Invest in your students

AEC is CSBA’s premier continuing education program—delivering practical solutions to help governance teams from districts and county offices of education improve student learning and achievement. Whether you are a veteran board member, a superintendent, a board support professional or a first-time attendee, you’ll come away from conference with practical ideas and a renewed commitment to help your board accomplish the critical work ahead.

Why attend

Your students are counting on you.Invest in your students and schools by attending CSBA’s Annual Education Conference and Trade Show. Get information, share insights, find solutions and ways to raise student achievement levels at the more than 100 highly focused sessions this year.

Partner with education experts.Find out how our business partners can help you effectively manage and lead your schools with the various product and service solutions they offer.

Get the latest education trends and issues.Whether it’s issues related to budget and finance, student achievement, governance, school safety, common core, community engagement, communication or collaboration, this premier event focuses on key areas to guide governance teams through tough fiscal times.

You can’t afford not to attend.This is the only leadership development opportunity that offers the governance perspective. Partner directly with leaders in the education arena and collaborate with your peers to tackle the issues you face in your own school district or county office of education.

What to expect

Breakout sessionsSessions hosted by CSBA members

Trade Show FloorInteract with vendors and learn more about CSBA

Pre-conference activitiesSpecialized content to prepare you for your roles

NetworkingEngage with fellow education experts

2023 Conference Strands

Equitable Access to All

The Equitable Access to All strand explores the relationships between funding for schools, student achievement and preparation of students for college and career. This strand exemplifies how decision making through an equity lens can effectively respond to the diverse needs of students so that all students have access to a broad, rigorous and equitable course of study.

Topics could include: Core classes (English language arts, mathematics, science); innovative and successful programs that close achievement and opportunity gaps for all students, including educational and wellness challenges; equity issues in rural and/or small school district communities; implicit bias; and understanding the shifting needs of California students. Examples: college and career readiness; use of data to measure progress; special education funding challenges; broadband access in the community; Local Control Funding Formula; Multi-Tiered System of Supports; Extended learning opportunities; before and afterschool programs; positive behavior interventions and school discipline practices; access to universal pre-K; course access, including dual/concurrent enrollment and ethnic studies; Dual language programs; and state Seal of Biliteracy.

Governance Strategy and Practice

The Governance Strategy and Practice strand aims to equip school district and county board of education members with the leadership skills, qualities, strategies and techniques to become a high-functioning team and advocate for all students.

Topics could include: board member role in developing a positive school culture; shared governance; leadership and decision making in crisis; board self-evaluation; superintendent contracts, hiring and evaluations; conflict resolution; use of data in making decisions; policy and protocols to support good governance; goal setting and budget alignment; redistricting; leadership role of the board president; engaging the voice of student board members; how to be an advocate; understanding and following parliamentary procedure; Form 700 and conflict of interest; ethics and transparency; California Public Records Act; the Brown Act; orienting new trustees; charter school oversight; candidate orientation; trustee role in negotiations; accountability; advocating and understanding the complexities of K-12 funding and budgeting; pension planning; health care and labor negotiations; collective bargaining; declining enrollment and attendance issues; school closures; facilities, bonds and tax campaigns; small school district issues; transportation; facilities; grants; affordable teacher housing; special education funding.

Mental Health, Wellness and Student Safety

The Mental Health, Wellness and Student Safety strand encompasses the conditions of learning that address how student wellness, school culture and campus security contribute to educating the whole student and creating a nurturing, safe and respectful environment.

Topics could include: addressing student needs; suicide prevention; anti-bullying/harassment programs; human trafficking awareness; fentanyl, drug/alcohol prevention and response; mental health and the impact on students, families, teachers and staff; supporting LGBTQ students; mental health services and community partnerships; access to mental health services; social and mental health resources for teachers and school board members, including stress and decision fatigue; board member role in promoting healthy school climate; programs that address student mental, nutritional and physical health; social-emotional curriculum including mindfulness as a discipline; wraparound services including before school, after school and summer programming; community schools; localized mental health services in underserved communities; trauma-informed services including adverse childhood experiences; school-based health clinics; issues related to legalization of marijuana; vaping; open dialogue with law enforcement and government agencies; role of school counselors; and wellness interventions.

Student and Community Engagement

The Student and Community Engagement strand addresses board members’ leadership role in enabling authentic engagement and strengthening collaborative relationships with students, stakeholders, community partners and decision-makers to generate support for public schools and student achievement.

Topics could include: engaging student voice; Local Control and Accountability Plan and authentic parent and stakeholder participation; community schools; connecting with faith-based communities to reach families; marketing and promoting schools; personal and collective accountability; building positive school culture; student-centered schools; strategic planning; cultural literacy; programs and strategies for welcoming and engaging families, including parent resource centers or multilingual parent/family liaisons; local and grassroots advocacy; community organizing; legislative advocacy; forming political partnerships; business, nonprofit, philanthropic and corporate partnerships including health and wellness providers and partnerships between county offices of education and school districts to support student success; programs and partnerships addressing climate resiliency or climate action plans and/or sustainability.

The Promise and Peril of Technology

This strand addresses the importance of ensuring that all students have access to the digital technology, programs and resources needed to prepare them for the future and explores the challenges of cyberattacks, plagiarism, loss of privacy, social media bullying and the law. Workshops will provide board members an opportunity to learn about the latest information on security risks, research and trends for the K-12 education system.

Topics could include: professional development; one-to-one devices; funding; access to technology; student data and privacy; technology challenges and solutions; disabilities and devices; plagiarism; artificial intelligence (AI); cybersecurity; social media and digital communications; social media use by students, teachers and schools; privacy issues and use of cameras; student voice; extended learning; and accelerated learning.

