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Alex Richards
Regional Vice President of Customer Success

The best events for publicly elected boards to attend this year

January 20, 2025
0 min read
public sector conferences and events

Conferences and events give your leadership and board members opportunities to share resources and network, as well as learn about best practices, industry trends and innovations. They also offer opportunities to connect with peers and identify potential partners.

This year brings a variety of interesting and useful events for public education and state and local government organizations. We've put together this handy list of key events we think board members and leaders should have on their radar this year.

Why members of public boards should attend events

Board members of public boards benefit personally and professionally by attending professional learning events. Here are just some of the benefits of attending at least one event this year:

  • Conferences and special events provide good networking opportunities. Board members can meet with their own colleagues, other leaders and thought leaders. The knowledge board members gain at events will help them be better leaders and better people.
  • Collaborative efforts often amplify impact. Large or small events are also good places to find new vendors and potential partners.
  • Workshops, seminars, and panel discussions offer board members a wealth of information to take back to the board, including best practices, innovations, and tips for overcoming challenges.
  • At events, board members can learn about emerging trends and potential opportunities within the sector. This new knowledge will keep them ahead of the curve when it comes to regulatory changes and societal shifts.
  • Certain events may focus on policy and advocacy, which may help board members better navigate regulatory challenges. Attendees may also be able to share their perspectives and get feedback from their peers.
  • Conferences can often highlight how best to encourage community engagement. Board members can gather new ideas on how to engage with their communities and address their unique needs.
  • Celebration of achievements: Events in the sector often celebrate the achievements and positive impact of organizations. Attending such events allows board members to witness success stories and walk away feeling motivated and inspired.

Month-by-month calendar of professional development events for 2025

January

22-24 January 2025: The Wisconsin State Education Convention, held at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, is a gathering of school board members, administrators, and education leaders from across the state. Visit us at our booth to connect with our team, explore how Diligent Community can enhance your board's efficiency and transparency, and discover innovative solutions for effective school governance.

February

7-8 February 2025: The West Virginia School Boards Association Winter Conference in Charleston offers sessions on governance, education policy, and best practices for addressing the unique challenges facing West Virginia schools. Visit us at our booth to connect with our team, explore how Diligent Community can enhance your board's efficiency and transparency, and discover innovative solutions for effective school governance.

25-27 February 2025: The Louisiana School Board Association 87th Annual Convention is for elected school board members and other public education stakeholders Louisiana. The convention, which will be held in Lake Charles, will feature breakout sessions and special interest clinics. Those who want to attend may register by contacting their school board secretary.

March

6-8 March 2025: The 2025 AASA National Conference on Education will be held in New Orleans. This year’s conference focuses on anticipating future trends, challenges and opportunities in education and shaping strategies and initiatives to address them, for staff and students alike. Visit us at our booth to connect with our team, discover how Diligent Community can enhance your district’s governance, and explore the latest advancements in education leadership solutions.

19-21 March 2025: The Washington Municipal Clerks’ Association Annual Conference connects municipal clerks in various local governments within the state of Washington through 3 days of professional education, networking and impact recognition. This year’s conference will be held at the Semiahmoo Resort & Spa in Blaine.

21-23 March 2025:The 2025 COSSBA Annual Conference, held at the Hilton Atlanta, brings together school board members and education leaders nationwide to explore best practices in public education. Be sure to visit us at our booth to connect and learn how Diligent Community can help transform your school board governance.

April

6-8 April 2025: The National School Board Association 2025 Annual Conference and Exposition is the nation’s biggest school board conference. It will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Keynote speakers, including Melissa Stockwell, Ravi Hutheesing and the Bacon Brothers, will provide inspiring insights into leadership and the future of education. We invite you to visit our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can support your school board's governance needs.

6-8 April 2025: The 2025 Small School District Association State Conference will be held at the Sheraton Grand Hotel in Sacramento, California. It is open to all educators and school board members, focusing on small district issues in the state. This year’s theme is “Empowering Educators and Inspiring Learners in a Changing Educational Landscape.”

12-16 April 2025:The American Association of Community Colleges Annual Convention, in Nashville, is a premier event for community college leaders and educators. The convention offers high-energy keynote presentations, breakout sessions addressing pressing issues and opportunities in the two-year college sector, technology showcases, and unparalleled networking opportunities. We invite you to visit us at our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can support your institution's governance needs.

May

18-21 May 2025: The International Institute Municipal Clerks (IIMC) Annual Conference is being held at the Hyatt Regency St. Louis at The Arch in St. Louis, Missouri. This conference is open to municipal clerks in Canada and the U.S. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in networking events, explore an extensive exhibit hall, and engage in discussions aimed at enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of municipal operations. We invite you to visit our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can support your municipality's governance needs.

June

8-11 June 2025:The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) Annual Conference will be held in Caesars Hotel & Casino in Windsor, Ontario, Canada. This event is open to municipal managers, clerks and treasurers. This year’s theme is “Building Bridges, Sparking Change,” celebrating the power of collaboration and innovation. Attendees will learn about best practices, adaptability, doing more with less, and regulatory changes.

