Leadership Impact Conference 2026: Full Schedule

12:35pm EDT

Administrators Playbook: Special Education & 504 Compliance

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Limited Capacity full

This session will equip school administrators with a practical “playbook” for navigating Special Ed and 504 legal compliances while supporting student‑centered practices. Participants will gain clarity on administrator roles within the procedural requirement of IDEA and Section 504 and provide strategies for common compliance pitfalls using real‑world scenarios. This session emphasizes decision‑making, systems alignment, and collaboration with district level leaders to reduce risk and strengthen outcomes for students with disabilities.

Speakers

Jessica Coleman

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 234

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Anchoring Change: Moving from Initiatives to Culture

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 227

Limited Capacity filling up

Why do well-intended school initiatives fade before they become part of the culture? This session examines the leadership and human factors that cause change efforts to stall — from lack of vision and accountability to change fatigue and staff resistance. Participants will leave with practical strategies to help sustain momentum and anchor initiatives to school culture.

Speakers

Dr. Maria Braswell

Principal, Green Acres Elementary

Dr. Troy Jones

Principal, Osborne High School

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 227

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Brick by Brick: How Direct Instruction and Deliberate Practice Provide the Foundation for Student Success

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 219

Limited Capacity filling up

Just like building with LEGO® bricks, powerful teaching starts with strong, intentional foundations. In this interactive session, participants will explore how direct instruction and deliberate practice work together to create clear learning pathways so that every student experiences success. Through hands-on activities, conversations, and engaging with District resources, participants will realize why these two high-yield instructional practices have “earned” an unfair reputation. The session will reinforce deliberate practice and high quality direct instruction across classrooms. This session provides the foundation you need to strengthen instruction in your building—brick by brick—so students can achieve success

Speakers

Dr. Ashley Kennedy

Director of Instruction & Innovative Practice

Ashley Kennedy, Ed.D., serves at the Director of Instruction & Innovative Practice. She proudly leads PreK-12th grade teaching and learning structures to ensure all students succeed. Talk to Dr. Kennedy about Literacy, Math, Science, Social Studies, Professional Learning, or World... Read More →

Dr. Kelly Luscre

Nathan Stark

Principal, Kennesaw Mountain High School

I have served as a principal in Cobb County for 7 years and an administrator for 14 years after teaching math for 10 years.

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 219

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Embracing Messy Leadership

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 222

Limited Capacity filling up

This session highlights key principles from Embracing Messy Leadership by Alyssa Gallagher and Rosie Connor, focusing on leading authentically through uncertainty, building trust, and turning challenges into opportunities for growth. Participants will gain practical strategies for courageous, relationship-centered leadership.

Speakers

Kenyatta Redding- Frederick

Principal, Powder Springs Elementary

Dr. Tiffany Jackson

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 222

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Ethics and Integrity in School Leadership

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 231

Limited Capacity filling up

Leadership is not for the faint of heart, and yet, every leader is human. In this engaging session, you’ll explore real-world scenarios that challenge your thinking and reflect the complexities of today’s schools. Using national ethical standards, you’ll apply a practical decision-making framework designed to bring clarity, consistency, and fairness to even the toughest situations. You’ll leave with greater confidence in your decisions, and the trust of those you serve, grounded in integrity, transparency, and a commitment to doing what’s right.

Speakers

Dr. Andrea Jenkins-Mann

Dr. Jeff Milton

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 231

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Get “Jiggy” with Jigsaw

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 251H

Limited Capacity filling up

Are you ready to get Jiggy with Jigsaw??? In this session, we will bring the jigsaw strategy to life through hands-on experience and practical takeaways you can take back to your building to share with teachers to use right away. Participants will experience jigsaw firsthand, step into expert groups and learning groups, and see how collaboration, accountability, and movement drive deeper understanding from this instructional strategy that has a 1.20-effect size.

Speakers

Melissa Faklaris

Principal, Cheatham Hill Elementary

Dr. Dana Giles

Kelly McNabb

Get Jiggy With Jig Saw pptx

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 251H

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Intentional Assessment Unit Planning to Maximize Instruction

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 216

Limited Capacity filling up

Are you ready to help teachers maximize their instruction through effective assessment planning? In our session, learn how to support your grade level and content teams and team leaders in developing assessment unit plans, as well as best practices in evaluating effective plans. Self-assess your school’s performance in enhancing teacher clarity, creating a learning progression, and defining success criteria to determine your next steps to elevate assessment planning at your school!

Speakers

Dr. Georgette Clinton

Dr. Kendall Foster

Principal, Cobb County School District

Dr. Ashley Mize

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 216

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Leadership Habits of Effective Assistant Principals: Using the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People”

FULL

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 119

Limited Capacity full

What separates good assistant principals from truly effective leaders? In this interactive session, participants will explore practical leadership strategies grounded in The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People and tailored specifically for assistant principals. Through hands-on activities, self-assessments, and real-world scenarios, attendees will learn how to prioritize what matters most, lead proactively, develop a clear vision, and sustain their impact. Walk away with actionable habits you can implement immediately to strengthen your leadership and elevate your school community.

