Educators Gather at MCLA for Leadership Conference
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Educators from across the region will gather at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts (MCLA) from July 6-8 for the Leadership Conference, the capstone of the Leadership Academy's 2025 cohort and the kickoff for the incoming 2026 cohort.
The conference will open Monday, July 6, with a keynote from Julie Haagenson, founder of New Pathways, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Murdock Hall. Scholar Robert Putnam will give the July 7 keynote, also 6:30-8:30 p.m. in Murdock Hall. Morning presentations will follow from Leslie Blake-Davis on July 7 and Matthew Bishop on July 8.
Concurrent sessions run July 7 and 8, from 10 a.m.-3:45 p.m., led by members of the 2025 cohort. Presenters share the research, strategies, and leadership practices they built over the year.
Sessions take on the issues schools face now: building inclusive communities, strengthening instructional leadership, improving operations, and supporting every student. They are organized around the four standards of the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education's Professional Standards for Administrative Leadership:
- Instructional Leadership
- Management and Operations
- Family and Community Engagement
- Professional Culture
"The Leadership Conference is the culmination of a year of growth, collaboration, and commitment to educational excellence," said Marianne Young, director of the Leadership Academy. "These presentations show the talent and dedication of current and aspiring school leaders working to create better outcomes for students, families, and communities across the region."
The conference will run in a hybrid format, with sessions open on campus or remotely. Registration is encouraged.
The Leadership Academy supports educators working to strengthen their leadership skills and lead effective, equitable, student-centered schools. The annual conference both celebrates the cohort's work and gives educators a chance to learn alongside colleagues from across the region.
For more information about the conference or the Leadership Academy, contact MCLA's Division of Graduate and Continuing Education at dgce@mcla.edu or 413-662-5575.
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