AEC is CSBA’s premier continuing education program. 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. Find insights and solutions that will help you raise student achievement with more than 100 focused sessions.
Partner with education experts. Meet our business partners and discover new products and services to help you effectively lead your schools.
Get the latest education trends and issues. Receive guidance on the issues your local education agency is facing.
You can’t afford not to attend. Partner directly with leaders in the education arena and collaborate with your peers in this one of a kind event.
What to expect
Location

Check out the 2024 conference:
2024 Speakers

Dr. Laurie Santos
First General Session
Laurie Santos: Former Head, Silliman College; Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Prof. of Psychology, Yale University; Host, The Happiness Lab Podcast
Dr. Laurie Santos is a psychologist and an expert on human cognition, its origins and the evolutionary biases that influence our all-too imperfect life choices. Her work centers around how behavioral change through positive psychology can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life. She is the Chandrika and Ranjan Tandon Professor of Psychology and the former Head of Silliman College at Yale University. Her course, Psychology and the Good Life, teaches what the science of psychology says about how to make wiser choices for a better life. The class is Yale’s most popular course in more than 300 years and has been adapted into a free Coursera program that has been taken by over 4 million people to date.
Santos is the host of the podcast “The Happiness Lab.” She makes the case that humans are drastically wrong about what makes us happy and often do the exact opposite of what will make our lives better. Based on her course at Yale, she presents the latest scientific research in an effort to help listeners rethink happiness and guide them toward their best lives. Launched in 2019, the podcast has been downloaded morer than 100 million times.
Santos has been featured in numerous news outlets including the New York Times, NBC Nightly News, The Today Show, CBS This Morning, NPR, GQ Magazine, Slate, CNN and Oprah Magazine. She has received numerous awards both for science and teaching from institutions such as Yale and the American Psychological Association. She has been featured as one of Popular Science’s “Brilliant 10” and was named TIME’s “Leading Campus Celebrity.”

Dr. Cori Lathan
Second General Session
Dr. Cori Lathan: Neuroscientist and Founder, Anthrotronix
Dr. Cori Lathan is a technology entrepreneur who has developed robots for kids with disabilities, virtual reality technology for the space station, and wearable sensors for training surgeons and soldiers. She is a global thought-leader in the relationship between technology and human performance and believes in a future of benevolent cyborgs. Lathan is the author of a bestselling book, Inventing the Future: Stories from a Techno-Optimist.
Founder and former CEO of AnthroTronix (est. 1999), Lathan has led projects from agencies such as DARPA, NASA, NIH, and NSF and developed one of the first FDA-cleared digital health platforms winning a prestigious Gold Edison Award. She is also on the boards of public companies PTC and EksoBionics, chairing their Cybersecurity and Audit committees, respectively.
Lathan is a social advocate and actively involved in STEM educational outreach programs that empower women and minorities in science and technology. She is on the boards of the KID Museum Makerspace and Engineering World Health, which provides opportunities to college students to support the emergence of healthcare technology in the developing world.

Sam Stanton
Third General Session
Sam Stanton: Founder, redbutton.ai
Sam Stanton is a visionary leader and innovator committed to keeping major brands at the forefront of their industries. As the founder of redbutton.ai, SKUNKworks.ai, boggler.ai, and THINKERS Society, Sam brings over 35 years of experience in helping brands elevate their customer experiences and engagement while empowering professionals. Known for his expertise in creative thinking, technology and innovation, Sam consistently remains at the bleeding edge, leading advancements in tech, science and transformative experiences.

Robbie Sawyer
Third General Session
Robbie Sawyer: Chief of Staff & Partnerships, redbutton.ai
Robbie Sawyer is the juggling Chief of Staff & Partnerships at redbutton.ai, SKUNKworks.ai and boggler.ai. With 30 years in the hospitality industry, he’s driven by a passion for blending tech, sales and marketing innovations. Robbie is a master at forging strategic relationships and uncovering new tools that streamline and invigorate every level of professional life. Join him to explore innovative ways to propel your business into the future. His insights ignite the kind of creative thinking that leads to real and transformative change.