Jamie Bonkowski

Strong schools are built on strong teams. This hands-on session dives into research-based strategies for building cohesive, resilient, and effective teams in education. Explore activities that promote trust, improve communication, and cultivate shared purpose. Whether your team is brand new or needs a reset, you’ll leave with tools to transform group dynamics and deepen collaboration.

In education, saying “yes” is often seen as noble—but it can also lead to burnout, confusion, and diminished impact. This session empowers leaders to embrace the strategic power of “no.” Learn how boundary-setting can sharpen focus, increase trust, and preserve energy for what truly matters. Attendees will leave with real-world strategies, reflection tools, and communication tips for saying no with confidence and clarity.

When done right, distributed leadership builds capacity and strengthens culture. When done wrong, it overwhelms your best people. This session offers a playbook for sharing leadership in a way that uplifts, not exhausts. Learn how to identify the right people, provide the right supports, and create structures that foster leadership at every level—without putting an extra burden on teachers.