10/28/2026
2026 Winter Conference At a Glance:
Hear from state education leaders
Begin the conference with remarks from Commissioner Betty A. Rosa and a conversation with a panel from the State Education Department. Hear directly from state education leaders and gain perspectives to inform your district’s planning.
Connecting your district’s priorities to policy and advocacy
Join Brian Fessler, NYSSBA Chief Advocacy Officer; Kyle Belokopitsky, NYSUT Legislative Director; and Greg Berck, NYSCOSS Director of Advocacy and Legal Counsel, for an advocacy panel exploring the issues and priorities impacting New York’s schools. Bring your local concerns into a broader conversation and deepen your understanding of the advocacy landscape.
Make connections that last beyond the conference
Continue the conversation and reconnect with friends and colleagues from across the state at an afternoon reception hosted by Highland Associates. Some of the most meaningful connections happen outside the sessions, creating relationships that you can turn to for support and ideas throughout the year.
Stay informed with timely legal guidance
Ferrara and Fiorenza will provide a Legal Update on changes affecting curriculum, operations, and funding. Gain timely information and guidance to help your leadership team navigate district decisions with greater clarity.
A Noble Future
Tom Butler, author and Superintendent of Brookfield CSD, invites us to explore how meaningful connections and the courage to rethink familiar approaches can strengthen rural schools and help us lead with hope and intention.
“Better Together: A Hopeful Approach to Regional Change” Continued
See how regional collaboration is moving from shared vision to action. Join ONC BOCES District Superintendent Dr. Catie Huber, Dr. Tarkan Ceng, and leaders from ONC BOCES as they build upon their Summer Conference presentation with updates and additional data from their ongoing partnership with Dr. John Sipple of Cornell University. Learn how 19 component districts are responding to fiscal and demographic realities with hope, respect, and care as they work to expand student opportunities, regardless of zip code.
Explore possibilities for school district optimization
Join Dr. John Sipple, Cosimo Tanngora, Jr., Ed.D., Josh Meyer, Ed.D., and representatives from the State Education Department for a candid conversation about strengthening school districts. Recognizing that rural schools need solutions shaped by local realities, panelists will explore how financial pressures, geographic barriers, and facility needs influence decisions.
Gain fresh perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in your district and consider approaches that could strengthen schools while honoring the communities collectively serve.
We look forward to bringing together rural education leaders for two days of learning, connection, and conversations that help build momentum for the future of New York’s rural schools.
Learn more and register here: https://rsany.org/2026-winter-conference/
