NYSAWA’s Annual Conference is back! Join us July 7-8, 2026 at The Statler Hotel at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY for “Lead Forward, Lift Others!” 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 four outstanding leaders in their fields as our featured conference speakers this year:
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer and Emily Hartnett, Women Leading Ed
Dr. Julia Rafal-Baer is the CEO and founder of Women Leading Ed and co-founder of ILO Group. A nationally recognized education leader, she has spent more than two decades launching and leading initiatives that support and elevate education leaders across the country. Her work has shaped programs and networks serving millions of students, and she has been appointed to national advisory boards, including the National Assessment Governing Board.
Emily Hartnett is the Executive Director of Women Leading Ed, where she leads strategy, operations, and programming to support a national network of women education leaders. She works closely with district and state leaders across the country to strengthen leadership development, expand impact, and advance opportunities for women in education.
Jen Marr, founder and CEO, Showing Up LLC
Jen Marr is a global keynote speaker, author, and founder & CEO of Showing Up LLC, where she helps leaders navigate uncertainty, strengthen relationships, and build high-performing teams. Drawing on decades of experience in business, crisis response, and mental health, her research-driven frameworks equip leaders to turn challenging, high-stakes moments into opportunities for trust, connection, and growth. Her work has been used by organizations across sectors—including healthcare, education, and Fortune 50 companies—to improve culture, engagement, and retention.
Kendra A. McQuilton, CEO, Energia
Kendra A. McQuilton is CEO of Energia, a woman-owned energy engineering and consulting firm specializing in helping schools and public agencies reduce costs and improve sustainability. Since joining the company in 2001, she has led the development of more than 100 large-scale energy projects totaling nearly $1 billion in savings. A dynamic and experienced speaker, she is known for translating complex energy and infrastructure initiatives into clear, actionable strategies for public-sector leaders.
We’ll also be featuring an outstanding lineup of breakout sessions led by dynamic speakers and experts in the field. Breakout sessions include:
- Leading Forward in Complexity: Two Women Superintendents Transform Systems
- Carve Your Path with Courage: Creating Leadership Roles Beyond Traditional Titles
- Leading and Lifting in the Multigenerational School Workforce: How Women Leaders Can Build Trust, Mentorship, and Aligned Purpose Across the Five Generations Working in Schools
- Belonging by Design: Stronger Teams, Better Results
- Combating the Leadership Energy Crisis: How Women Leaders Can Sustain Their Impact Without Sacrificing Their Lives
Additionally, we’re thrilled to once again offer pre-conference sessions on Tuesday, July 7.
- The Year Everything Fell Apart and I Became a Leader Anyway
- Still Proving Ourselves: Women, Leadership and Secondary Schools
- The Courage to Choose: Leading Under Pressure Through a Future-Ready Instructional Leadership Lens
- Real Talk from the Hiring Table: Advice for Women Seeking Leadership Roles
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 $305 for members and $355 for non-members, and includes the optional pre-conference sessions, welcome reception on July 7, and breakfast and lunch on July 8. The registration deadline is June 1. Once registered through Frontline, participants will receive hotel reservation information. The hotel is honoring a nightly rate of $215 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.
Register for the 2026 NYSAWA Conference
Event details
Tuesday, July 7, 2026
Pre-Conference Sessions, 12:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Welcome Reception, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
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 Ithaca in July.