Season Finale: Big Thanks & Big Things Coming at Winter GAEL

Ready for a clear look at what leaders need next? We close the fall season with Cindy Flesher and a practical preview of Winter GAEL, our three-day gathering in Athens that puts member voice at the center. From the first survey response to the final agenda, every session is built to solve problems you face right now—recruiting talent, leading change, raising student outcomes, and reclaiming time.We dig into four focused strands that make the conference easy to navigate and hard to forget. Building the bench shares how districts grow great educators and future leaders with real systems, not slogans. Leading forward highlights innovation, agility, and strategic change, with examples you can adapt. Driving student outcomes brings proven leadership moves you can use on Monday. Reclaiming time explores practical tools, including AI, to reduce friction and keep attention on what matters most. You’ll also hear why we expanded breakouts in response to your feedback, how we selected 39 sessions from a record 88 proposals, and what materials will be available afterward.Keynotes bring depth and humanity. Kaitlin Roig-DeBellis focuses on resilience and moving forward after crisis. Joe Sanfelippo, former national superintendent of the year, shares how to champion people and culture. Brandon Fleming, author of Miseducated and a Harvard debate coach, offers a powerful story of second chances and high expectations. We also preview live Q&A opportunities with the presenters from our popular finance webinar series, plus anticipated updates from state leaders and the Department of Education.If you’re new, we’ve got your back. We talk through how to make the most of affiliate meetings, hallway conversations, and the Sunday reception to build a network that actually helps when the job gets tough. Registration is open, and hotel rooms at the Hyatt and the new Marriott near the Classic Center go fast—book early to stay close. Subscribe, share with a colleague who needs this community, and leave a quick review to help more Georgia leaders find us.