2025 School Board Summit

The Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty (WILL) is inviting school board members and district administrators for a day of professional development. The event will bring together experts from several facets of education policy and legal arenas. The 2025 School Board Summit will be held on May 9th. Registration is now available until April 28th, click here to register.

Milwaukee Marriott West

W231N1600 Corporate Ct
Waukesha, WI 53186
Hotel space is limited, but rooms are still available. 

2025 Session and Speakers (Program Begins at 8:30 A.M.)

Session 1 – Reclaiming Civics Education: Preparing the next Generation for Citizenship  

  • Start Time: 8:45 A.M.  
  • Moderator: Robert Pondiscio, American Enterprise Institute 
  • Panelists: David Randall, National Association of Scholars; Robert Jackson, Classical Commons; Noah Tyler, CLTexams   

      Morning Breakout Session Option A: What You Need to Know About Wisconsin School Finance 

      • Start Time: 9:55 A.M. 
      • Moderator: Will Flanders, PhD  
      • Panelists: Jonathan Mitchell, Greendale School District; Andy Chromy, Franklin School District; Brian Kadlec, CESA 8 

          Morning Breakout Session B: WILL Legal Panel: Pressing Legal Issues in K-12 Education 

          • Start Time: 9:55 A.M. 
          • Panelists: Luke Berg, Dan Lennington, Lucas Vebber  

            Session 3 – School Board Policies: How to Set Up Your Board for Long-Term Success 

            • Start Time: 11:05 A.M. 
            • Speakers: Cory Brewer; Lauren Greuel; David Hoyt, School Boards for Academic Excellence; Leslie Graves, Ballotpedia  

              Lunch Keynote – What to Do About Kids, Smartphones, And Social Media: The Risks and the Solutions 

              • Start Time: 12:30 P.M.  
              • Speaker: Catherine Price 

                Afternoon Breakout Session A: School Safety Fireside Chat  

                • Start Time: 2:15 P.M.  
                • Speakers: Ryan Petty, Cory Brewer  

                  Afternoon Breakout Session B: Superintendent Search & Contract: How to Attract, Hire and Retain an Effective Superintendent  

                  • Start Time: 2:15 P.M. 
                  • Speakers: Bill Hughes, Hughes Strategic, Jim Macy, von Briesen, Mark Kapocius, von Briesen 

                    Session 5 – How Boards Can Support Teachers in Strengthening Classroom Management and Improving Student Achievement    

                    • Start Time: 3:20 P.M. 
                    • Speakers: Robert Pondiscio, American Enterprise Institute; Daniel Buck; Will Flanders 
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                      Our Special Guest:

                      This year’s special guest and keynote speaker is Catherine Price, author of books including How to Break Up With Your Phone, and a recognized expert on digital wellbeing. She will be giving an insightful presentation on kids, smartphones, and social media.

                      Award-winning science journalist, speaker, and author Catherine Price is a leading voice in the national conversation about digital devices and how to create healthy relationships with technology. Her books include her bestsellers, How to Break Up With Your Phone and The Power of Fun: How to Feel Alive Again, and Catherine and her work have been featured in outlets including, The Best American Science Writing, NPR, The New York Times, Good Morning America, The Wall Street Journal, Popular Science, The Los Angeles Times,  and TIME Magazine, among many others. She is also a former middle school teacher, the parent of a young child, and a core member of the team behind Jonathan Haidt’s #1 NYT-bestselling book, The Anxious Generation. She writes the popular Substack newsletter, “How to Feel Alive,” and her TED talk on fun has been viewed more than 5M times.

                      In all of her work, Catherine’s ultimate goal is to help people of all ages scroll less, live more, and have fun.

                      2024 Agenda

                       

                      Presentation by Melvin Adams, Noah Webster Educational Foundation

                      Speaker:

                      • Melvin Adams – Founder of the Noah Webster Educational Foundation

                      Empowering School Board Members

                      Alternative Resources for Informed Decision-Making and Governance

                      So often, the only resources known to school board members are given from one perspective. Instead, school board members should know about the many resources at their disposal, enabling them to make informed decisions and prioritize student academic achievement in their communities. WILL legal and policy experts will provide introductions on several important topics, which will include an overview about school board member powers and duties, how to access data about your district, how to track relevant legislation at the state level, and how to ensure compliance with open records laws. This presentation is tailored for school board members seeking to expand their knowledge base and enhance their decision-making capabilities by hearing about resources beyond traditional avenues such as state school board associations or district administration.

