Today, it takes a team to lead a school successfully. We have to focus both on school management and  leading learning. To do that well, we need the leadership team to use  trust based relational interventions, PBIS, Discipline that is immediate and effective, and behavioral support that can be implemented by all staff over time.

Today’s event will feature Deana Jones from Collierville, Kevin Sanders from Lakeland, Kyle Cepeda from Bedford, and a spotlight from our partners at Class Link. ALI members should register as usual, but if you have non-members that you wish to have at your table that day, you may share your link. They will be welcomed as your guests for this event. This date is an opportunity for your entire leadership team to build and to plan a strong and supportive team.

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Sustained literacy improvement requires more than strong instruction. It requires a deliberate system design that aligns curriculum, assessment, professional learning, and accountability around the Science of Reading. This session supports district and system leaders in operationalizing evidence-based literacy practices across schools while maintaining clarity, consistency, and trust. In January, when our ALI subscribers looked deeply into the work we have been doing since 2026, one of the first things we noticed was the urgency we all feel to revisit strong Tier 1 instruction. It is so easy to follow the newest, shiny thing and lose site of the importance of strong and consistent Tier 1 programming, so we reached out to our partners at Lexia Learning and started our ‘new’ science of reading work with this session.

Aligned to Tennessee literacy priorities and early grade reading goals, participants will examine how coherent system structures reduce fragmentation, support school leaders through change, and enable consistent implementation across classrooms. Leaders will explore how evidence is used to set direction, guide course correction, and sustain literacy improvement at scale. You know how often teachers change schools, classrooms, and systems. This training will help you remember what is important and what should be featured in our professional learning every year.

Key Outcomes for Leaders

• Identify system-level actions from successful Science of Reading implementations that enable scale

• Design aligned approaches to curriculum, assessment, and professional learning that strengthen coherence across schools

• Apply system-level evidence to align stakeholders, build trust, and monitor implementation

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As spring brings sporting events, field days, graduations, and large school celebrations, ensuring safety becomes a shared responsibility. Join Dr. Wanda Shelton, ALI Facilitator for the Tennessee Organization of School Superintendents, for a collaborative virtual session focused on proactive planning and practical strategies to support safe, successful school events.

This interactive Zoom event will feature Dr. Wanda Shelton, who will lead the conversation on effective event planning, coordination, and preparation for large-scale school activities.

Mark Reeves, Tennessee Secondary School Athletic Association (TSSAA), sharing guidance and best practices for spring sports safety, including supervision, venue readiness, and risk management, and

a panel of experienced School Resource Officers (SROs) offering practical insight to help schools strengthen safety planning for field days, graduations, and high-attendance celebrations.

Participants will engage in discussion around crowd management, communication, supervision, emergency readiness, and collaboration with community partners. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and planning tools to help their schools endure safety throughout the busy spring season—because the little things truly matter. We will discuss facility walks, heat index, communication with sports officials, and more.

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Not so many years ago, many elementary schools had a principal, but they did not have an assistant principal partner. Today, most of our subscribers do have that leadership team in their school across all grade levels. This session focuses on how we can best unite that team into an effective and cohesive force. We will talk about building relationships, leading learning, and creating trust based relational interventions.

Tara Churchwell from Washington County will talk about team building, followed by a spotlight from our partners at The College Board, who will share ideas around data and data analysis, learning goals, and access for ALL, and finally we will hear from Elizabeth Kaylor from Bradley County, and she will share their work around Truth-Based Relational Interventions. Please tap all the members of your leadership team on the shoulder and invite them to place this event on their calendar. ALI members should register as usual, but if you have non-members that you wish to have at your table that day, you may share your link. They will be welcomed as your guests for this event. 

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Join us on March 26, 2026, for a collaborative learning session with our partners from Pearson Assessment focused on supporting student learning across Tennessee. Participants will hear from Lisa Sisk and Lou Ellen Marlatt and engage in hands-on navigation of AimsWeb Plus, exploring best practices for generating reports and identifying core instructional areas for targeted support and scaffolding.

Attendees will work together to analyze reports highlighting students in intervention and determine how to implement the most effective, targeted instructional approaches. The session will then transition to SchoolNet, where participants will view a demonstration on identifying resources for creating daily exit tickets and weekly CRAs—tools designed to inform instruction and support MTSS implementation over time.

This session will also include small-group collaboration, allowing participants to share strategies and develop actionable plans to support both teachers and students. This virtual Zoom experience offers direct learning from professionals who work with these platforms and data daily.

ALI and SLI members are encouraged to attend so that they can deepen their understanding of how data can be used at both the system and school levels to promote student growth. This is a valuable opportunity to learn directly from the Pearson team, don’t miss it!

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This event is planned for ALI members and their invited guests. We will open with ALICE training discussions, move to Homeland Security and School Safety Assessments, and end the day with a panel of principals and school leaders who will address the topic ‘The little things matter’, sharing how things like tardies and event safety can build a safer community of learners. All attendees will also receive some time to review the list of training we have required for students and adults in Tennessee and in small groups, share how those requirements can be successfully completed each year.

