National Conference on Science Education Indianapolis 2026 Leadership Development Academy

Emerging Leaders

You are learning to become a leader.

This cohort is for science educators who are new to formal or informal leadership roles and are building the confidence, skills, and habits needed to influence others.

You are probably an Emerging Leader if you often think…

“I’m still figuring this leadership role out.”
“I want more confidence.”
“I’m learning how to influence others.”
“I’m looking for practical leadership strategies.”

Your focus is:

Becoming the leader others can trust.

Schedule for Emerging Leaders

8:15 – 8:45 AM	Arrival, Breakfast, and Cohort Assignment
8:45 – 9:05 AM	Opening Session: Leadership in Motion
9:10 – 10:10 AM	Lead Yourself Before Leading Systems Explore foundational habits and mindsets that shape your effectiveness as a leader. Through guided reflection, you’ll build self-awareness and develop the emotional intelligence needed to navigate new responsibilities with confidence. Leave with a personalized leadership profile and a clear commitment to leading more effectively when it matters most. Because the most effective leaders understand themselves first.
10:15 – 11:15 AM	Lead Without Needing the Title Learn foundational strategies to influence others and build trust. Work through common communication challenges, practice key conversations, and find your voice to lead meaningful change from any position. Leave with a clear communication strategy and the tools to lead more effectively through every conversation. Because leadership is not about position, it is about influence.
11:15 – 11:40 AM	Networking and Partner Break
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM	Strategic Systems Leadership: Move from Ideas to Impact Step back from daily demands to begin seeing the bigger picture of the systems you influence. Explore how to identify basic leverage points and align your early efforts to move initiatives forward with purpose. Leave with a foundational systems map, a strategic action step, and a clearer path to creating meaningful change. Because real leadership is measured by the change you create.
12:45 – 1:35 PM	Lunch
1:35 – 2:00 PM	Networking and Partner Break
2:00 – 3:00 PM	Turn Learning into Action and Connection Connect with fellow science education leaders in similar roles while gaining valuable perspectives from peers with varying levels of experience. Together, you'll explore shared challenges, exchange ideas, and uncover practical insights that can be applied immediately in your work. Whether stepping into a leadership role, expanding their influence, or leading systems-level initiatives, participants will find support tailored to their stage of leadership. The session concludes with the formation of a mentor, mentee, or accountability partnership and a structured 90-day leadership action plan to help sustain growth long after the Academy ends. Because leadership grows through connection, reflection, and sustained action.
3:30 – 3:45 PM	Closing Remarks and Evaluation

Developing Leaders

You are growing your influence.

This cohort is for leaders who have moved beyond learning the basics and are now responsible for leading teams, initiatives, programs, or change efforts.

Rather than asking “How do I lead?”  you are asking “How do I lead others more effectively?”

You are probably a Developing Leader if you often think…

“I know how to lead, but I want to lead better.”
“How do I bring others with me?”
“How do I build buy-in?”
“How do I navigate resistance?”

Your focus is:

Expanding your influence to help others succeed.

Schedule for Developing Leaders

8:15 – 8:45 AM	Arrival, Breakfast, and Cohort Assignment
8:45 – 9:05 AM	Opening Session: Leadership in Motion
9:10 – 10:10 AM	Strategic Systems Leadership: Move from Ideas to Impact Apply systems thinking to understand how people, processes, and organizational dynamics influence one another. You'll identify key leverage points, align collaborative efforts, and develop strategies for advancing broader initiatives. Leave with a working systems map, a strategic action step, and a clearer path to lasting impact. Because real leadership is measured by the change you create.
10:15 – 11:15 AM	Lead Yourself Before Leading Systems Examine the leadership habits and responses that shape your daily work and team interactions. Strengthen your emotional intelligence and refine your approach to leading through change through real world application. Leave with a personalized leadership profile and a renewed commitment to leading effectively in the moments that matter most. Because the most effective leaders understand themselves first.
11:15 – 11:40 AM	Networking and Partner Break
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM	Lead Without Needing the Title Refine your ability to influence peers, build deep trust, and lead cross functional teams and initiatives. Work through realistic communication challenges and practice crucial leadership conversations you can apply immediately in your role. Leave with an adaptable communication strategy and the tools to lead more effectively through every conversation. Because leadership is not about position, it is about influence.
12:45 – 1:35 PM	Lunch
1:35 – 2:00 PM	Networking and Partner Break
2:00 – 3:00 PM	Turn Learning into Action and Connection Connect with fellow science education leaders in similar roles while gaining valuable perspectives from peers with varying levels of experience. Together, you'll explore shared challenges, exchange ideas, and uncover practical insights that can be applied immediately in your work. Whether stepping into a leadership role, expanding their influence, or leading systems-level initiatives, participants will find support tailored to their stage of leadership. The session concludes with the formation of a mentor, mentee, or accountability partnership and a structured 90-day leadership action plan to help sustain growth long after the Academy ends. Because leadership grows through connection, reflection, and sustained action.
3:30 – 3:45 PM	Closing Remarks and Evaluation