22-25 June 2025: The Maryland Municipal League (MML) Summer Conference, held at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center in Ocean City, Maryland, is the premier event for municipal officials and staff across the state. The conference features engaging workshops, keynote presentations, and networking opportunities focused on best practices in municipal governance and administration. Stop by our booth to connect with our team and explore how Diligent Community can help your municipality enhance efficiency and transparency.

August

19-22 August 2025: Held in LaCrosse, the 2025 Wisconsin Municipal Clerks Association Annual Education Conference is filled with education and recognition, ideal for anyone in administration of local government e.g. city, town or village clerk, deputy clerk or any official having similar duties.

September

15-16 September 2025: The ISBA/IAPSS 2025 Fall Conference in Indianapolis is Indiana’s premier training opportunity for school board members, superintendents, and administrators. Hear from inspirational school advocates, learn about products and services, and share best practices to "pursue excellent outcomes for all children”. It’s a great opportunity to collaborate and network with school officials from across the state.

October

19-21 October 2025: The Pennsylvania Association of School Administrators (PASA) and Pennsylvania School Boards Association (PSBA) host a joint, multiday conference for school leaders from across the commonwealth. This year's PASA-PSBA School Leadership Conference will be held at the Kalahari Resorts & Conventions in the Poconos. This conference features dynamic keynote presentations, informative sessions, and networking opportunities, all focused on advancing school governance and leadership. Come meet our team to learn how Diligent Community can support your board's goals for transparency and efficiency.

20-22 October 2025: The Maryland Association of Boards of Education Annual Conference taking place in Annapolis, provides the timely information and helpful resources busy school board members need most.

20-23 October 2025: The New Jersey School Boards Association's (NJSBA) Workshop 2025, to be held at the Atlantic City Convention Center, is the premier event for New Jersey's education leaders. This conference offers a dynamic mix of insights, strategies, and collaborative opportunities, all geared to help you navigate the evolving landscape of education. We invite you to visit our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can enhance your board's governance and efficiency.

23-25 October 2025: The 2025 New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA) Annual Convention & Education Expo will be held in New York City. This premier event brings together education leaders from across the state to engage in professional development, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions in school governance and student achievement. We invite you to visit our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can enhance your board's governance and efficiency.

23-25 October 2025: The 2025 Missouri School Board Association Annual Conference will be held in Kansas City. It offers programs for public school leaders, board members, superintendents, and supportive administrative roles responsible for meeting the educational needs of all public-school children.

23-26 October 2025: The Michigan Association of School Boards 2025 Annual Leadership Conference will be held at Grand Traverse Resort and Spa in Acme, Michigan. It offers access to training that can benefit individual board members and their school districts. Research indicates that boards with high expectations, united teamwork with the superintendent, good understanding of data, and a focus on team development and knowledge building often govern districts with high student achievement.

22-26 October 2025: The Council of the Great City Schools (CGCS) 69th Annual Fall Conference will be held at the Sheraton Philadelphia Hotel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This premier event brings together urban school superintendents, board members, senior administrators, and education leaders to share best practices and strategies for improving teaching and learning in urban schools. Stop by our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can enhance your district's governance and efficiency.

November

12-14 November 2025: Idaho School Boards Association (ISBA) 2025 Annual Convention will be held in Coeur d’Alene. It is a valuable learning opportunity for boards, superintendents, clerks, and business managers. Additionally, the ISBA Business Session provides school boards with the opportunity to vote on policy issues that will comprise ISBA’s legislative platform for the upcoming year.

16-18 November 2025: The Ohio School Boards Association (OSBA) Capital Conference and Trade Show 2025 will be held at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. This premier event offers exceptional opportunities for learning, sharing, and networking. Stop by our booth to explore how Diligent Community can support your board’s governance goals and meet the challenges of today’s education landscape.

21-23 November 2025: The Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) 2025 Joint Annual Conference will be held in Chicago. This event brings together school board members, administrators, and education leaders from across the state to engage in professional development, share best practices, and explore innovative solutions in school governance and student achievement. We encourage you to stop by our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can enhance your board's governance and efficiency.

December

2-5 December 2025: The Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) and Florida Association of District School Superintendents (FADSS) 80th Annual Joint Conference will be held at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay in Tampa. This collaborative event brings together school board members, superintendents, district staff, and education leaders to network, gain insights into current educational issues, and access valuable professional development opportunities. We invite you to visit our booth to connect with our team and discover how Diligent Community can enhance your board's governance and efficiency.

4-6 December 2025: The New Mexico School Boards Association 2025 Annual Convention will take taking place in Albuquerque. The convention begins with newly elected board member mandatory training as well as veteran board member training and the Board of Directors meeting. Attendees will listen to several informative keynote speakers; newly elected members will be sworn in. They will attend the Annual Recognition Awards Luncheon and participate in the Annual Delegate Assembly to adopt legislative priorities and elect state officers.

Leverage technology for conference and event attendance

Look through the events listed above and decide which ones will benefit your organization, then set notifications for registration dates in your calendar so you can be sure your board doesn't miss out.

Once your board member has attended, encourage them to share what they learned at the next board or committee meeting and store key documents and notes they brought back in your document library.

Discover how Diligent Community can help your public board increase efficiency, improve workflows and ensure your board members make the most of opportunities such as conventions and conferences.

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