Tuesday, April 6, 2027
Time: All day
Location: University of Iowa College of Education, Lindquist Center
240 South Madison Street, Iowa City, IA 52240
Cost: $100 (includes continental breakfast, lunch, and snacks)
Capacity: Limited to 60 registrants
What You’ll Explore
• Your leadership role in school communities
• Caring for yourself while supporting students, families, staff, and administrators
• Emotional wellness through self-care and mindfulness
• Everyday “micro moments” that build relationships and strengthen school culture
• Improv techniques for confidence, collaboration, adaptability, and communication
• Using AI safely and effectively to streamline administrative tasks and protect student privacy
Schedule and Speakers
Agenda
7:45–8:30 AM Registration and Continental Breakfast
Location: Baker Teacher Leader Center Commons, N110
8:30–8:45 AM Opening Remarks
Location: Professional Development Area (PDA), N116
8:45–9:45 AM Keynote: Everything I Ever Needed to Know About Leadership, I Learned from the Front Office (and Beyond)
Location: Professional Development Area (PDA), N116
What if everything you ever needed to know about leadership you learned not in a classroom or a boardroom, but in the front office?
In this keynote, presenter Amy Andreassen puts a fresh spin on a timeless idea with a warm, funny, and surprisingly profound look at leadership through the lens of the front office. Drawing on real stories, hard-won wisdom, and more than a few laughs, Amy shares 10 lessons that the front office teaches us all, about resilience, relationships, grace under pressure, and what it truly means to connect, grow, and thrive as the heart of a school community.
Whether you've worked in a school office, district office, or a support role for 30 years or 30 days, you'll leave this session feeling seen, celebrated, and reminded of just how much your work matters.
Key Takeaways:
Recognize the leadership role you already play ... and own it with confidence.
Identify the unique skills and strengths that administrative professionals bring to school and organizational culture that no one else can replicate.
Leave feeling inspired and energized about the meaningful, lasting impact your work has on students, families, and staff every single day.
Presented by Amy Andreassen, Retired Elementary Principal
After a successful 25-year career as an Iowa public school principal, Amy Andreassen shifted her focus to supporting pre-service educators as director of student teaching at William Penn University. Her passion for education and commitment to supporting teachers, preventing educator burnout, and recruiting and retaining educators shines through in everything she does. Andreassen's dedication to social-emotional learning is underscored by her certification as a yoga instructor and SEL facilitator, integrating mindfulness practices into her work to foster resilience and well-being.
9:45–9:55 AM Break
10:00–10:55 AM Caring for Self While Caring for Others: You’re Hardy and You Know It
Location: Professional Development Area (PDA), N116
In our work, we are called upon to be thoughtful and caring of others especially when others struggle. Within our ever-changing work world, the struggles others are managing can often be the same struggles we are managing. In this ongoing time of significant world and workplace change, we can find ourselves caring for others while also having to care for ourselves. This interactive program shares practical ideas and tools to have and use to help with managing the changing world we all now inhabit. While the changing world has provided opportunities for positive change, there are also losses and significant ongoing challenges.
This workshop focuses on capitalizing on our positives, so we can best care for ourselves while also caring for others. This program takes an identities-based, mental health and well-being focus. Being staff, teachers, administrators, or anyone who works in education and is called upon to help others can be challenging on a good day. This program provides navigation for the stormier days as we navigate the current academic year and beyond.
Learning Goals:
This workshop helps staff respond to students, families, and co-workers in distress and take care of our own lives, too! Participants will learn:
How to capitalize on our positives
An identities-based, mental health and well-being focus
Navigation for the stormier days in our lives
Practical ideas and tools to help with managing the changing world
Presented by Barry Schreier, University of Iowa
Barry A. Schreier, PhD, is a licensed counseling psychologist. He was a campus counseling center professional for 30 years, finishing most recently as director of the University of Iowa Counseling Center. Schreier is a professor of counseling psychology in the University of Iowa College of Education and the University of Iowa Faculty Ombudsperson. Prior to this, he was director of the Counseling Center at the University of Connecticut, and he spent many years with Princeton and Purdue University’s Counseling Centers. Schreier has made a career focused on student, staff, and faculty mental health and well-being. He has numerous publications on a variety of topics including sexual orientations and Trans/GNB identities; training and education in psychology; managing student distress; campus suicide prevention; campus mental health and well-being; group therapy and grief therapy models; and was an editor for The Handbook of Multicultural Counseling Competency. Schreier is the founder and senior consultant for Bridge Partners Consultation which provides professional consultation on issues and concerns related to the GLBTQ+ communities.