Location

San Francisco Moscone West CenterFor those who choose to attend, all of our main events, including General Sessions, workshops and pre-conference and one-day activities, will take place in the San Francisco Moscone West Center located in downtown San Francisco.

2023 Speakers

Shawn Ginwright

Author, Professor, and Activist

Dr. Shawn Ginwright is the Jerome T. Murphy Professor of Practice at Harvard Graduate School of Education. His groundbreaking work on trauma, healing, and the empowerment of African American youth has earned him a reputation as an innovator, provocateur, and thought leader in the field of education. His research has been instrumental in reshaping the discourse surrounding youth development. Dr. Ginwright’s introduction of the concept of “healing-centered engagement” in 2018 has revolutionized the field, providing an asset-based approach to addressing youth trauma and fostering resilience. His work has been cited in the New York Times, and he is a highly sought-after speaker on topics ranging from civic engagement and youth activism to the transformative power of healing. Dr. Ginwright’s contributions extend beyond his academic work. He is a seasoned non-profit leader, serving as the co-founder and chief executive officer of Flourish Agenda, Inc., a pioneer research lab and consulting firm dedicated to unlocking the power of healing and empowering youth of color, as well as their adult allies, to drive transformative change in their schools and communities. In addition, Dr. Ginwright has written numerous highly acclaimed books, including “The Four Pivots: Reimagining Justice, Reimagining Ourselves” (North Atlantic Books), “Hope and Healing in Urban Education: How Urban Activists and Teachers Are Reclaiming Matters of the Heart,” “Black Youth Rising: Activism and Radical Healing in Urban America,” “Black in School: Afrocentric Reform, Urban Youth, and the Promise of Hip-Hop Culture,” as well as co-edited the influential volume “Beyond Resistance! Youth Activism and Community Change: New Democratic Possibilities for Practice and Policy for America’s Youth.” Dr. Shawn Ginwright resides between Boston, MA and Oakland, CA and continues to drive transformative change in education. His relentless dedication to empowering marginalized youth and creating inclusive spaces for healing and growth is truly inspiring. To learn more about his impactful work, please visit www.ShawnGinwright.com.

Sal Khan

Founder and CEO of Khan Academy

Sal Khan is the founder and CEO of Khan Academy, a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide a free, world-class education for anyone, anywhere. He is the founder of Khan Lab School, a nonprofit laboratory school in Mountain View, California, a cofounder of Schoolhouse.world, a nonprofit that offers free tutoring over Zoom, and cofounder of Khan World School, a new nonprofit online high school. Sal’s interest in education began while he was an undergraduate at MIT. While there, he developed math software for children with ADHD and tutored fourth- and seventh-grade public school students. Sal also taught test prep courses for the MCAT and was named Teacher of the Year by a national test prep company. Sal founded Khan Academy as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2008. Khan Academy’s platforms include more than 70,000 interactive practice problems as well as videos and articles that cover a range of preK–12 subjects. Khan Academy’s learning system is mastery based, which allows students to master key concepts at a pace that’s right for them while staying at grade level. The organization partners with more than 500 school districts and schools across the country. Schools use MAP Accelerator, Khan Academy Kids and Khan Academy Districts to help teachers tailor instruction for each student. Khan Academy has more than 150 million registered users around the world and has been translated into more than 50 languages. It is used in more than 190 countries. Sal has been profiled by 60 Minutes, featured on the cover of Forbes, and recognized as one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People in the World. In his book, The One World Schoolhouse, Sal outlines his vision for the future of education. Sal lives in Mountain View, California, with his wife and three children.

Mark C. Perna

Speaker, Author, and CEO

Mark C. Perna is the founder and CEO of TFS Results, a full-service strategic consulting firm at the forefront of the national paradigm shift in education and workforce development. As an international expert on the millennial and Z generations, Mark has devoted his career to empowering educators and employers to unleash the tremendous potential of today’s young people. After successfully parenting two millennials as a single father, Mark has become a passionate advocate for bridging the generational divides that are contributing to America’s skills gap. As the founder of the Education with Purpose & Employment with Passion movement, Mark’s mission is to connect the pipelines between education, employment, and economic development in communities everywhere. Parents, educators, employers, and national organizations across North America have successfully used Mark’s strategies, including the Career Tree® strategy, to connect more effectively with the younger generations. A dynamic and motivational public speaker, Mark today delivers over 70 keynote speeches annually at national and statewide events, where he frequently brings audiences to their feet. He has also spoken at Harvard University by special invitation. At TFS Results, Mark heads an energetic team of talented professionals who share his vision of making a bigger difference in education and workforce development. TFS Results partners with schools, districts, businesses, and state organizations of all sizes nationwide to help them experience significant gains in enrollment, engagement, retention, and performance. Mark also serves on the Advisory Council for the Coalition for Career Development in Washington, DC. Mark is a weekly contributor at Forbes.com, where his work reaches an audience of more than 3.3 million. He interviews frequently on radio shows, television, and podcasts, and hosts the 90-second Perna Syndicate podcast every weekday with listeners in more than 60 countries. Mark’s bestseller, Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations, was written to help educators, employers, and parents understand and motivate the millennial and Z generations. Answering Why has won eight national book awards, including the Nautilus Award which is given to books thought to make a positive difference in the world. Find out more about Mark and his work at MarkCPerna.com.

Thank you to our 2023 Sponsors

CSBA would like to thank the sponsors of the 2023 Annual Education Conference. Without their support, we would not be able to provide the high-quality speakers and events that make the conference such a success. The 2023 AEC sponsors include:

Invest in your students

Why attend

What to expect