Future-Ready School Leadership

Shake It Up: Deploying The Bennett Blueprint for Rapid School Turnaround

Staci Bennett, The Bennett Education Group

Traditional, "slow-build" academic plans are no longer enough to meet the accelerating needs of today's students — incremental tweaks often mask deep systemic failures. This master class introduces The Bennett Blueprint, a radical, high-impact framework that replaces crisis management with high-precision, repeatable systems. Led by Staci R. Bennett, Ed.S., the session challenges leaders to shed the identity of a traditional "administrator" managing logistics and assume the role of an "instructional engineer" who designs inevitable success — moving from retrospective data "autopsies" to predictive real-time instruction fixes, dismantling "silent failures" hidden in average test scores, recovering dozens of hours of lost instructional time, and building a culture of high expectations through psychological safety and radical consistency.

Session outcomes: shift to a high-precision instructional engineering approach with predictive 3-week data cycles and bi-weekly "Pulse Checks," run high-leverage 45-minute data protocols that produce immediate re-teach plans, implement the "First 20 Days Reset" and campus SOPs to recover up to 90 hours of instructional time, and roll out a high-frequency coaching schedule of weekly "1-inch moves."

Lessons from the Field: Best Practices for GenAI Adoption

Amanda Bickerstaff, AI for Education

What does effective GenAI adoption really look like in US schools and universities today? In this session, education leaders will hear lessons learned from AI for Education's real-world partnerships with educational organizations and current academic research. Participants will explore proven strategies for developing organization-wide GenAI guidelines, building staff capacity, and leading change with clarity and confidence. Participants will also learn about the rapid evolution of this technology and the implications for educational institutions.

This session highlights what works — and what to avoid — when creating a culture of responsible, mission-aligned AI adoption that supports teachers, safeguards students, and accelerates learning innovation.

Session outcome: walk away equipped with field-tested resources and actionable strategies to lead your community toward meaningful and responsible AI adoption.

Lead Well. Live Whole.

Dr. Ron Large, Albany Leadership Charter School

This transformational session invites leaders to rethink leadership — not as a set of strategies, but as an extension of who they are. In high-pressure environments, leaders often prioritize performance while neglecting personal well-being, alignment, and authenticity, leading to burnout, disconnection, and diminished impact. Through guided reflection, meaningful dialogue, and practical tools, participants will explore how identity, purpose, and personal well-being directly shape leadership effectiveness — and begin the work of leading from a place of wholeness. You'll leave with strategies plus a renewed sense of clarity, alignment, and purpose, equipped to lead well without losing yourself in the process.

Session outcomes: align your leadership with your identity and purpose, apply brain-based strategies to manage stress and decision-making, and implement human-centered practices that foster belonging, strengthen relationships, and sustain high performance without burnout.

Lead Smarter, Not Harder: How AI Tools Help School Leaders Preserve Their Peace and Prepare Their People

Inga Parker, Parker Prime Solutions: Ignite with Inga Parker

School leaders are experiencing burnout at unprecedented rates — not because they lack commitment, but because the growing demands of the role have exceeded their capacity. This session offers a clear, practical framework for integrating AI tools into daily leadership routines to streamline responsibilities, reclaim valuable time, and lead more effectively. Using the SIDR Method (Spot the Friction, Identify the AI Tool, Develop a System, and Repeat the Process), leaders will pinpoint their most pressing challenges and build a personalized plan for addressing them with AI — while preserving the meaningful human connections at the heart of effective leadership. Future-ready leadership isn't about doing more; it's about working smarter so you can be fully present for your school, your team, and yourself.

Session outcomes: identify key friction points in your leadership workflow, apply the SIDR Method to integrate practical AI tools into daily operations, and implement systems that increase efficiency, reduce overwhelm, and free you to lead with greater intention and impact.