2026 Shell Beach Conference for K12 Education Leaders

Wednesday, April 22, 2026

4:00 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Open Registration

Pre-Conference | 5:15 p.m.-6:15 p.m.

Session A

Staying on Course: Brown Act Compliance, Conflict of Interest and Form 700: Just as strong leadership requires clear direction, compliance requires careful attention and informed decision-making. This session will cover key requirements, recent updates, and best practices to help leadership teams navigate the Brown Act, conflict of interest and Form 700. Learn how to avoid common pitfalls, manage board communications appropriately, and support your board with confidence.

Session B 

Driven Leadership: Bridging the Generational Divide: Today’s workplace often includes multiple generations with different experiences, expectations, and communication styles. In this session, presenters will explore practical strategies for leading effectively across generational lines. Attendees will gain insights on fostering collaboration, addressing common workplace challenges, and creating an inclusive environment where employees from all generations can thrive and contribute to organizational success.

6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m.

NETWORKING RECEPTION 

Please join us for an evening reception at Shell Beach celebrating Driven Leadership by the Sea. This coastal-inspired gathering brings together education leaders and colleagues for meaningful connection, conversation, and collaboration in a relaxed oceanfront setting. Guests are invited to wear shades of blue as we embrace the spirit of leadership, resilience, and forward momentum inspired by the sea. We look forward to welcoming you to an evening of networking, refreshments, and shared leadership in a beautiful coastal setting.

Thursday, April 23, 2026

6:30 a.m.-7:15 a.m.

Sunrise Shell Beach Jog: Energize and Connect Before the Conference

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

BREAKFAST

MORNING GENERAL SESSION | 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

Guest Speaker: Jack Clarke Partner, CSU Trustee Chair

Driven Leadership: Thriving in Times of Transformation

10:00 a.m.-10:15 a.m.

BREAK

MORNING BREAKOUT SESSIONS | 10:15 a.m.-11:45 a.m.

 Session 1

Negotiating in a New Era: Public Pressure, Social Media, and Impasse Strategy: Negotiations today extend far beyond the bargaining table. Social media campaigns, public messaging, board dynamics, and impasse strategy now play a critical role in the negotiation process. This session will provide leadership-level guidance on navigating public pressure, maintaining strategic discipline, preparing for impasse, and protecting the district’s legal and reputational position throughout the bargaining cycle.

 Session 2

Communicating with the Community Regarding Hot Topics and Issues: A strong relationship with community stakeholders helps site and district leaders resolve concerns before they escalate beyond the school or department level. This presentation is designed for site and district leaders and focuses on the practical actions leaders can take to address common complaint areas early, effectively, and locally. Participants will learn how to use proactive communication, conflict resolution strategies, and legally sound practices to respond to concerns in ways that build trust, maintain relationships, and reduce the likelihood of issues advancing to senior leadership or the Board.

 Session 3

When the Complaint Arrives: Managing Employment Discrimination Claims: Receiving a discrimination complaint can be daunting for any employer. This session will demystify the process by guiding participants through what happens after a complaint is filed with agencies such as the CRD, EEOC, OCR, or DIR. Presenters will cover best practices for conducting a preliminary investigation, preparing a position statement, responding to agency requests for documentation and personnel records, and navigating investigator interviews. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to manage risk and confidently respond throughout the investigation process.

12:00 p.m.-1:15 p.m.

NETWORKING LUNCH

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS | 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Session 4

Bargaining in Uncertain Fiscal Times: Strategies for Sustainable Agreements: As districts face fiscal uncertainty, collective bargaining has become increasingly complex and high-stakes. This session will explore practical strategies for negotiating sustainable agreements amid budget constraints, declining enrollment, and long-term liability considerations. Education leaders will gain insight into managing compensation expectations, structuring multi-year agreements, communicating fiscal realities, and maintaining long-term financial stability while preserving labor relationships.

Session 5

Best Practices for Handling CPRA and the Overlap with A.I.: This presentation will cover things to keep in mind when dealing with CPRAs, explanation of the new California Supreme Court case, and a discussion of how AI could be implicated in CPRA requests.

Session 6

Navigating Compulsory Leave: This session will cover what personnel should do when an employee has been arrested, including: (1) When does compulsory leave apply? (2) When can you charge the employee? (3) What is the difference between an arrest v. conviction? (4) What do you do if the alleged incidents are not related to District activity? (5) Can/should you investigate? (6) What is a Lybarger/Spielbauer advisement and when should it be used? (7) At what point can you terminate the employee?

2:30 p.m.-2:45 p.m.

 BREAK

AFTERNOON BREAKOUT SESSIONS | 2:45 p.m.-3:45 p.m. 

Session 7

Free Speech Playbook: Districts must balance free speech rights with their duty to provide a safe educational environment. This delicate balance is complicated by the current political environment where districts must address issues such as immigration, gender identity, and religious expression. This presentation provides specific steps to address the free speech issues facing districts to ensure compliance with applicable laws while creating an environment that upholds the rights and protects the safety of students, staff, and the community.

Session 8

The Administrative and Supervisor Responsibilities in Employee Discipline: This session will explore the critical role administrators and supervisors play in ensuring employee discipline is handled consistently, lawfully, and effectively. Attendees will gain insight into documentation standards, progressive intervention, investigation considerations, due process requirements, and risk mitigation strategies. Practical examples and real-world scenarios will be discussed to help attendees confidently navigate complex personnel matters while maintaining workplace accountability and compliance.

DINNER | 6:30 p.m.- 9:30 p.m.

Charting the Course to Driven Leadership!

Friday, April 24, 2026

6:30 a.m.-7:15 a.m.

Sunrise Shell Beach Jog: Energize and Connect Before the Conference

8:00 a.m.-9:00 a.m.

BREAKFAST

GENERAL SESSION A | 9:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m.

Guest Speaker: Capitol Advisors

Legislation, Budget and Other Hot Issues

GENERAL SESSION B | 10:00 a.m.-11:15 a.m.

Our experienced attorneys will lead an open forum discussion addressing a variety of emerging and timely issues impacting educational agencies. Topics shall include crisis communication, transgender students in athletics, artificial intelligence, social media, immigration-related issues, criminal background checks, ethics training, and other developments of importance to your organization. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in discussion and ask questions in this interactive session focused on the issues currently shaping the education landscape.

11:15 a.m.-11:30 a.m.

DRAWINGS AND PRIZES

Conference Ends | Hotel Check-Out