Join fellow school leaders for a focused Principal Cohort event, Building Systems and Schedules That Support Student Achievement 2026, designed for principals, assistant principals, and their supervisors. We hope to have a large group of attendees who are committed to strengthening school conditions that improve student outcomes.

This session features Tennessee Principal of the Year finalists who have demonstrated effective instructional leadership in their schools and who will share practical, replicable strategies from their own leadership work across all grade levels, from Kindergarten through high school. Presenters may discuss how they build systems and schedules that protect instructional time, use academic and schoolwide data to guide decisions, develop strong school culture and leadership teams, engage families and community partners, and apply lessons learned through both challenges and successes.

Attendees will leave with ideas, tools, and examples they can adapt to their own schools as they work to improve student achievement, support teachers, and lead with clarity, purpose, and confidence. Featured presenters include Heather Tinch, principal of Burks Elementary School in Putnam County Schools; Amber Ryan, principal of Lakewood School in Henry County Schools; and Mitchell Whaley, principal of Sevier County High School in Sevier County Schools, whose session will include a 9–12 perspective on building school culture and leadership teams. Together, their experience represents elementary, middle, and high school leadership perspectives.

*** 4 HOURS TASL CREDIT ***