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One of our most often requested topics for the 2025-2026 professional learning calendar has been Managing Behavior and Healthy Habits in our schools, Management of behaviors and community engagement issues abound and take up so much of the time and energy that we want to be spending on learning and growing our students each day.

This event is planned for school leaders, and we will focus on learning from behavioral specialists, Family Resource Center Directors, and Counselors nominated by their superintendents and representing each of our regional areas.

We may not answer all of your questions in this two-part series of meetings, but we will give each attendee new information to consider. I asked our nominated presenters to think about what student and behavioral challenges they have been seeing since Covid 19 in their schools and classrooms, and to share some strategies with our subscribers that they use successfully or as successfully as possible to support the students in their schools and in their classrooms.

I also asked the presenters to share a bit about how they were supporting families and engaging them in the on-going work with children. This specific training may be most beneficial to the school leaders in our state across all grade levels, K-8 and 9-12. Leaders who attend with their r counselors could benefit as well from some of the strategies. I know systems with behavioral coordinators will want to invite those leaders to attend. We plan to focus too on the ways that Family Resources Centers are being utilized to support engaged learning.

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One of our most often requested topics for the 2025-2026 professional learning calendar has been Managing Behavior and Healthy Habits in our schools, Management of behaviors and community engagement issues abound and take up so much of the time and energy that we want to be spending on learning and growing our students each day.

This event is planned for school leaders, and we will focus on learning from behavioral specialists, Family Resource Center Directors, and Counselors nominated by their superintendents and representing each of our regional areas.

We may not answer all of your questions in this two-part series of meetings, but we will give each attendee new information to consider. I asked our nominated presenters to think about what student and behavioral challenges they have been seeing since Covid 19 in their schools and classrooms, and to share some strategies with our subscribers that they use successfully or as successfully as possible to support the students in their schools and in their classrooms.

I also asked the presenters to share a bit about how they were supporting families and engaging them in the ongoing work with children. This specific training may be most beneficial to the school leaders in our state across all grade levels, K-8 and 9-12. Leaders who attend with their r counselors could benefit as well from some of the strategies. I know systems with behavioral coordinators will want to invite those leaders to attend. We plan to focus too on the ways that Family Resources Centers are being utilized to support engaged learning. These training courses are stand-alone events, and ALI subscribers may attend one or both as they wish. Each event will be approved for 4 hours of TASL credit.

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In 2023, Tennessee's high school vaping rate was 21.6%, more than double the national average of 10%. While national youth vaping rates have declined since 2019, Tennessee's rates have remained stable, with some surveys indicating an increase in high school students' use of vapor products, especially since Covid 19. A key factor was the popularity of products like JUUL, leading to surges in youth vaping between 2017 and 2019. Today, educators both find themselves in a position to educate our youth about these products and to discipline their students for violation of anti-vaping policies.

Recently, a Tennessee Department of Education survey showed an increase in high school students using vapor products since 2023, even as overall tobacco use declined nationally. Youth vaping rates in Tennessee saw a dip in 2017, coinciding with the implementation of the Deeming Rule, but surged again from 2017 to 2019. Some districts, like the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), are seeing a rise in vaping and are trying current ideas such as installing "smart" sensors in school bathrooms to detect vaping.

 Principals have requested training on vaping, nicotine and THC products and student use in schools, and how to bridge the needs of students or cessation supports with the requirements under the law. This continuation of our previous study on this topic will address the danger of synthetic nicotine, the danger of synthetic THC, the Vape Culture, and current drug trends affecting our communities and our students. The presenters will offer us awareness of the process to reach and impact student behavior, and we will hear from Bradley County and Cleveland City as they share their approach to combating this problem.

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In 2023, Tennessee's high school vaping rate was 21.6%, more than double the national average of 10%. While national youth vaping rates have declined since 2019, Tennessee's rates have remained stable, with some surveys indicating an increase in high school students' use of vapor products, especially since Covid 19. A key factor was the popularity of products like JUUL, leading to surges in youth vaping between 2017 and 2019. Today, educators both find themselves in a position to educate our youth about these products and to discipline their students for violation of anti-vaping policies.

Recently, a Tennessee Department of Education survey showed an increase in high school students using vapor products since 2023, even as overall tobacco use declined nationally. Youth vaping rates in Tennessee saw a dip in 2017, coinciding with the implementation of the Deeming Rule, but surged again from 2017 to 2019. Some districts, like the Clarksville-Montgomery County School System (CMCSS), are seeing a rise in vaping and are trying current ideas such as installing "smart" sensors in school bathrooms to detect vaping. Principals have requested training on vaping, nicotine and THC products and student use in schools, and how to bridge the needs of students or cessation supports with the requirements under the law.

