If leadership is an art, then Nashville just hosted the ultimate master class. From July 15–17, more than 4,000 school leaders gathered there to attend UNITED: The National Conference on School Leadership. Inside the Music City Center, Nashville’s convention center, principals, assistant principals, and aspiring school leaders engaged deeply with peers, gained insights from distinguished leaders across the educational spectrum, and shared actionable strategies to empower their school communities.
Chase Christensen, superintendent and principal of Sheridan County School District #3 in Clearmont, WY, captured the essence of the event. “The sheer number of school leaders here creates an incredible feeling of power,” he said. “As Jon Gordon pointed out in his keynote, if each of us makes one small move in our schools, we’ll create a tremendous wave of positive change.”
To kick things off, NASSP President Aaron Huff set the tone for the conference, encouraging attendees to “go all-in.” His message was clear. “Meet new people,” he said. “Share your stories. Build connections. Find your people. Strength comes from unity, and with NASSP and NAESP together, we’re at the top of our game.”
The conference’s 200+ breakout sessions covered a spectrum of critical topics, from equity and diversity to innovative teaching practices and technology integration. These sessions weren’t just talks—they were launchpads for immediate action in schools across the nation.
“I coach football, I do lunch duty, I drive the bus, I do whatever needs to be done to keep the school going. The biggest thing as a school leader is that we never have enough time,” said Johnnie Ostermeyer, principal of Crofton Community School in Crofton, NE. He found his takeaway in a shift of perspective. “Instead of focusing on to-do lists, what about to-be lists? What do I want to be? What do I want my teachers to be? That’s my new focus.”
The success of UNITED in Nashville sets the stage for another impressive event planned for July 13–15, 2025, in Seattle. Heidi Fagerness, assistant principal of Chehalis Middle School in Chehalis, WA, said that the only thing more powerful than uniting as educators is reuniting. “I literally teared up seeing people that I saw at the last NASSP event I attended in April. The sessions are wonderful, the NASSP supports are wonderful, but it’s the connections with my people that is what makes these conferences unmissable.”
You too can be part of shaping the future of education. Join us in Seattle for UNITED, where you’ll continue to be inspired, energized, and equipped to take on any challenge your school may face.