Schedule 

Wednesday, July 22, 2026

11:30 am Convention Registration

1:00-4:00 pm Pre-Conference Sessions

1. Legal Compliance Seminar for Administrative Assistants
   Tess O'Brien-Heinzen, Attorney, Renning, Lewis & Lacy
   Administrative assistants play a vital role in district operations and legal compliance. In this three‑hour presentation, Attorney Tess O’Brien‑Heinzen will provide assistants with critical information tailored to their unique responsibilities and will lead an engaging, interactive group discussion.  Tess will review the fundamentals of family law as they intersect with school operations, including custody, placement, foster care, confidentiality, and pupil records. She will also walk through common real‑world fact patterns involving parental rights, employee involvement in family court matters—such as subpoenas to appear or produce documents—special education, Section 504, and additional related issues.  Participants will be invited to submit questions both before and during the session to ensure the training addresses the most timely and relevant topics. 

2. Maximizing Google Tools: An Essential Workshop for Administrative Assistants
   Rita Mortenson, Technology Coach, Verona High School
   Join me for a practical and engaging 3-hour session designed specifically for administrative assistants who support school and district leaders. We’ll explore ever changing Google tools and time-saving tips that make everyday tasks easier and more manageable. From organizing documents and improving communication to managing information and staying on top of details, you’ll gain skills you can use right away. This session will introduce a variety of Google tools to help you stay organized, anticipate needs, and confidently support leadership across your district. Strengthen your skills, build confidence, and celebrate the important role you play in your school community every day.

3. Knowing Yourself, Leading With Purupose: A Practical Workshop
   Steve Schroeder, Director of Administration & Analysis, AWSA
   This engaging three-hour session begins with an exploration of Myers-Briggs Personality Types to help administrative assistants deepen self-awareness and strengthen communication with colleagues and families. The session then transitions into The Leadership Challenge, where participants will learn how the Five Practices of Exemplary Leadership can apply to their unique and essential roles in schools. Through reflection, discussion, and practical activities, attendees will build confidence in leading from where they are—no title required.

4. The VUCA Advantage Part II: VUCA Solutions
   Dametra Moore, Executive Assistant, Madison Metro School District
   An office serves as the central nervous system of an organization. It can often be attacked by systemic viruses like; inefficiencies, communication breakdowns, and fractured operational practices that demand restoration. In this environment, administrative assistants play a crucial leadership role, navigating the challenges of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA). We are not just support staff; we are multifaceted leaders who excel at problem-solving by staying flexible, focused, and proactive. No workplace is immune to the challenges of VUCA. Join me as we dive into robust frameworks that eliminate the quick-fix cycle by building lasting solutions to critical challenges. Let's move away from merely surviving the chaos to masterfully navigating our turbulent environments. 

4:30-5:30 pm Welcome Reception

Thursday, July 23, 2026

7:00 am Registration | Continental Breakfast

8:30am Welcome and Overview of the Day

8:45-10:00 Concurrent Sessions Round 1

1. Better Together: How to Use the Principal - Administrative Assistant Partnerhsip for Maximum Impact
   Christie Johnson, Principal, Pewaukee SD
   Andrea Smith, Admin Assistant, Pewaukee SD
   When the principal and administrative assistant operate as a unified team, the school runs better. This session explores how intentional communication, clearly defined roles, and shared systems create a foundation for efficiency, trust, and calm in the midst of daily chaos. A principal and administrative assistant will share how they structure their work, streamline communication, and support one another to keep the school running smoothly and relationships strong. 

2. AI For Administrative Assistants: Elevating Excellence in Support of School Leaders
   Rita Mortenson, Technology Coach, Verona High School
   Join me for an engaging session designed for administrative assistants who want to use Artificial Intelligence as a helpful tool in their daily work supporting principals, superintendents, and other school leaders. We’ll explore how AI can support everyday responsibilities such as managing schedules, handling information, and improving communication. You’ll learn about a variety of AI tools that can help you sort, review, and analyze data in clear and manageable ways. By the end of the session, you’ll have a better understanding of AI tools you can use right away to strengthen your skills, build confidence, and continue providing essential support to school and district leadership.

3. Build Your Brand and Viability Through Improved Engagement and Service Excellence
   Joe Schroeder, Associate Executive Director, AWSA
   The challenges on public education are more demanding than ever.  Your ability to effectively engage key stakeholders and dependably provide quality service are essential to meet such challenges over the long term. This session will focus on proven tools/approaches that you can employ with others to build your brand, deepen engagement, provide service excellence, and increase customer loyalty. In doing so, you will create a compelling identity that resonates with key stakeholders and grows enduring support for your school/district.

4. Maximizing Your School Management Software (Skyward)
   Emma Narel, Skyward Student Customer Success Rep
   John Narel, Skyward Student Customer Success Rep
   Join this session to explore the many features of Skyward. This session will provide you with the skills to manage student data more efficiently and effectively, covering topics such as reports, lists, viewing student and accessing student information. Learn how to streamline communication with parents, and other various tools within Skyward to ensure a smooth day to day workflow. Whether you are new to these platforms or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will offer practical tips and techniques to help optimize your use of Skyward for better data management.

