WiRSA Conference 2026

WiRSA State Conference 2026 - At a Glance
“Celebrating Innovation & Resilience”
Wednesday, October 28, 2026

  • Registration / End of Hall (Map Location Link) (3:00 - 6:00 PM)

  • Pre-Conference LEARNING SESSIONS - (5:00 -5:50 PM)

    • Anne Chapman, WASBO
      Declining Enrollment and so much more!

  • Welcome Reception / ECPO 4 (Map Location Link) (6:00 - 7:30 PM)

Thursday, October 29, 2025

  • Registration / End of Hall‍ ‍(7:00 AM) (Map Location Link)

  • Breakfast Buffet (7:00 - 8:10 AM) - Main Expo Center

  • Welcome - (8:10 - 8:30 AM) - Main Expo Center

  • General Session (8:30 - 9:30 AM) - Main Expo Center

LEARNING SESSIONS #1 - (10:10 - 11:00 AM)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 — SESSION 1 | 10:10–11:00 AM

  1. Building The NEST: Reimagining Alternative Pathways for Elementary Students

  2. The Human Side of Consolidation: Communicating Change

  3. Saving Your Financial Resources: The Potential Impact to Your Tax Bill’s Transparency and Your District’s Bottom Line

  4. Growing Your Own: How Educators Rising Can Strengthen Rural District Teacher Pipelines

  5. Flipping the Script on Summer: Solving the Rural Childcare and Enrollment Crisis Simultaneously

Lunch / Recognitions - Expo Center - (11:30 - 12:40 PM)
(Dr. Jill Underly will kick off the recognitions)

  1. CESA Employee of the Year - Dean Leisgang, CESA 8 (Press Release)

  2. Support Staff Person of the Year - Jenny Hagemann, School District of Maustion (Press Release)

  3. Teacher of the Year - Kally Koch, Riverdale School District (Press Release)

  4. Teacher of the Year - Shannon Beighley, Whitehall School District (Press Release)

  5. Advocacy Award - James “Murph” Murphy and WRJC, Murphy’s Law Media Group (Press Release)

  6. Principal of the Year - Megan Hanni, Waupun School District (Press Release)

  7. Administrator of the Year - Joel Heesch, School District of Mauston (Press Release)

  8. School Board of Education Member of the Year - Sue Todey, Sevastopol School District (Press Release)

  9. Community Partner of the Year - Cindy Tang, Inspiring Community Inc., Platteville School District (Press Release)

Exhibitor Time now and throughout the day

LEARNING SESSIONS #2 - (1:00 - 1:50 PM)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 — SESSION 2 | 1:00–1:50 PM

  1. What Innovation Actually Looks Like: Spotlighting Future-Ready Classrooms Across Rural Wisconsin

  2. Supporting School Board Effectiveness: Building Trust, Clarity, and Community Confidence in Rural School Districts

  3. Digital Accessibility by 2027: A Roadmap for Small Teams

  4. Building an Education Pathway in Your School District

    • Exhibitor Time now and throughout the day

LEARNING SESSIONS #3 (2:05 - 2:55 PM)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 — SESSION 3 | 2:05–2:55 PM

  1. Beyond the Test: Building Student Motivation, Opportunity, and Postsecondary Success

  2. Aligning Your School System: Real Strategies to Connect Your Board, Staff, and Community through Community-Based Strategic Planning

  3. The CESA Showcase: The Price is Right for Wisconsin Rural Schools!

  4. From Clarity to Action: Building a 6–12 Assessment and Learning System in a Rural School

    • Exhibitor Time now and throughout the day

LEARNING SESSIONS #4 - (3:15 - 4:05 PM)
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 29 — SESSION 4 | 3:15–4:05 PM

  1. Inside the LIFToFFS Study: Early Findings on AI, Personalized Learning, and Student Engagement

  2. Opening Doors: Helping Rural Students Find Direction Before They Drift

  3. Effective and Affordable Connecting & Cybersecuring Rural Schools

  4. Six Preps and a Website: Choosing to Tell Your School’s Story (Without Losing Your Sanity)

    • WiRSA Social (Silent and Live Auction 5:00 p.m. - 6:30 PM)‍ ‍Location Map

Friday, October 30, 2026

  • Breakfast - (7:00 - 8:15 AM) Expo Center

  • Exhibitor Time (7:30 - 10:00 AM)

  • Welcome Back -(8:10 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.) - Expo Center

    • Vendor and Attendee Door Prize(s)

    • One Member Vendor will have an opportunity to win a free booth in 2026

    • Friday attendees will have a chance to win a free registration to our WiRSA 2026 conference.

  • (NREA - President-Elect - Designee)

  • Keynote - Mike McGowan - A Path to Success - (8:30 - 9:30 AM)

LEARNING SESSIONS #5 - (10:00 - 10:50 PM)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 — SESSION 5 | 10:00–10:50 AM

  1. Sustaining the System: Creative Mental Health Infrastructure, Student Voice, and Adult Capacity in Rural Schools

  2. We Must Fund Public Schools — Wisconsin PTA, et al. v. Wisconsin Assembly

  3. Referendum Success in Rural Communities — A Panel Discussion

LEARNING SESSIONS #6 - (11:00 - 11:50 PM)
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30 — SESSION 6 | 11:00–11:50 AM

  1. The Rural District Health Check: What to Monitor Before Problems Become Crises

  2. Best Practices: Rural School Mental Health Collaboration & Funding

  3. WiRSA Annual Meeting (Following Special Session)

  4. WiRSA Board of Directors Meeting (Following Annual Meeting)