The Work Matters. So Do You.
You carry a lot.
Every day you're making decisions that affect real students—how they show up walking into your building, whether they feel a sense of belonging, and whether the teachers and staff around them are equipped to be there for them. That's leadership with stakes. And leadership with care.
The keynote speakers at NPC27 were chosen because they understand both sides of that reality. The weight of leading others, and the clarity it takes to stay grounded in why you're there. |
Gerry Brooks
Elementary School Principal | Education Humorist and Speaker |
Twenty-five years in education. Fifteen as a principal. Gerry Brooks brings honest humor and hard-won perspective to what school culture actually looks like when it's working. He’ll share how to build the staff relationships that make your school a place students and teachers want to be. |
Jess Sims
Former Principal | Peloton Instructor | ESPN Reporter |
Jess Sims started where you are. In a school, responsible for the well-being of students and the adults who serve them. She'll speak directly to something elementary leaders often put last: how to sustain yourself so you can keep sustaining the kids who need you most. |
Cal Ripken Jr.
Baseball Hall of Famer | The "Iron Man" |
2,632 consecutive games. Cal Ripken Jr.'s story is about more than endurance. It's about what consistency and accountability make possible over time. For leaders who need a frame for why showing up every day still matters, even when the recognition doesn't always come. |
Grant Hill
Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Famer | Vice Chairman of the Atlanta Hawks |
Grant Hill spent two decades learning how to lead teams under pressure. He then carried those lessons into business and media. His focus on meaningful decision-making and leading through change offers a clear lens for leaders who are balancing more than any org chart can capture. |
Join us at NPC27, February 6–9, 2027, in Tampa, FL—alongside a national community of school leaders who understand what this work costs and believe it's worth it. |
Have a perspective to share? Add your voice to NPC27—but hurry! The call for proposals closes May 15, 2026. Submit your proposal. |
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