Pre-Con & Post-Con Sessions Are you looking for educational moments beyond the regular conference experience? These engaging sessions offer the chance to see innovation in action, connect with peers in an interactive setting, and gain practical insights to take back to your foundation. Each visit offers a distinct experience, and If you are planning to attend ImpactED ’27 plus the pre or post-con session, please note that these programs have separate registration links. Please complete both registrations if you are attending the conference in addition to pre or post-con sessions. This ensures that you are properly registered for all programs you plan to attend. One convenient payment--register for the conference AND select the sessions separately, and then you can pay for all of your selected activities at one time.
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Pre-Con #1: New Executive Director Bootcamp
When: Tuesday, March 16th / 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM / Separate registration & fee required
This will be held on-site at the conference hotel.
Stepping into the role of an education foundation leader can feel both exciting and overwhelming — especially when you’re “new in the chair.” Whether you’re a first-time executive director, a nonprofit professional transitioning into the education foundation world, or a board member serving as an interim or unpaid ED, this fast-paced and practical boot camp is designed to help you succeed from day one.
Led by two nationally recognized experts — and co-authors of Roadmap for Education Foundations: A Practical Guide to Growing an Education Foundation, Robin Callahan and Gail Rothman will guide participants through the essential knowledge and skills every education foundation leader needs.
This interactive, six-hour course blends real-world insight, case examples, and peer learning to deepen your understanding of the unique role of an education foundation executive director. You’ll leave with the tools and confidence to strengthen your leadership, clarify your partnership with your board and school district, and chart a clear path toward sustainable impact.
Key Topics Include:
- Understanding the ED role and navigating board relationships
- Fundraising fundamentals beyond events
- Financial management and fiduciary oversight
- Building authentic partnerships with your school district
- Fostering healthy board and staff culture
- Strategic storytelling and sustainability
By the end of the day, you’ll walk away with actionable tools, templates, and a network of peers who understand your challenges — ready to lead your foundation with clarity, confidence, and purpose.
Pre-Con #2: Providing Tools for School All Year Long
When: Wednesday, March 17th / 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM / Separate registration & fee required
Transportation to and from this session will be provided by NAEF.
Visit the Exchangeree in Rosedale – one of two educator resource centers run by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. Since 2018, BCPS teachers have shopped one time per month, all year long, at no cost to themselves for Tools for School, Books for Bins, and Share the Warmth & Joy items. Since inception, the Exchangerees have served over 20,000 educators and 540,000 students, distributed 102,000 books, and placed $4.8 million dollars’ worth of resources and materials for students, classrooms, and school communities into the hands of educators for free.
Come tour the space, hear from the educators who benefit from this incredible resource, and learn how The Foundation partners with the business community to keep these two Exchangerees operational.
- Coffee and snacks sponsored by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. And prepared by the Culinary Arts Students at George Washington Carver Center for Arts and Technology
- Welcome and Overview of the Exchangerees
- Shopping Demonstration & Tour of the Warehouse
- Panel Discussion to include:
Merritt Properties (provides the spaces)
American Design Associates (provides the furniture)
Ed Foundation Board Leadership (Fundraising, Campaigns, Special Projects, etc)
Exchangeree Volunteer (the heartbeat of the organization)
Pre-Con #3: It Takes A Village When: Wednesday, March 17th / 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM / Separate registration & fee required Transportation to and from this session will be provided by NAEF. Visit Sandalwood Elementary School – one of the original Community Schools established in Baltimore County Public Schools and learn how the entire community is wrapping its arms around the school in order to support the students, educators, and families mentally, physically, social-emotionally, and academically. Come tour the school, hear from the principal and community school facilitator, and learn how business partners are contributing to the growing success of this initiative.
Director of Community Schools (systemic-level coordination) Community School Facilitator (school-level impact) Business Partner (community impact) Volunteer (community impact) Tour of the School & Engage in a STEM Activity w/Students |
Pre-Con #4: Contributing to A Brighter Future: Workforce Development in Action
When: Wednesday, March 17th / 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM / Separate registration & fee required
Transportation to and from this session will be provided by NAEF.
Visit Sollers Point Technical High School, a magnet school dedicated to career and technical education and learn how Baltimore County Public Schools is partnering with local businesses in workforce development.
Come tour the school, enjoy snacks prepared by the students in the culinary arts program, watch the students in the Academy of Health Professions and the Biomedical Science-PLTW programs engage with a virtual cadaver, and much more! Learn from a panel of invested community members how BCPS is aligning education with the needs of businesses.
- Coffee and snacks sponsored by The Education Foundation of Baltimore County Public Schools, Inc. and prepared by the student Chefs at Sollers Point Technical High School
- Welcome and Overview of Sollers Point Technical High School
- Tour of the School
- Panel Discussion to include:
Coordinator of Career and Technical Education (Systemic Impact)
Principal of Sollers Point Technical High School (School-based impact)
Career Navigator (community-school connections)
Business Partner (community impact)
Post-Con: The Job Nobody Fully Prepares You For: A Real Talk for Education Foundation Executive Directors
When: Friday, March 19th / 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM / Separate registration required; no fee
This will be held on-site at the conference hotel.
You love the mission. But nobody warned you about the board member who undermines you, the burnout that creeps in quietly, or the moment you realize you need to protect yourself. This session is for you.Two veteran education foundation leaders share unfiltered stories from the trenches and lead honest, interactive conversations about the hardest parts of this work: navigating complex board dynamics, advocating for your own worth, setting boundaries, and building the resilience to sustain a long career in meaningful work.
Attendees will leave able to:
-Advocate confidently for fair compensation, resources, and support
-Recognize burnout early and deploy self-care strategies that hold up under pressure
-Navigate difficult board relationships with clarity and confidence
-Protect themselves when professional situations become complicated
-Recognize when it is time to find a new opportunity