Making Schools Work Conference Schedule

Overview

2026 Conference Schedule

Attendee and SREB team member at the 2026 conference

Until we have published our 2027 conference schedule, you can view the 2026 conference schedule to get a better feel on what the conference experience feels like.

 

Download a PDF of the schedule.

Tuesday*

July 14, 2026

Time Event
8 – 8:30 a.m. Coffee for Learning Community^ Attendees
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  Conference Registration Open
8:30 – 9:45 a.m. Learning Community (Pre-Conference) Opening Forum (open to all registered learning community attendees)
9:30 – 10:45 a.m. State Agency Collaborative (by invitation)
10 – 11 a.m.  Learning Community Breakout #1 
11 a.m. – 12 p.m. 
  • Learning Community Attendee Lunch (learning community registration required)
  • Pacesetter Award Recipient and State Agency Collaborative Luncheon (by invitation) 
11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m Educational Escape Room Open
12 – 1 p.m.
  • Learning Community Breakout #2 (learning community registration required)
  • Pacesetter Award Recipient Team Pictures and Rehearsal (invite only)
  • Making Schools Work Orientation (Elementary/Middle/High Schools and Technology Centers) (open to all attendees)
1:30 p.m. Conference Begins
1:30 – 3:10 p.m

General Session:

  • Welcome
  • Pacesetter Awards Recognition
  • Keynote: Kim Strobel, “The Science of Happiness”
3:10 – 5 p.m.
  • Educational Escape Room Open
  • YouScience Lab Open
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. 
  • State Meetings
  • Concurrent Breakout Sessions #1

*Locations and session information will be in the app closer to the start of the conference.

^All events listed as Learning Community require prior registration to that community to attend. This includes lunch on Tuesday.

Wednesday*

July 15, 2026

Time Event
7 – 8 a.m.  Coffee
7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Conference Registration Open
8 – 9 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions #2
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  Networking Events:
  • Educational Escape Room
  • Sponsor Sessions
  • PBL Playground
  • YouScience Certification Exams
  • Team Meetings (by reservation)
  • SREB Experience Zone: Community Hub
  • SREB Experience Zone: Leadership Exchange
  • SREB Experience Zone: Postsecondary Student Success
  • SREB Experience Zone: Share Your SREB Story
  • SREB Experience Zone: Teaching Strategies Corner
  • Ideation Station: Learning Lounge
  • Ideation Station: Meet the Author
  • Ideation Station: Pay It Forward
9:15 – 10:15 a.m. 

  • Featured Sessions: Natasha Brown and Thomas C. Murray

  • Concurrent Breakout Sessions #3
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. Break and Snacks
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions #4 
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2 p.m. 
  • Featured Sessions: Lisa Bonelli and  Baruti Kafele
  • Concurrent Breakout Sessions #5 
2 – 2:30 p.m. Networking Break^
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.  Concurrent Breakout Sessions #6
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Learning Community Featured Event and Networking Session (learning community registration required)
2:30 – 5:30 p.m. Industry Tour

*Locations and session information will be in the app closer to the start of the conference.

^Snacks are not provided during this break

Thursday*

July 16, 2026

Time Event
7 – 8 a.m.  Coffee
8 a.m. – 12 p.m. Conference Registration Open
8 – 9 a.m. Concurrent Breakout Sessions #7
8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.  Networking Events:
  • Educational Escape Room
  • Sponsor Sessions
  • PBL Playground
  • YouScience Certification Exams
  • Team Meetings (by reservation)
  • SREB Experience Zone: Community Hub
  • SREB Experience Zone: Leadership Exchange
  • SREB Experience Zone: Postsecondary Student Success
  • SREB Experience Zone: Share Your SREB Story
  • SREB Experience Zone: Teaching Strategies Corner
  • Ideation Station: Learning Lounge
  • Ideation Station: Meet the Author
  • Ideation Station: Pay It Forward
9:15 – 10:15 a.m. 

  • Featured Sessions: Tony Johnson and Betsy Wills

  • Concurrent Breakout Sessions #8
10:15 – 10:45 a.m. Break and Snacks
10:45 a.m. – 12 p.m.

General Session:

  • Keynote: John Hodge, “You Can Get in the Way: How You Can Become a Roadblock to Risk Factors” 
12 – 1 p.m. Lunch
1 – 2 p.m.
  • Featured Sessions: Marck Abraham and Nicole Cobb
  • Concurrent Breakout Sessions #9
2 – 2:30 p.m. Networking Break^
2:30 – 3:30 p.m.  Concurrent Breakout Sessions #10
2:30 – 4:30 p.m. Learning Community Featured Event and Networking Session (learning community registration required)

*Locations and session information will be in the app closer to the start of the conference.

^Snacks are not provided during this break.

Friday*

July 17, 2026

Time Event
7:30 – 8:30 a.m. Coffee
8:30 – 9:30 a.m. 

Concurrent Breakout Sessions #11
8:30 – 10:30 a.m.
  • SREB Coaching Deep Dives
  • Learning Community Closing Forum (learning community registration required)
9:45 – 10:45 a.m.  Concurrent Sessions #12
11:00 a.m.  Conference Closes

*Locations and session information will be in the app closer to the start of the conference.