Summary - AASB's 2026 Annual Conference

As Alaska's largest gathering of school board members and district leaders, AASB's Annual Conference and Youth Leadership Institute offers unparalleled opportunities to connect, learn, and lead.

New Venue!
This year, all conference sessions will be held at the William A. Egan Civic & Convention Center (555 W 5th Ave, Downtown Anchorage). This new location offers expanded meeting space and greater accessibility as we continue to serve Alaska's students and communities.

This year's conference will feature two engaging General Sessions with expert keynote speakers, networking and peer learning through roundtable discussions, like-size district forums, and shared meals, plus over 15 breakout sessions covering timely and relevant topics in education.

And, don’t forget about AASB’s Youth Leadership Institute (YLI) — an integral part of Annual Conference! YLI brings high school students together to hone their leadership skills and use their voices to be change makers in their schools and communities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Thursday, November 5 - Sunday, November 8, 2026

An integral part of the conference is the Youth Leadership Institute (YLI), an inspiring experience that brings high school students from around Alaska to build leadership skills alongside their school boards and learn how to be powerful advocates for their schools and communities. Boards are encouraged to bring student representatives to participate!

Students will spend 4 days with peers and guest speakers from across Alaska. This year’s theme, “Coming Together for Alaska’s Students,” will empower youth to use their voices to be change-makers in their schools and communities. Engaging breakout sessions with speakers and school board members enable conversations at a level unique to Youth Leadership Institute.

Important Information

Students and Chaperones: Please download and sign this photo release form to have ready to submit during the registration process. The signed form can also be emailed to lbrady@aasb.org.
Each district is required to register a chaperone for their participants. This may be a participant at the coinciding AASB Annual Conference (i.e., board member, superintendent).
One-site school districts may register up to 2 students and 1 chaperone.
Multi-site school districts may register up to 6 students (no more than 2 from one school) and 1 chaperone.
A unique email is required for each registrant.
There is a limit of 80 participants for YLI 2026 - a waitlist will be used for registrations received over the limit.
Districts traveling with students are asked to book their rooms at the Hotel Captain Cook. Staying together makes it easier to coordinate chaperones, transportation, and student activities during the conference. Reserve through the AASB room block on the Hotel & Travel page.

Partnering with Families to Help Students Learn, Feel, & Live Better

This year’s Experienced Board Member Academy will focus on student engagement and strengthening family–school partnerships. Rebecca Winthrop, professor and author at the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution, will lead a conversation about how to help students meaningfully connect with learning. Participants will explore the different modes of learning, how families and schools can work together to support students, and policies that help put kids into "explorer" mode.

Ready, Set, Govern! is designed for newly elected school board members and those looking to refresh and strengthen their governance skills. This interactive session provides a practical overview of the board's essential responsibilities, including budgeting, policy, curriculum oversight, and advocacy, while highlighting the importance of a strong board-superintendent partnership. You'll gain valuable insights, explore real-world governance practices, and connect with fellow school board members from across Alaska.

Thursday, November 5, 2026, 8:30 am- 4:30 pm

The Resolutions Committee meets on Thursday, November 5, to review, amend, or recommend new or existing resolutions. Each member district is asked to have at least one representative present. The committee’s work is forwarded to the Delegate Assembly, which meets on Sunday, November 8, to vote on resolutions that set AASB’s legislative direction for the coming year. Every member district has a voice and a vote. Join us and make sure yours is part of the conversation that sets our shared direction.

AASB Annual Conference Cancellation Policy

If an attendee is unable to make an event or make a substitution, the following applies:

Up to ten (10) business days prior to the event, with written notice, registrants may cancel for a full refund. Please send cancellation requests via email to cottoson@aasb.org. Telephone requests will not be honored.

Cancellations received within ten (10) business days of the event will incur a cancellation fee of $200, as food and materials have been ordered on your behalf.
There are no refunds for no-shows. No-shows will incur a fee of $200 as food and materials have been ordered on your behalf.
Exceptions may be made to this policy on a case-by-case basis by AASB. This request must be made in writing by email to cottoson@aasb.org.

Photo/Video Usage

AASB reserves the right to use any photographs/videos taken at an AASB event and/or uploaded to the activity feed on the conference app for future purposes of publications or other media material produced. To ensure the privacy of children, images will not be identified using full names or personal identifying information without written approval/signed release form from the photographed subject, parent or legal guardian. By uploading your photo/video to the activity feed within the app, you are agreeing to these terms.

Keynote Speakers

Rebecca Winthrop

Vera Starbard

Natasha Singh