Join us for the FSBA/FADSS Annual Summer Conference, where Florida’s governance leaders in education come together to collaborate, learn, and drive positive change. This premier event offers school board members, superintendents, district staff, and education stakeholders a dynamic platform to exchange ideas, explore innovative solutions, and stay ahead of the latest developments in education policy and leadership.
📅 Important Travel Notice
While pre-conference sessions and meetings take place on Wednesday, the official Opening Session begins Thursday morning. Review the tentative agenda to plan your arrival accordingly.
Sponsors
Sponsors must register through the sponsor registration process. Contact Jordan Steffens if you did not receive instructions. steffens@fsba.org
Want to learn more? View theTentative Agenda
Registration deadline: May 21, 2026 | Refund deadline: May 27, 2026 | Note: On-site registration will be available with a $30 late fee included.
Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay | 2900 Bayport Drive, Tampa Bay, FL | 813.874.1234 | Block Rate: $214.00 | Cut-Off Date: May 12, 2026
Please note: There will be an additional charge for the Bay View and Casita Rooms.
** Reservations must be made via the link in your FSBA event registration email confirmation.
Hyatt Place Tampa Airport/Westshore | 4811 W. Main Street, Tampa, FL 33607 | 813.282.1037 | Cut-Off Date: May 11, 2026 | Block rate: $139.00. Learn more about the FSBA Overflow block here.
Florida School Boards Association | Leadership Services Team
Onboarding New School Board Members – Accelerating Their Impact from Day One
With term limits creating more frequent transitions on Florida school boards, intentional onboarding has never been more critical. This interactive pre-conference session equips governance teams with practical strategies to quickly orient newly elected members to their roles, responsibilities, and the legal framework in which they must work. Participants will explore essential onboarding topics, timelines, and tools that build clarity, confidence, and a strong governance culture. We will also highlight the importance of helping new members gain a clear understanding of the unique characteristics, priorities, data, and community context of their own school district, ensuring they are prepared to increase their impact from day one.
Presenters:
Tina Pinkoson, FSBA, Director of Leadership Services
April Griffin, FSBA, Leadership Services Consultant
Carol Cook, FSBA Leadership Services Consultant
The Moment of Impact: Understanding Your Influence
Between navigating the cluttered social and political agendas, increased community involvement, and heavy rates of attrition, it can be easy to lose sight of the powerful and positive influence of a healthy school board. Reconnect with how what you do matters and the impact it has on the future, the family, and the community. When all the noise tries to distract you from your purpose, this deeply personal keynote reminds you how your often unsung efforts can change not only the course of a student’s life but that of the entire family.
About Anne Marie Anderson
Anne Marie Anderson is a three-time Emmy award winning broadcaster, author, and keynote speaker who teaches educators and leaders how to employ courage to take worthwhile risks that lead to stronger teams, confident students, and thriving school cultures.
Over more than three decades in sports broadcasting, Anne Marie has covered the world’s biggest stages, including six Olympic Games, the Super Bowl, and over 1,500 live events for ESPN, ABC, NBC, FOX, and TBS. In the process, she has observed what separates good teams from great ones and how those same lessons apply to classrooms, staff rooms, and communities everywhere.
As a keynote speaker, Anne Marie blends humor, storytelling, and research-based insights to help educators build cultures of courage, belonging, and possibility. Her sessions empower audiences to dismantle self-doubt, model resilience for students, and take bold action in pursuit of growth.
Her book, Cultivating Audacity: Dismantle Doubt and Let Yourself Win, an Amazon #1 New Release in Business Diversity and Career Growth, guides readers through identifying barriers such as fear, time, and self-criticism and transforming them into motivation and momentum.
Anne Marie reminds leaders that courage is contagious and when educators lead with audacity, they inspire the next generation to do the same.
Dr. Kathy McFarland, Executive Director of the Consortium of State School Boards Associations
Increase Your Impact: Leading with Purpose
Great governance begins with a clear purpose. In this session, board members will learn how to stay focused on what matters most: policy, budgeting, oversight, and accountability, without being distracted. By aligning decisions with shared goals like student achievement, resource management, and community partnerships, leaders can create conditions for meaningful, lasting impact. When you lead with purpose, you strengthen your focus and, ultimately, your influence.
About Dr. Kathy McFarland
Dr. McFarland brings a lifelong commitment to public education and an impressive record of leadership to her new role. She most recently served as Chief Executive Officer of the Ohio School Boards Association, and previously worked as a teacher, assistant principal, and principal in two Central Ohio school districts. Her entire professional career has been grounded in supporting students, school boards, and public education systems.
Her personal motto is: Empowering leaders. Advancing public education. She believes that strong, ethical and informed leadership at the school board level directly impacts students. She is committed to building strong relationships with COSSBA member states, its partners, and the communities served by the COSSBA members.
With a leadership style defined by clarity, compassion, and respect, Dr. McFarland prides herself in listening, learning and leading as she supports the work that school board associations do every day.
Founded in 2022, the Consortium of State School Boards Associations is a nationwide, nonpartisan alliance dedicated to sharing resources and information to support, promote, and strengthen state school boards associations as they serve their local school districts and board members.
For more information about COSSBA, visit www.cossba.org. For more information on Dr. McFarland, watch this video https://youtu.be/6qEwiNsLVuM.
This panel conversation will focus on the biggest education topics coming out of the 2026 Legislative Session.
Interested in becoming an FSBA sponsor? Click here to learn about our Annual Sponsor Program. Contact Jordan Steffens with questions. (Steffens@fsba.org)
For questions about the event, please contact the FSBA Conference Planning Manager, Amie Williamson williamson@fsba.org
Please Note: FSBA has the sole right and discretion to accept or refuse registration to any Non-FSBA Member for any reason at any time. If your registration is refused after payment has been received, you will be issued a full refund.