We hope this training can do all of that and more. We will open with Dr. Tobi Amosun, move to our representative from Roane County Schools, Mike Barber, and finish strong with a three-panel team of leaders from across our state. If you are concerned about Vaping in your schools or if you have a program that is working well for you, please join us on February 4, 2026 so that we can share ideas and support each other’s work in this area.

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This event is planned for ALI members. We will be focusing on safe spaces in and around our schools. This is ALI’s second year hosting maintenance and facility events, and I hope focusing on roofing, maintenance, and building planning will bring many of our states leaders to the event to share and learn from our presenters.

We will discuss everything from new buildings, new additions, playgrounds, and stadiums to new roofing and upgraded schools. We have had requests to add this training and talk about labeling water, gas, and electric cut-offs, creating outdoor spaces with adequate lighting, camera placement, building new and safer playgrounds, new rooms, and new buildings.

We can’t cover all of those in this session, but we will open with a roofing discussion, move on to a leader who has been forced to rebuild schools in his system and who has worked closely with his team on the issues that come from such an abrupt change in facilities. We are continuing our work from last spring, and we hope you will join us for two presentations and facilitated group sessions on January 29, 2026. (This event was originally scheduled for 11/13/2025 and had to be postponed.)

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Leading with the Goal in Mind: Lead Teachers, PLCs, and HQIM 2016–2026 is a forward-thinking professional learning experience designed to reflect on a decade of progress and chart the path ahead. This event brings together lead teachers, instructional coaches, and school leaders to explore how Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) and High-Quality Instructional Materials (HQIM) have shaped teaching and learning over the past ten years. Participants will engage in collaborative sessions focused on sustaining instructional excellence, leveraging data-driven practices, and aligning goals to ensure equitable outcomes for all students. Join us as we celebrate milestones, share best practices, and set ambitious goals for the next decade of transformative education. This event will feature some of the speakers who presented to us in 2016 on this date, who have been doing this work for the past ten years, and who can share the goals and direction they are focusing on now. Please join us for our ALI anniversary and learn from some of our early adopters in the lead teacher and mentoring work in Tennessee.

Who Should Attend: Principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, academic deans, data teams, and district instructional leaders. Although we originally planned this event for school leaders, it is open to any ALI subscriber who feels the need to improve their learning in their schools. By request, this event will feature school and system leaders who want to inspire confidence, create change, and support their leaders by modeling their use of data to coach the underperforming teacher and leader in our state’s schools, use data such as TVAAS reports, formative data reports, and progress monitoring to guide and direct growth over time. This event is also for those who want to support the lead learner who may be less familiar with TVAAS/Data than their peers or their teachers.

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In January of 2026, the TOSS ALI group began providing training on TVAAS, first employing EVAAS trainers, then TDOE  presenters, and most recently system data specialists.  This January event will feature a highly rated TDOE staff member, Elliot Kinser, as our keynote presenter and then we will learn from two panels of leaders who work in systems and schools across our state. This high-impact professional learning session is designed to help Tennessee school leaders effectively understand, interpret, and apply TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) data to support academic growth and instructional decision-making across their schools.

Participants will explore how TVAAS provides a clear picture of student growth over time—beyond proficiency—and how this data can be used to shape school improvement plans, support teacher development, and ensure equitable learning opportunities for all students. Through guided analysis, real-school case studies, and interactive sessions with data specialists, leaders will gain confidence in using TVAAS as a tool for collaborative leadership and strategic action. Key Learning Outcomes: Understand the core principles of TVAAS, including growth vs. achievement, and its alignment with Tennessee’s accountability framework. Analyze school-level and teacher-level TVAAS reports to identify trends, gaps, and instructional strengths, Use TVAAS data to inform PLC conversations, target intervention supports and refine curriculum pacing. Leverage value-added insights to support educator evaluations, differentiated PD, and equity-focused leadership; and Integrate TVAAS with other data sources (e.g., benchmark assessments, RTI², and state assessments) for comprehensive decision-making. These things will all be presented to you by your peers currently doing this work.

Who Should Attend: Principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, academic deans, data teams, and district instructional leaders. Although we originally planned this event for school leaders,  it is open to any ALI  subscriber who feels the need to improve their learning in their schools. By request, this event will feature school and system leaders who want to inspire confidence, create change, and support their leaders by modeling their use of data to coach the underperforming teacher and leader in our state’s schools, use data such as TVAAS reports to monitor growth over time, and to support the lead learner who may be less familiar with TVAAS than their peers or their teachers. When we change grade levels, begin to look at cohort data over grade spans, we often need support from leaders who have already made this data real to their staff members. 

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On January 21, 2026 TOSS ALI will have been presenting training opportunities on school safety strategies for 10 years. This event will trace our work from our first training that focus on the school intruder and his attack on Sandy Hook, to our most recent work with threat assessment, event safety, and PBIS programs to create a positive and safe school  culture. We will both highlight training we have presented in the past and update those strategies to share how we have moved, grown, and evolved over the past 10 years in Tennessee.

