2026 ACSA Women in School Leadership Forum

Complaints, investigations, and due process filings are an inevitable part of special education leadership, yet most leaders are not trained in how to respond effectively when situations escalate.

This session provides a clear, practical roadmap for navigating high-stakes situations, including state complaints, OCR investigations, and due process. Presented through the combined perspective of a Special Education Director and a Special Education Attorney, this session demystifies the process and focuses on what leaders need to do in the moment.

Participants will learn how to respond in the critical first 24–48 hours, communicate effectively with stakeholders, and avoid common missteps that increase risk. Grounded in real-world scenarios, this session equips leaders with tools to lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose during challenging situations.

Key Audience Takeaways:
• Clear steps for responding in the first 24–48 hours of a crisis
• Strategies for managing communication with families, staff, and leadership
• Awareness of common errors that escalate conflict and liability

School systems cannot rely on chance to develop their next generation of leaders. Yet many districts promote strong educators into leadership roles without intentional preparation, coaching, or system alignment. This session provides a practical, scalable framework for building the capacity of aspiring leaders through distributed leadership, structured mentorship, and aligned professional learning.

Participants will explore how to design a leadership development pipeline that integrates instructional leadership, operational literacy, culture-building, and systems leadership. Drawing from real district implementation examples, the session will demonstrate how leadership capacity can be embedded into PLC structures, committee work, pathway initiatives, and emerging technology efforts rather than treated as an isolated program.

Attendees will leave with a replicable leadership pipeline model, sample structures for mentorship and coaching, and practical tools for identifying, developing, and sustaining aspiring leaders across roles.