Legal Update and Q&A: Hot Topics for School Principals
   Malina Piontek, Piontek Law and Bob Butler, WASB Associate Executive Director

This program provides an essential legal update for assistant principals focusing on the latest "hot topics" impacting public schools. Attorneys Bob Butler and Malina Piontek will delve into critical legal issues stemming from recent Executive Orders, federal regulations, agency actions, and landmark court cases. Participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of their related  legal obligations and strategies for navigating complex challenges in school administration. This program will also provide you with time to ask any legal questions you have related to your daily work in public schools. Bring your questions! Bob and Malina will be prepared to tackle whatever legal question you throw their way!

1.  Avoiding Legal Issues That Deny FAPE
Tess O’Brien-Heinzen, Attorney, Renning Lewis & Lacy

Associate Principals need to be aware of issues that can affect a student’s ability to receive FAPE under IDEA and Section 504.  Join Tess O’Brien-Heinzen as she discusses issues that have tripped up districts in the past and identifies steps needed to ensure a smooth path to legal compliance moving forward.  Attendees should come with questions and should be prepared to leave with a better understanding of district obligations related to extended day services, seclusion and restraint, outside therapies and placements, discipline, student confidentiality and more. 

2. Navigating the First Amendment with Students, Especially in a Time of Rapidly Developing Technology
Brian Goodman, Attorney, Boardman & Clark

Associate Principals are frequently faced with situations that require them to apply the First Amendment to a student matter.  Relevant case law is constantly changing, and chasing the latest technological developments.  In this presentation Attorney Brian Goodman will discuss recent cases involving student dress code issues involving the depiction of firearms and LGBTQ+ messaging.  Then, the presentation will expand into discussing the challenging First Amendment issues raised by social media and AI use such as bullying and harassment.  The goal will be to help equip principals with the tools to navigate these situations practically and in compliance with the law.

3. TIX, LGBTQ+—What’s New; What’s Not?  What’s Next; What’s Hot? 
Chrissy Hamiel, Attorney, Attolles Law, S.C.  

In this session, attendees will learn the current landscape of Title IX and LGBTQ+ matters, including updates as to recent legislation, impactful court cases, and the current best practices for navigating matters involving restrooms, pronouns, sports, and parent’s rights!

3:00pm-4:15pm Concurrent Sessions Repeated

This session will provide information on the three legs of a solid retirement: the WI Retirement System, Social Security and personal savings (e.g., Roth, 403(b) plans, etc.). The session will also cover what educators should know about putting savings to good use and public service loan forgiveness. Come with your questions and leave better prepared for your future.

1.  TBD
Myron Dueck

DESCRIPTION

2. The Full Story: Using Feedback Tools
Tammy Gibbons, Director of Professional Learning, AWSA

Leaders are pretty clear about the impact of feedback on teacher performance but there are many ways that school leaders can and should solicit and use feedback to gauge school climate, the impact of professional development, coaching entry points, etc. This fast paced session will provide a variety of tools for school leaders to review and identify for use.

3. Continuous Improvement Cycles: From Vicious to Virtuous
Yaribel Rodriguez, Director of Urban Leadership, AWSA

School leaders will explore why most continuous improvement efforts fail to generate lasting impact, often getting stuck in a vicious Plan-Do loop. This repetitive cycle leads to initiative fatigue, erodes staff culture, and stalls student outcomes. Leaders will learn how to transform this pattern into a virtuous improvement cycle by fully embracing the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) process.  Through real-world examples, reflective discussions, and practical tools, school leaders will leave with a clearer understanding of how to escape the Plan-Do rut and cultivate a data-driven culture of sustainable improvement.

4. Sharing Perspectives and Amplifying Student Voice
Matthew Amerson, Superior School District

In this session, we will learn a few strategies to include and amplify student voice in decision making. We will practice hearing and responding to the various voices present in today's school systems.

