ACSA’s 2026 Lead With Pride is HERE!
Lead with Pride is a multi-day conference for school administrators and educators focused on creating learning environments where every student, including LGBTQ+ youth, feels safe, seen, and supported.
This is a professional learning experience grounded in student outcomes, legal responsibility, and the core work of schools: helping students thrive.
You will leave with practical tools, clear guidance, and a network of peers navigating the same challenges. Whether your school is just getting started or building on existing efforts, this conference meets you where you are.
Westin Long Beach | Long Beach, California
Wed September 30, 2026 - Fri October 2, 2026
Why This Conference Matters
Student safety & belonging
Research shows LGBTQ+ students in affirming schools have significantly better attendance, mental health, and academic outcomes. Learn what affirmation looks like at the systems level.
Legal & policy clarity
Navigate the evolving landscape of Title IX, pronoun policies, anti-discrimination law, and state-level legislation, with practical guidance you can implement.
Responding to conflict
When staff, parents, or community members push back, how do you hold your values and your community together? Get frameworks for hard conversations that work.
Curriculum & visibility
Discover age-appropriate, standards-aligned ways to incorporate LGBTQ+ history and voices, from library collections to classroom instruction to school-wide events.
Supporting GSA & student clubs
How do you empower student-led groups while ensuring administrative oversight and community trust? Leave with a model that works.
Staff training & culture
Inclusive schools start with adults. Learn how to build professional development that moves staff beyond compliance to genuine understanding and care.
You don't have to do this work alone
Lead With Pride is built on the idea that lasting change happens in community, not in isolation. This conference is designed to bring together the people doing this work so you can connect, share perspective, and support one another in real, practical ways.
See you in...
- Days44
- Hours1
- Minutes5
Join us at the Westin Long Beach!
333 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
Balance mind, body, and spirit at The Westin Long Beach. Located in the thriving downtown district, steps from the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center, our hotel in Long Beach, California, is designed to maximize your potential. Take time to explore the local area, as the Queen Mary and the Catalina Express are just steps away.
