop trying to manage time and start managing priorities! This session will help you make the perspective shift and provide some basic tools to make priority management both practical and impactful.
Frederick Buskey was a K-12 teacher and administrator for 17 years. He is a National Board-Certified Teacher, former middle school and high school teacher and coach, and county office Special Education Coordinator. He has experience working in international schools and rural schools... Read More →
Thursday July 23, 2026 8:30am - 10:00am EDT Room 13
The session reframes school breakfast as a powerful operational strategy, not just a school nutrition program. Participants explore how morning meal access directly improves arrival flow, attendance, behavior, instructional readiness, and overall school efficiency. We will do this through hands on morning operations maps, discussing operational pain points, and determine which breakfast models can solve real school problems. The goal is for leaders to leave with a micro-plan for strengthening breakfast in their building while increasing student outcomes.
When 44% of your students are Hispanic, family engagement isn’t an initiative—it’s a responsibility. Join us to learn how we built meaningful partnerships with almost no funding by collaboratively designing and launching monthly Hispanic Family Nights to empower our Hispanic families. It all started with one question: How do we truly partner with 215 Hispanic students and their families? That question grew into a movement that reshaped our school community. After hosting our first Hispanic Family Night in September, we followed our student data and recognized the need for intentional action to support our largest student group. The initial event was a success, leaving families eager for more—so Hispanic Family Nights became a monthly tradition, and attendance has continued to grow. In this session, participants will learn how we empower Hispanic families while holding ourselves accountable for improving outcomes for our Hispanic students. Key takeaways include how our ESL team, principal, and newly formed Hispanic Liaison Committee collaboratively plan each event using student data and SIP goals to guide content. We will share topics such as understanding report cards, supporting nightly reading, helping children in math, and navigating assessments including mCLASS, NC Check-Ins, and ACCESS.By honoring family perspectives, removing language barriers, and leveraging existing resources, we’ve created sustainable, high-impact engagement—without large budgets—and hope our journey inspires your school community.
Leaders today are navigating conditions that feel increasingly unpredictable and difficult to interpret—across sectors, not just in education. This session introduces a practical approach, drawn from the field of Futurism, to make sense of these shifts and respond with clarity and adaptability. Leaders will leave this session with: -A clearer way to make sense of the conditions shaping their work. -Ways to apply new ideas to a current leadership challenge. -Practical strategies for leading in uncertain environments. In these unprecedented times, mission and purpose continue to anchor the work, while strategies become more flexible and human-centered.
Senior Director for Innovative and Strategic Initiatives, WCPSS
Dr. Alford-Keith serves as Senior Director for Innovative and Strategic Initiatives. She grew up in the triangle and has been with WCPSS for 16 years. She earned her EdD from Western Carolina University and is also an alumna of Meredith College and UNC Chapel Hill. Her educational... Read More →
This session will be geared to learning techniques and tools for using Google Sheets and Excel to maximize operational efficiency in data organization and communication. Examples include Mail Merge, IMPORT, VLOOKUP, and other helpful tips that may help with some of the daily work of school administrators.
Policy is often viewed as a gate, but it can also be seen as a guardrail. Understanding our core business sets the context for understanding and applying district policy. (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 →
Thursday July 23, 2026 12:45pm - 1:45pm EDT Room 16
You have an item that has been placed on a Board of Education agenda. What does that mean? Which kind of meeting? Are you presenting or not? What is a précis? And the deadlines to submit everything are when?!?! This session goes behind the scenes to explain the various kinds of Board meetings and Board materials and the timeline for getting everything published. (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 →
Thursday July 23, 2026 1:50pm - 2:50pm EDT Room 16
Compassionate leadership means ensuring that every digital resource—from classroom materials to district-wide communications—is an open door rather than a barrier. Moving beyond "check-the-box" compliance, this session dives into the heart of Lever 3 (See Me!) by prioritizing the dignity and inclusion of every individual we serve. Using WCAG-aligned resources, we will demonstrate practical ways to create accessible Google Docs, Slides, and multimedia. Whether you are a school-based or central services leader, fostering a culture of accessibility allows you to model what it means to be a Digital Citizen (DLS.DC.2) and ensures that "leading together" truly includes everyone.
Digital Learning Coordinator, Wake County Public Schools
Hi there! My name is Jessalyn Saunders and I have been an educator since 2009. After receiving my bachelor's degree from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, I spent 8 years as a middle school math/science teacher. In 2017, I earned my Master's of Arts in Educational Media-Instructional... Read More →
Kurt Hurelbrink is a Digital Learning Coordinator for the Wake County Public School System. He has over 20 years of experience in education. He received his Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Eastern Illinois University, a Master of Arts degree in Teaching and Leadership... Read More →
