3 Reasons Symposium ’27 Is the Must-Attend Leadership Event for PK-12 Educators.
Author: Leader in Me
August 13, 2026
Discover how Symposium ’27 helps educators and students lead, learn, and find their voice.
Most professional development days feel routine. Symposium ’27 is anything but.
This multi-day learning experience brings teachers, school leaders, and district teams together to explore what becomes possible when leadership, culture, and academics work together. Whether you are part of a Leader in Me school or exploring the framework for the first time, Symposium ’27 offers practical ideas, meaningful connections, and renewed inspiration to take back to your school.
Leadership is communicating people’s worth and potential so clearly that they are inspired to see it in themselves.
Stephen R. Covey
This year’s theme, Find Your Voice, is more than a slogan. It is the heartbeat of every keynote, breakout session, school tour, and conversation. When educators and students find their voice, schools do more than improve—they transform.
Here are three reasons you and your team won’t want to miss Symposium ’27.
What Is Symposium ’27?
Symposium ’27 is a multi-day learning experience for educators who want to develop leadership, strengthen school culture, and support academic growth.
At Symposium, you can look forward to:
- Hands-on workshops filled with practical tools
- Inspiring keynotes from education experts and visionary leaders
- Breakout sessions focused on teaching, learning, and leadership
- Collaborative Networking time to connect with educators from across the country
- Student leadership experiences that demonstrate leadership in action
- School Tours where you can see Leader in Me principles come to life
Throughout the experience, you will discover how Leader in Me helps students and adults find their voice and use it to make a meaningful contribution.
Reason #1: Experience a School Culture Where Leadership Comes Alive
Symposium ’27 immerses you in a culture where leadership is more than a program—it is a way of approaching teaching, learning, and relationships.
You may hear from student speakers who radiate confidence and purpose, join conversations with educators doing this work every day, and visit a school where students demonstrate leadership in action.
You will see what student leadership can look like as young people set goals, mentor their peers, lead activities, and take on responsibilities that matter.
For current Leader in Me schools, these experiences offer new ideas for strengthening existing practices. For educators exploring Leader in Me, they provide a firsthand look at what is possible when students discover their strengths and are empowered to lead.
Reason #2: Take Home Practical Tools You Can Use Right Away
Symposium is designed to inspire, but it is also designed to help educators take action.
Sessions address practical areas such as:
- Building student ownership in the classroom
- Strengthening school culture and academic practices
- Setting goals and tracking progress
- Engaging families and staff
- Creating meaningful opportunities for students to lead
- Elevating student and staff voice in school decisions
You may leave with a new approach to student goal-setting, a structure for involving staff in shaping school culture, or a simple routine that helps more students speak up and contribute.
This is professional learning designed to influence what happens when you return to school—not simply what happens while you are at the event.
Reason #3: Join a Community That Refuels Your Purpose
One of the most powerful parts of Symposium is the community.
Educators have opportunities to connect during workshops, breakout sessions, school visits, and informal conversations. You can learn from schools at every stage of their Leader in Me journey while sharing ideas with people who understand both the challenges and the possibilities of education.
Time away from the day-to-day also gives individuals and teams room to reflect. Educators can reconnect with their strengths, their purpose, and the impact they want to have.
Teams return home with renewed clarity, shared energy, and ideas for elevating student and staff voice in their schools.
Who Should Attend?
Symposium ’27 is designed for:
- Classroom teachers
- Principals and assistant principals
- District leaders and superintendents
- Counselors, coaches, and specialists
- Leadership teams from current Leader in Me schools
- Educators and schools exploring Leader in Me for the first time
Whether you are beginning to explore Leader in Me or have years of experience with the framework, you will find learning opportunities that meet you where you are. And if you’re new to Leader in Me but believe a leadership framework could benefit your school or district, attending a Leader in Me Symposium is one of the best ways to see what’s possible.
What Will You Take Back to Your School?
By the time you leave Symposium ’27, you can expect to have:
- A clearer vision of what leadership and student voice can look like
- New strategies to help students find and use their voice
- Ideas for elevating teacher and staff voice
- Practical tools you can adapt to your school
- Renewed energy and clarity about your impact as an educator
When and Where Can You Join Us?
Four Symposium events will be held in 2027:
Explore locations, event details, and registration options on the Symposium ’27 page.
Early bird pricing ends October 31, 2026 for the first three Symposiums — now is the time to register.
Find Your Voice at Symposium ’27
If you are ready for more than another sit-and-get professional development event, Symposium ’27 offers an immersive experience where leadership, culture, and academics come together.
Join educators committed to making their schools places where every student—and every adult—can find their voice and make a meaningful contribution.
Bring your team, step away from the day-to-day, and imagine what could become possible when every voice is heard.
