The Georgia School Boards Association offers two conferences each year- our Summer Conference in June and our Annual Conference in December. Both conferences are great for school board members, superintendents and other educational leaders.
GSBA conferences and workshops affords local school board members a great opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements each year. (O.C.G.A 20-2-230).
Find out more about both of our conferences below.
“I’m grateful and thankful that in spite of the ongoing pandemic, we were able to come together to gain important information to aid in student’s education/workplace, etc. Thank you GSBA staff for an excellent job!”
The GSBA Summer Conference & Delegate Assembly is held each year at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Savannah, Georgia. The conference consists of one day of workshops and two days of speakers, the Delegate Assembly, lunches, and more.
Appoint your Delegate for the Delegate Assembly here.
The 2023 Summer Conference & Pre-Conference Workshops will be offered in a limited hybrid format. Only what takes place in the Regency Ballroom at the Hyatt will be offered virtually. The Policy Pre-Conference Workshop will be offered both in-person and virtually (for board members only), and the other 2 workshops will only be offered in person. The Summer Conference will be offered both in-person and virtually. The only sessions that will be streamed to virtual attendees will be the General Sessions in the Regency Ballroom. Breakout sessions will not be available to virtual attendees. Delegate Assembly will also only be in person.
Registration for in-person attendance at the Summer Conference is currently closed as we have reached capacity in the ballroom. You may still register for the conference virtually, as well as all the pre-conference workshops. If you would like to be added to the Summer Conference waiting list, please email Leigh Crow. Board members will receive priority to attend.
Check back! These details are subject to change. As additional information becomes available, this website will be updated.
Thursday, June 8, 8:30am – 4:00pm
Virtual:
Policy Workshop I $275 I 6 credit hours
In Person:
Policy Workshop I $275 I 6 credit hours
Board & Superintendent Relations Workshop I $275 I 6 credit hours
Support Staff Workshop I $200 I No credit hours
Friday, June 9, 8:30am – 4:00pm through Saturday, June 10, 8:30am – 11:00am
Summer Conference Registration (in person) I $400
Summer Conference Registration (virtual) I $300
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
The hotel block at the Hyatt and our overflow hotels are currently full. Please continue to check back with them as rooms may become available. If you have a room at the Hyatt and need to cancel it, please notify Leigh Crow via email and she will coordinate directly with the hotel to take care of the cancellation.
Summer Conference & Pre-Conference Workshop Registrations Opened: Tuesday, April 25, 10:00am
Hyatt Hotel Reservations Opened: Thursday, April 27, 10:00am
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 after Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
2023 Pre-Conference workshops are on June 8, 2023.
GSBA affords local school board members a great opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements for the fiscal year in conjunction with the GSBA Summer Conference held in Savannah. This is a convenient way to obtain the necessary credit for annual training (see O.C.G.A 20-2-230).
GSBA is proud to offer 3 Workshops at the 2023 Summer Conference. 2 of these workshops will offer credit hours for school board members. The third is for support staff only. All workshops will go from 8:30am to 4:00pm. For in-person attendees, a continental breakfast will be offered in the morning, boxed lunches will be served at noon, and breaks will be available throughout the day.
Check back! These details are subject to change. As additional information becomes available, this page will be updated.
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Wednesday, May 24, 2023.
Wednesday, June 7
Simbli Users Workshop
In-Person Registration I FREE
Workshop: 1:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Reception: 5:00-6:30 PM
Simbli is excited to host a FREE User Workshop at the Hyatt. This workshop is geared toward administrative Simbli Users such as support staff. Join us as we look back over the past year and review some of the Simbli enhancements. The main session topics will include ‘Managing your Simbli users’ and ‘Meetings Workflow’. The NEW Planning module and the NEW Search functions will also be highlighted. You’ll be able to choose from 3 breakout sessions.
1: Meeting Minutes;
2: NEW Planning Module in-depth;
3: Ask the Experts: Bring your question!
Bring your devices! These sessions are designed to give you ‘hands on’ experiences. Meet your fellow Simbli users and all the staff at GSBA that support you every day. Stay for a cocktail hour and enjoy sharing ideas. This will be offered in person only.
In-Person Registration I $275 I 6 credit hours
Virtual Registration I $275 I 6 credit hours
Angela Palm, Director of Policy & Legislative Services, and attorneys from Pereira, Kirby, Kinsinger & Nguyen will provide the latest information on the happenings under the Gold Dome.
$275 | 6 credit hours
Becoming a highly effective Board-Superintendent team (governance team) requires that both parties take the time and are intentional about their fair share of accountability for student achievement. Join us as GSBA, your fellow governance teams, and other partners highlight effective practices linked to this important work. Segments will include:
View the 2023 Board & Superintendent Relations Workshop Agenda
$200 | No credit
In the old days, support staff had limited responsibilities and could focus on one task at a time. No more! Today’s admin typically has not only routine daily tasks, but also undertakes special projects, managerial responsibilities, and teamwork. As you know, these issues can have a significant impact on our professional and personal lives, and it is essential to have effective strategies in place to manage them effectively. This workshop will be an opportunity to share ideas, experiences, and best practices, and to learn from each other.
View the 2023 Support Staff Workshop Agenda
Have burning questions about parliamentary procedure, meetings, minutes, and more? Fill out this survey and tell us what you want to know. We’ll also hear from your fellow admins on tips and best practices in your role. Come prepared to catch up with others at this engaging workshop!
Educator, Encourager, Musician. Those are just a few of ways that some would describe Mickey Smith Jr.
As a 7-time Teacher of the Year and recipient of the 2020 GRAMMY Music Educator Award Recipient, Mickey has inspired both children and adults alike through his unique motivational mixture of music and message. Mickey is not only an international keynote speaker and presenter, but he also continues to serve as a full-time teacher at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, FL. Through his love for music, Mickey blends the roles of educator and entertainer to create a dynamic experience that entertains, educates, and elevates everyone to excellence. Mickey is dedicated to helping educators discover their sound. No matter what the classroom challenge may be, he strives to encourage others to keep on going. Find out more about Mickey’s Educator-Encouragement album and podcast SEE THE SOUND and his KEEP ON GOING TOUR of keynotes & concerts at https://mickeysmithjr.com
Credit: courtesy of the author
Jean Becker was chief of staff for George H.W. Bush from March 1, 1994 until his death on November 30, 2018. She previously served as deputy press secretary to First Lady Barbara Bush from 1989 to 1992. Before joining the Bush White House staff in 1989, Ms. Becker was a newspaper reporter for 10 years, including a four-year stint at USA Today where her duties included covering the 1988 presidential election and a Page One editor. Her book about Mrs. Bush, Pearls of Wisdom (2020); and her book about President Bush, The Man I Knew (2021) – both became New York Times bestsellers.
Other Speakers:
Valarie Wilson, GSBA Executive Director
(Invited) Brian Kemp, Governor of Georgia
Richard Woods, State Superintendent
The hotel block at the Hyatt and our overflow hotels are currently full. Please continue to check back with them as rooms may become available. If you have a room at the Hyatt and need to cancel it, please notify Leigh Crow via email and she will coordinate directly with the hotel to take care of the cancellation.
The 2023 GSBA Summer Conference & Delegate Assembly will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Savannah, Georgia.
2 West Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401
912.238.1234
The reservation link for the Hyatt went live on Thursday, April 27 at 10:00am. Hotel reservations may only be made AFTER registering for the Conference and/or Pre-Conference Workshops. After you register for the conference, a confirmation page will appear that will include a link to the Hyatt reservations, this will also be sent in a confirmation email you will receive after you register for the conference. This link will not be made available anywhere else. Please use this one link to make all reservations, there is no unique link for each individual registrant.
View the list of Summer Conference overflow hotels. When making hotel reservations, indicate that you are with the Georgia School Boards Association or GSBA group to get the special negotiated rate.
Cancellation Policy: The Hyatt has a 72-hour cancellation policy. If a cancellation is made within 72 hours of arrival a full one-night deposit is required.
If you do not show up for your first night of the reservation, your room will be canceled for the remainder of the stay. A room cannot be guaranteed if you do not arrive for the first night’s stay. Please call the hotel and change your arrival date if you will not be arriving on your scheduled check-in date.
Parking Note: Savannah hotels have a daily parking fee ranging from $7 to $32 per day. If you drive to the Hyatt from another hotel, you will be subject to a parking fee at the Hyatt (if they have any availability). Parking at the Hyatt is valet only, there is no self-parking: $15 for 0-4 hours; $21 for 4-8 hours; $32 for overnight (per night). There are several parking structures nearby which can be viewed here.
Additional Details:
o State of Georgia Sales Tax Exemption Form
o State of Georgia Local Hotel/Motel Tax Exemption Form
The forms will need to have the agency/school information and signage for each form.
Pre-Paying for Rooms:
If you would like to pre-pay for your hotel room(s), you may do so via credit card or check, and payment must be received before the arrival date.
If you would like to pay via a Credit Card authorization form, please click here. When you make your hotel reservations, please note that you are wanting to prepay with the link.
If you wish to pay via check, payments can be submitted to the address below 4-6 weeks before your arrival date.
Accounting Department
Hyatt Regency Hotel Savannah
2 West Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401
You can also bring a “company” check to pay for all your room(s) when you arrive at the Hyatt. However, a credit card would need to be provided for incidentals as most of the time, checks do not include the $75 per night hold fee for these.
GSBA’s Summer Conference has a multitude of advertising, sponsorship, and advertising opportunities.
View Summer Conference business opportunities
Exhibits Open – Thursday, June 8, 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. and Friday, June 9, 7:00 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Friday, June 9 – Saturday, June 10, 2023
Thursday, June 8, 2023
The 2023 Summer Conference & Pre-Conference Workshops will be offered in a limited hybrid format.
For Pre-Conference workshops, Policy will be offered in-person and virtually. The Board & Superintendent Relations and Support Staff workshops will only be in-person.
The Summer Conference will be offered in person and virtually. The only sessions that will be streamed to virtual attendees will be the General Sessions in the Regency Ballroom. Breakout sessions and the Delegate Assembly will not be available to virtual attendees.
Virtual
In Person
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Wednesday, May 24.
Both in-person and virtual cancellations must be submitted in writing to Leigh Crow, no later than Wednesday, May 24, 2023. Each individual cancellation will be assessed a $70 fee. For instance, if you cancel both a pre-conference workshop and conference registration, a $70 fee will be charged for each cancellation. Cancellations will not receive any refunds after this date.
If cancellations are made before May 24, and you have already paid, we will refund the registration to the original form of payment. No credits may be applied to future events.
For the Conference:
If switching from in-person to virtual, requests must be submitted in writing to Leigh Crow, no later than Wednesday, May 24 for a refund of the difference. Any switches from in-person to virtual AFTER May 24will not receive a refund for the difference and a $70 fee will be charged.
If you want to switch from virtual to in-person, requests must also be submitted by May 24 and an increased fee will be charged. If you want to switch from virtual to in-person AFTER May 24, you will pay the increased fee plus the $70 fee.
If you would like to substitute a registration from one board member to another, you may do so at any time.
For the Pre-Conference Workshops:
If you would like to switch from one workshop to another, requests must be submitted in writing to Leigh Crow, no later than May 24. Workshop switches AFTER May 24 will incur a $70 fee.
Policy Workshop ONLY: Switching from in-person to virtual AFTER May 24, will not incur a $70.
The Summer Conference will take place on Friday, June 9, from 8:30am-4:00pm and Saturday, June 10, from 8:30am-11:00am. All activities will take place in the Regency Ballroom except for our Breakout Sessions, which will take place in other spaces at the Hyatt. The Summer Conference will be offered both in person and virtually. The only sessions that will be streamed to virtual attendees will be the General Sessions in the Ballroom. Breakout sessions will not be available to virtual attendees.
For in-person attendees, a continental breakfast and plated lunch will be offered on Friday and only breakfast will be offered on Saturday.
GSBA has a great program lined up for the 2023 Summer Conference. Please check the Agenda tab regularly. As more information becomes available, it will be added to the website and Whova.
The Annual Delegate Assembly will be held on Friday, June 9, from 2:45pm-4:00pm. The Delegate Assembly will be in person only. Your system’s Delegate and Alternate Delegate should make every effort to be in attendance. At this session, the voting occurs on the legislative positions for GSBA for the coming legislative year. Delegates will register on Friday after lunch for this segment and obtain their voting devices at that time.
If you need to appoint your Delegate, you may do so here. Delegates must be submitted by Thursday, May 4 so materials can be emailed to them.
There is no cost to attend just the Delegate Assembly.
GSBA affords local school board members a great opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements for the fiscal year in conjunction with the GSBA Summer Conference. This is a convenient way to obtain the necessary credit for annual training (see O.C.G.A. 20-2-230).
GSBA is proud to offer 3 Workshops at the 2023 Summer Conference. All workshops will go from 8:30am to 4:00pm. For in-person attendees, a continental breakfast will be offered in the morning, boxed lunches will be served at noon, and breaks will be available throughout the day.
Two of the three workshops will provide 6 hours of credit for board members. Only the Policy Workshop will be offered virtually and in person. Please check the Pre-Conference Workshop tab regularly. As more information becomes available, it will be added to the website and Whova.
Virtual
In Person
NOTE: Registration fees for the Workshops and the Conference will increase by $70 each after Wednesday, May 24.
We will again be using the Whova platform for all attendees. Within Whova, attendees can access the agenda, conference materials, and the sessions that attendees are registered for that are being live-streamed.
Only a person that is registered for the events can access Whova utilizing the email address they registered with. We cannot send out a general Whova link to other staff members that are not registered for the events.
Two weeks before the event, each registrant will receive an email from Mark Willis/Whova with instructions on how to access the platform. At this time, attendees may access the agenda and download materials.
On the day of the Policy Workshop and the Conference, registrants can simply log into Whova and navigate to their session. A separate link will not be sent out on the day of each event. Registrants will need to access Whova in advance to ensure they can log in.
Whova is the web and mobile event application we will be using to allow attendees to access the agenda, conference materials, digital exhibit booths, and the sessions that are being live-streamed. This is the same platform that was used for the 2022 GSBA Summer Conference and the 2022 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference. Details to access the event will be emailed to all attendees as we get closer to the event.
No, board members only receive credit hours for attending a pre-conference workshop.
If you have previously used Whova to access the prior GSBA conferences then you will use the same login information. If this is your first time, you will be prompted to create an account on your first login. Detailed instructions will be emailed to all attendees ahead of time.
No. The Whova Leaderboard is simply to show the level of engagement by the attendees but there will be no prizes for the leaders.
Visit the Agenda tab on this webpage for additional details. This tab will be updated as more information becomes available. Please note that the agenda is subject to change.
The agenda will also be available on Whova. More information on Whova will be posted soon.
Unfortunately, GSBA is only allotted so many rooms at the Hyatt. If you are unable to get a room at the Hyatt, we encourage you to check out our list of overflow hotels for accommodations.
The Hyatt has a 72-hour cancellation policy. If a cancellation is made within 72 hours of arrival a full one-night deposit is required.
If you do not show up for your first night of the reservation, your room will be canceled for the remainder of the stay. A room cannot be guaranteed if you do not arrive for the first night’s stay. Please call the hotel and change your arrival date if you will not be arriving on your scheduled check-in date.
Per Hyatt policy, only 2 reservations can be made online at one time.
State of Georgia Sales Tax Certificate of Exemption
State of Georgia Local Hotel/Motel Tax Exemption Form
The forms will need to have the agency/school information and signage for each form.
Yes, you can bring a “company” check to pay for all your room(s) when you arrive at the Hyatt. However, a credit card would need to be provided for incidentals as most of the time, checks do not include the $75 per night hold fee for these.
If you would like to pre-pay for your hotel room(s), you may do so via credit card or check and payment must be received before the arrival date.
If you would like to pay via a Credit Card authorization form, please click here. When you make your hotel reservations, please note that you are wanting to prepay with the link.
If you wish to pay via check, payments can be submitted to the address below 4-6 weeks before your arrival date.
Accounting Department
Hyatt Regency Hotel Savannah
2 West Bay Street, Savannah, GA 31401
The Hyatt’s check-in time is 4:00pm. The Hyatt’s check-out time is 11:00am.
At the time of check-in, all guests must have a photo ID that matches the name on the reservations. If you initially put all your room reservations under one name, this must be changed to each individual name before arrival.
All guest rooms at check-in must have a valid method of payment for room/tax and incidentals.
Simbli is excited to host a FREE User Workshop on Wednesday, June 7, from 1:30pm-5:30pm at the Hyatt. This workshop is free of charge and is intended for all administrative users of Simbli. This will be offered in person only. More details will be shared at a later date.
We heard you! To ease the process, registration for the 2023 Summer Conference and Hyatt Hotel reservations will take place on 2 separate days. GSBA hopes this will make the registration process a little less stressful.
The reservation link for the Hyatt Regency will go live Thursday, April 27, at 10:00am.
Hotel reservations may only be made AFTER registering for the Conference and/or Pre-Conference Workshops. After you register for the conference, a confirmation page will appear that will include a link to the Hyatt reservations, this will also be sent in a confirmation email you will receive after you register for the conference. This link will go live on Thursday, April 27, at 10:00am. This link will not be made available anywhere else. Please use this one link to make all reservations, there is no unique link for each individual registrant.
On-site registration will be available for the Pre-Conference Workshops. However, if the conference itself is sold out (if we have reached capacity in the Regency Ballroom), on-site registration will not be available.
If the conference is full, your name can be added to a waiting list. Board members will receive priority to attend. If you are moved off the waiting list after May 24, you will not pay the increased registration fee.
If you join the waiting list AFTER May 24, you will pay the increased registration price.
Virtual
In-Person
GSBA will once again be using a badge scanning process to award credit hours to board members at the Pre-Conference Workshops. All board members will need to make sure their badges are scanned when they arrive at the workshop and when they leave the workshop at the end of the day. Designated GSBA team members will be standing at the doors to scan badges.
For board members attending the Policy workshop virtually, Whova will provide a viewing record to GSBA to verify a board member watched the workshop.
Registration for the Conference and Workshops opens Tuesday, April 25, at 10:00am.
The Conference registration link will be emailed out on Thursday, April 20. It will also be posted on the GSBA website under the Event Registration Page and the Conference Page. This link will go live on Tuesday, April 25, at 10:00am. You may now register all your governance team utilizing this one link.
If you plan to attend a workshop and the conference at the same time, please make sure to register for both in advance.
If a board member missed watching the Policy workshop on the day it aired, they can watch it on Whova at a later date. Once they have watched it, GSBA will need to be notified via email that the board member viewed the workshop. Please contact Ashley Mosby to verify that the board member has completed the training.
2023 Summer Conference Overflow Hotel Information
When making your hotel reservations, indicate that you are with the Georgia School Boards Association or GSBA group in order to get the special negotiated rate.
Savannah hotels have a daily parking fee ranging from $7.00 to $32.00 per day. If you drive to the Hyatt from any other hotel, you will be subject to a parking fee at the Hyatt (if they have any availability).
Parking at the Hyatt is valet only, there is no self-parking: $15 for 0-4 hours; $21 for 4-8 hours; $32 for overnight (per night). There are several parking structures nearby that can be viewed here.
No, individual meal tickets are not available for people who are not registered for the Pre-Conference Workshops or the Conference. NOTE: If you are registered for the Workshops and/or the conference, meals are included with your registration.
Name badges may be picked up at the Conference Registration Desk on the second floor of the Hyatt. Workshop and Conference attendees may pick up their name badges on:
GSBA will be following CDC Guidelines regarding Covid-19. Please visit their website for additional information.
Currently, the City of Savannah does not have a mask mandate.
GSBA will do its best to accommodate special dietary needs. Please contact Leigh Crow with any specific requests.
GSBA will be hosting a luncheon for Board Chairs attending the Pre-Conference Workshops on Thursday, June 8. Board Chairs will receive additional information from Nancy McLellan at a later date.
No, Governance Teams may not meet during programming times at the Pre-Conference Workshops and the Conference. However, if a Governance Team would like to meet at the Hyatt before or after programming hours, please reach out to Leigh Crow.
The exhibitors will begin setting up on Thursday, June 8. Conference attendees will be able to visit with exhibitors on Thursday afternoon and all day on Friday, June 9. Please make sure you stop by to say hi!
All opportunities for exhibits and sponsorships are accessible on the Business Opportunities website and can be signed up from there. If you have additional questions, please contact Pam Harrison by email or by phone at 770.962.6855.
In an effort to reduce the amount of paper used, handouts will not be distributed. All materials will be made available on Whova.
No, all board awards, recognition, and service pins will be presented at the Annual Conference in December.
The GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference is held each year at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia. The conference consists of one day of workshops and two days of speakers, awards, lunches, and more.
2023 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference
Pre-Conference Workshops: Wednesday, November 29, 2023
Conference: Thursday, November 30 – Friday, December 1, 2023
Renaissance Waverly, Atlanta, GA
Thank you attendees, speakers and sponsors of our 2022 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference!
GSBA affords local school board members a great opportunity to fulfill their annual training requirements for the fiscal year in conjunction with the GSBA Annual Conference held in Atlanta. This is a convenient way to obtain the necessary credit for annual training (see O.C.G.A 20-2-230).
Legal Issues
School Finance
Communications
Thank you attendees, speakers and sponsors of our 2022 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference!
Thank you attendees, speakers and sponsors of our 2022 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference!
The 2022 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference will be held at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel in Atlanta, Georgia.
Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel
2450 Galleria Pkwy, Atlanta, GA 30339
770.953.4500
Renaissance Waverly Hotel – First Floor Map
Renaissance Waverly Hotel – Second Floor Map
HOTEL TAX EXEMPTION FORMS:
State of Georgia Sales Tax Exemption Form
State of Georgia Local Hotel/Motel Tax Exemption Form
Please send these via email to Laura Chiles at the Waverly.
Our Business Opportunities website has up-to-date information on how you and your business can support GSBA and public education in Georgia or contact Pam Harrison, Business Opportunities Manager, at pharrison@gsba.com
Here are the dates for our 2024 Summer + Annual Conferences
2024 GSBA Summer Conference & Delegate Assembly
Pre-Conference Workshops: Thursday, June 6, 2024
Conference: Friday, June 7 – Saturday, June 8, 2024
Hyatt Regency, Savannah, GA
2024 GSBA/GSSA Annual Conference
Pre-Conference Workshops: Wednesday, December 11, 2024
Conference: Thursday, December 12 – Friday, December 13, 2024
Renaissance Waverly, Atlanta, GA
Questions related to our conferences? Contact:
Leigh Crow
Program Manager: Conferences & Events
Email: lcrow@gsba.com
Dr. Samuel King
Director of Board Development
Email: sking@gsba.com
Ashley Mosby
Executive Assistant
Email: amosby@gsba.com
Pam Harrison
Business Opportunities Manager
Email: pharrison@gsba.com