Leadership Symposium 2026

Room: The Portage Room

Session Title: Differentiation or Personalized Learning: Is it a Boxed Lunch or a Salad Bar?

Are your teachers serving Boxed Lunches, hosting Salad Nights, or burning themselves out at Short-order cooks? In this session, we will use these metaphors to unpack the technical distinctions between differentiation, personalized learning, and individualized instructions. join us to discover why one may have high potential for creating student engagement, increasing student ownership, and growing learners who are equipped to thrive.

Room: The Summit Room Career

This interactive breakout session will showcase the Career Technical Education (CTE) Pre-Apprenticeship Program at Stow-Munroe Falls High School provided by Apprentice Ohio, sponsored by Stark State College. Designed as a two-year junior/senior pathway, the program connects students with authentic work-based learning experiences that prepare them to transition successfully into part-time or full-time employment during their senior year and beyond. Participants will explore how the program was built through strategic partnerships, innovative scheduling, and a strong focus on workforce readiness. The session will highlight how career preparation extends beyond technical skills through intentional instruction centered on six program pillars: show-up, safety, communication, responsibility, care, and growth. Attendees will also learn how the Employability English curriculum develops essential soft skills including resume writing, interviewing, workplace conflict management, professional communication, salary negotiation, and career transition skills. This solution-focused session will provide district and building leaders with practical strategies for creating meaningful career pathways, strengthening community and industry partnerships, and preparing students with the employability skills needed for long-term success in today’s workforce.

Room: The Falls Library Room

Are you facing paraprofessional shortages or are you struggling to build a pipeline of qualified intervention specialists in your district? This session introduces K-12 administrators to Kent State University's Pathway 2 Teach Registered Apprenticeship — an innovative, earn-while-you-learn model that supports paraprofessionals in your buildings as they pursue an Ohio P-5 Intervention Specialist Teaching License. Participants will receive an overview of the program structure, including how apprentices combine paid, on-the-job experience in special education classrooms with university coursework and mentorship from experienced educators. Administrators will learn about employer roles and responsibilities, how to sponsor apprentices from their own staff, and the potential impact of the program on local special education workforce needs across birth through Grade 5 settings. Whether your district is exploring apprenticeship for the first time or ready to enroll candidates, this session will equip you with the information needed to get started.

Room: The Portage Room

Does your district's DLT, BLT and TBT?PLC system structure need a little TLC? Do you find that a lot of times more data admiration take place than working on the actionable steps to improve it? This session will engage district administrators in reflection on what systems are currently in place to collect, analyze and create actionable steps to

ensure that each entity works collaboratively to make progress towards district goals. Participants will reflect on the intention and strength of districts goals and leave with examples of templates to utilize when analyzing data as well as a better grasp of what action steps can be taken to better track and communicate district progress towards positive student outcomes.

Room: The Summit Room

This session explores how instructional leadership can transform traditional systems into dynamic, future-focused learning environments that intentionally prepare every student for life beyond graduation. Participants will examine how to design and implement a cohesive Pre-K–12 strategy that integrates workforce innovation into curriculum, instruction, and student experiences. This includes building intentional pathways through ongoing career “experienceships”, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, credentials, College Credit Plus opportunities and more. The session will address a critical question: how can districts simultaneously ignite career interest and improve College, Career, Workforce, and Military Readiness (CCWMR) outcomes? Through practical examples and actionable strategies, leaders will learn how to leverage partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, technical schools, and universities. Emphasis will be placed on creating authentic, real-world learning experiences that blur the traditional boundaries between education and employment. See remainder of narrative in Leadership Folder :)

Room: The Falls Library Room

Results-driven leadership requires a balance of goals aligned to purpose and promoting instructional expertise all in the context of building relationships and navigating complexities. This session explores current research and practical strategies for building strong relationships, strengthening instructional leadership, and confidently navigating complex educational challenges. Participants will gain actionable ideas to foster positive culture, support teaching excellence, and lead with clarity, credibility, intention and purpose in today’s schools.

Room: The Portage Room

Middle school is a time of discovery. Designing the Future empowers students to explore strengths, uncover purpose, and connect learning to real-world impact. By engaging in authentic immersive experiences, students uncover their unique gifts, passions, and purpose, paving the way for bold career aspirations, confident decision-making, and significant community impact. This session equips educators to inspire young minds to dream big, act meaningfully, and shape a future full of possibilities.

Room: The Summit Room

Presentation on the CCWMR component of the state report card. This breakouts session aims to familiarize district staff with a deep dive in the calculations utilized in Post-Secondary Readiness measures for the Traditional and Career Technical Planning District Report Cards

Room: The Falls Library

When Tier 1 behavior expectations are clear, consistent, and integrated, every student thrives—and administrators gain valuable time back in their day. This workshop is designed specifically for school leaders looking to refresh and sharpen universal behavioral frameworks across their campus using an iMTSS lens.

Room: The Portage Room

School Administrators play a key role in how AI is either positively integrated, or poorly managed in their buildings. By serving as models, promoting transparency, providing structure, PD and resources to staff, and having conversations with students and parents - Admins are at the center of informing those they serve, supporting innovative instruction, and opening up new possibilities in K-12 education

Room: The Summit Room

The World Economic Forum has ranked creative thinking, active listening, leadership and social influence, curiosity, self-awareness, resilience, flexibility and agility among the core skills that employers expect to be increasingly important over the next five years. Nurturing these skills in students is one of the most vital challenges facing schools today. In this workshop, you’ll sample the approach being developed by ERA, a Strongsville-based nonprofit that is building and piloting the Life Discovery Classroom. You’ll experience ERA’s approach to helping students discover their strengths, identify potential life pathways, connect with others, and maximize their potential. You’ll also learn how to bring ERA’s programming into your schools

Room: The Falls Library Room

This session will highlight actionable and effective practices district leaders can use to better support all students as they transition from school into meaningful competitive integrated employment.