The Strategic School Staffing Summit is hosted by the Next Education Workforce™ initiative at Arizona State University's Mary Lou Fulton College for Teaching and Learning Innovation.  This annual convening - now in its sixth year - celebrates innovative and practical approaches to strategic school staffing with an emphasis on research, practices and conditions that enable a more diverse, team-based education workforce.

We believe deeply in the power of teams to catalyze changes in educators’ roles and students' learning experiences. In its simplest implementation, a strategic school staffing team-based model includes at least two professional educators with distributed expertise sharing a common (and usually larger) roster of students. Other educators join teams strategically and may include student teachers, special educators, paraprofessionals and community educators — all of whom help better answer the question: “Who do our students need to thrive?”. 

What to expect

The Strategic School Staffing Summit is attended by hundreds of people from across the education ecosystem interested in elements of strategic school staffing. The two-day, virtual event features presentations and panel discussions on a range of topics related to strategic school staffing. Choice sessions at the Summit are organized into four content strands. 

Entry, Preparation, and Advancement: This strand focuses on pathways into and through the teaching profession that support professional growth and role sustainability. Sessions will feature organizations developing pathways, specialization and advancement opportunities that prepare educators and school staff to work in team-based models as well as examples of how organizations and systems are maximizing federal, state and philanthropic investments to supercharge these efforts.  

Research and Policy: This strand highlights research, data-driven strategies and policy to support strategic school staffing. Sessions will explore how evidence-based practices and policy frameworks can drive equitable and effective staffing solutions and address the evolving needs of students, educators, and school systems. 

Team-Based Models and Instruction: This strand delves into the practical application of team-based approaches and how integrating professional learning, high-quality instructional materials, and team-based models unlock new possibilities for teaching and learning. 

AI’s Impact on Educator Roles: This strand examines how artificial intelligence can reshape teacher roles and enhance educator professional development. Sessions on this topic will look at how schools and systems are leveraging technology and AI tools to support instruction, student grouping, educator team collaboration, and more.

Who it’s for

The Strategic School Staffing Summit is for anyone interested in thinking differently about our educator workforce and how we staff schools. Join educators, researchers, school and system leaders, policymakers, funders, edtech professionals and others who are helping build strategic school staffing models and a more diverse, team-based education workforce.