United School Administrators of Kansas -

We are finishing out our morning with our new Kansas Commissioner of Education, Dr. Jake Steel. Thank you to Dr. Steel for joining us and sharing your vision for Kansas Education! #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

2026-2027 USA-Kansas President Lena Kisner spent some time this morning introducing herself to our participants. Thank you Lena, we look forward to your leadership! #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

Thank you to Lt. Gov candidate Renee Duxler & Gubernatorial candidate Vicki Schmidt for joining us in Wichita this morning to share your stories with our participants! Don't forget to vote in the Aug 4 primaries! #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

At the President's Reception, we honored outgoing USA-Kansas President Dr. Ryan Cobbs. Thank you to Dr. Cobbs for your leadership and dedication in service to the organization! We also had the opportunity to recognize our Principals and Assistant Principals of the Year. #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

Our keynote this afternoon was Joe Schmit. He reminded our leaders of the importance of doing the human thing, letting people know you care, not letting the old in, and making an impact each day! #usaks26 #edleadershipmatters

We had one more round of breakout sessions after lunch. Thank you to our presenters for sharing your expertise and experiences with our participants! #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

We've had a great morning of learning this morning with our breakout sessions! #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

Our vendor showcase was hopping tonight with over 140 vendors and over 830 in the hall, it was a great time to make connections! #USAKS26

Congratulations to our 2026 USA-Kansas Outstanding Service Award winner, Dr. Todd Dain! Thank you for your exemplary leadership at the local, state, and national level! Your dedication to Kansas education and Kansas kids is truly an inspiration to us all. #edleadershipmatters

Our Opening Keynote, Dr. Jill Siler, shared a great message centered on her book, "Thrive Through the Five." She encouraged educational leaders with practical advice on how to thrive through difficult times. #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

Our conference learning began this afternoon with 6 extended breakout sessions. Thank you to our presenters and participants who came eager to learn and share! #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

We are kicking off the 55th Annual Uniting Leaders Conference in Wichita! We are up and running at registration looking forward to welcoming 830+ Kansas educational leaders! #USAKS26 #edleadershipmatters

The USA-Kansas office will be closed on Monday, May 25th in observance of Memorial Day. We hope you are able to have a relaxing weekend with friends and family and we look forward to seeing you in Wichita next week at the 2026 Uniting Leaders Conference.

We are a little less than 2 weeks out from the 2026 Uniting Leaders Conference! As you are busy wrapping up your school year, don't forget to register! We can't wait to see you all in Wichita at the end of the month! https://www.usakansas.org/page/2026-usa-kansas-conference

We’re in the home stretch of the 25–26 school year—finishing strong, celebrating growth, and reflecting on all that’s been accomplished. As the pace picks up, it’s also the perfect time to start looking ahead.

Planning for the 26–27 school year isn’t something to put off—it’s an opportunity to be intentional about your professional growth. Whether you’re looking to deepen instructional practices, collaborate with colleagues, or explore new strategies, our upcoming professional learning opportunities are designed to support you every step of the way.

The best time to plan forward is now! https://www.usakansas.org/page/2026-2027-professional-learning #edleadershipmatters

Show your support for Kansas public schools by creating your own custom profile picture, just in time for Teacher Appreciation Week, which begins May 4!
It only takes a few minutes and is a simple way to share how much public education means to you. Create your “I ❤️ Kansas Public Schools” profile picture and help share the love!
Get started by creating your custom profile picture here: tinyurl.com/ilkps
Need help? Follow step-by-step instructions here: tinyurl.com/ilkpsguide
Once you’ve made your picture, use it as your profile photo or share it in a post and invite others to join you!

USA-Kansas is a proud partner of the Governor's Scholar Awards Ceremony that recognizes the top graduates from each school across Kansas annually. We had the honor of attending yesterday's graduation ceremony to read names and congratulate this year's graduates.

Our final issue of Under the Umbrella is out now! In it, you will find articles from members & sponsors as well as program updates & registration links for next year. Start planning your PD now: https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/71103923/under-the-umbrella-volume-8-issue-10

We are in Lawrence today working with building & district leaders on the science of leading change effectively. Thank you to Lawrence USD 497 for inviting us along in your leadership journey! #elevateleadership #edleadershipmatters