                      Speakers:

                      • Cory Brewer – Education Counsel at Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
                      • Dr. Will Flanders – Research Director at Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
                      • Lucas Vebber – Deputy Counsel at Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty
                      • Kyle Koenen – Policy Director at Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

                      Equality in the Classroom

                      Ensuring Racial Nondiscrimination for Wisconsin Students and Educators

                      By providing a legal update and discussing common examples of racial discrimination in schools, this panel seeks to empower school board members to make informed policy decisions that promote fairness and respect for all students. Presenters will examine concerns about compelled speech and legal challenges related to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies and curriculum originating from viewpoints that have sparked debate. The panel will discuss the legal obligations of schools to ensure equal treatment for all students regardless of race and provide an understanding of the need to ensure racial nondiscrimination within all facets of K through 12 education.

                      Speakers:

                      How to Ensure District Funds Deliver the Most for Students

                      Bringing Communities Along in Challenging Budget Times

                      For most school districts, financial pressures are intensifying as federal relief funds wind down, enrollments shift, and labor costs continue to rise, all against the backdrop of an economic downturn. Decisions made regarding school district budgets will play a critical role in ensuring that district funds can deliver the most for students. This presentation is designed to equip school board members with the practical skills needed to know how to direct limited resources towards the goal of achieving educational excellence for all students.

                      Speakers:

                      Parental Rights and Student Gender Identity

                      Understanding the Vital Role of Parent Involvement in Decision-making for Minor Students

                      This presentation will provide school board members with insights into the importance of parental involvement in education, particularly with regard to the evolving topic of student gender identity. This panel will feature a legal expert, a policy expert, a parent, and a clinical psychologist whose work has focused primarily on children and adolescents dealing with gender identity-related issues. These experts will explore the rights of parents to direct the upbringing of their children while addressing the sensitive issue of gender ideology in schools. By navigating these issues with a commitment to collaboration, school board members can foster positive relationships between schools, parents, and students while upholding parents’ constitutional rights.

                      Speakers:

                      Cultivating Collaborative Partnerships

                      Fostering Effective Relationships Between School Board Members and Superintendents

                      This presentation aims to explore practices that support effective partnerships between school board members and superintendents. If all are focused on the best interests of students and families, responsible fiscal policies, and thoughtful consideration of community concerns, then even a board with diverse perspectives can become an effective board. The relationship between school board members and superintendents is crucial because it directly influences positive outcomes for students, teachers, and the community. This panel will seek to provide a roadmap for long-term success and good governance.

                      Speakers:

                      • Joe Garza – Superintendent at School District of New Berlin
                      • Dr. Bill Hughes– President of Hughes Strategic Consulting
                      • James Macy– Chair of School Law Section at von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
                      • Robert Kobleska– School Board Member at Greendale School District
                      • Janet Schulz– President of New Berlin School Board

                      Connecting Policy to Practice

                      Strategies for Effective Implementation and Evaluation of Policies in the Classroom

                      This panel discussion is dedicated to empowering school board members with actionable strategies to bridge the divide between policy formulation and classroom application. It is imperative for school boards to recognize their substantial influence over classroom dynamics; they are not just passive supporters of administrative decisions but essential contributors shaping educational outcomes. As educators, administrators, and policymakers collaborate to elevate educational standards, this discussion will highlight the pivotal role of school boards in translating policies into effective classroom practices.

                      Speakers:

                      • Robert Pondiscio – Senior Fellow in Education at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI)
                      • Daniel Buck– Editorial and Policy Associate at the Thomas B. Fordham Institute
                      • Cory Brewer– Education Counsel at Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty

                      For more information or questions contact WILL Education Counsel, Cory Brewer at [email protected].  

                      View Last Year’s Official Program