Annual Conference

About the Annual Conference — November 14-17

NEW: See some great videos from the conference!

The WSSDA Annual Conference is the premier annual event for school directors, student board representatives, and superintendents. It is the largest gathering of education policymakers in the state of Washington. Per WSSDA bylaws, the conference takes place on the east or west side of the Cascades in alternate years.

Get the latest information at the Conference Website

Our Theme for 2018: Embrace Your Influence

Everyone projects influence in different areas of their lives. As a school director, you have the opportunity to exert influence through visionary leadership, effective governance, and strategic advocacy. The effects of that influence impact your district physically and culturally, from the buildings that get constructed to the people who work and learn inside them.

Your influence will impact the lives of district staff, students, the local community, and even legislators at local, state and national levels. School directors are the largest group of elected officials in the state. As such, the potential power of your collective influence is immense. For student representatives on school boards, you are just learning the power you’ll exert in the world. For all school board members, we urge you to embrace your influence, and prepare for it by developing knowledge and finding tools to ensure your impact sets a positive trajectory.

The WSSDA Annual Conference is the perfect place to find knowledge, information, and tools to help you make the most of your influence. You’ll be able to share with, and draw from, peers and other educational experts, both formally and informally. Please join us this November in Spokane!

Conference Timeline

May 21: Registration opens
Sept. 21: Early registration rates end. And deadline for conference scholarship applications
Oct. 19: Hotel cut-off date for WSSDA rates
Nov. 14-17: Annual Conference (Wed.-Sat.) - Spokane Convention Center and Davenport Grand

Message from the President

We need to embrace our influence as elected leaders and better understand our role as educational leaders. We (school directors) are the ones in education who have the least opportunity for professional development for our roles, which is why AC is extremely important for our members. — Marnie Maraldo, 2018 WSSDA President

Sponsorship

In grateful appreciation of our Diamond, Platinum and Gold Sponsors for their generous contributions to the 2018 WSSDA Annual Conference.

Diamond-level Sponsor

Platinum-level Sponsor

Gold-level Sponsors