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Summer Leadership Institute

Join us for our Summer Leadership Institute on July 28 & 29!

Tuesday, July 28, 2026 at 7:30 AM (EDT) to Wednesday, July 29, 2026 at 4:15 PM (EDT)

Delta Marriott - Muskegon Convention Center

939 3rd Street
Muskegon, MI 49440
United States

* Registration open until 7/27/26 at 3:00 PM (EDT)

MEMSPA invites PreK - 8th grade school leaders, along with aspiring school leaders and district level leaders from across the state, to our Summer Leadership Institute on July 28 & 29 at the the Delta Marriott, Muskegon Convention Center in Muskegon! Set along the shore of Muskegon Lake, and just minutes from Lake Michigan, MEMSPA’s Summer Leadership Institute will provide a perfect blend of new learning, implementation time for teams and individuals, connection with other leaders and an opportunity for leaders to bring their team and/or families to enjoy an escape to the lakeshore.

New this year:  We will have built in implementation time for our attendees this year! We encourage you to bring a team and use the implementation time to collaborate and/or use the time individually to make plans to implement the new learning.  If you are bringing a team of 4 or more leaders from your school or district, MEMSPA will offer you a $25 discount on each registration.  Please reach out to Jessa@memspa.org for the discount code BEFORE the members of your team register.

We are excited to announce that our Summer Leadership Institute will feature three incredible keynote speakers!

Tammy Musiowsky, Author, Educational Consultant and Instructional Coach

Keynote: Edit to Elevate: Creating Space for What Really Matters

Stop adding. Start editing. In this keynote, we explore how intentional leadership focus strengthens culture, staff, and student success. As school leaders, you are navigating overwhelming demands, competing priorities, and constant change with no time to analyze what makes an impact in your school. Drawing from international leadership experiences and the
framework from Your School Leadership Edit, you will be introduced to the 5R process - Reimagine, Remove, Repurpose, Reinvest, and Refine - to help reduce overload and strengthen focus on clarity, sustainability, and impact. Leave feeling energized, validated, and equipped with a sense of direction toward editing your systems and making intentional decisions
that support your school community.

Dr. Todd Whitaker, Author & Speaker

Keynote: What Great Principals Do Differently

What are the specific qualities and practices of great principals that elevate them above the rest? This workshop reveals what the most effective principals do differently than their colleagues. Blending school centered studies and experience working with hundreds of administrators, this workshop will focus on the things that the most successful principals do . . . that other principals do not. Participants will leave knowing what great principals do differently, why these things make them more effective, and how to immediately implement each of these practices into your school.

Dr. Debbie McFalone, Author and Educational Consultant

Keynote: Who We Are Is How We Lead

In this interactive keynote, Debbie will share a method for reflecting on our leadership values, and how those values can guide us when we are struggling.  How do we want to show up in the world and what do we want our people to remember about us?   We'll think together about the strength and resilience we need in order to lead today. and we'll hear and share stories of the courage we all need to sustain us in our lives. Courage is contagious, so let's close our SLI by offering that gift of strength to each other! 

In addition to our keynote presentations, attendees will experience three strands of sessions including sessions focused on general leadership, middle level leadership and elementary level leadership. 

We hope you will consider investing in your growth, connecting with peers, and embracing the power of professional learning with MEMSPA at our Summer Leadership Institute this year! 

Registration Options

Credits Price
Member
MEMSPA invites school leaders to our Summer Leadership Institute on July 28 & 29 at the the Delta Marriott in Muskegon!  If you are bring a team from your school or district of 4 or more leaders, we will offer you a $25 discount on each registration.  Contact Jessa@memspa.org for the discount code BEFORE the members of your team register.