11:00–11:55 AM Adapt Without the Overwhelm: Practical AI for K–12 Administrative Professionals
Location: Professional Development Area (PDA), N116
Administrative professionals handle a large share of the daily writing, scheduling, and record keeping that keeps a school running. This workshop shows how AI tools can take on parts of that work without putting student data at risk. We will start with the tasks that fill an office day, including parent and staff communications, meeting notes, calendar coordination, form letters, and summarizing long documents, and work through live examples of how AI can draft, reorganize, and clean up each one. Along the way we will cover FERPA and student data privacy in plain terms: what information should never go into an AI tool, how to tell which tools your district has approved, and how to check AI output before it goes out under your name.
Participants will leave with a set of tested prompts, a short decision guide for when AI is and is not the right choice, and examples they can try the following week.
This is an interactive session; participants are encouraged to bring a laptop.
Learning Goals:
- Identify three to five routine office tasks where AI can save time, and try at least one during the session using prompts provided.
- Apply a simple check for FERPA and student data privacy before using any AI tool, including what to leave out of a prompt and how to confirm district approval.
- Review and edit AI-generated communications so they stay accurate, match the school's voice, and remain the responsibility of the person sending them.
Presented by Aaron Mauer, Mississippi Bend AEA
Aaron Maurer is a school improvement consultant for Computer Science, AI, Social Studies, Science, and Talented and Gifted at Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, where he supports 21 school districts in eastern Iowa. He has worked in education for more than 20 years as a classroom teacher, gifted education facilitator, instructional coach, and consultant. He has served on the Iowa Department of Education state leadership teams for computer science and social studies standards and has spent the last several years helping districts build AI guidance, staff training, and practical workflows for teachers and office staff. He hosts the Coffee for the Brain podcast, writes the Chaos Navigators newsletter, and is the author of two books on robotics and coding. His next book, When Is AI Right for Your Classroom?: A Teacher's Guide to Designing and Protecting Student Learning, is forthcoming from Routledge.
12:00–1:00 PM Lunch
Location: Baker Teacher Leader Center Commons, N110
1:05–2:00 PM Self-Preservation for Emotional Well-Being
Location: Professional Development Area (PDA), N116
Emotional wellness is our ability to recognize, process, and manage emotions in healthy ways while navigating the demands of daily life. In this interactive session, participants will explore practical strategies for reducing stress, building resilience, and prioritizing self-care. Through mindfulness practices, breathwork, movement, and guided reflection, attendees will learn simple techniques that can be incorporated into everyday routines to support both mental and physical well-being.
Participants will also create a personal Wellness Mission Statement and develop a realistic self-care plan designed to promote long-term wellness. By intentionally practicing self-preservation and mindfulness, administrative professionals can strengthen their own well-being, maintain positive energy, and better support the students, families, and colleagues they serve every day.
Please dress comfortably, as this session includes movement and breathing exercises.
Learning Outcomes:
- Learn practical ways to incorporate healthy wellness habits into their daily routines.
- Create an enjoyable and achievable personal care plan that supports emotional well-being.
- Develop a deeper understanding of how self-preservation practices contribute to long-term mental, emotional, and physical wellness.
Presented by Meredith Caskey, University of Iowa
Meredith Caskey spent over two decades teaching young people about conservation education in the wild habitats of Iowa, specializing in ornithology. She transitioned to lecturing at the College of Education at the University of Iowa in 2020. She leads courses in Physical Activity, Health, and Wellness for the Elementary Classroom Teacher. Curriculum in all her courses each semester has an emphasis on emotional well-being, self-preservation, and mindfulness.
2:10–3:10 PM Improv and Empowering the Heart
Location: Professional Development Area (PDA), N116
Through engaging and interactive improv activities, participants will discover creative ways to connect with themselves and others. This session offers practical strategies for strengthening relationships, navigating differences, and approaching everyday workplace interactions with openness, empathy, and confidence. No acting experience is needed, just a willingness to participate, laugh, and have fun!
