Join us in Buffalo for the 2026 Annual Convention & Education Expo.
Share in robust conversations that will elevate your board service. Make meaningful connections with your peers from around the state. Join a passionate, civic-minded community dedicated to fostering a high-quality education system that works on behalf of all our students.
As the largest gathering of its kind in New York State, NYSSBA’s Annual Convention and Education Expo delivers a unique combination of extensive educational programming, dynamic networking opportunities and inspirational speakers and exhibits. It’s a must-attend event for school board members, superintendents, district and building-level administrators and other education leaders who are looking for ways to collaborate and continuously improve student outcomes.
Can’t make it to Buffalo? Join us from the comfort of home for our Annual Convention Digital Experience. First introduced in 2024, The Digital Experience takes some of the most highly anticipated Convention sessions and brings them right to your screen.
Save These Dates for NYSSBA’s Future Conventions
October 14-16, 2027: Buffalo, NY
October 26-28, 2028: New York, NY
SHOWCASE YOUR STUDENTS
Elevate Your Students’ Success Stories at NYSSBA’s Annual Convention and Education Expo.
We’re proud to offer two ways for your district to showcase student excellence and creativity.
Give your stars the recognition they deserve:
- Student Photos: Share the "magic moments" of your school year. Email up to six high-res photos of everyday triumphs. Email photos to: nyssbaphotos@gmail.com
We’re excited to see what your students have been up to!
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REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION OPENS TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 AT 10:00 A.M.
You must be registered for the Convention to reserve housing.
| Event | Registration Fee | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Member: $540
Non-member: $1,080
Member: $590
Non-member: $1,180
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| Digital Experience (Virtual Convention) |
Member: $250
Non-member: $500
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| Pre-Convention School Law Seminar |
Member: $325
Non-member: $650
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| Pre-Convention Board Officers Academy |
Member: $285
Non-member: $570
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CONVENTION CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
In the event your plans change, or you are unable to attend, a Convention Registration Change Request Form must be completed and submitted to NYSSBA no later than Friday, October 9, 2026.
Cancellation requests received on Friday, October 9, 2026 or before, will be refunded less a cancellation fee as follows:
- Cancellation of In-Person Convention: $100 fee
- Cancellation of Digital Experience: $50 fee
- Cancellation of Pre-Convention School Law Seminar: $50 fee
- Cancellation of Pre-Convention Board Officers Academy: $50 fee
All cancellation requests received on Saturday, October 10, 2026 and beyond, will not be refunded.
Online pre-registration for the in-person Convention closes Friday, October 9, 2026 at 5:00 P.M. Be sure to pre-register to ensure a quick, easy and contactless check-in.
Walk-in registrations welcome.
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FEATURED SPEAKERS
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Steven Sharp Nelson Thursday, October 22, 2026, from 5:15 - 6:45 p.m. |
Steven Sharp Nelson, innovator, successful musician, storyteller, motivational speaker and, for a long time, an outlier who felt broken, isolated and alone. Find out how this world-renowned artist discovered his strengths and power of creativity in a moving and energetic keynote that will leave you encouraged and energized to realize the calling of school board service.
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David Allison Saturday, October 24, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. |
Human values research pioneer David Allison will reveal what people in New York State need to feel in order to trust their elected leaders, engage with the work of public education, and believe that the people on their school boards genuinely understand them. Using a data-driven portrait of New York communities, he will explore what makes them distinct from the rest of the country, giving you something specific and local to carry back to your districts.
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Amanda Bickerstaff Friday, October 23 from 9:00-10:00am 106AD, Marquee Level, Convention Center |
Learn about AI for Education's partnerships with Chicago Public Schools, Houston ISD, Charleston County (SC) and Milton Hershey School (PA). Explore proven strategies for developing districtwide GenAI guidelines, building staff capacity, leading change effectively and creating a culture of responsible, mission-aligned AI adoption that supports teachers, students and learning innovation.
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Dr. Betty A. Rosa Friday, October 23 from 10:45-11:45am Ballroom, Marquee Level, Convention Center |
Join New York State Education Commissioner Rosa and her senior leadership team for an essential briefing on the latest regulatory mandates and legal guidance impacting school districts today. This session offers a candid look at the most pressing obligations currently facing New York’s educational leaders.
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Steven MacDonald |
Learn about worrisome behaviors frequently identified by Safer Schools Together (SST) Threat Analysts on platforms like TikTok, Discord, Snapchat and Telegram as well as darker corners of the web, like 4chan, Sanctioned Suicide and Watchpeopledie.tv. Discover how to apply similar skills and tools implemented by SST Threat Analysts when navigating case scenarios and explore best practices for identifying and documenting worrisome digital leakage.
