Conference Connections
By Craig Hubble

Conferences can be truly inspiring. They give you insight into new and innovative practices. They give you access to people who are thinkers and doers, movers and shakers. They are often just the thing to revitalize your interest in something that matters to you. Over the course of my career in education, the MEMSPA Annual Conference has done just that for me.

Having attended this conference for well over a decade has provided me with personal growth in the areas of data usage, assessment development, recognizing and developing quality instruction and most of all, leadership.

Each year, as attendees begin to arrive, you can feel the excitement in the air. Old friends meet again and many new friends are made over three days that are filled with information, collegiality and fun. Things really kick off at the first general session, which always sets the tone for things to come. This year, MEMSPA has pulled together a menu of topics that are designed to meet the needs of new and veteran principals alike and the pre-conference session with award-winning educator, Scott Taylor is sure to please.

In the past, I have followed a couple simple rules that have helped me get the most out of the conference.
1) Be sure to review the program before you arrive so you will know which sessions are the best for you. This will also help you to know when you’ll have breaks to chat with others and check-in back at the office.
2) If you are traveling with other principals from your district, try to meet new people as well. Also, discuss which sessions you’ll each attend so you can get the most information out of the conference.

After the sessions end, ideas are shared and information exchanged. People get to connect with other professionals who all have great insight to the wonderful parts of our jobs as well as the frustrations. I know I have learned much from other principals from all around our state. Whenever I have the need to dialogue about an issue, the colleagues I have met through MEMSPA are the people I turn to.

As in past years, I know I will be able to walk away from the conference with many ideas that I can take back to my district and specifically to my building. Vital news about education legislation and current successful practices will help me to guide my staff in our goal of providing the best possible education for all of our students. I am anxiously awaiting December in Kalamazoo and I hope to see you there.

For conference registration information follow this link.