This event is planned for ALI members and their invited guests. These guests might include Athletic Directors, Counselors, Coaches, SROs, or Facility Managers. This event will outline a variety of Safe Schools Strategies, including the parts of a strong safety plan to prevent misconduct, partner with families, and create safe bystander environments. Our goal is to prevent misconduct and support academic success in your schools by enabling leaders and their teams as they set behavior expectations, create a culture of growth and well-being in their students as they build winners, teach and encourage interventions, create supportive and emotionally safe environments, respect the physical needs of students so families understand how things like hydration must happen in and out of school.

We will discuss modeling and communicating, tracing milestones for students and parents, responding to misconduct early (no matter what the consequences), and we will share ideas to support your students as they struggle to excel on and off the field. We will also address the need to help parents understand the plan and ways that they can support your work. We will begin with treat assessment programming and end with event safety protocols.

We will help the attendees as they seek to create a strong working relationship between parents, teachers, and coaches. These discussions will support leaders as they seek to build a positive parent-coach relationship by building parent understanding, communication lines, engagement, team rules, good sportsmanship, and respect for the process as well as the goals for the entire team. The event is planned to help leaders create an environment where Bystander Intervention means choosing to act when you see something harmful whether you are a student, parent, or coach, We will use scenarios to model direct intervention, distraction skills, and delegation. 

This event might be appropriate for counselors as your guests because we will also discuss how coaches and leaders can work together to strengthen children’s sense of safety in athletic relationships, develop a positive sense of self and self-esteem, set boundaries and respect other’s boundaries, create empathy with teammates, help students both trust heir gut instincts AND understand when someone needs to be informed, and model what you want to happen in a crisis. We will outline how all sports should plan together to help prevent and address misconduct by defining prohibited behaviors, limiting one-to-one contact with athletes, defining, and creating safe social media rules or spaces, creating policy for cyber bullying and reporting, and sharing safe reporting practices and encouraging them across team and school boundaries. If time allows, we will dig more deeply into the key aspects of an abuse prevention policy program so that your plan includes a code of conduct that explicitly prohibits misconduct that is physical, sexual, and emotional. By tracing our path to 2026, we will enable our attendees to use the skills they have learned to strategically plan for 2026 and beyond.

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This professional learning event is designed specifically for Tennessee’s school leaders to enhance their understanding of their legal and instructional responsibilities in implementing Special Education (SPED), Section 504, and Title IX. As educational compliance becomes increasingly central to effective school leadership, this session will provide principals, assistant principals, and district leaders with the tools and knowledge they need to lead with clarity, confidence, and compassion.

Participants will engage with Tennessee-specific legal frameworks, explore real-world case studies, and collaborate with peers to examine best practices in creating safe, inclusive, and compliant learning environments. Emphasis will be placed on proactive leadership in identifying and meeting the needs of diverse learners and ensuring procedural safeguards for students and families. The key outcomes will include 1. Clarify the role of school and system leaders in the implementation and oversight of SPED, 504, and Title IX policies. 2. Strengthen the legal literacy on federal and state mandates, impacting service delivery and civil rights protections. 3. Build capacity to lead cross-functional teams in developing compliant and student-centered support systems. 4. Explore systems for documentation, communication, and accountability that align with TDOE expectations.

Who Should Attend:

Building-level administrators, district SPED coordinators, Title IX coordinators, 504 chairs, and other ALI or SLI members who wish to learn more about these programs and their work with our public-school students in Tennessee.

Facilitated by Wanda Shelton and presented by Tennessee Department of Education representatives, Shawndraya Hersey and Taylor Jenkins, this event will be one that you do not want to miss. These leaders help us annually, and their knowledge is so important to our work.

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As public education continues to evolve, leadership transitions are becoming more frequent and impactful. Whether stepping into a new administrative role, moving from the classroom to leadership, or shifting from principal to district leadership, these transitions come with new perspectives, responsibilities, and challenges. Although this event is specifically planned for the Assistant Superintendent, supervisors and principals will benefit from this unique opportunity.

“Transitions in Leadership: Another Chair, Another View” is a dynamic professional learning event designed for public school leaders navigating or preparing for role changes. Through interactive discussions, expert panelists, and cohort connections, participants will explore how leadership responsibilities shift with each position and how to lead with vision, empathy, and strategy—regardless of the seat they hold.

Key topics include:

• Understanding the emotional and practical realities of leadership transitions

• Navigating role clarity, communication, public relations, and decision-making at different levels

• Leading from the middle: managing up and down

• Building trust, culture, and continuity through change

• Avoiding pitfalls and managing conflict during leadership changes

• How a key role in the system such as safety coordinator supports change while also adding responsibility in the new role.

• Participants will leave with tools and insights to embrace their new leadership perspective with confidence, adaptability, and a renewed sense of purpose.

Target Audience:

School and district leaders, veteran educators transitioning into new leadership roles, and leaders who want to understand more about how administrative leadership challenges impact each level or each ‘chair’ in their system.

