Keynote speakers, breakout session information available online for October event

The Great Ideas in Education Conference: Empowered Together will offer professional development to help school districts improve policies and strategies that ensure safer learning environments and even stronger teaching and learning practices for every Kansas student. 

The conference, formerly known as the KSDE Annual Conference, will take place Oct. 25-27 at the Hyatt Regency Wichita, 400 W. Waterman St. 

Breakout sessions will center around these strands: 

• Balanced assessment system. 
• Early childhood. 
• Elevating voices in education 
• Leadership. 
• Safe and supportive schools. 
• Teaching and learning. 
• Technology and cybersecurity. 

Dr. Steve Constantino, a leader, teacher, speaker and best-selling author, will kick off the conference on Wednesday, Oct. 25. Constantino is internationally recognized for his work in family engagement and his innovative, nonconventional entrepreneurial and outlier approaches to leading organizations and acquiring results. 

He began his career as a teacher and moved through the ranks to district superintendent. At the state level, Constantino served as a chief academic officer and acting state superintendent. Today, he is an executive professor in the Educational Policy, Planning and Leadership Department at the William and Mary School of Education in Virginia. 

Logan Taylor, of Y.B. Normal, will be the keynote speaker on Thursday, Oct. 26. Taylor grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He was raised by his grandmother in low-income housing, and with an absent father and a mother who wasn’t around much, Taylor struggled as a child. Add to the mix sexual abuse, drug addiction, a horrific car wreck, multiple suicide attempts and crippling anxiety, it is hard to imagine how Taylor made it. 

Taylor now has his bachelor’s degree and is the recipient of the president’s lifetime achievement award, certifications in adverse childhood experiences, Teacher and Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) Specialization and mental health first aid. He also has written numerous books. Taylor is currently working to obtain his master’s degree to become a mental health therapist. 

Friday, Oct. 27’s, keynote speaker is Kansas Commissioner of Education Dr. Randy Watson. Watson will highlight updates to education in Kansas. Friday morning also will include updates to the Kansas Education Systems Accreditation (KESA) and important work centered around four fundamental elements identified as critical to student success. 

Conference Schedule 

Registration Fees 

• One day (any individual day) - $175. You will need to indicate which day you plan to attend. 
• Full conference - (two and one-half days) - $275. 

Registration for the 2023 conference closes Oct. 13. Register Now 

Registration questions may be sent to Kelli Byrne kbyrne@ksde.org. 

Programming questions may be sent to Pat Bone pbone@ksde.org