Professional Development Calendar – POWER HOURS – FALL 2026 & WINTER 2027
The PA Principals Association adds new professional learning opportunities to its calendar throughout the year. Power Hours are offered at no cost, but registration is required to receive access to each virtual session.
These sessions also provide an opportunity to connect and share ideas with principals and other school leaders.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
Click here for the slides from the October 8 Power Hour: Principles of an Effective Investigation – Best Practices for Principals – Presented by Attorney Steve Winslow, Jubelirer, Pass & Intrieri, P.C.
Click here to view the session video.
NOVEMBER:
11/11/2026 – 9 a.m.
Building Your AP Program: Unlocking Student Potential
Presenters: Deanna Hattaway-Thomas, senior director of implementation, strategic impact partnerships, College Board, and Dr. Caroline Stenson, director, K-12 state and district partnerships, College Board
Session Description: This one-hour virtual session offers practical strategies for strengthening your school’s Advanced Placement (AP) program.
Learn how to identify students with AP potential, including those who may be overlooked, and build the systems, supports, and school culture that help students enroll and succeed in AP courses. Leave with steps to expand access, increase enrollment, and improve outcomes.
11/17/2026 – 10 a.m.
Structured Literacy for Administrators: The Down and Dirty of What K-5 Leaders Need to Know
Presenters: Megan Howard and Erin Eighmy, literacy consultants, Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5,
Session Description: Explore the essentials of structured literacy, including what it should look and sound like in K–5 classrooms and which warning signs to watch for.
Participants will leave with grade-band indicators, fidelity checklists, and feedback language to support classroom walkthroughs and action planning with teachers.
DECEMBER:
12/2/2026 – 9 a.m.
It’s Job Impacting! Obtaining AND Maintaining Your Principal Certificate
Presenter: Carrie Anderson, division chief of planning and professional development, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE)
Session Description: Do you know how many Act 45 hours you have as a principal? Can you answer the question, “When does your window expire?” Do you know the requirements for obtaining your Level II Administrative Certificate? Join Carrie Anderson from PDE for a personalized session covering important topics, including Act 45 requirements, new principal induction and maintaining an active certificate.
12/4/2026 – 10 a.m.
Structured Literacy for Administrators: The Down and Dirty of What 6-12 Leaders Need to Know
Presenter: Michelle Trostle, MTSS and literacy consultant, Capital Area Intermediate Unite (CAIU)
Session Description: If literacy is everyone’s responsibility, why does it so often fall on the shoulders of the English department? Secondary students need explicit support in navigating the vocabulary, complex texts and written communication unique to each discipline. Learn how school leaders can move beyond simply acknowledging the importance of literacy and empower every teacher to become a teacher of literacy.
JANUARY:
1/7/2027 – 10:30 a.m.
Inside Tips from the FBI for School Administrators Part 2: From Incident to Investigation
Presenters: Rob Cariola, FBI special agent, regional threat management coordinator, and Corporal Andrew McCloskey, community anti-threat officer
Session Description: This workshop will provide school administrators with practical insight into recognizing, assessing, and responding to behaviors and warning signs that may indicate a student is moving toward violence. FBI Special Agent Rob Cariola will explore the progression from concerning behaviors and threats to potential acts of harm, with an emphasis on early intervention and prevention.
Topics will include threat calls and leakage, behavioral interviewing, self-harming behaviors, student hygiene and other behavioral changes, and the role of unfettered internet access in exposing students to harmful online communities and violent or true-crime content. The session will also examine how online spaces — including true-crime communities and school-shooter-related content — can contribute to fixation, normalization or escalation of concerning behaviors.
Participants will gain practical considerations for identifying warning signs, conducting effective behavioral interviews, strengthening school safety plans and coordinating an appropriate response when concerns arise. The goal is to help school personnel recognize behaviors earlier, understand the pathway toward harm and take informed steps to support student safety and prevent escalation.
1/20/2027 – 9 a.m.
Aspiring to Central Office
Presenters: Sherri Smith, PASA executive director, and Michele Balliet, PASA director of professional development
Session Description: Considering Central Office? Ever wondered what it’s really like to move from building-level leadership to a central office role? Join two representatives from PASA for an honest and informative look at the opportunities, responsibilities and realities of working at the district level. Explore what central office leaders actually do, the benefits and challenges of the role and why a move to central office might be the right next step in your leadership journey. Come ready to ask questions, hear real-world perspectives and consider whether central office leadership could be part of your future.
1/26/2027 – 1 p.m.
Master Scheduling: More Than Making the Pieces Fit
Presenter: Dr. Joann Hudak, East I Regional Service Specialist, PA Principals Association
Session Description: A master schedule is much more than a timetable, it is one of the most powerful tools school leaders have to support teaching and learning, maximize staff resources, expand opportunities for students, and influence school climate and culture. This Power Hour will explore the art and strategy of master scheduling at both the elementary and secondary levels, including identifying scheduling priorities, protecting instructional and intervention time, maximizing specialized staff, and anticipating the unintended consequences of scheduling decisions. Participants will also examine the role of automated scheduling systems and why leadership judgment remains essential when the technology has done its work. The goal is to help school leaders approach master scheduling not simply as an annual logistical task, but as a strategic expression of their school’s priorities.
FEBRUARY:
2/2/2027 – 9 a.m.
Beyond Bullying: How to Protect Yourself and the District
Presenters: Amy Moritz and Michelle Nutter, Office of Public Engagement, Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General
Session Description: This introductory session gives administrators a practical overview of the legal issues that arise when bullying behaviors cross the line into civil, civil rights or criminal law violations. Participants will learn the core federal and state statutes that prohibit bullying and harassment based on protected classes such as race, color, national origin, gender, and disability. The session also introduces the concept of “deliberate indifference” and the serious consequences schools face when bullying is not addressed appropriately. Designed as a preview of a more comprehensive workshop, this session equips administrators with foundational knowledge while highlighting the deeper learning available in the full training.
MARCH:
3/2/2027 – 10 a.m.
Supercharge Your Classroom with the SIOP Model: Increasing Your Engagement of Multilingual Learners
Presenter: Annie Rients, district multilingual coach and coordinator for Shakopee Public Schools and national SIOP consultant for Savvas Learning Company
Session Description: Discover powerful, research-based strategies to boost engagement and support multilingual learners through the SIOP® Model. This fast-paced session will equip instructional leaders with ready-to-use techniques that can be shared and applied immediately in classrooms. Walk away with tools to make content more accessible — and learning more powerful — for all students. Leaders are encouraged to bring other educators or ELL teachers to the session.
For further information or any questions, please contact Dr. Beth Haldeman, Director of Professional Development, PA Principals Association, at haldeman@paprincipals.org