AASB is planning a dynamic conference, November 5-8, 2026, at the Egan Convention Center in Anchorage, Alaska. We invite school districts and partners to submit session proposals to share your expertise with school board members and district leaders. This year’s theme, “Coming Together for Alaska’s Students,” reflects our focus on collaboration and student success.
We are seeking proposals that provide Alaska’s school boards with meaningful content, practical strategies, and actionable tools that inspire innovation, strengthen leadership, and support improved student outcomes.
Session proposals are welcome from school districts, educational organizations, and other partners. Breakout session proposals must include at least one school district representative from an AASB member district and be geared toward school board members.
Sign-ups opening soon!
Session Logistics
- Accepted proposals will be for a Breakout Session (either 60 or 75 minutes) or a Snapshot Session (comprised of four 15-20 minute “mini-sessions”). Sessions will take place on Friday, November 6 and Saturday, November 7.
- Snapshot Sessions are an excellent way for school board members to hear about education programs, projects, initiatives, or strategies from around the state. Each presenter leads four 15-20 minute sessions (this includes time for questions).
- Breakout Sessions are 60 or 75 minutes long and go deeper into a topic pertinent to our membership and the role of the school board. Breakout sessions must include at least one presenter from an AASB member school district (i.e., school board member, Superintendent, or other staff member).
- Each proposal is evaluated by a panel of reviewers.
- As you think about your proposed session, be aware of who your audience will be. The conference is attended by school board members and district leaders throughout Alaska. Most are from rural Alaska, and many are Alaska Native and bilingual, with their native language being their first language.
We select presentations that meet all of the following criteria:
- Appropriate for an audience of school board members and administrators, with the role of the board clearly delineated.
- Breakout session presenters include at least one presenter from an AASB Member School District (i.e., school board member, Superintendent, or other staff member).
- Enhances the knowledge, skills, and abilities of school board members.
- Will be engaging and interactive (large speaker panels are discouraged).
- Will provide solid, practical, how-to information and tips that board members can take back and apply to their governance work.
- Presentations should NOT be used as a “sales pitch” by vendors. AASB requests that presenters approach this as an information-sharing opportunity and not a time for a concerted “sales pitch.”
- Sessions that are focused on presenting/sharing information rather than engaging attendees will likely be selected to be a Snapshot Session (rather than a breakout session).
Key Dates:
- Friday, September 4: Deadline to submit a session proposal.
- September 18: Acceptance or denial email sent.
- Beginning of October: Contact made by AASB to help shape messaging.
- October 29: Session Slides & Handouts due for the conference app (if want to be posted for attendees to access during Annual Conference).
- November 5-8: Annual Conference at Egan Convention Center in Anchorage.
Additional Information:
- All Presenters attending the conference must register and pay the registration fee. Acceptance of a proposal does not mean the presenters are registered for the conference.
- AASB reserves the right to revise session titles and descriptions.
- AASB is not responsible for presenter(s) registration fees or any travel-related expenses.
- Presenters are responsible for providing their own laptop.
- Sessions that are focused on presenting/sharing information rather than engaging attendees are likely to be selected as Snapshot Sessions rather than breakouts.
- Breakout sessions take place on Friday, November 6, and Saturday, November 7.
- Please do not submit a proposal unless you are able to present either day — Friday, November 6, or Saturday, November 7.
Room & Tech Set-Up
Breakout Session room setup will include the following:
- Projector (HDMI connection)
- Screen
- Microphone (if applicable to the session room)
- Lectern
- Head Table for four
- Wireless Internet Access
All presenters are to provide their own laptop.
Snapshot sessions will take place at round tables in the main ballroom. Please: no laptops, projectors or screens. This is an intimate setting, and handouts are all that might be needed.