Registration Ends 7/27/26 at 3:00 PM EDT
$400.00
Nonmember
MEMSPA invites school leaders to our Summer Leadership Institute on July 28 & 29 at the the Delta Marriott in Muskegon!  If you are bring a team from your school or district of 4 or more leaders, we will offer you a $25 discount on each registration.  Contact Jessa@memspa.org for the discount code BEFORE the members of your team register. Registration Ends 7/27/26 at 3:00 PM EDT
$480.00

Agenda

July 28
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM Registration & Breakfast
8:00 AM - 8:45 AM Women In Leadership Presentation
9:00 AM - 9:20 AM Welcome - Dr. Shanna Spickard, Executive Director
9:20 AM - 10:30 AM Keynote by Tammy Musiowsky Edit to Elevate: Creating Space for What Really Matters
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Break
10:45 AM - 11:55 AM Breakout Sessions #1
10:45 AM - 11:55 PM Building Middle School Culture With Purpose: Engagement, Voice and Relationships Kimberly Jasper, Principal
10:45 AM - 11:55 AM Leading Up: The Principal's Guide to a Strong Superintendent Partnership and Relationship Dr. Nick Angel, Superintendent
10:45 AM - 11:55 AM Hear Us ROAR! Big Behavior Wins From a Small Rural School Tim Lee, Principal and Travis Boik, Social Worker
10:45 AM - 11:55 AM Zoom In, Zoom Out, Carry On: Focusing Your Leadership Lens to Share Learning, Build Efficacy and Foster Resilience Michelle Allen, Leadership Consultant
12:00 PM - 12:50 PM Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Breakout Sessions #2
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Leading Instructional Equity Layal Boussi, Principal
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Make the Edit: Your Leadership Edit in Action Tammy Musiowsky, Leadership Consultant
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM AI As Your Assistant Principal: Automating the Busywork Without Losing the Human Connection Jason Strzalkowski, Principal
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Navigating Critical Conversations: How to Build Empathy, Provide Feedback and Detect Deception Verle Gilbert, Principal
2:30 PM - 3:40 PM Keynote by Dr. Todd Whitaker. What Great Principals Do Differently
3:45 PM - 5:00 PM Implementation Time
5:30 PM - 6:30 PM MEMSPA Welcome Reception
July 29
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM Welcome - Doug Ammeraal, MEMSPA President Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year Award
9:25 AM - 10:30 AM Keynote by Dr. Debbie McFalone. Who We Are Is How We Lead
10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Break
10:45 AM - 11:15 AM Leading Through Advocacy: Communicating the Needs of Elementary and Middle School Principals by Jonathan Swegles
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Breakout Sessions #3
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Amplified: The Power of Raising Student Voices and Why It Matters! Jenn Muskovin, Principal
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Leaders Deserve Joy, Too! Dr. Shalonda Owens, Principal
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM Choosing to Stay: Teacher Well-Being and Retention in Rural Schools Dr. Kari Huckaby, Principal
11:15 AM - 12:15 PM A School Day at the Improv Dr. Jeff Hager
12:15 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Breakout Sessions #4
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Attracting, Onboarding, and Retaining Teaching Staff: Empowering All teachers to be Great For Kids Mike Hart, Curriculum Director
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM From Leadership to Impact: Cultivating an Inclusive Culture and Climate for All Dr. Nichole Moore and Dr. Sarah Parker
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Building Trust Across Racial Difference: Leadership Practices That Strengthen Teacher-Student Relationships Dr. Joe Trobaugh, Principal
1:00 PM - 2:10 PM Managing Transitions: Leading the Human side of School Closures and Mergers Vicki Wilson, Educational Consultant
2:15 PM - 4:15 PM Implementation Time

For More Information:

Kimberly Gillow
Kimberly Gillow
Associate Executive Director

Hotel Information: 

Delta Marriott (Muskegon)

  • Delta Hotels Muskegon Convention Center for 229.00 USD per night
  • Last Day to Book : Saturday, June 27, 2026

Online Booking Link: Book your group rate for MEMSPA Summer Leadership Institute

Call in Reservations: 1-833-999-0181 - You will need to ask specifically for the Group Block under MEMSPA Summer Leadership Institute (code MEM).