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Understanding funding is no longer optional for school leaders; it’s essential.

Join us for a timely and informative virtual event designed to empower school and district leaders with the knowledge they need to effectively navigate TISA (Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement) in 2025 and beyond.

TISA and the School Leader 2025 bring together finance experts and school leaders to explore how Tennessee’s student-based funding formula continues to evolve and how school administrators can lead with confidence, transparency, and strategy in budgeting and planning. Maryanne Durski, Chief Financial Officer (CFO) for the Tennessee Department of Education and a respected voice in school finance reform, will provide a clear and accessible breakdown of how TISA functions and what updates are expected in 2025. Maryanne’s presentation will be followed by two panel discussions.

We will have a CFO Panel Discussion where attendees can hear directly from district Chief Financial Officers who are actively implementing TISA in varied school systems and learn how they approach financial planning, communicate with stakeholders, and align spending with student needs. Then we will end the day with a Superintendent Panel Discussion to allow us to gain insights from superintendents who are leading through fiscal shifts. Discover how they connect TISA to instructional priorities, equity, and student outcomes.

Topics of discussion will include Understanding TISA in 2025: Key changes and considerations. Strategic budgeting for student success, Leading through financial transparency and accountability, Communicating finance clearly to school boards and communities, and Real-world examples from Tennessee districts. This event is ideal for principals, assistant principals, instructional leaders, district staff, and any ALI administrator seeking to strengthen their financial literacy and leadership capacity in a TISA-driven funding environment.

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This high-impact professional learning session is designed to help Tennessee school leaders effectively understand, interpret, and apply TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) data to support academic growth and instructional decision-making across their schools. Participants will explore how TVAAS provides a clear picture of student growth over time—beyond proficiency—and how this data can be used to shape school improvement plans, support teacher development, and ensure equitable learning opportunities for all students.

Through guided analysis, real-school case studies, and interactive sessions with data specialists, leaders will gain confidence in using TVAAS as a tool for collaborative leadership and strategic action. Key Learning Outcomes: Understand the core principles of TVAAS, including growth vs. achievement, and its alignment with Tennessee’s accountability framework. Analyze school-level and teacher-level TVAAS reports to identify trends, gaps, and instructional strengths. Use TVAAS data to inform PLC conversations, target intervention supports and refine curriculum pacing.

Leverage value-added insights to support educator evaluations, differentiated PD, and equity-focused leadership; and integrate TVAAS with other data sources (e.g., benchmark assessments, RTI², and state assessments) for comprehensive decision-making. These things will all be presented to you by your peers currently doing this work.

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Effective student progress monitoring is more than a compliance exercise—it’s a powerful tool for driving achievement and supporting instructional decision-making. This interactive virtual session will guide school leaders in understanding how to use progress monitoring data to inform instruction, identify trends, and support teachers in closing learning gaps.

Participants will explore strategies for:

• Analyzing progress monitoring data to improve student outcomes

• Leading data-driven conversations with teachers and staff

• Building systems of support that foster growth and accountability

• Connecting monitoring practices to broader school improvement efforts

Through practical examples and collaborative discussion, attendees will leave with actionable approaches to strengthen their school’s data culture and ensure that every student’s progress is recognized and supported. Principals and supervisors are often responsible not just for seeing the data, but for ensuring teachers know how to use it, that there are systems in place for progress monitoring, and that monitoring leads to instructional change. The evidence shows that without strong leadership and support; progress monitoring has limited impact.

Given that many students are losing ground (reading/math), there is urgency in identifying what’s working and scaling that up. Training on interpreting data, disaggregation, trend-analysis, and managing teacher support is not a luxury—it’s essential. Also, implementing progress monitoring correctly (frequently enough, with actionable feedback, with teacher support) makes a real difference—mistakes of infrequent monitoring, lack of follow-up, or disconnected data systems can render it much less effective. Join us as we hear from best practice presenters Dr. Yolanda Jones from Tipton County, Brandy Cheatham from Murfreesboro City, and other leaders who share their methods and reflect on this work with our audience.

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One of our top requests for training this year in our superintendent needs assessment and from our  ALI planning sessions was how we could best use coaching and mentoring to support learning. We also want to do the best job we can as we  recruit and retain a faculty and staff that enables our students and our districts to excel. This event is planned to focus on Coaching and Mentoring and Planning from three distinctly different lens, the strategic planning lens, the recruitment and retention lens, and the program development lens.

We will hear from Annette Tudor, Superintendent of the Year for 2026, Lauren Bush, Attorney for Murfreesboro City Schools, and Kay Martin, Assistant Superintendent in Rutherford County Schools. We will look not only at ways to coach the leaders we have on staff, but also how we can best coach, support and retain both seasoned and new leaders. This event focuses on leading learning, coaching for student success, and strategic planning to create a learning environment that allows for annual growth measures to be achieved. We will learn more about planning, contracts, and benefits, and focus on creating systems of success over time.

