NCMLE 2025 Middle School Matters Conference: Full Schedule

7:00pm EDT

Featured Speaker Roundtable Presentation

Sunday March 23, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT

Join us for a roundtable discussion from our featured speakers lineup of experts on topics from student engagement to social equity and school leadership to supporting beginning teachers.

Speakers

Daniel Maxwell

Lecturer | University Supervisor, UNC Charlotte

Daniel Maxwell is a Lecturer and University Supervisor in the Office of School and Community Partnerships and the Department of Middle, Secondary, and K-12 (MDSK) Education as well as a student in the Ed.D in Learning, Design and Technology Program at UNC Charlotte. As a University... Read More →

Freebird McKinney

Dr. Marie Moreno

Dr. Don Parker

Charle Peck

Katie Powell

Dr. Frank Rudensky

Heather Smith

Josh Tovar

Dr. ET Trevino

Charles Williams

Sponsors

Scholastic Education Solutions

Networking Event Sponsor

Sunday March 23, 2025 7:00pm - 8:00pm EDT
Carolina A

Special Event

8:00pm EDT

Trivia

Sunday March 23, 2025 8:00pm - 10:00pm EDT

Event Lounge

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Come join the trivia fun!! Grab a team of up to 4 players to compete for PRIZES! Proudly sponsored by returning NCMLE sponsor Participate Learning.

Sponsors

Participate Learning

Trivia Night Sponsor

Sunday March 23, 2025 8:00pm - 10:00pm EDT
Event Lounge

Special Event

8:30am EDT

NCMLE Middle School Matters Conference Opening Session Keynote Address Featuring Dr. Darrin Peppard

Monday March 24, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT

Symphony Ballroom

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Dr. Darrin Peppard has over 30 years of public school experience ranging from classroom teacher to district superintendent. Dr. Peppard started his career as a 7th grade science teacher and has devoted his life to advocating and supporting educators across the country. Be inspired by Dr. Peppard as he reminds us to always take the Road to Awesome!

Speakers

Dr. Darrin Peppard

Monday March 24, 2025 8:30am - 9:30am EDT
Symphony Ballroom

Special Event

9:30am EDT

AMLE Bookstore Open

Monday March 24, 2025 9:30am - 4:30pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Visit the bookstore from our national affiliate the Association for Middle Level Education (AMLE) to shop popular middle level specific titles from nationally renowned EDU experts.

Speakers

AMLE

Monday March 24, 2025 9:30am - 4:30pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

10:00am EDT

Baruti Kafele Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Baruti Kafele Book Signing - What is My Value Instructionally to the Teachers I Supervise?

Speakers

Baruti Kafele

Monday March 24, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

10:00am EDT

Dr. Darrin Peppard Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EDT

Vendor Hall

Keynote Speaker Dr. Darrin Peppard Book Signing - The Road to Awesome: The Journey of a Leader (1) and Culture First Classrooms: Leadership, Relationships, and Practices that Transform Schools (2)

Speakers

Dr. Darrin Peppard

Monday March 24, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

10:00am EDT

Dr. Don Parker Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Dr. Don Parker Book Signing - Building Bridges: Engaging Students At-Risk Through the Power of Relationships (1) and Be the Driving Force: Leading Your School on the Road to Equity (2)

Speakers

Dr. Don Parker

Monday March 24, 2025 10:00am - 10:50am EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

11:00am EDT

Dr. Frank Rudnesky Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Frank Rudnesky Book Signing - 50 Great Things Leaders Do (1), Fired Up Leadership (2), and Fired Up Student Leadership (3)

Speakers

Dr. Frank Rudnesky

Monday March 24, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

11:00am EDT

Dr. Julie Hasson Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Dr. Julie Hasson Book Signing - Pause, Ponder, and Persist in the Classroom

Speakers

Dr. Julie Hasson

Monday March 24, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

11:00am EDT

Sherri Nelson Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EDT

Vendor Hall

Presenter Sherri Nelson Book Signing - Learning Lifeguards: Your 10-Step Guide to Building a Team that Motivates Struggling Students to Love Learning and Stay in School

Speakers

Sherri Nelson

Director of Instruction, Brandon Valley School District

Sherri Nelson is a former middle school teacher and instructional coach. She is currently the director of instruction, curriculum, and assessment for the Brandon Valley School District in South Dakota. A highly-regarded educator for more than three decades, Sherri has worked as an... Read More →

Monday March 24, 2025 11:00am - 11:50am EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

2:00pm EDT

Andrea Bitner Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Andrea Bitner Book Signing - Take Me Home

Speakers

Andrea Bitner

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

2:00pm EDT

Charles Williams Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Charles Williams Book Signing - Inside the Principal's Office: A Leadership Guide to Inspire Reflection and Growth

Speakers

Charles Williams

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

2:00pm EDT

Dr. Frederick Buskey Book SIgning

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Dr. Frederick Buskey Book Signing - A School Leader's Guide to Reclaiming Purpose

Speakers

Dr. Frederick Buskey

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

2:00pm EDT

Sean Gaillard Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Sean Gaillard Book Signing - The Pepper Effect: Tap Into the Magic of Creativity, Collaboration, and Innovation

