AdminiCon 2026 Program

Welcome to AdminiCon 2026!

Another year is upon us, and it is that time again, to collect our professional gear and head to a centralized location, and that is Orange Beach, Alabama for our annual conference. As I welcome you, I trust your school year thus far has been as rewarding as you had planned and expected. From your board members, I extend a welcome with unified sentiments that we are glad you are here with us.

The opening of this conference is in reflection of last year’s conference. You made record history in the attendance of the Administrator Division Conferences with over 100 members in attendance at AdminiCon 2025. That made a great impact on our planning for this year’s agenda. As there are many changes each year in public education, we take your needs into great consideration. Again, as we planned meaningful sessions for your learning, relaxing, collaboration, and professional engagement, it was all about you. To say it simply, we hope you enjoy this location.

In my tenure as your AEA Administrator President, I have attempted to lead our division with intuition, diligence, and intelligence, coupled with respect for our chosen profession, education. Together, the board members and I have sponsored resolutions on behalf of all educators, not excluding anyone. Equity across all positions is our goal, and fair pay is part of that. Together, we will continue to lead the charge for better salaries, job security, and support for educators’ rights. In tandem with all of this, I will personally continue to heed your calls and advocate for my fellow education administrators.

With this, you are here to enjoy “Continuing the Visionary Leadership Experience,” where you are charting the course. You are making the footsteps real and impacting public education as it deserves to be recognized. I thank you again for your attendance. Please look for me, and I will look for you, to take a picture, laugh, and enjoy our professional experience at the beach. Again, enjoy the conference, and thank you on behalf of the Administrator Board.

Educationally yours,

Melvin A. Lowe Melvin Alonza Lowe, III, Ed. D. AEA Administrator President

2025-2026 AEA ADMINISTRATOR BOARD PRESIDENT: DR. MELVIN ALONZA LOWE, III

DISTRICT 4: VACANT

VICE PRESIDENT: STEPHEN INGRAM

DISTRICT 5: DR. PRINCESS JONES

SECRETARY: DR. WILLIE SHELBY

DISTRICT 6: DR. DASHANNIKIA HOLSTON

DISTRICT 1: VACANT

DISTRICT 7: DR. ALICE HARRIS-JACKSON

DISTRICT 2: PAMELA ALLEN-INGRAM

DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE: ANGELA T. MCKNIGHT

DISTRICT 3: KE’ UNDRA DUDLEY

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ADMINICON 2026: CONTINUING THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Agenda-At-A-Glance | Friday, February 6, 2026 REGISTRATION

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Grand Reef Foyer

OPENING GENERAL SESSION | LUNCHEON

12:00 p.m.

Grand Reef

Welcome Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III, President AEA Administrator Division Special Greetings Dr. Bridgette Masey-Johnson (Video) Alabama Education Association, President Dr. Tonya Chestnut, Member Alabama State Board of Education, District 5 Keynote Speaker Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III, President AEA Administrator Division

FEATURED SESSION

1:45 p.m.

What Goes Unspoken, Yet is Desperately Needed: Grand Reef Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace | Leadership Standard: Relational Presenter: Krystal Hardy Allen, Founder & CEO, K. Allen Consulting In the day-to-day life of schools and districts, so much of what shapes culture, collaboration, and leadership outcomes goes unspoken, such as the interpersonal dynamics of the workplace, mental health needs of staff (not only youth and families), internal institutional conflict, and more. This powerful session explores emotional intelligence (EQ) not just as a soft skill, but as a critical lever for sustainable school and organizational (e.g. district) transformation. Participants will examine how self-awareness, social awareness, and relational insight are essential tools for driving powerful change, building trust, reducing burnout, and cultivating psychologically safe environments where both adults and students can thrive. This session invites school and district leaders to move beyond the technical and into the human-centered practices that sustain real change.

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

3:10 p.m.

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

4:35 p.m.

RECEPTION

6:00 p.m.

• What Do I Do Today and How Do I Plan for Tomorrow?