Experienced Leaders

You are shaping systems and developing future leaders.

This cohort is designed for leaders whose work extends beyond individual teams into organizational strategy, partnerships, policy, and leadership development.

Experienced leaders often serve as mentors while continuing to grow themselves.

You are probably an Experienced Leader if you often think…

“How do we build leadership beyond me?”
“How do we sustain this work?”
“How do we create lasting organizational change?”
“How do we prepare the next generation of leaders?”

Your focus is:

 Creating systems where leadership can thrive.

Schedule for Experienced Leaders

8:15 – 8:45 AM	Arrival, Breakfast, and Cohort Assignment
8:45 – 9:05 AM	Opening Session: Leadership in Motion
9:10 – 10:10 AM	Lead Without Needing the Title Elevate your capacity to influence diverse groups and navigate complex stakeholder relationships. Through analysis of multifaceted communication challenges and practice with high-level leadership conversations designed to drive large-scale change, develop a comprehensive communication strategy and gain the tools to lead more effectively through every conversation. Because leadership is not about position, it is about influence.
10:15 – 11:15 AM	Strategic Systems Leadership: Move from Ideas to Impact Critically evaluate systems to create meaningful institutional change. Learn to analyze complex leverage points, align organizational efforts, and lead at scale by moving large initiatives forward with deliberate strategy. Leave with a comprehensive systems map, a strategic action step, and a clearer path to systemic impact. Because real leadership is measured by the change you create.
11:15 – 11:40 AM	Networking and Partner Break
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM	Lead Yourself Before Leading Systems Critically analyze the complex mindsets and responses that shape your organizational leadership. Fortify your emotional intelligence through reflection and develop the resilience required to navigate high stakes challenges and systemic complexity. Leave with a personalized leadership profile and a strategic commitment to anchor your leadership in the moments that matter most. Because the most effective leaders understand themselves first.
12:45 – 1:35 PM	Lunch
1:35 – 2:00 PM	Networking and Partner Break
2:00 – 3:00 PM	Turn Learning into Action and Connection Connect with fellow science education leaders in similar roles while gaining valuable perspectives from peers with varying levels of experience. Together, you'll explore shared challenges, exchange ideas, and uncover practical insights that can be applied immediately in your work. Whether stepping into a leadership role, expanding their influence, or leading systems-level initiatives, participants will find support tailored to their stage of leadership. The session concludes with the formation of a mentor, mentee, or accountability partnership and a structured 90-day leadership action plan to help sustain growth long after the Academy ends. Because leadership grows through connection, reflection, and sustained action.
3:30 – 3:45 PM	Closing Remarks and Evaluation

Leadership Development Academy

Full-Day Mini-Conference

General session with breakout sessions.

Leadership in Motion: Designing the Future of Science Education Leadership

A joint initiative of NSTA and the National Science Education Leadership Association (NSELA)

Wednesday, November 4 • 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM

All participants will receive breakfast and lunch.

Description

Leadership Experience Cohort Selection

Emerging Leaders

Schedule for Emerging Leaders

Developing Leaders

Schedule for Developing Leaders

Experienced Leaders

Schedule for Experienced Leaders