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Kristen Wilcox Friday, October 23 from 2:45-3:45pm 106AD, Marquee Level, Convention Center |
Effective governance accelerates improvement. School boards can steer improvement by asking the right questions and setting a path for communicating progress. Join a hands-on session where attendees practice crafting an improvement vision and planning authentic engagement with their communities—so governance drives learning, equity and results across districts.
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Brandon Guffey Friday, October 23 from 4:00-5:00pm Ballroom, Marquee Level, Convention Center |
After losing his son Gavin to online extortion, Representative Brandon Guffey championed "Gavin’s Law" in South Carolina. In this moving presentation, Guffey shares his personal journey to criminalize sexual extortion and mandate school safety education, offering a powerful perspective on protecting minors from digital predators.
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Presenters: Darci D’Ercole, Chief Governance and Leadership Development Officer, NYSSBA; Jamie McPherson, Deputy Director of Leadership Development, NYSSBA; Mark Snyder, Senior Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA; Ann Laszewski, Leadership Development Manager, NYSSBA Saturday, October 24 from 10:15-11:15am 106AD, Marquee Level, Convention Center |
A strong and effective school board thrives on collaboration, open communication and a shared commitment to student success. Explore strategies for building consensus while valuing diverse perspectives, fostering teamwork and asking thoughtful questions to deepen understanding. Learn practical techniques for enhancing board cohesion, improving decision-making and creating a culture of respect and collective problem-solving. Join us for this engaging and interactive workshop to help strengthen your board’s ability to work together with clarity and purpose.
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FULL SCHEDULE
Take advantage of the full slate of impactful education sessions on a wide range of topics relevant to the work of board members, school administrators and other public education leaders. Whether you are a new board member, have decades of experience or are somewhere in between, the extensive educational programming will support the work you do on behalf of all the students in your district. See the full Convention schedule here.
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PRE-CONVENTION EVENTS
Get the most out of your Convention experience by attending one of our Pre-Convention education offerings.
Join new and veteran school board members, superintendents, school attorneys and others at the 30th Annual Pre-Convention School Law Seminar. Gather timely and relevant information on critical issues affecting the daily operation of your schools.
Session topics will include:
- Religion in Public Schools – The Rising Exercise of Religious Rights
- The Ongoing Evolution of Transgender Student Issues
- Student Grooming/Sexual Misconduct – How Can We Change the Headlines?
- Employment Discrimination – A New Looking Future?
- Arbitration and 3020-a Proceedings – Trends and Recent Lessons Learned
OR
Attend the Pre-Convention Board Officers Academy, Intentional Governance: Aligning People, Purpose & Practice. Once again, it will include a special board officers recognition ceremony. Not just for board officers, any board member interested in taking a deeper dive into school board leadership will find great value at this event.
Session topics will include:
- Boards at the Table: Leading Strategic Improvement from the Governance Seat
- Board Table Dynamics: From Generational Gaps to Governance Gains
- Governance by Design: Bringing Board Committees to Life Through Charters
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HOUSING
NYSSBA’s housing partner is Connections Housing. NYSSBA does not authorize any other housing bureau, organization or independent broker to make reservations for our convention. If a company contacts you other than Connections Housing, please do not reserve with them as you may not be afforded the negotiated group rate.
Before booking a hotel room, you must register for the convention. Convention registration opens Tuesday, August 11 at 10am EDT. All reservations must be made through Connections Housing, our exclusive housing partner. Please do not contact the hotel directly as their agents will not be able to assist. A booking link to the hotel reservation system will be posted at the conclusion of the registration process, as well as in the registration confirmation email. Also listed will be a toll-free phone number and email address for hotel-related questions.
All reservations should be made no later than Tuesday, September 29, 2026. Reservations will be accepted based upon availability and at prevailing rate after this time. Note: Rooms may sell out prior to Tuesday, September 29, 2026, based upon demand.
A major credit card is required at the time of booking to hold each room reservation. Purchase orders and/or district checks will not be accepted as a guarantee.
Cancellation of any hotel reservation once booked will result in a cancellation fee of one night’s room charge, excluding tax. Connections Housing will charge the cancellation fee to the credit card provided at the time of booking. This one-night room charge is applicable for reservations cancelled after the time of booking until 72 hours prior to arrival, at which point the hotel will charge the credit card one night’s room and tax charge. Taxes may be removed upon submission of a tax exemption certificate to the hotel.
If you are looking to modify a hotel room reservation and change hotels, please do not cancel the reservation and make a new one. You will be charged a one-night room charge as a cancellation fee if you do so. Instead, follow the link in your reservation acknowledgment email from Connections Housing to make the change.