10:15-11:30 Concurrent Sessions Round 2

1. The Partnership Playbook: Strategies for Collaboration and High-Trust Efficiency
   Gayle McFarlane, School Secretary, DeForest SD
   Michelle Geary, Admin Assistant, DeForest SD
   Ann Stettbacher, Executive Assistant to the Superintendent, DeForest SD
   A playbook is more than just instructions; it's the master plan that ensures everything fits together perfectly. Administrative Assistants are the master coordinators—the ones who ensure the system works efficiently. This practical session will provide actionable strategies and habits that focus on transforming daily workflows through partnership and a deep service-first mindset. You will learn methods for a school or administrative office where goals are shared, processes are a priority, and high-trust efficiency is a natural outcome of a great working relationship. The presentation will be divided into a series of segments highlighting key components of DeForest Area School District’s approach to partnership—such as the use of an annual work plan, regularly scheduled check-ins with administrators, and development of processes that maximize efficiency. Templates, tools, and real-life examples will be shared to support the effective implementation of these practices into any office setting. After each segment, participants will have time to reflect and discuss in small groups how these strategies and habits can connect to their own districts.

2. Awareness, Acceptance, and Alignment: Paying Attention to Our Impact
   Tammy Gibbons, Director of Professional Learning, AWSA
   Self-awareness is key to managing both a welcoming and accountable office. Do the same people/same behaviors keep frustrating you? This session will focus on the keys to self-awareness when people or behaviors get under our skin. Participants will discuss and practice responses so we can stop spinning the same soundtrack in our minds about those we have a hard time working with and find a new path forward.

3. Canva - The Ultimate Design Platform for Administrative Assistants
   Rita Mortenson, Technology Coach, Verona High School
   Join me for a fun and practical Canva session designed for administrative assistants! Canva is a powerful design tool that makes it easy to create polished materials such as flyers, newsletters, presentations, calendars, checklists, and more using thousands of templates. You’ll also explore features like brand kits with your school’s logos and colors, PDF editing, and the translation tool to make content accessible in over 100 languages. This session will highlight Canva’s AI-powered tools that save time and simplify your work. Learn how to use bulk creation to quickly generate multiple certificates or documents, take advantage of Magic Design for quick layout ideas, and remove backgrounds with ease. By the end of the session, you’ll walk away with practical skills and tools you can use immediately to create professional, clear, and accessible materials that support your school and district.

4. Maximizing Your School Management Software (Infinite Campus)
   Karen Krakow, Infinite Campus (Invited)
   Join this session to explore advanced features of Infinite Campus used in schools today. This session will provide you with the skills to manage student data more efficiently and effectively, covering topics such as customizing reports, automating attendance tracking, and utilizing gradebook enhancements. Learn how to generate insightful analytics, streamline communication with parents and students, and integrate these tools with other school management systems to ensure a smooth workflow. Whether you are new to these platforms or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will offer practical tips and advanced techniques to help you optimize your use of Infinite Campus for better data management and communication.

11:30-12:30 Lunch

12:30-1:45 Concurrent Sessions Round 3

1. Google Sheets and Forms
   Rita Mortenson, Technology Coach, Verona High School
   In this session carefully designed to boost your existing skills and enhance your proficiency as an administrative assistant using Google Sheets. Delve deeper into the capabilities of Google Sheets, including advanced features like pivot tables, formulas, splitting cells, VLOOKUP, and more. These tools will empower you to streamline data management, craft dynamic reports, and automate intricate tasks, ultimately enhancing your efficiency and effectiveness. Whether you're organizing information, generating insightful reports, or making data-driven decisions, this session will provide you with the expertise and tools to excel in your administrative assistant role.

2. Front Office Conflict, Handling Challenging Interactions
   Tammy Gibbons, Director Professional Learning, AWSA
   As a front office staff member, you are often the first line of defense for the school, the principal and the staff. Often there are uncomfortable interactions, challenging situations, or someone/something that is demanding your attention and urgency. Not everyone who comes through or works with you in the office handles their emotions or issues in the most effective ways/ In this session, participants will learn some conversational stems that can de-escalate and/or move a person out of their emotional state into a productive state.

3. The Impactful Administrative Assistant: Partnering with Administration to Manage Well and Improve Lives
   Joe Schroeder, Associate Executive Director, AWSA
   Preparing students for today's highly demanding global economy and diverse community is highly dependent upon the quality of the relationship that administrative assistants have with administration. Joe Schroeder's work over three decades as an educational administrator in various roles across Wisconsin has reinforced his conviction that an excellent administrative assistant is like a superhero without the cape! This session will focus on proven strategies that a thoughtful, committed administrative assistant can employ in partnership with administration to manage the school/district efficiently, increase student wellness and success, and find means for a more whole and sustainable life outside of the job. 

4. Maximizing Your School Management Software (PowerSchool)
   Danielle Baumerg, PowerSchool
   Kelly Kujawanski, PowerSchool
   Join this session to explore advanced features of PowerSchool used in schools today. This session will provide you with the skills to manage student data more efficiently and effectively, covering topics such as customizing reports, automating attendance tracking, and utilizing gradebook enhancements. Learn how to generate insightful analytics, streamline communication with parents and students, and integrate these tools with other school management systems to ensure a smooth workflow. Whether you are new to these platforms or looking to deepen your understanding, this session will offer practical tips and advanced techniques to help you optimize your use of PowerSchool for better data management and communication.