Submitting a breakout session proposal

The breakout sessions at the WSSDA Annual Conference are an excellent way to learn from peers and share your own discoveries and experiences with others. School directors attending the conference prefer to hear from other board members, board-superintendent teams and students. Superintendents are encouraged to present as a part of a board-superintendent team.

Focused on the work of boards by board members

  • The session must be relevant to school board members and their governance, advocacy and leadership roles.
  • The session should provide practical information, interactive learning, and implementable takeaways for school directors, rather than general topic overviews.
  • The school board’s role in the project, program or issue presented must be clearly defined. Sessions led by board members, students, board-student teams or board-superintendent teams are more likely to have their proposals selected.
  • Presentations that include students and/or student voice are strongly encouraged.

Consider how to engage the audience

  • Ensure your description clearly, concisely depicts the presentation content so attendees can select sessions with confidence
  • Most sessions are 60 minutes long, although a few are 75 or 90 minutes. Design your content to allow 10-15 minutes for questions.
  • Get the audience involved with interactive segments to keep them engaged.
  • Load your materials on the conference app so attendees have access to them onsite.