Participants Will:
Experience and practice simple, other-oriented improv techniques that foster connection, collaboration, and positive workplace interactions.
Explore how improv principles can help build confidence, adaptability, and openness when navigating everyday professional and personal situations.
Discover practical ways to strengthen relationships and create more meaningful connections through active listening, empathy, and shared experiences.
Presented by Sam Tanner, University of Iowa
Dr. Samuel Jaye Tanner is a professor of English Education at the University of Iowa. He is also a creative writer, an improviser, and a poor basketball player. A former high school English and Drama teacher, Tanner has explored intersections between improv and teaching and learning for nearly 30 years.
3:10–3:20 PM Refreshments and Return for Closing
Snacks available in the Commons Area
3:20–4:10 PM CLOSING: The Power of Micro Moments: How Small Acts of Connection Make a Big Difference
Location: Professional Development Area (PDA), N116
Every interaction creates an opportunity for connection. This session explores how small, intentional moments of kindness, recognition, empathy, and presence can strengthen relationships, foster belonging, and positively shape school culture.
Participants will consider the influence they have in everyday interactions and identify simple ways to make those moments matter.
Key Takeaways:
Recognize how brief, everyday interactions can have a meaningful impact on others’ well-being and sense of belonging.
Identify simple, intentional practices for creating moments of connection, recognition, and care.
Understand the important role administrative professionals play in shaping a welcoming, supportive school culture.
Presented by Kari Vogelgesang, University of Iowa
Kari Vogelgesang, is a clinical professor in the University of Iowa College of Education and serves as director of professional development for the Scanlan Center for School Mental Health and director of the UI Education Innovation Hub. A former elementary educator, Vogelgesang's work focuses on school mental health and well-being, educator professional learning, and building strong partnerships between schools and higher education. She is passionate about helping create environments where everyone can thrive, including students, families, educators, staff, and the broader community.
FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the conference located?
University of Iowa College of Education
Lindquist Center, North Building, Level 1
240 S. Madison St.
Iowa City, IA 52242
Where should I park?
Old Capitol Town Center Parking Ramp
220 S. Capitol St. / 253 S. Clinton St.
Rate: First hour is free; $2 per hour thereafter
500 S. Madison St.
Rate: $13/day
University of Iowa Library Parking Lot 3
123 Museum Dr.
Rate: $13/day
Do you offer a justification letter?
Yes! If justification to attend the conference is needed, download this Iowa PK-12 Administrative Professionals Conference Justification Letter.
Where should I stay? Are there blocks of rooms reserved at hotels?
We do not have a block of rooms for this event. Iowa City has a wide variety of hotel accommodations close to the conference; you also have options in the nearby Coralville area.
What Should I Wear?
Dress comfortably and be yourself! Throughout the day, you'll have opportunities to engage in light movement and wellness activities designed to help you recharge.
I require dietary accommodations — whom should I notify?
If you have any special dietary needs, please indicate this on the registration form when prompted. We will make every attempt to accommodate this request.
Should I Bring a Laptop?
We recommend bringing a laptop for the AI in the Workplace session, as there will be opportunities to engage with AI tools during hands-on activities. Wi-Fi access will be available throughout the conference.
Will I receive a certificate of attendance?
Yes. Your certificate of attendance will be available at the end of the conference.
Do you accept purchase orders?
Yes. Purchase orders can be emailed to the Education Innovation Hub:
coe-uieih@uiowa.edu.
Once the purchase order is received, an invoice will be sent to your school district.
*Please include registrant’s name and email address. A registration link will be sent to each participant utilizing a purchase order.
What if I need to cancel — can I get a refund? What if there is inclement weather on the day of the conference?
- Cancellations/refunds: The registration fee is non-refundable; however, if you are unable to attend, you may transfer your registration to another person within your organization.
- Inclement weather: We will hold the conference on Tuesday, April 6, 2027, as scheduled. We encourage registrants to watch the weather and plan accordingly.
Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all University of Iowa–sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this program, please contact the UI Education Innovation Hub in advance at 319-335-1923 or coe-uieih@uiowa.edu.