• Implementing Curriculum and Following the Law

• Pouring Into the Pourers: Stress Management and Wellness for Educators • How to Find Qualified Staff for School Settings

Grand Reef Night Reef

Grand Reef Night Reef

Salon FGH

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ADMINICON 2026: CONTINUING THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Agenda-At-A-Glance | Saturday, February 7, 2026 CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

9:15 a.m.

AWARDS BRUNCH

10:45 a.m.

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

12:00 p.m.

• Leadership Traits That Create A Learning Culture • Foundations of Data Literacy for School Leaders

Night Reef Grand Reef

Grand Reef

• Everyone Needs a Support System: The Importance of Networking and Building Effective Learning Communities • A Fair Balance: Data vs. Social Culture

Night Reef

Grand Reef

FEATURED SESSION

1:25 p.m.

CLOSING GENERAL SESSION

2:45 p.m.

• What Drives Instruction?

Grand Reef

Grand Reef

APLDS CLOCK HOUR REQUIREMENTS: Administrator Conference participants may earn up to nine (9) APLDS clock hours.

Participants must register in PowerSchool PL no later than March 2026, using title number 550727.

For more information about receiving APLDS clock hour credit for the conference, please contact Dr. Pamela Fossett at pamela.fossett@alaedu.org.

NOTE: APLDS clock hour credit will be award in April 2026.

ADMINISTRATOR DIVISION

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CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

FRIDAY • FEBRUARY 6, 2026

3:10 p.m. | Grand Reef What Do I Do Today and How Do I Plan for Tomorrow? | Leadership Standard: Managerial & Operational Presenter: Timothy Johnson, Technology in Motion Specialist, Alabama State Department of Education Facilitator: Julia Nixon, AEA UniServ Director, District 27 Finding time to evaluate lesson plans, process purchase orders, return phone calls, and monitor student behavior is a practice not easily mastered in public education. This session will give you effective tips on time management and how to prioritize and set effective program projections. Leaders will be engaged with strategies for quality management of a learning organization by planning for success and implementing best and proven practices.

3:10 p.m. | Night Reef Implementing Curriculum and Following the Law | Leadership Standard: Instructional Presenter: Dr. Cincrystall Poythress, Special Education/505 Director, Macon County Public Schools Facilitator: Jason James, AEA UniServ Director, District 27 Providing adherence to comply with federal and state laws, especially special education law, is a common factor in public education. This session will present current and updated trends and mandated requirements in special education, to also include updates to 504, eligibility, assessments, and extended support services for students protected under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

4:35 p.m. | Night Reef How to Find Qualified Staff for School Settings | Leadership Standard: Managerial & Operational Presenters: Kimberly Mitchell, Education Specialist, Educator Recruitment and Retention, Alabama State Department of Education Mona Cain, Education Specialist, Educator Recruitment and Retention, Alabama State Department of Education Facilitator: Eric Beck, AEA UniServ Director, District 27 Staffing challenges in educational settings is a major issue today in Alabama public schools. Even with multiple traditional certification routes and numerous alternative certification pathways, it is difficult to find staff, especially in special education and often career and technical education. In this session, leaders will interactively engage in discussions around managing staffing complexities and navigating their district’s academic needs, funding, policy, and compliance with state certification requirements. Leaders will also discuss the importance of having very clear and current job descriptions in order to staff departments and schools.

4:35 p.m. | Grand Reef Pouring into the Pourers: Stress Management and Wellness for Educators | Leadership Standard: Relational Presenter: LaMonica Harris, AEA UniServ Director, District 12 Facilitator: Matt Howard, AEA UniServ Director, District 32 This session will remind instructional leaders to support their own well-being and foster healthy environments for staff and students. Leaders will engage in self-care and stress management techniques. They will also learn ways to recognize signs of distress and integrate mental health into the school’s culture as well as their own personal lives.

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CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 7, 2026

9:15 a.m. | Night Reef Leadership Traits That Create A Learning Culture | Leadership Standard: Innovative Presenter: Jacqueline Nicholas, Curriculum and Instruction Specialist, Birmingham City Schools Facilitator: Mercy Pilkington, AEA UniServ Director, District 15 This session will explore innovative ways to plan and organize an effective leadership culture. Leaders will discuss the impact of “I” and “we,” two words that can make or break the organization. Leaders will also share practical methods they can use to collaborate and develop their leadership goals in any school, an ability that is paramount to the success of every organization.

