On Board Online • April 7, 2025
By Eric D. Randall
Editor-in-Chief
Tim Shriver, chairman of Special Olympics International, will be the opening keynote speaker for NYSSBA's 2025 Annual Convention & Education Expo in New York City this October.
Shriver will discuss the concept of dignity vs. contempt in the context of how we speak to each other and why it's vitally important to the health of our children and the future of our democracy. Shriver will demonstrate how the Dignity Index, a tool that scores speech along a continuum from contempt to dignity, can be used in the school community to ensure every child and adult is treated with dignity.
Tami Pyfer, co-creator of The Dignity Index, will facilitate two featured sessions that will explain how the index can be applied to the work of school boards.
"We're excited to have Tim share the Dignity Index with our members and show us how it can help improve communication within the school community," said NYSSBA Executive Director Robert Schneider.
The Annual Convention & Education Expo will be held Oct. 23 to 25 at the New York Hilton Midtown, the same location as last year.
Changes have been made based on surveys of last year's attendees. "We heard our members, and improvements will include offering popular sessions twice and using larger spaces for events such as the School Law Seminar," Schneider said. "We'll strive to deliver the best possible member experience, enabling our attendees to fully focus on the educational content delivered in 60 education sessions."
Member school districts may bring students to showcase outstanding district programs on the Expo floor. The deadline to reserve a booth is May 9. Visit nyssba.org/booths for more information.