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As school and system leaders, it is difficult to stay on top of all the changes in educational programming. It is also hard to support our teachers if we are not fully engaged in each and every aspect of learning. We are bringing you an event on November 19, 2025 that will support you as you think about social studies instruction in your school in 2025.

Inquiry in Social Studies empowers students to ask meaningful questions, analyze sources, and collaborate to construct understanding. In this interactive workshop, you’ll experience hands-on strategies to spark curiosity, engage students with media and collaboration, and design lessons that put students at the center of learning. Walk away with practical routines you can use tomorrow and see how Imagine Learning’s new curriculum, Traverse, is built to cultivate critical thinkers, bring social studies to life, and give you the tools to teach with confidence.

We will hear from Imagine Learning, and from several Tennessee School and System leaders who are supporting student learning in their own schools using these ideas. The event will be most beneficial to those who support 6-12, but earlier grade leaders are invited to attend as well.

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As schools prepare students for a rapidly changing workforce, career and technical education (CTE) programs play a critical role in connecting classrooms to the real world of work. World of Work: CTE Programming in 2025 will equip principals, assistant principals, CTE directors, and other school and system leaders with practical strategies to strengthen CTE pathways and partnerships in their communities.

This interactive session will feature three CTE supervisors—representing each grand division of Tennessee—who will showcase innovative programs, share proven practices, and highlight future-focused strategies for preparing students to thrive in high-demand fields. Participants will gain insights into aligning CTE with local workforce needs, building strong school-to-career connections, and creating equitable opportunities that empower every student to succeed beyond graduation. This event is for anyone who hopes to prepare all of the students under their care for the future world of work.

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This high-impact professional learning session is designed to help Tennessee school leaders effectively understand, interpret, and apply TVAAS (Tennessee Value-Added Assessment System) data to support academic growth and instructional decision-making across their schools. Participants will explore how TVAAS provides a clear picture of student growth over time—beyond proficiency—and how this data can be used to shape school improvement plans, support teacher development, and ensure equitable learning opportunities for all students.

Through guided analysis, real-school case studies, and interactive sessions with data specialists, leaders will gain confidence in using TVAAS as a tool for collaborative leadership and strategic action. Key Learning Outcomes: Understand the core principles of TVAAS, including growth vs. achievement, and its alignment with Tennessee’s accountability framework. Analyze school-level and teacher-level TVAAS reports to identify trends, gaps, and instructional strengths, Use TVAAS data to inform PLC conversations, target intervention supports and refine curriculum pacing. Leverage value-added insights to support educator evaluations, differentiated PD, and equity-focused leadership; and Integrate TVAAS with other data sources (e.g., benchmark assessments, RTI², and state assessments) for comprehensive decision-making. These things will all be presented to you by your peers currently doing this work.

Who Should Attend Principals, assistant principals, instructional coaches, academic deans, data teams, and district instructional leaders. Although we originally planned this event for school leaders, it is open to any ALI subscriber who feels the need to improve their learning in their schools. By request, this event will feature school and system leaders who want to inspire confidence, create change, and support their leaders by modeling their use of data to coach the underperforming teacher and leader in our state’s schools, use data such as TVAAS reports to monitor growth over time, and to support the lead learner who may be less familiar with TVAAS than their peers or their teachers. When we change grade levels, begin to look at cohort data over grade spans, we often need support from leaders who have already made this data real to their staff members.

This event is presented by three leaders who received nominations from their superintendents or who were recently honored during the Principal or Supervisor of the year program. They are leaders who are willing to both share their work and to embrace data as a tool for student and teacher success. Join us as we learn from Dr. Chris George from Murfreesboro City Schools, Dr. Leneda Laing from Cleveland City Schools, and Sheryl Theil from Dickson County Schools. They all come with the highest recommendations from their Superintendents.

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Recess is more than just a break—it is a critical part of the school day that supports student learning, social-emotional development, and overall well-being. With Tennessee’s new 40-minute unstructured play requirement, school leaders are tasked with reimagining how to integrate, supervise, and maximize the benefits of daily recess.

This four-hour TASL-approved virtual event will bring together principals, assistant principals, and supervisors from across the state to explore best practices for scheduling, monitoring, and encouraging meaningful free play. Participants will hear from state and district leaders who are successfully implementing innovative recess strategies, balancing student safety with autonomy, and fostering a positive school culture.

Attendees will leave with practical tools, scheduling models, and leadership insights to ensure recess is safe, equitable, and beneficial for all students. This event will feature facilitated small group discussions to share ideas, so please make every effort to log in to this ZOOM meeting with a camera and microphone that will allow you to access the important discussions.

This training aligns with New Legal Standards: Tennessee’s newly enacted law now mandates 40 minutes of daily unstructured play for K–5 students—making it essential that school leaders are equipped to implement it effectively.  It also supports Holistic Student Development: Free play isn’t optional; it’s integral to nurturing cognitive function, mental health, behavior, and social-emotional learning.

