NEW: VOICES AT THE TABLE POLICY FORUM

October 20, 2026: 4 - 5 p.m.

Your Voice. Our Agenda. National Impact.

Every voice matters—and every voice has a seat at the table.

The Voices at the Table Policy Forum is your opportunity to help shape NREA’s national advocacy agenda. Beginning September 1, registered attendees will be invited into a national ThoughtExchange, where they can share the challenges, opportunities, and priorities facing their schools and communities. The insights gathered will become the foundation for this interactive session, ensuring the conversation in San Antonio begins with what rural educators across the country say matters most.

During the forum, you’ll engage in two rounds of facilitated table discussions with fellow attendees as NREA Board members, Legislative Committee members, and Research Committee members rotate among tables to guide conversations, ask deeper questions, and capture key insights. Ideas from every discussion will be synthesized in real time and carried forward to help inform NREA’s advocacy priorities and future policy work.

This isn’t just a discussion about policy—it’s an opportunity to help shape it.

Sponsored by: ThoughtExchange

UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE OF ANIMATED STORYTELLING TO PROTECT CHILDREN

October 20, 2026: 4 - 5 p.m.

Engage Minds. Build Resilience. Inspire Conversations.

Discover how the power of animated storytelling can help educators engage students in meaningful conversations about difficult topics while strengthening social-emotional learning and resilience.

Through live demonstrations and real-world implementation examples, participants will explore the research behind why animation is such an effective teaching tool and learn practical strategies for integrating these resources into classroom instruction and counseling settings. Attendees will leave with a collection of free, ready-to-use lessons and activities developed by child advocates, therapists, and nationally recognized scholars.

The animated resources were produced by Terry Thoren, former CEO of Klasky Csupo—the award-winning animation studio behind beloved family favorites Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys.

Sponsored by: Wonder Media

NEW: RURAL INNOVATION & IMPACT SHOWCASE

October 21, 2026: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Where Rural Innovation Takes Center Stage

The Rural Innovation & Impact Showcase debuts in 2026 as a new signature Forum experience, celebrating the bold ideas and measurable results emerging from rural schools and organizations across the nation. Selected from nearly 50 submissions nationwide, five finalists will present innovative solutions that are transforming student learning, strengthening communities, and tackling some of rural education’s most pressing challenges. 

More than a showcase, this interactive experience gives you the opportunity to engage directly with the finalists through facilitated conversations exploring implementation strategies, lessons learned, and practical ideas you can adapt in your own school or district. 

The session concludes with the live announcement of the 2026 Rural Innovation & Impact Showcase Winner, celebrating one outstanding innovation while recognizing the creativity and impact of rural educators across America.