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
      This session will explore how state policy fosters the conditions that help districts sustainably adapt to the financial, staffing, programming, and facility impacts of declining enrollment. Attendees will be invited to share their own experiences and challenges, and discussion will highlight key questions for school district teams to consider as they navigate those challenges.

  • 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)