Speakers

Sean Gaillard

Monday March 24, 2025 2:00pm - 2:50pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

3:00pm EDT

Dr. Holly Pinter Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Presenter Holly Pinter Book Signing - Middle School Today: Current Best Practices for Adolescent Learners

Speakers

Dr. Holly Pinter

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

3:00pm EDT

Erik Francis Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Erik Francis Book Signing - Inquiring Minds Want to Learn (1) and Depth of Knowledge (2)

Speakers

Erik Francis

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

3:00pm EDT

Katie Powell Book Signing

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Vendor Hall

Featured Speaker Katie Powell Book Signing - Boredom Busters and Frustration Busters

Speakers

Katie Powell

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Vendor Hall

Special Event

3:00pm EDT

Schools to Watch Networking Event

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Event Lounge

Schools to Watch conference participants, join us in the event lounge for networking with other Schools to Watch conference participants and fun. Proudly sponsored by MindLeap Solutions.

Speakers

All Schools to Watch Conference Participants

Sponsors

MindLeap Solutions

Monday March 24, 2025 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Event Lounge

Special Event

4:00pm EDT

Featured Speakers & School Leader's Institute Networking Event (Reserved for School Leader's Institute Participants Only)

Monday March 24, 2025 4:00pm - 4:50pm EDT

Event Lounge

School Leader’s Institute participants, please come by the venue social lounge on Monday from 4:00-4:50 to meet and network with our featured speaker group and other school administrators across North Carolina. Participants must have the School Leader’s Institute name tag designation to attend.

Monday March 24, 2025 4:00pm - 4:50pm EDT
Event Lounge

Special Event

5:30pm EDT

Free Dinner Shuttles to Optimist Hall sponsored by Burke Christian Tours - Reserve Your Seat (5:30pm Departure)

Monday March 24, 2025 5:30pm - 6:45pm EDT

Sheraton Lobby

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Take a short ride to Optimist Hall, an upscale food court with a variety of restaurants and shops. Check out all the delicious food options at optimisthall.com/tenants/. The shuttle will depart/return outside of the Sheraton lobby. Space is limited to 50 people per shuttle, with shuttles leaving at 5:30pm and 6:30pm. Please click the small circle in front of the title for this event to "add it to your schedule." THIS SELECTION WILL RESERVE YOUR SEAT FOR THE 5:30PM DEPARTURE SHUTTLE & THE 6:45PM RETURN SHUTTLE. If the shuttle is full you will be added to the waitlist.

Sponsors

Burke Educational Travel

Dinner Shuttle Sponsor

Monday March 24, 2025 5:30pm - 6:45pm EDT
Sheraton Lobby

Special Event

6:30pm EDT

Free Dinner Shuttles to Optimist Hall sponsored by Burke Christian Tours - Reserve Your Seat (6:30pm Departure)

Monday March 24, 2025 6:30pm - 7:45pm EDT

Sheraton Lobby

Feedback Survey

Take a short ride to Optimist Hall, an upscale food court with a variety of restaurants and shops. Check out all the delicious food options at optimisthall.com/tenants/. The shuttle will depart/return outside of the Sheraton lobby. Space is limited to 50 people per shuttle, with shuttles leaving at 5:30pm and 6:30pm. Please click the small circle in front of the title for this event to "add it to your schedule." THIS SELECTION WILL RESERVE YOUR SEAT FOR THE 6:30PM DEPARTURE SHUTTLE & THE 7:45PM RETURN SHUTTLE. If the shuttle is full you will be added to the waitlist.

Sponsors

Burke Educational Travel

Dinner Shuttle Sponsor

Monday March 24, 2025 6:30pm - 7:45pm EDT
Sheraton Lobby

Special Event

7:30pm EDT

Monday Mixer with DJ Mike & Tarheel Media

Monday March 24, 2025 7:30pm - 10:00pm EDT

Event Lounge

Feedback Survey

Join DJ Mike from Tarheel Media Systems for singing, dancing, and socializing in the Hotel Lounge. There will be raffle prizes all night long!! Proudly sponsored by returning NCMLE sponsor Edmentum.

Sponsors

Edmentum

Karaoke Night Sponsor

Monday March 24, 2025 7:30pm - 10:00pm EDT
Event Lounge

Special Event

8:00am EDT

Breakfast in the Vendor Hall

Tuesday March 25, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Outside Symphony Ballroom

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Be sure to bring your YELLOW meal ticket for breakfast.

Tuesday March 25, 2025 8:00am - 9:00am EDT
Outside Symphony Ballroom

Special Event

11:45am EDT

Passing of the Gavel Ceremony

Tuesday March 25, 2025 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT

Symphony IV Ballroom

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Join us for the closing conference session where we are proud to announce the 2026 NCMLE Conference theme, announce the large conference giveaways (must be present to win), and announce the newest NCMLE Board members with the annual "Passing of the Gavel" ceremony.

Tuesday March 25, 2025 11:45am - 12:30pm EDT
Symphony IV Ballroom

Special Event