9:15 a.m. | Grand Reef Foundations of Data Literacy for School Leaders | Leadership Standard: Instructional Presenters: Dr. Veronique Brown and Stephanie Triplett, QuantHub Facilitator: Richard Mathis, AEA UniServ Director, District 2 This practical hands-on session will introduce school leaders to the state-approved QuantHub platform. This tool is used to assist school leaders with building essential data competencies through three core focus areas: data literacy and analysis, data-driven decision making, and communication and collaboration. QuantHub experts will guide leaders through logging onto the platform and practicing working on required data skills.

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ADMINISTRATOR DIVISION

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AWARDS BRUNCH • 10:45 A.M.

GRAND REEF

Welcome Dr. Alice Harris-Jackson

AEA Administrator Board, District 7 Special Greetings Jackie Ziegler, Member

Alabama State Board of Education, District 1 Recognition of AEA Staff and Administrator Board Members

Angela McKnight AEA Administrator Board, Director-at-Large

Blessing of the Food Thomas “T.C.” Coley, Jr.

AEA Southern Manager of UniServ Organizing Brunch is Served Awards Presentation(s) Dr. Willie Shelby

AEA Administrator Board, Secretary

Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III

AEA Administrator Board, President

Dr. Princess Jones

AEA Administrator Board, District 5

Angela McKnight

AEA Administrator Board, Director-at-Large

Award Presented to: Dr. Mark Sullivan, Birmingham City Schools

Outstanding Superintendent of the Year

Kristen Dial-Williams, Selma City Schools Outstanding Central Office Administrator of the Year

Keila Browder, Bullock County Schools Outstanding Principal of the Year

Dr. Mashika Tempero Culliver, Selma City Schools Outstanding Assistant Principal of the Year Closing Remarks Dr. Melvin A. Lowe, III

AEA Administrator Board, President

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CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 7, 2026

12:05 p.m. | Night Reef Everyone Needs a Support System: The Importance of Networking and Building Effective Learning Communities | Leadership Standard: Innovative Presenters: Casey Davis, Superintendent, Tallapoosa County Schools Dr. Penny Johnson, Deputy Superintendent, Tallapoosa County Schools Facilitator: Eric Beck, AEA UniServ Director, District 27 Leadership trends are influenced by relationships. Relationships are invaluable tools needed in leadership practice and development. In this session, participants will engage in conversations surrounding their better, best, and most profound outcomes they have nurtured based on their relationships with staff, parents, students, community, and other administrators.

12:05 p.m. | Grand Reef A Fair Balance: Data vs. Social Culture | Leadership Standard: Relational Presenters: Matt Howard, AEA UniServ Director, District 32 Facilitator: Richard Mathis, AEA UniServ Director, District 2 Crafting a school/community culture that collaboratively unifies educational accountability and the more popular community and social trends (e.g., academics and athletics) is very important for school leaders. This session will provide administrators with leadership strategies to cultivate equitable academic communities that rival the engagement and support commonly associated with athletic culture.

FEATURED SESSION

SATURDAY • FEBRUARY 7, 2026

1:25 p.m. | Grand Reef What Drives Instruction? | Leadership Standard: Instructional Presenter: Dr. Princess Jones, Principal, Birmingham City Schools Facilitator: Julia Nixon, AEA UniServ Director, District 27 Developing and maintaining instructional goals and applications in PreK-12 settings is a demanding requirement for administrators. Curriculum development is a daily requirement; how principals navigate their roles is based on their understanding of their district’s accountability data. This session will provide value in leaders’ selections of instructional resources, strategies used within daily implementation, professional learning opportunities, and how best to make decisions that are influenced by multiple data sources.

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VENUE FLOOR PLANS BEACH LEVEL VENUES

LOBBY LEVEL VENUES BALLROOM

SAND ROOMS INDOOR VENUE OUTDOOR VENUE

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Conference Notes

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Conference Notes

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ADMINISTRATOR DIVISION

VISIT: myAEA.org • EMAIL: myAEA@alaedu.org CALL: 800.392.5839 • FAX: 334.262.8377

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