Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence

08/31/2026

Patrick McKee, Principal, Valley View High School; and Andrea Cook, Superintendent, and Nichole Thomas, Curriculum Director, Valley View Local Schools, Ohio.

08/25/2026

We love seeing educators from across Florida step up to share their expertise, experiences, and proven practices with colleagues from around the country!

At the Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence National Conference, educators aren’t just attending, they’re presenting, collaborating, and helping others strengthen teaching, learning, leadership, and student achievement.

From innovative classroom practices to schoolwide improvement strategies, our Florida educators are bringing real-world experience and ideas that can make a difference in schools everywhere. We are proud to celebrate these outstanding educators and grateful for their willingness to share their stories and successes!

Florida educators—we want to see YOU at the 2026 BRSE National Conference in Orlando!

Walt Disney World Resort | November 30–December 3, 2026

08/24/2026

Another great session added! Dr. Pauline Cheung, Principal, Frances Scott Key School, PA. Visit blueribbonschools.com for the program details and registration.

SESSION DECRIPTION: Culturally Sustaining Schools: Affirming Cultural Wealth for All Students. This presentation offers a practical blueprint for building a culturally sustaining school culture that honors and affirms the identities and cultural wealth of students and families. Grounded in the experience of leading a school where over 70% of students are Multilingual Learners representing 25+ languages, the presenter will share actionable strategies to shift school
culture by centering community assets. Participants will explore concrete examples of leveraging local languages and culture to strengthen family engagement, staff professional development, community partnerships, and extracurricular programming—all designed to drive academic
excellence for every student.

08/21/2026

We are so proud to share that Helena High has once again been identified as a top school in the district, state, and nation by U.S. News & World Report! https://www.usnews.com/education/best-high-schools/alabama/districts/shelby-county/helena-high-school-153177

08/18/2026

08/14/2026

DR. AKIL ROSS - 2026 BRSE CONFERENCE PRESENTER

SESSION DESCRIPTION: Empowered to Grow! Creating Effective Learning Environments for All Students

Under the right conditions, all children can grow academically, socially, and emotionally. This session provides educators and school leaders with a framework for creating three growth conditions shown to help students improve academically and increase self-confidence. The alignment of purpose, skills, and outcomes is at the core of any successful process. Attendees will be able to identify, apply, measure, and refine growth strategies to help historically disadvantaged children reach their maximum potential.

PRESENTER: Dr. Akil Ross, Superintendent of School District Five of Lexington and Richland Counties and the 2018 NASSP National Principal of the Year in South Carolina. He is also a recipient of the National Blue Ribbon School Principal and Blue Ribbon School of Excellence awards in South Carolina. In 2026, Dr. Ross was named Administrator of the Year by the South Carolina Chapter of the National School Public Relations Association (SCNSPRA), and 2027 State Superintendent of the Year by the South Carolina Association of School Administrators (SCASA).

08/11/2026

2023 Alabama Middle School Principal of the Year Tony Bonds joins the session lineup at BRSE Conference 2026

Tow Matter: Pulling Schools from Compliance to Commitment
Building a Culture Where Every Student and Every Educator Thrives

Across the country, school leaders are being asked to do more with less while navigating increasing accountability demands, staff shortages, initiative fatigue, and the growing need to support both student achievement and educator well-being. As schools work to improve outcomes, many find themselves trapped in a cycle of compliance: implementing programs, meeting mandates, and checking boxes, without creating the commitment necessary for sustainable success. In this engaging and inspiring session, Dr. William (Tony) Bonds shares the Tow Matter Framework, a leadership approach grounded in the belief that meaningful school improvement occurs when every student matters and every educator matters. Drawing from his experiences leading successful school improvement efforts at both the elementary and middle school levels, Dr. Bonds and his team explore how leaders can build cultures rooted in trust, ownership, accountability, and belonging while maintaining a relentless focus on excellence. Participants will examine practical strategies for establishing clear expectations without sacrificing relationships, developing teacher leaders who drive change from within, navigating leadership transitions, strengthening staff morale, and creating systems that move schools beyond initiative overload toward focused, purposeful action.

Through real-world examples, reflective activities, and actionable resources, attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how culture influences every aspect of a school's success, from student engagement and academic achievement to teacher retention and organizational effectiveness. Participants will leave equipped with a comprehensive toolkit, including a culture audit, accountability framework, communication plan, recognition system, and implementation roadmap designed to help transform schools into environments where people are not simply compliant with expectations, but fully committed to a shared vision of excellence. When leaders intentionally invest in people, align purpose with practice, and create systems that support both accountability and connection, they cultivate schools where students thrive, educators flourish, and lasting improvement becomes possible.

Presenters: Dr. Tony Bonds, Principal, Mrs. Faith Bedsole, Assistant Principal, and Mr. Charlie Wilburn, Assistant Principal

08/04/2026

🎉 Today’s the Day! 🎉

We can’t wait to welcome our newest Koalas at Kindergarten Kickoff tonight!

🗓️ Tonight
🕔 5:00–7:00 PM
📍 Paroquet Springs Conference Centre

Come meet our kindergarten team, find out who your child’s teacher is, connect with community resources, and get excited for an amazing school year ahead!