If you’re a teacher, you already know that your professional journey is about more than lesson plans and grading. It’s about growth, inspiration, and community. That’s why attending conferences is such a game-changer! Conferences are where you get to:
- Recharge and Reignite Your Passion: Conferences are energizing! They fill your bucket, remind you why you teach, and send you home with fresh ideas and a renewed sense of purpose.
- Stay Ahead of the Curve: Education is always evolving. Conferences let you hear about the latest trends, tools, and techniques so you can bring new strategies back to your classroom.
- Network and Build Community: Meet teachers from across the state, country, or the world! You’ll have the chance to swap stories and build your professional network. These connections often turn into lasting collaborations and friendships.
- Get Inspired: There’s nothing like hearing a peer share a success story or present a new approach to spark your own creativity and motivation.
- Professional Development: Workshops and sessions help you grow your skills and keep your teaching practice fresh and effective.
Why Present? The Perks of Sharing Your Voice
Presenting isn’t just about standing in front of a room and sharing your ideas-it’s about amplifying your impact far beyond your own classroom walls. When you present, you get to inspire and empower other educators with what’s working for you, and in turn, you’ll find yourself growing as a teacher and a leader. Yes, you are a leader and your practice is worth sharing. Plus, let’s be honest: it feels pretty great to be recognized as an innovator in your field!
There are some practical perks too - most conferences offer free or discounted admission for presenters, and you’ll often get access to special networking events and resources that aren’t available to everyone else. Presenting is a fantastic way to build your confidence, expand your professional network, and help shape the future of education. So go ahead-step up and share your story!
Draft Your Proposal:
Title: Make it catchy and clear-what will people learn?
Description: In 50–100 words, explain what you’ll cover and why it matters.
Learning Objectives: What will attendees be able to do after your session? Use action verbs like “describe,” “demonstrate,” or “create”.
Outline: Give a brief plan for your session-how will you engage participants?
Diversity & Inclusion: Many conferences ask how your session supports equity and inclusion-be thoughtful here. There are a few simple best practices that apply to most proposals include: voice and choice, universal design, scaffolded materials, etc.
Submit Online but Use a Google Template: Most conferences have an online portal. You can usually save your work and come back to it before the deadline. However, one thing we always do at CodeJoy is create a Google Template. Keep an eye on our newsletter for easy to access & edit google templates for conferences we’d love to help you present at.
Wait for Notification: You’ll hear back a few months before the conference. If accepted, you’ll get instructions on next steps (including registration at a special presenter rate).
It turns out, writing a conference proposal is not much different from writing a lesson plan. The big difference is your audience. You are looking to share and present with your fellow teachers, administrators, and education professionals.
Upcoming Opportunities: Mark Your Calendar!
Ready to get started? Here are two big conferences with proposal windows opening soon:
Conference | Proposal Window Opens | Details |
ISTELive | August | Focus on technology in education. Accepts a variety of session formats. |
CSTA | September | Computer Science Teachers Association-great for CS educators! |
Let’s Write Together!
We LOVE helping teachers shine! If you’re thinking about presenting, let’s connect. Schedule a meeting with Amanda Jeane and we can help you brainstorm, write, edit, revise, and even provide presenting support. You have a story to share, and we’re here to help you tell it.
Let’s make your voice heard - submit your proposal and inspire your fellow educators! Keep an eye on our Newsletter for proposal templates and proposal writing support.