Speakers

Jeff Crawford

Dr. Tracy Guillory

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 119

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Leading and Monitoring the CCC Process with Purpose

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 102

Limited Capacity filling up

Learn how to lead CCC work with clarity and purpose in this highly interactive session for school leaders. Participants will explore the foundational non‑negotiables of the CCC process, understand what it means to be tight and loose about the right things, and identify key look-fors that ensure all students have access to high‑level learning. This session provides relevant and timely tips that leaders can immediately implement within their own buildings, along with practical strategies for monitoring and supporting effective collaborative team work.

Speakers

Dr. Hannah Polk

Principal, Hightower Trail Middle School

Dr. James Rawls

Principal, Cooper Middle School

Leading the CCC Process with Purpose pptx

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 102

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Leading Together: Supporting Effective Shared Teaching Practices

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 224

Limited Capacity filling up

What does high-impact shared teaching look like in action? In this interactive session, leaders will strengthen their ability to recognize effective practices, distinguish true specialized instruction, and leverage practical tools to monitor, coach, and elevate collaborative teaching teams. Through real-world scenarios, reflection, and calibration activities, participants will deepen their understanding of strong collaboration, clearly defined roles, and intentional instructional delivery. The session will also introduce actionable monitoring and coaching tools that can be immediately applied during classroom visits to support teacher teams and improve instructional outcomes.

Speakers

Kristi Dixon

Dr. Melissa Lummis

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 224

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Leading with Clarity: The 5 Pillars of Credible Communication

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 102

Limited Capacity filling up

In a world filled with noise, confusion, and competing messages, clarity has become the defining trait of credible leaders. Join this session to explore the five pillars of credible communication. You’ll discover that communication is more than what you say, it’s how clearly people understand who you are, what you stand for, and why they can trust you.

Speakers

Dr. Missy Shackelford

Angela Stewart

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 102

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Lights, Camera, Action! Bringing the CCC Process to Life through Summarization and Notetaking

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 221

Limited Capacity filling up

Ready to take action? Join us for a dynamic session where we turn summarization and notetaking into a blockbuster experience! Learn how these powerful strategies can shift students from passive viewers to active directors of their own learning—making standards stick and engagement soar.

Speakers

Kendra Brooks

Principal, Bells Ferry Elementary

Dr. David Church

Lindsey McGovern

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 221

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Showcase Showdown: School Budge Edition

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 232

Limited Capacity filling up

Showcase Showdown: School Budget Edition invites school leaders to build confidence in school finance through an engaging, game-style experience. Participants will unpack the four major funding sources and learn practical leadership moves to maximize resources, ensure compliance, and align spending with school priorities. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of school budgets and one actionable step to strengthen their financial leadership.

Speakers

Paul Gillihan

Amber Little

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 232

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Stress Management for School Leaders: How to Keep From Running on Empty

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 245H

Limited Capacity filling up

In this session, K–12 school leaders will explore the real impact that stress can have. Participants will examine common stress triggers in their daily work and learn practical, research‑aligned strategies to manage stress across their school organizations. Through interactive scenarios and actionable tools, leaders will leave equipped to maintain their well‑being, strengthen their resilience, and support healthier school cultures. This session is designed to help administrators stay effective—and energized—through the demands of school leadership.

Speakers

Sandra Alford

Principal, Brumby Elementary

Dr. Jenny Douglas

Principal, Cobb County School District

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 245H

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Strong Foundations: Scaffolding Strategies That Support Student Success

FILLING

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 225

Limited Capacity filling up

Grab your hard hats, zip up your safety vests, and join us on the job site as we dig into one of the most essential structures in teaching and learning: scaffolding. Just like on a real construction site, the right supports can elevate students higher than they could climb alone—and our mission is to equip you with the tools and frameworks you need to build strong, accessible, and engaging instruction at every grade level.

Speakers

Dr. Matthew Bradford

Craig Dills

Cory Stanley

Scaffolding Resources pdf

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 225

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

The Data Game Plan: Leading CCCs to Win for Students with Data-Driven Protocols

FULL

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 206

Limited Capacity full

In the game of improving student outcomes, principals are the head coaches—and data isthe playbook. In this high-energy, football-themed professional learning session, leaders will huddle up to equip participants with the strategies and tools needed to establish and monitor effective data analysis protocols within their Cobb Collaborative Communities (CCCs). Whether your CCCs are rebuilding or already in playoff contention, this session will help you lead your data analysis conversations with purpose and fidelity to keep everyone focused on the goal line: improved teaching and learning.

Speakers

Josh Fowler

Lori Horn

Dwan Jones

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT
Room 206

Session 3

12:35pm EDT

Unlocking Assessment Success: The Leadership Escape Room

LIMITED

Tuesday June 2, 2026 12:35pm - 1:25pm EDT

Room 247H

Limited Capacity seats available

Step inside The Leadership Escape Room–through a series of themed “escape” breakout rooms, school leaders will solve riddles and use clues to think critically about how they monitor, support, and strengthen assessment practices in their schools.

Speakers