The 2024 NASA Women in Leadership Conference - Held Virtually

The 2024 NASA Women in Leadership Conference

Further details to follow, but ALL ARE WELCOME, including gentlemen. See desciption below!

5:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Monday April 15

Tuesday April 16

Wednesday April 17

Thursday April 18

Friday April 19

8:00 AM - 2:30 PM

Saturday April 20

Due to Washoe County School District (WCSD) salary advancement requirements, WCSD participants will be asked to submit a brief written summation of how this professional learning event will transfer learning into practice before a certificate is issued. WCSD participants: please use the link provided on the Guidance/Link sheet for each event to submit. Lastly, when completing events that are (1) or more credits, please submit your tracker to the PGS Department in Washoe and to ahendersonnasa@gmail.com

Inaugural Women in Leadership Conference:

A Time for Inspiration, Reflection and Action

A report from Chiefs for Change, Breaking Through: Shattering the Glass Ceiling for Women Leaders (2019), data indicates that women are the majority of our personnel in education, but not at the top of our education field. The report indicates that women account for:

75% of teachers in the field of education

52% of principals and less than

25% of superintendents

Few women of color and only one in ten are female superintendents, and two in ten female principals are women. However, at the district level, less than one-third of superintendents are women, and only 11% are women of color. At the state level, 45% of chiefs are women, and 8 percent are women of color. This inherently is an equity issue when considering over half the population of students in schools are female! Girls need female role models.

NASA recognizes, as does the report, that there are various reasons for such inequities. Therefore, NASA is holding their first Women in Leadership Conference. The interactive conference is a platform for successful women presenters to share their journey in education leadership and leadership so that other educators, male and female alike, can understand and; thereby, help students, especially female students, navigate their way, elevate to the levels of work and college that they aspire to, and ultimately close achievment gaps and improve achievement. They will share authentic leadership from a hard-earned perspective. Women presenters have been in the trenches of education and will share their experiences as well as practical strategies and solutions to address leadership issues that women face in the world and in education so that you can best serve your students, schools and districts and optimize student achievement results, engage students, improve climate and culture for students and all stakeholders and close achievement gaps.

Although all presenters are women, due to their experiences, from a female perspective, male attendees are welcome and encouraged to participate. NASA believes that male participants will learn from the various presentations and interactions on how to become more of an ally to women in the workplace thereby optimizing positive climate and culture that directly impacts the closing of student achievement gaps and increasing achievement and increasing student engagement. Leadership strategies will be shared, which benefit both male and female participants.

Each presenter’s topic aligns with our title indicating inspirational words, from the presenter, a time provided for reflection, and action for participants to implement lessons learned in their own workplace that will help others optimize positive climate and culture and increase student achievement.

The Activity

A report from Chiefs for Change, Breaking Through: Shattering the Glass Ceiling for Women Leaders (2019) data indicates that women are the majority of personnel in education, but not at the top of the education field. Dr. Geihs, Executive Director, NASA recognizes, as does this report, that there are various reasons for such inequities. Therefore, NASA is holding its first Women in Leadership Conference to strengthen the leadership pipeline, for women, and provide a networking environment for educators to share key issues supporting women in their work environment.

The conference is scheduled from Monday, March 25, 2024, through Saturday, April 20, 2024. Female leaders are presenters, with both male and female attendees, who are expected to be engaged in conference activities. Although all presenters are women, due to their experiences, from a female perspective, male attendees are welcomed and encouraged to participate. We believe that male participants will learn from the various presentations and interactions on how to become more of an ally to women in the workplace thereby optimizing a positive climate. Participants are teachers, principals, central office personnel, and educators at large.

Outcomes of the activity

Each speaker is expected to incorporate the title into their presentation. Specific attention is given to speakers providing an inspiring message, giving participants time for engaged reflections, and will highlight a call to action to use lessons learned in their classroom, school, central office or other work environment. It is expected that those in attendance will journal how they will implement leadership skills learned within their work-life balance.

How the activity directly relates to student achievement.

It is expected that the women leaders, who are presenting in our conference, will empower women to unleash their potential in their field of work and life. We expect to address challenges and how to overcome them to become more successful leaders in the classroom leading to increased student achievement. There are strategies and support systems available, to help women, in education stay motivated and prevent burnout. By also addressing work-life balance conflicts, all participants, especially teachers, will be able to better address student needs and achievement at the next level.