Launching Academy (formerly New Building Administrators Academy)

The Launching Academy (formerly New Building Administrators Academy, NBAA) provides the guidance, support, and networking necessary for school-level administrators to succeed in year one and beyond.

The academy does this by providing:

• Just-in-time and ongoing professional learning throughout the course of the first year
• Examples of best practices and thoughtful approaches that address major responsibilities of school-level leadership
• An abundance of resources to assist with on-the-job questions, concerns, and experiences
• A professional network of job-alike peers facilitated by first-rate administrative veterans

Learning Objectives:

1. Examine the School Leader Paradigm to understand the personal, social and systems intelligences needed to effectively lead a learning organization.

2. Learn strategies for building relationships with all stakeholders.

3. Understand how to assess local context and culture.

4. Explore personal and organizational management systems.

5. Establish a professional learning network for growth and support. 

Leading Objectives:

1. Impart your why, both verbally and nonverbally, through multiple communication channels.

2. Apply questioning techniques and coaching strategies that lead to educator reflection on practice and impact.

3. Identify your school’s most critical problems of practice within the School Leader Paradigm domains.

4. Develop clear processes for time and task management.

5. Identify and connect with your PLN thought leaders and accountability partners. 

Participants in the Academy also have the opportunity to work with a personal coach on a monthly basis. These coaches are current and former principals who have demonstrated leading schools of equity and excellence. 

Dates, Locations, and Schedule:

This academy includes three full-day seminars and four webinars. 

Cost:

$500 for AWSA members and $665 for non-members. 

Hotel Information:

11/13/25
Hilton Garden Inn
1220 S Grand Ave, Sun Prairie
(608) 856-4500
Corporate ID number- N3291980
Book Online 

Other Information:

Event cancellation or Postponement
AWSA reserves exclusive right to modify, postpone/reschedule or cancel programs for any reason, including but not limited to emergency, inclement weather or other acts of God. If there is an event cancellation, every attempt will be made to reschedule and registration fees will be applied to the reschedule event dates. In the unlikely event of cancellation of an event, including inclement weather, the liability of AWSA is limited to the return of paid registration fees minus actual expenses. Cancellations of travel reservations and hotel reservations made directly with the hotel are the responsibility of the attendee.

Academy Cancellation Policy
A full refund of fees will be made on cancellations received by 8/30/25.  A 50% refund will be made on cancellations received on 8/31/25 through 8/7/25. Starting 8/8/25 there will be no refunds.

*Refund fees retained by AWSA pay for your food guarantees, a/v equipment, meeting room rental and any hotel attritions caused by the cancellation.

Dietary Disclaimer
AWSA makes every effort to accommodate basic dietary needs such as vegetarian, gluten-free and basic food allergies. AWSA does not assume liability for adverse reactions to food consumed or items one may come into contact with while eating at an AWSA event. 

Accessibility
For questions about accessibility or to request special assistance during the event, please contact Kathy Gilbertson at [email protected]. Three weeks advance notice is required to allow us to provide seamless access. If you need to cancel the special request this must be done at least 3 working days prior to the start of the event. See registration cancellation policy on the event’s web page for how to cancel your conference registration.