5. From Reactive to Relentless: Building a High-Impact Attendance System That Works
Daniel Butler and Nicole DeRoehn, Two Rivers School District

During this session you will learn how Two Rivers School District - L. B. Clarke Middle School transformed its attendance approach into a system that’s structured, student-centered, and sustainable and led to a 4.5% increase in overall attendance and a 21.1% decrease in chronic absenteeism over a 3 year span. Participants will learn about a tiered attendance support model, how to create a highly efficient attendance team with clearly defined roles, a data tracking system that feeds directly into broader student support systems, and strategies to make attendance a focus for the entire school community. Walk away with tools, templates, and a blueprint to build your own “Monday Machine” that celebrates wins, addresses concerns, and ensures no student falls through the cracks.

1. Supporting and Responding to Student Behavior Through Disciplinary Rubrics
Jared Kieslow and Dave Riley, West Bend School District

Discover the transformative potential of disciplinary rubrics in managing student behavior. Delving into the dimensions of intent, impact, disruption, and history, we explore how these rubrics offer administrators a structured approach to support and respond effectively to behavioral incidents. By examining intent, educators can discern the underlying motivations behind student actions, while assessing impact helps gauge severity of how the behavior impacted others or the entire school community. In addition, disruption levels and historical context enables tailored interventions and promotes fair and consistent judgments. Through practical examples administrative teams will be equipped with strategies to integrate disciplinary rubrics into any behavior management system.

2. You as a Learning Leader: Transforming Your School Through Data-Informed Improvement Cycles
Joe Schroeder, Associate Executive Director, AWSA

The work of a school administrator inherently focuses on the urgent and will remain that way unless one learns how to intentionally disrupt it.  Short cycles of data-focused analysis and reflection can empower school leaders to create meaningful and sustainable change.  In this session, you’ll explore strategies to effectively design and implement data-informed improvement cycles that prioritize what matters most for your school community.  Leave with actionable tools that are informed by Wisconsin school examples to lead with clarity and purpose for more impact, even amidst the demands of daily operations.

3. Leveling Up: Landing and Loving Your Next Administrative Position
Joe Patek, Nicolet Union High School

This session is designed for leaders who are aspiring to the "next" step and want to "crush it" in their first few years. Learn how to prepare yourself as an assistant principal to become a principal, and for those new to the AP role, learn how to successfully transition into your new assistant principal role, find your people, and be an invaluable support to your principal. You will gain key strategies in this session, avoid common pitfalls, and maximize your impact as an administrator. This session will also prepare you to level up your next professional role as you plan to take the leap to the principalship. Skills required to be successful as an assistant principal are different from those required to be successful as the principal. Reflect on your assets and make a plan for what comes next in your leadership journey. 

4. Preventing the SILOs - Leading  for Collaborative Continuous Improvement and Conscious Practice
Tammy Gibbons, Director of Professional Learning, AWSA

High-performing collaborative teams have a significant impact on both the culture and the outcomes of a school.  Silos in schools can lead to misaligned priorities, low morale, and disjointed decision-making. Paying attention to growing and/or perceived silos is a challenging role for any school leader.  This session will focus on how to lead a building culture that embraces singletons, challenges historic rhetoric about use of time, and supports continuous improvement and collective efficacy.

5. TBD 
Speaker

Description

1. Reaching the Top 20: Building Connections that Change Behavior and Transform School Culture
Liz Nelson, Elmbrook School District

A small number of students often generate the majority of behavior referrals in schools. In this session, Liz Nelson, National Associate Principal of the Year, will share a structured approach to supporting these high-needs students—often called the “Top 20.” The session will cover practical strategies for building relationships with hard-to-reach students and families, as well as communication techniques that can lead to improved behavior and a more positive school climate.  

2. Key Issues for Elementary AP's
Tammy Gibbons, Director of Professional Learning, AWSA

An elementary associate principal plays a crucial role in supporting the overall leadership and management of a school. They help create and maintain a positive and safe learning environment, contribute to instructional improvement, and foster strong relationships with students, staff, and parents. Given the unique role of elementary school AP, join us for an opportunity to connect, inspire and strategize to further increase the impact of the role. This session will be an engaging, relevant conversation facilitated by some Elementary Associate Principals in Wisconsin.

3. Boom Sessions: Best Practices for Increasing Attendance and Engagement
Frankin, Elkhorn, Ripon and Two Rivers School Districts

Learning from the expertise in the room.

