WHY LEADING FROM THE MIDDLE
The people shaping school culture are not always the people at the top.
School climate and culture are shaped every day - in hallways, classrooms, team meetings, difficult conversations, and the countless moments when adults decide how they will respond to students and to one another.
Leading From the Middle was created for the professionals doing that work. It is a space to step away from the day-to-day demands of school life, learn alongside people facing similar challenges, and leave with ideas that can actually be used when you return.
The conference brings together practical strategy, honest conversation, and opportunities to connect around the work of building school communities where people can belong, contribute, and thrive.
PRACTICAL
Ideas you can take back and use.
CONNECTED
Learn with people who understand the work.
HUMAN
Keep relationships and lived experience at the center.
THE CONFERENCE FRAMEWORK
One paradigm. Different roles. Shared language.
School culture does not belong to one person. Leading From the Middle helps professionals in different roles understand how their work connects so they can approach students, families, decisions, and school systems from a stronger shared foundation.
PEOPLE → PRACTICES → SYSTEMS → OUTCOMES
PEOPLE
Better understand the students, families, staff, and communities influenced by the work.
PRACTICES
Strengthen how we communicate, respond, collaborate, make decisions, and apply what we know.
SYSTEMS
Recognize how policy, leadership, support, data, behavior, relationships, and interventions connect.
OUTCOMES
Use stronger judgment, more aligned practices, and better-connected systems to support better outcomes for students.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND
For the people who influence what school feels like every day.
Leading From the Middle is designed for school-based professionals whose work shapes relationships, expectations, belonging, behavior, student support, and the everyday experience of a school community.
If your role puts you in a position to influence how people experience school, this conference was built with you in mind.
SCHOOL CULTURE & CLIMATE LEADERS
Professionals responsible for strengthening school culture, relationships, expectations, and belonging.
SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS
Principals, assistant principals, deans, and other leaders working to create stronger school communities.
MENTAL HEALTH & STUDENT SUPPORT PROFESSIONALS
Social workers, counselors, psychologists, behavior professionals, and others supporting student wellbeing.
TEACHER & STAFF LEADERS
Educators who influence teams, mentor colleagues, lead initiatives, or help shape the experience of students and staff.
BEHAVIOR, PBIS & MTSS TEAMS
Professionals supporting schoolwide behavior, intervention systems, student engagement, and positive learning environments.
DISTRICT & PROGRAM LEADERS
Professionals responsible for supporting climate, culture, student services, behavior, mental health, or organizational improvement across schools.
WHY INVEST IN THE EXPERIENCE
Professional development should change practice - not just fill a calendar.
Leading From the Middle is designed to help participants leave with more than notes from a conference. The goal is to strengthen how professionals think, respond, collaborate, and connect their role to the larger systems influencing students and school communities.
More tools. Better judgment. Stronger systems.
BROADER TOOL BELT
More options for responding thoughtfully to complex situations.
SHARED LANGUAGE
Common concepts and language that teams can bring back to their schools.
PRACTICAL STRATEGIES
Ideas designed for real-world application rather than theory alone.
SYSTEMS UNDERSTANDING
See how leadership, policy, relationships, behavior, support, data, and intervention connect.
ACTION PLANNING
Turn learning into clear next steps that can support school improvement.
PROFESSIONAL CONNECTION
Learn alongside professionals facing similar challenges in schools and communities.
CONFERENCE DETAILS
Two days to step away, connect, learn, and return with something useful.
Leading From the Middle brings school professionals together in Detroit for two days of practical learning, meaningful conversation, and connection around the work of building stronger school communities.
DATES
February 11–12, 2027
LOCATION
The Atheneum/International Banquet Conference Center
1000 Brush St.
Detroit, Michigan
FORMAT
Two-Day In-Person Professional Conference
WHAT REGISTRATION INCLUDES
Two full days of professional learning
Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments
Keynote learning experiences
Opportunities for professional connection and networking
Breakout learning sessions
Guided reflection and action planning
Conference materials
Certificate of participation
REGISTRATION & PRICING
Choose the registration option that fits how you’re attending.
Registration includes the full two-day conference experience. Space is limited, and registration may close once conference capacity is reached.
$450
General Individual Registration
For professionals registering independently rather than through a school or nonprofit organization.
$375
School & Nonprofit Registration
Standard conference registration for school employees and nonprofit professionals after the early-bird period.
EARLY BIRD
$325
School & Nonprofit Registration
Available to school and nonprofit professionals who register by November 1, 2026.
PAYMENT OPTIONS
Registration may be paid by credit card, debit card, apple pay or, for approved schools and organizations, through an invoice or purchase order.
Additional registration and payment instructions will be provided during checkout.
TRANSFERS & REFUNDS
Registrations may be transferred to another attendee at no additional charge. Refund requests received by January 9, 2027 will be eligible for a refund less a $200 administrative processing fee. After January 9, 2027, registrations are nonrefundable but may be transferred to another attendee. If Personal Best T & C cancels the conference, registration fees will be refunded.
CONFERENCE FAQs
A few things to know before you register.
Who is this conference designed for?
Leading From the Middle is designed for school-based professionals whose work influences climate, culture, relationships, behavior, student support, belonging, and the everyday experience of a school community.
Where will the conference take place?
The conference will be held at The Atheneum in Detroit, Michigan, on February 11–12, 2027. Additional arrival and event information will be provided to registered attendees.
Can my school or organization pay by purchase order?
Yes. Registration may be paid by credit card or through an approved invoice or purchase order. Additional instructions will be available during the registration process.
Can I transfer my registration to someone else?
Yes. Registrations may be transferred to another attendee.
What is the refund policy?
Refund requests are permitted subject to a $200 administrative processing fee.
Is attendance limited?
Yes. Space is limited, and registration may close once conference capacity is reached.
Still have a question?