Finally, we will discuss how this new law empowers leaders to drive change and how administrators play a pivotal role in institutionalizing quality recess policies—scheduling, monitoring, and encouraging play to foster safer, more equitable, and productive school environments

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT ***

In today’s dynamic work environment, stepping into leadership often involves navigating a difficult balance: being approachable yet authoritative. Friend vs. Leader shines a light on this transition—highlighting how to lead with empathy and professionalism, draw boundaries without losing trust, and leverage coaching and mentoring to build cohesive, high-performing teams. This event is an opportunity to expand on the work we did on October 29, 2025 and dig much deeper into the work we do to build both trust and capacity.

This interactive session explores:

• How to move from peer or colleague to evaluator, supervisor, and boss.

• How to maintain friendly rapport without compromising leadership effectiveness, preventing pitfalls like favoritism or blurred accountability lines .

• The distinct roles of coaching (focused on short-term performance and specific goals) versus mentoring (long-term, development-oriented career guidance) .

• The power of integrating coaching and mentoring into leadership development to foster engagement, retention, and accelerated growth .

At the end of this session that features a combination of school leaders and system supervisors, our attendees will be able to:

• Articulate the importance of staying friendly—but not friend—when leading, and explain how blurred lines can lead to favoritism, diminished authority, or decision-making conflict .

• Differentiate coaching from mentoring, describing key characteristics, times, and outcomes associated with each approach .

• Apply coaching and mentoring methods to support short-term performance improvement and long-term career development in their teams .

• Design and implement a balanced strategy that blends personal connection with professional expectations—ensuring team cohesion alongside accountability.

• Foster a team culture of collaborative leadership, where development happens through shared support, open communication, and role clarity.

Participants will engage with real-world scenarios and interactive strategies that help them define boundaries, skillfully coach and mentor, and cultivate a team environment rooted in trust and accountability.

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT ***

Stepping into a leadership role where you now supervise former peers can be one of the most rewarding—and challenging—career transitions. This interactive session equips principals, assistant principals, and district-level supervisors with the tools to navigate this shift with confidence, clarity, and integrity.

Participants will explore proven strategies for establishing credibility, fostering trust, and maintaining positive relationships while making tough decisions. Through real-world scenarios, reflective exercises, and practical communication techniques, attendees will learn how to balance approachability with authority, set clear expectations, and address potential conflicts before they escalate.

Whether you are new to your role or looking to strengthen your leadership presence, this session provides actionable insights to help you lead with professionalism and authenticity while inspiring your team to thrive. This event will focus on evaluation, supervision, creating strong relationships, and developing a cohesive team vision as a coach and mentor.

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT ***

This three-part professional development series equips Tennessee school leaders with the critical legal knowledge and practical guidance needed to lead confidently and compliantly in today’s complex educational landscape. Led by renowned education attorney Chuck Cagle, this series offers timely insights into state and federal law, emerging legal issues in public education, and the responsibilities of administrators in protecting student and staff rights while maintaining school safety and academic integrity.

Each session will include real-world case studies, legal updates, and opportunities for interactive Q&A. Designed for superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and district leaders; this series is essential for navigating today’s challenging legal environment with clarity and confidence.

Day 1:  October 16, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Personnel, Human Resources, and Licensure 2025

Focus: Legal guidance on hiring, employee contracts, evaluations, non-renewals, and licensure compliance under Tennessee law.

Topics Include:

• Tenure and non-tenure status

• Dismissals and due process

• Educator licensure standards and renewals

• Navigating employee grievances and personnel records

Chuck Cagle will add to this list as needed to support your work around this topic

Day 2: October 20, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Discipline, Section 504, Special Education, and Search & Seizure 2025

Focus: Legal expectations around student rights, disciplinary procedures, disability protections, and lawful investigations.

Topics Include:

• Suspension/expulsion policies and procedural safeguards

• Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDRs)

• 504/IDEA legal distinctions

• Legal boundaries for searches, investigations, and student interviews

• Other topics will be presented through questions and answer sessions on that topic that day

Day 3: October 23, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Implementation of Tennessee Law and Policy 2025

Focus: Bringing it all together---understanding how to align leadership practices with Tennessee statutes, board policies, and evolving legal guidance.

Topics Include:

• Current legal updates impacting schools

• Compliance with state accountability, funding, and policy changes

• Risk management and leadership decision-making

• Aligning local policy with TDOE and state law

All other topics needed to wrap up the October training and help you feel ready for the work in 2025/2026.

The series will help our subscribers gain clarity on school law expectations and leadership responsibilities, build confidence in handling complex HR and discipline scenarios, ensure compliance with 504, IDEA, and licensure laws, and align school practices with Tennessee state policy and emerging legislation.

