Welcome to the 2025 NYSAWA Conference in beautiful Saratoga Springs, NY!
Conference Center: Saratoga Springs Excelsior Event Center, 47 Excelsior Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Hotel: The Courtyard Saratoga Springs, 11 Excelsior Ave, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866
Tuesday, July 8
1:00 p.m. | Arrival & Registration
1:30-2:00 p.m. | Welcome and Job Alike Networking Session
2:00-3:00 p.m. | Pre-Conference Sessions
Resume to CV
Are you looking to transition into administration or advance your leadership track? This interactive pre-conference session will guide you through converting your resume into a compelling curriculum vitae (CV) tailored for administrative roles. Learn how to highlight your academic achievements, leadership experience, and professional impact to stand out in the hiring process. Whether you’re applying for district-level positions or pursuing advanced opportunities, this session will provide practical strategies and expert insights to ensure your CV reflects your full potential.
Presenter: Anita Murphy, Retired Superintendent, Coach, Special Projects Administrator | Carousel Room
From Here to There: Preparing for Your Next Move
Are you considering your next professional move in educational leadership? This interactive session is designed for individuals who are thinking about taking that next step. Explore how to identify and articulate key leadership experiences, understand the distinct roles of mentors, coaches, and sponsors, and begin crafting compelling responses to that all-important first interview question. Participants will also have dedicated time for roundtable discussions with colleagues, offering a chance to reflect, share insights, and build their leadership networks.
Presenter: Lauren Gemmill, District Superintendent, Capital Region BOCES
| Excelsior Spring Ballroom West
Post-Retirement Panel: What’s Next? Exploring Life After Educational Leadership
Retirement from educational leadership doesn’t mean the end of your professional journey—it’s the beginning of new possibilities. In this insightful panel discussion, retired school leaders will share their experiences transitioning to life after full-time work. From consulting and mentoring to community involvement and personal pursuits, discover the diverse opportunities that await beyond retirement. Whether you’re nearing retirement or simply planning ahead, this session will provide practical advice, personal stories, and inspiration to help you navigate your next chapter with purpose and excitement.
Panelists: Valerie Henning-Piedmonte (Retired Superintendent, Hastings-on-Hudson), Aviva Kafka, (Retired Superintendent, Hyde Park CSD), Marie Wiles (Retired Superintendent, Guilderland CSD) | Canfield Room
Brand You: Building Your Personal Leadership Brand
You already have a personal brand—whether you’ve defined it or not. In this session, we’ll explore how to intentionally shape and communicate that brand in a way that reflects your values, builds trust, and strengthens your leadership. Through reflection and practical activities, you’ll define what you want to be known for, identify how your brand aligns (or doesn’t) with your organization’s mission, and walk away with tools to help you lead with more clarity, consistency, and confidence.
Presenter: Adrienne Leon, Director of Engagement and Development Services, Capital Region BOCES | Excelsior Spring Ballroom East
Optional Professional Headshots
Need a fresh professional photo? Stop by on July 8 between 1–4 PM during the NYSAWA Conference to have your headshot taken—no appointment necessary!
Photographer: Erica Miller, Capital Region BOCES Engagement & Development Services | Schuyler Room
4:30 – 6:30 p.m. | Welcome Reception
Wednesday, July 9
7:45 – 8:45 a.m. | Breakfast
8:00 – 8:45 a.m. | Registration
9:00 – 9:15 a.m. | Welcome Remarks
9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. | Opening Keynote, Dr. Susan Enfield
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.
10:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. Beverage Break & Networking
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. | AM Breakout Sessions
The Power of PAUSE: Emotional Intelligence Journeys of Women in Educational Leadership
Dr. Aurelia Henriquez and Ms. Marisol Lockhart, Excelsior Spring Ballroom East
Energy Leadership: Choosing to Lead as Your Best Self
Donna Vallese, Canfield Room
Lift as you Climb: Cultivating Strong Female Leadership
Dr. Kimberly Nunez-Boccanfuso, Schuyler Room
Insights into Building Supportive Networks
Jenn Weston/Alex Ackerman, Carousel Room
The Effect of Gender Bias on Salary Negotiation Outcomes
Ron Clamser, Jr., Excelsior Spring Ballroom West
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. | PM Breakout Sessions
Cultivating Empowered Leadership: Applying “The Let Them Theory”
Rebecca Carman and Michele Whitley, Excelsior Spring Ballroom East
Creating a Opportunity for Making AI a Supportive Strategy
Dr. Laura Feijoo, Carousel Room
Leading with Impact: Strengthening Connections Through Strategic Communication
Adrienne Leon, Excelsior Spring Ballroom West
Nourishing Social-Emotional Leadership (SEL+)
Gail Duffy & Melissa Szymanski, Schuyler Room
Cheerleaders of Change: Leading with Positivity in Education and the Workplace
Nichole Kelly, Canfield Room
2:15 p.m. – 3:15 p.m. | Closing Keynote, Dr. Rachel S. White
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.
3:15 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Closing Remarks