BOOM SCHEDULE

4. Creating a Positive School Climate: Building Powerful Teams for Tier 2 Behavior Support
Yaribel Rodriguez, Director of Urban Leadership, AWSA

This session is tailored for principals seeking effective strategies to address Tier 2 behaviors through a culturally responsive lens. By fostering inclusive problem-solving approaches, educators can create supportive environments that empower both students and staff. Join us as we explore practical techniques for forming powerful teams dedicated to supporting student and educator success. Through examples, case studies, and discussions, participants will gain insights into reducing disciplinary incidents and the need for intensive supports.

5. From Philosophy to Practice: Implementing Standards-Based Learning, AI Integration, and Gradebook Alignment 
Don Norwick, Alicia Acosta and Tara Smith, Wilmot Union High School

This session will share Wilmot Union High School’s multi-year journey of transforming teaching and learning through Standards-Based Learning (SBL) and Standards-Based Grading (SBG), enhanced by the strategic use of AI tools and an intentional approach to using our digital gradebook to support these practices. Presenters will include both administrators and classroom teachers, providing multiple perspectives on how these initiatives evolved from theory to sustainable practice. Participants will explore the philosophy, research, and practical steps behind SBL/SBG, discover strategies for fostering teacher buy-in, and learn how our gradebook was leveraged to align instruction, assessment, and reporting in ways that provide clarity for students, families, and staff. The session will also highlight how AI has been incorporated to streamline feedback, personalize learning, and increase student ownership. Through successes, challenges, and lessons learned, attendees will leave with actionable strategies, communication tools for stakeholders, and an understanding of how to structure professional development and implementation timelines for lasting impact.

1. Creating a Culture of Consistency Through Tier 1 and Tier 2 Behavioral Structures and Supports
Ben Yaucher, Milton School District

This session will highlight Milton Middle School’s path from ongoing behavioral frustrations to a culture of consistent, high expectations for students through work with their EMLSS team and climate and culture team. The collaborative work enhanced learning opportunities and led to a reduction in behavioral referrals by nearly 50%.

2. AI Powered Collaboration: Accelerating the Impact of School Teams
Yaribel Rodriguez, Director of Urban Leadership, AWSA

School leaders will learn how to accelerate the effectiveness and impact of their collaborative teams by integrating AI tools and adopting a laser-sharp focus on student outcomes. Too often, team meetings focus on surface-level discussions or broad instructional practices, resulting in minimal impact on student growth. This session will introduce a practical framework where teams: 

1. Rapidly Break Down Standards into Key Skills: Using both AI-powered analysis and team expertise, leaders will guide teams in deconstructing complex standards into the essential skills necessary for mastery and common misconceptions quickly. 
2. Use Student Work to Drive Decisions: Use student work to identify skills students have mastered and identify where supports are needed.
3. Name the Gap by Skill: Using both AI-generated insights and teacher expertise, teams will pinpoint the precise skill gaps in student learning, moving beyond generalizations like "comprehension" or "engagement" to specific, actionable skills.
4. Identify a Targeted Teaching Strategy: Using both AI-generated insights and teacher expertise, teams will pinpoint the precise teaching strategy to help students achieve mastery. 

Through interactive discussions, practical examples, and AI demonstrations, participants will leave equipped with a streamlined process and AI-powered tools to transform collaborative teams into high-impact, results-driven forces for student success.

3. Energy Leadership: Keeping Educators Motivated in a Challenging Socio-Political Climate
Tammy Gibbons, Director of Professional Learning, AWSA

What does it take to keep educators motivated when every corner of their world and life may present obstacles and perceived barriers to student impact?  This session will focus on leading a school community that energizes one another, sees change as an opportunity, and focuses on thriving, not just surviving. 

4. You as a Learning Leader: Transforming Your School Through Data-Informed Improvement Cycles
Joe Schroeder, Associate Executive Director, AWSA

The work of a school administrator inherently focuses on the urgent and will remain that way unless one learns how to intentionally disrupt it.  Short cycles of data-focused analysis and reflection can empower school leaders to create meaningful and sustainable change.  In this session, you’ll explore strategies to effectively design and implement data-informed improvement cycles that prioritize what matters most for your school community.  Leave with actionable tools that are informed by Wisconsin school examples to lead with clarity and purpose for more impact, even amidst the demands of daily operations.