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT PER EVENT***

This three-part professional development series equips Tennessee school leaders with the critical legal knowledge and practical guidance needed to lead confidently and compliantly in today’s complex educational landscape. Led by renowned education attorney Chuck Cagle, this series offers timely insights into state and federal law, emerging legal issues in public education, and the responsibilities of administrators in protecting student and staff rights while maintaining school safety and academic integrity.

Each session will include real-world case studies, legal updates, and opportunities for interactive Q&A. Designed for superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and district leaders; this series is essential for navigating today’s challenging legal environment with clarity and confidence.

Day 1:  October 16, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Personnel, Human Resources, and Licensure 2025

Focus: Legal guidance on hiring, employee contracts, evaluations, non-renewals, and licensure compliance under Tennessee law.

Topics Include:

• Tenure and non-tenure status

• Dismissals and due process

• Educator licensure standards and renewals

• Navigating employee grievances and personnel records

Chuck Cagle will add to this list as needed to support your work around this topic

Day 2: October 20, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Discipline, Section 504, Special Education, and Search & Seizure 2025

Focus: Legal expectations around student rights, disciplinary procedures, disability protections, and lawful investigations.

Topics Include:

• Suspension/expulsion policies and procedural safeguards

• Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDRs)

• 504/IDEA legal distinctions

• Legal boundaries for searches, investigations, and student interviews

• Other topics will be presented through questions and answer sessions on that topic that day

Day 3: October 23, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Implementation of Tennessee Law and Policy 2025

Focus: Bringing it all together---understanding how to align leadership practices with Tennessee statutes, board policies, and evolving legal guidance.

Topics Include:

• Current legal updates impacting schools

• Compliance with state accountability, funding, and policy changes

• Risk management and leadership decision-making

• Aligning local policy with TDOE and state law

All other topics needed to wrap up the October training and help you feel ready for the work in 2025/2026.

The series will help our subscribers gain clarity on school law expectations and leadership responsibilities, build confidence in handling complex HR and discipline scenarios, ensure compliance with 504, IDEA, and licensure laws, and align school practices with Tennessee state policy and emerging legislation.

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT PER EVENT***

This three-part professional development series equips Tennessee school leaders with the critical legal knowledge and practical guidance needed to lead confidently and compliantly in today’s complex educational landscape. Led by renowned education attorney Chuck Cagle, this series offers timely insights into state and federal law, emerging legal issues in public education, and the responsibilities of administrators in protecting student and staff rights while maintaining school safety and academic integrity.

Each session will include real-world case studies, legal updates, and opportunities for interactive Q&A. Designed for superintendents, principals, assistant principals, and district leaders; this series is essential for navigating today’s challenging legal environment with clarity and confidence.

Day 1:  October 16, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Personnel, Human Resources, and Licensure 2025

Focus: Legal guidance on hiring, employee contracts, evaluations, non-renewals, and licensure compliance under Tennessee law.

Topics Include:

• Tenure and non-tenure status

• Dismissals and due process

• Educator licensure standards and renewals

• Navigating employee grievances and personnel records

Chuck Cagle will add to this list as needed to support your work around this topic

Day 2: October 20, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Discipline, Section 504, Special Education, and Search & Seizure 2025

Focus: Legal expectations around student rights, disciplinary procedures, disability protections, and lawful investigations.

Topics Include:

• Suspension/expulsion policies and procedural safeguards

• Manifestation Determination Reviews (MDRs)

• 504/IDEA legal distinctions

• Legal boundaries for searches, investigations, and student interviews

• Other topics will be presented through questions and answer sessions on that topic that day

Day 3: October 23, 2025

Leaders and the Law with Chuck Cagle: Implementation of Tennessee Law and Policy 2025

Focus: Bringing it all together---understanding how to align leadership practices with Tennessee statutes, board policies, and evolving legal guidance.

Topics Include:

• Current legal updates impacting schools

• Compliance with state accountability, funding, and policy changes

• Risk management and leadership decision-making

• Aligning local policy with TDOE and state law

All other topics needed to wrap up the October training and help you feel ready for the work in 2025/2026.

The series will help our subscribers gain clarity on school law expectations and leadership responsibilities, build confidence in handling complex HR and discipline scenarios, ensure compliance with 504, IDEA, and licensure laws, and align school practices with Tennessee state policy and emerging legislation.

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT PER EVENT***

Join us on October 14, 2025, for a powerful professional development session on leadership practices that impact behavior and drive outcomes, led by the experts from Capturing Kids' Hearts.  The future of every school depends on the people you lead.  Join Capturing Kids’ Hearts® as we dive into simple but powerful leadership practices that directly impact behaviors, culture, and engagement.

These tools will help you continue to build a supportive learning community where teachers and students can grow and thrive. You will get to learn from Tennessee colleagues who have seen transformation in their district through the implementation of Capturing Kids’ Hearts®. This event is especially important if you want to spend less time on discipline and more time on instruction and leadership. This professional development workshop will introduce you to practical, relationship-centered strategies for implementing effective leadership and behavior management practices.

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT ***