Center for Educational Innovation and Improvement (CEii)

Connecting Leaders Across the Mid-Atlantic

The CEii Summer Leadership Conference brings together education leaders from across the Mid-Atlantic region.  This three-day experience will spark bold conversations, deepen collaborative learning, and strengthen collective capacity for educational innovation, continuous improvement, and equity-centered leadership.

Participants will engage in keynote presentations, fireside conversations, concurrent learning sessions, problem-solving consultancies, and community-building experiences alongside peers, researchers, and national thought leaders.

This conference is for education leaders seeking to strengthen their leadership practice, build collaborative networks, and drive impactful organizational change.

Step Into The Fireside Chat Experience!

Step into an engaging, thought-provoking Fireside Chat with education leaders, innovators, and changemakers across the field.

Join us for candid discussions, powerful perspectives, and Authentic conversations that go beyond presentations to explore bold ideas and transformative strategies shaping the future of education.

Each dynamic conversation is designed to inspire visionary thinking to drive meaningful change in schools, systems, and communities.

  Register to Join The  Fireside Experience!

Leading The Moment:  Keynote with the Dean

  Join us for a special Keynote experience featuring Dr. Kimberly A. Griffin, Dean of the College of Education.  This session will offer an inspiring opportunity to hear from a leading voice in education as we reflect on the importance of leadership, collaboration, and shared commitment to meaningful improvement.  As part of the CEii Summer Leadership conference, this Keynote will help set the tone for continued dialogue, connection, and forward-thinking work across our learning community.

Experience the Keynote Moment - Register Now!

Leadership Over Lunch

Experience powerful conversations over lunch as distinguished panelists share insight, strategy, and real-world perspectives on leadership, innovation, and transformative change in education. This featured panel session creates space for engaging discussion, meaningful networking, fresh ideas, and diverse perspectives that attendees can take back to their schools, districts, and organizations.  

Collaborative Networking ~ Engaging Conversations 

~Impactful Practices Shaping The Future of Education~

Register Now for a Dynamic Lunch Experience!

Featured Speakers Hear from influential leaders shaping the future of education.  Our featured speakers are recognized leaders who will share insights, bring deep expertise, innovative perspectives, and experience designed to inspire bold thinking, advance equity, strengthen systems, and accelerate meaningful improvement across schools and districts.
Dr. Katya Denisova Director of Professional Learning Baltimore City Public Schools          Focus:  Improvement Day:  Day 2 - Thursday, June 25, 2026 Time:  10:15 - 11:30 Session Title: From Disconnected PD to Coherent PL Systems:  Building and Measuring a Districtwide Professional Learning Model in Baltimore City Public Schools
Dr. Darryl Williams Interim Assistant Chair for Administration and Program Director Morgan State University         Dr. Jeffrey Rhodes Teacher Education and Professional Development Morgan State University     Focus:  Equity Day:  Day 2 - Thursday, June 25, 2026 Time:  1:30 - 2:45 Session Title: I Am Who I Am:  Equity-Centered Urban Leaders Revealed
Dr. Dia Jackson, Ed.D American Institutes of Research       Focus:  Leadership Day:  Day 3 - Friday, June 26, 2026 Time:  10:30 - 11:45 Session Title: Five Hallmarks of Effective Principal Leadership through MTSS

Get A Preview of the Insights, Ideas, and Perspectives Shaping this Year's Conference

The Conference Experience

The conference experience includes a variety of interactive and collaborative learning opportunities, including:

• Keynote Presentations from national thought leaders
• Fireside conversations with experienced system leaders
• Concurrent sessions led by practitioners and researchers
• Problem-solving consultancies focused on real challenges
• Structured networking and collaborative learning opportunities
• Optional Golf Networking Experience designed to foster relationship-building among conference participants

Experience the Conversation - Reserve Your Seat!

Themes and Learning Objectives

By the end of the conference, participants will:

• Build capacity to lead equity-centered change across their systems 
• Strengthen their understanding of improvement science tools and strategies 
• Expand their professional networks with peers and partners across the region

Conference Venue and Hotel Accommodations

The conference will be held at the College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, located on the campus of the University of Maryland. 

We recommend securing your reservation as soon as possible to ensure availability.

Please use the booking link below or call the hotel directly to secure a room reservation.

**Guests are responsible for booking and covering the cost of their own accommodations, including any applicable taxes, fees, and incidental charges.

• Marriott Reservation Booking Link
  • College Park Marriott Hotel & Conference Center:  (conference venue location)
  • 3501 University Blvd, East, Hyattsville, MD 20742
  • (301) 985-7300 (Dial 1 to be directed to the off-site reservation office)

Additional Nearby Hotel Options

• Cambria College Park
  • 8321 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
  • (301) 615-9889
• Holiday Inn
  • 10000 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
  • (301) 345-6700 (Front Desk) 
  • (888) 465-4329 (Reservations)
• Crowne Plaza College Park
  • 6400 Ivy Lane, Greenbelt, MD 20770
  • (301) 441-3700 (Front Desk)
  • (800) 227-6963
• The Hotel at The University of Maryland
  • 7777 Baltimore Avenue, College Park, MD 20740
  • (301) 277-7777 (Front Desk)