SURN Leadership Conference
June 16-17, 2025 | William & Mary School of Education
8:00 a.m. - 4:00 pm
This year's theme is Learning Leaders DECIDE - What are you going to do? Join us this June for SURN's 27th Annual Leadership Conference as we explore this theme and ask leaders to think critically about decision points in K-12 education. Attend this conference to learn from and with your colleagues from across Virginia, discuss topics with leading researchers, reflect on the school year, and plan strategically and with new inspiration for the upcoming year.
In addition to keynotes, we will offer multiple concurrent sessions led by leadership and wellness experts from W&M, T/TAC, our division partners, and throughout the state. This year’s concurrent sessions are organized around four strands: leadership, instruction, accountability, and wellness. This conference is with you and by you, and we hope to see you in June!
Conference Schedule - At-A-Glance
| MONDAY | TUESDAY | |
| 8:00-8:30 Registration, Morning Coffee, & Networking | 8:00-8:30 Registration, Morning Coffee, & Networking | |
| 8:30-8:45 Opening & Welcome | 8:30-8:45 Welcome | |
| 8:45-10:45 Plenary Session 1 | 8:45-10:15 Plenary Session 2 | |
| 10:45-11:00 Break | 10:15-10:30 Break | |
| 11:00-12:00 Concurrent Session 1 | 10:30-11:45 Concurrent Session 4 | |
| 12:00-1:15 Lunch (provided) | 11:45-12:45 Lunch (provided) | |
| 1:15-2:30 Concurrent Session 2 | 12:45-2:00 Concurrent Session 5 | |
| 2:30-2:45 Break | 2:00-2:15 Break | |
| 2:45-4:00 Concurrent Session 3 | 2:15-3:00 Plenary Session 3 | |
| 3:00-3:15 Conference Closing |
Keynote Speakers:
Peter Atwater, an expert on the impact of confidence on decision-making, kicks off the first day of the conference with an engaging keynote. Author of The Confidence Map: Charting a Path from Chaos to Clarity, Atwater is prepared to dig into the wicked problems of education with us and help us chart a path forward with confidence.
Phil Wagner, 2024 Thomas Jefferson Teaching Award Recipient and clinical associate professor in organizational behavior at the Mason School of Business, brings us Tuesday’s keynote, Building Bridges: The Science of Connection, as he explores the science behind human connection and its critical role in fostering understanding and collaboration.
John Almarode is a Professor of Education at James Madison University. Almarode will help us close the conference by unlocking the power of evaluative thinking for educational leaders as we explore what's going right in education.
Featured Faculty Speakers
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| Ashley Carpenter | Peggie Constantino | Leslie Grant | Robert Martinez | Janise Parker |
Featured TTAC Partner Speakers
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| Daria Lorio-Barsten | Mary Stowe | Alexis Swanson |
Register Here:
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DRESS ATTIRE
The conference attire is business casual. We recommend dressing in layers as the temperature in the Professional Development Center varies.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Morning coffee, lunch and all materials are included in your registration. Please contact surn@wm.edu with any special dietary needs that you may have by June 2, 2025. After this date, we are not able to accommodate requests.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
The conference is being held on the campus of The College of William and Mary in the School of Education's Professional Development Center. The address is 301 Monticello Avenue, Williamsburg, VA 23185. A parking pass is required and will be emailed to participants.
From Richmond and points west:
- Take Interstate 64 East to exit 234 (Route 199 East) towards Lightfoot.
- Follow Route 199 approximately 6 miles to the Monticello Avenue exit.
- At the bottom of the ramp, turn left at the stop light onto Monticello Avenue.
- Stay on Monticello Avenue for approximately 1.5 miles. At the sixth light, you’ll see a large sign on the right for the School of Education. Turn right at the light.
- Park in the lot specified on your parking pass. Be sure to display your parking permit which will be emailed.
From Norfolk and points east:
- Take Interstate 64 West to exit 242A (Route 199 West) towards Williamsburg and Jamestown.
- Follow Route 199 approximately 6 miles to the Monticello Avenue exit.
- At the bottom of the ramp, bear to the right onto Monticello Avenue.
- Stay on Monticello Avenue for approximately 1.5 miles. At the sixth light, you’ll see a large sign on the right for the School of Education. Turn right at the light.
- Park in the lot specified on your parking pass. Be sure to display your parking permit which will be emailed.
Travel Time from Air Transportation:
- Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport – 30 minutes www.nnwairport.com
- Richmond International Airport- 40 minutes www.flyrichmond.com
- Norfolk International Airport- 1 hour www.norfolkairport.com