NYSAWA’s Annual Conference is back! Join us July 8-9, 2025 at the Saratoga Springs Excelsior Event Center for “Embracing Our Power: Together We Are Stronger.” This dynamic event brings together women in educational leadership from across New York state for two days of learning, connection, and empowerment.
Conference At-a-Glance
We are excited to welcome two outstanding leaders in their fields as our conference keynote speakers this year:
Dr. Susan Enfield, Superintendent-in-Residence, ILO Group
Despite working in a field that is overwhelmingly female, women and women of color are far less likely to become superintendents. This is a problem not just because it is unfair: if our school systems are going to become what we need them to be for the next generation of children, we need the very best talent leading those systems. Today, we miss out on the incredible talent and potential of far too many women leaders and women leaders of color.
Ensuring that women are prepared to enter a new position successfully, it is essential that we focus not only on preparing for the interview, but also negotiations. Too often women do not negotiate a contract that reflects their accomplishments and expertise, while also being commensurate with their male counterparts. This session will engage participants in practical tips and strategies to negotiate their next contract with confidence.
Dr. Rachel S. White, Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy at the University of Texas at Austin
Dr. White will dive into the latest data from her National Longitudinal Superintendent Database to explore the growing challenges of superintendent turnover—especially when politics get heated. She’ll break down trends in district leader attrition, including key differences based on gender, and how these shifts affect leadership stability.
This session isn’t just about the numbers—it’s about real conversations. Participants will share their own experiences navigating political and policy conflicts, swap strategies for handling these challenges, and explore ways to support each other across different leadership roles. Through research-backed discussions, we’ll also brainstorm how districts across New York can work together to ease the pressure on school leaders and keep the focus where it belongs: on students and learning.
We’ll also be featuring an outstanding lineup of breakout sessions led by dynamic speakers and experts in the field. Breakout sessions include:
- Energy Leadership: Choosing to Lead as Your Best Self
- Nourishing Social-Emotional Leadership ( SEL+)
- Lift as you Climb: Cultivating Strong Female Leadership
- Creating a Opportunity for Making AI a Supportive Strategy
- Leading with Impact: Strengthening Connections Through Strategic Communication
- Cultivating Empowered Leadership: Applying “The Let Them Theory”
- Insights into Building Supportive Networks
- Cheerleaders of Change: Leading with Positivity in Education and the Workplace
- The Power of PAUSE: Emotional Intelligence Journeys of Women in Educational Leadership
- The Effect of Gender Bias on Salary Negotiation Outcomes
We’re thrilled to also offer pre-conference sessions for the first time! These special sessions include career consultation, resume to CV training, a post-retirement panel discussion and more. Attendees can expect a unique opportunity for deeper learning and engagement before the main event.
Join us for what promises to be an amazing opportunity for education professionals of all levels to connect with peers and engage with other dynamic speakers who will share their stories of challenge, motivation, action and success.
Registration
The cost of the conference is $300 for members and $350 for non-members, and includes the optional pre-conference sessions, the welcome reception on July 8, and breakfast and lunch on July 9. Registration deadline is June 1.
Once registered through Frontline, participants will receive hotel reservation information. The Courtyard Saratoga Springs is honoring a nightly rate of $214 for anyone attending the conference. The registration price in MLP will indicate the non-member fee but will be adjusted for billing for NYSAWA members.
Click here to register for the 2025 NYSAWA Conference
Event details
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Optional Pre-Conference Sessions: 1:30 – 3:00 p.m.
Networking Reception: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 9, 2025
Keynote speakers and breakout sessions: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
A complete agenda of events will be sent to registrants closer to the conference date.
Please reach out to nysawa@nysawa.org with any questions. We look forward to seeing you in Saratoga in July.