2026 NHASP Leadership Academy June 24, 2026- June 26, 2026 Sessions

Transitioning from teacher to administrator is exciting, challenging, and often overwhelming. In this session, a 4th-year principal and two 2nd-year assistant principals will share real-world experiences, humorous moments, and practical strategies for navigating the first years of leadership. Participants will explore the multifaceted (and exciting!) nature of the administrator role, including leading adults, managing expectations, and fostering positive school culture.

Improved discipline is merely a byproduct of a healthy school culture—not its goal. The real work lies in defining who we want to become as a community and why that vision matters. This session invites school leaders to rethink behavior systems through the development of a School Culture Blueprint—a framework that connects values, language, and practice across classrooms and staff teams.

I know you don't copy/paste the entire description because it is too long, but here it is....use what you feel is the best content. Strong leadership is rooted in relationships. As leaders across New Hampshire work to cultivate belonging, empower staff, and strengthen school culture, restorative practices offer a transformative framework for connection and shared purpose. This session invites principals and district leaders to explore restorative circles as a powerful approach for strengthening adult culture, enhancing communication, supporting educator well-being, and developing teams grounded in trust and collaboration. Participants will engage in a facilitated restorative leadership circle, experience how a circle is structured and guided, and learn practical strategies for using circles with staff and leadership teams. The session highlights how circle practice can build collective capacity, deepen collaboration, and sustain resilience within school communities. Designed with usability in mind, this session emphasizes concrete, replicable practices that leaders can apply immediately to strengthen relationships, improve communication, and foster a more connected and supportive school environment. This session is for school leaders at any level who use, or are curious about using, circle practices with students, teachers, or leadership teams to deepen connection, collaboration, and community.

To make an optimal decision, a team needs to generate multiple options and to critically evaluate them. This process involves getting many different ideas and perspectives on the table: “Two heads are better than one!” Unfortunately, many teams avoid pulling out dissenting opinions because members often devolve differing ideas into interpersonal conflict: “Why do they always disagree with me? Why bother saying anything to just get outvoted?” Through an engaging decision-making exercise, you will explore strategies that encourage the dissent that is critical in both expanding the options available to the team, and in building the commitment of all members in decision execution.

AI is reshaping education. Schools that adapt will thrive. This session helps principals integrate AI, equip teachers, and prepare students for success. Learn practical strategies to lead with confidence, foster innovation, and build a future-ready school. Walk away with a clear plan to turn challenges into opportunities in the AI era.

Many school leaders don’t need more AI theory. They need practical AI strategies. This hands-on session gives school and district leaders a clear path to using AI in their daily work. Attendees learn how to: - Analyze student data using AI tools while staying compliant with student data privacy laws. - Draft complex, nuanced communications with speed and clarity.

School leadership has always required courage, but today’s landscape demands a new kind of strength: the ability to lead through uncertainty while helping teams stay grounded, connected, and aligned. Across New Hampshire, principals are naming a shared challenge. As roles evolve and responsibilities shift, the phrase “This was never my role before” has become both a reality and a warning sign. When roles are unclear, pressure rises, communication stalls, and too much lands on the administrator’s plate by default.

Educationally based school athletic programs play a valuable role in preparing young people for the world. These programs help students develop social and emotional skills including team-work, dedication, goal orientation, and resilience; just to name a few. Increasingly, however, school athletic programs are facing challenges. These challenges include poor sportsmanship, hazing, and a win-first perspective not compatible with educationally based programs. Join George Edwards and Carl Johnson from the New England Association of Schools and Colleges as they discuss how Standards can be used to support school leaderships in developing and maintaining quality school athletic programs. This presentation would be appropriate for schools at any level that have a school-sponsored athletic program for students.

In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, school leaders face complex challenges that demand innovative solutions and collaborative approaches. This session explores the critical role of professional networking in enhancing leadership effectiveness, fostering teacher growth, and improving student outcomes.

Over the past few years, Dunbarton Elementary School has welcomed incoming kindergarten families each summer through our three-day Kinder Launch program, which has received excellent feedback for fostering meaningful relationships and easing the transition into school. This presentation highlights how one community has partnered with state agencies to build their own capacity while empowering families through a deeper understanding of their own child's social and academic development while simultaneously building their own network of families within the community. The target audience are schools interested in developing a partnership with families around understanding literacy and assessments and identifying what role each stakeholder plays in their child's journey.

Rather than labeling students as “traumatized,” this session starts from a simple truth: every human experiences stress, challenge, and dysregulation at times. The question isn't who is impacted, but what helps. This breakout moves from awareness to action, equipping educators with practical co-regulation strategies that strengthen focus, connection, and learning readiness for all students—while also supporting adult wellbeing. Emphasis is placed on everyday practices that normalize support, preserve dignity, and build capacity across the learning community.