Sales tax exemption. Hotels will not honor tax exempt status for charges paid by personal credit card. For those paying with district credit cards, tax can be removed at hotel check-in with presentation of a signed NYS Exempt Organization Exempt Purchase Certificate (ST-119.1). Be sure to request a credit card authorization form from the hotel if the district credit card will not be present at check-in.
For payment of the balance by district check, send a copy of the tax exemption certificate, along with a list of names and dates for applicable reservations, to the hotel to be received after September 30 and no later than October 7, 2026. Hotels will not apply check payments that have not cleared the financial institution, at which point you will need to provide a credit card at the time of check-in. It is recommended to take an exemption form to check-in as well.
Official Housing Block. There are seventeen hotels within NYSSBA’s official convention housing block. These properties have a negotiated room rate ranging from $169-$299 a night. A list of hotels can be found below, ranked in order of proximity to the Buffalo Convention Center. Specific hotel rates and additional hotel information will be posted to the online reservation system on August 11. Please do not contact the hotels directly, as you will not be able to make reservations or obtain the NYSSBA negotiated room rate.
- Hyatt Regency Buffalo- 2 Fountain Plz, Buffalo, NY 14202 (connected)
- Embassy Suites by Hilton Buffalo- 200 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202 (0.2 miles)
- Hilton Garden Inn Buffalo Downtown- 10 Lafayette Square, Buffalo, NY 14203 (0.2 miles)
- Hotel at the Lafayette- 391 Washington St, Buffalo, NY 14203 (0.3 miles)
- Hampton Inn & Suites Buffalo Downtown- 220 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202 (0.4 miles)
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Buffalo Downtown- 601 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203 (0.4 miles)
- The Westin Buffalo- 250 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202 (0.4 miles)
- Aloft Buffalo Downtown- 500 Pearl St, Buffalo, NY 14202 (0.5 miles)
- Buffalo Marriott at LECOM HARBORCENTER- 95 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203 (0.8 miles)
- Courtyard Buffalo Downtown/Canalside- 125 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14203 (0.9 miles)
- Residence Inn Buffalo Downtown- 620 Delaware Ave, Buffalo, NY 14202 (1.1 miles)
- Wyndham Garden Buffalo Downtown- 125 High St, Buffalo, NY 14203 (1.5 miles)
- Buffalo Marriott Niagara- 1340 Millersport Highway, Amherst, NY 14221 (12.6 miles)
- DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Buffalo – Amherst- 10 Flint Rd, Amherst, NY 14226 (12.6 miles)
- Hampton Inn Buffalo – Amherst- 1601 Amherst Manor Dr, Amherst, NY 14221 (13.2 miles)
- Home2 Suites by Hilton Amherst Buffalo- 3820 Ridge Lea Rd, Amherst, NY 14228 (14.1 miles)
- Fairfield Inn & Suites Buffalo Amherst/University- 3880 Rensch Rd, Amherst, NY 14228 (14.1 miles)
Complimentary shuttle service will be provided to the Buffalo Convention Center for anyone booking through Connections Housing and into the official convention housing block. Shuttle service will not be provided to and from the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, as this hotel is connected to the convention center via enclosed walkway.
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TRAVEL
Getting to Buffalo
AIR
Buffalo Niagara International Airport is located just fifteen minutes east of downtown Buffalo. Major carriers are Delta, Southwest, American, JetBlue, United and Frontier.
RAIL
Save 15% off your trip to Buffalo with Amtrak. *Blackout dates apply. Prices may vary.
Getting Around Buffalo
RIDESHARE or METRO RAIL
Uber or Lyft. Or make use of the Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority (NFTA) Metro Bus and Rail system. The Metro Rail runs along Main Street from the KeyBank Center to the South Campus of the University at Buffalo, with several stops in between. The train is free while traveling above ground. Bus stops are found on almost every City of Buffalo street corner and many other spots throughout the region.
Getting to the Convention Center
Complimentary shuttle service will be provided to the Buffalo Convention Center for anyone booking through Connections Housing and into the official convention housing block. Shuttle service will not be provided to and from the Hyatt Regency Buffalo, as this hotel is connected to the convention center via enclosed walkway.
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BRAINDATE
Start a conversation. Make new connections. Empower our community.
Networking with your fellow public education leaders remains a fundamental part of the Annual Convention experience. This year we’re bringing in Braindate® – your space to connect through one-on-one or small group conversations about the issues you really care about.
Got a big idea? A challenge to overcome? A story to share? Start with a Braindate®. Post a topic, book a chat or jump into one that sparks your interest. Then meet up at the Braindate® Lounge located right on the Expo floor.
Check back for more details.
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