Description

Maryland UNITED 2026

MAESP/MASSP Fall Leadership Conference

November 5-7

Conference Attendee Registration Rates

$350 early bird rate for MAESP/MASSP Members (ends 9/15/26, $375 after)

$450 nonmembers

$325 MAESP/MASSP board members

$325 Friday presenters (confirmed)

$225 one-day rate (Th/Fr/Sat)

Conference Exhibitor  Registration Rates

$650 one exhibitor (no meals; includes 6’ table, 2 chairs, draping, power outlet)

$750 one exhibitor (w/meals; includes 6’ table, 2 chairs, draping, power outlet)

$100 exhibitor plus one (a second exhibitor w/meals)

$0 exhibitor plus one (a second exhibitor, no meals)

Attendees & Exhibitors- Click here to register for the conference

Click here to reserve your room at the Ashore Oceanfront Hotel

(Register by October 7th to get the conference hotel rate)

Conference Schedule

Keynotes & concurrent sessions are on the 2nd Floor of the Conference Center

Thursday, November 5 

10:00 - 4:00 Registration- Terrace Lobby (Conference Center- 2nd floor)

12:00 - 4:30 Exhibit Hall Open (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 2A/B)

12:00- 1:00 Pre-Conference Sessions (Seaside Rooms 4 - 6)

1:15 - 2:15 Pre-Conference Sessions (Seaside Rooms 4 - 6)

2:30 - 3:30 Welcome/Keynote - Frank Kros (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1) 

3:30 - 4:30 Free time to visit Exhibit Hall (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 2A/B)

4:30 - 5:30 Welcome Reception- Shore Deck (2nd floor) Lifetouch Sponsor

5:30 Dinner On Your Own

8:15 Thursday Night Football Happy Hour- Ashore Taproom

Friday, November 6

8:00 - 2:00 Registration- Terrace Lobby (Conference Center- 2nd Floor)

8:00 - 5:00 Exhibit Hall Open (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 2A/2B)

8:00 - 8:30 Breakfast Buffet (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1)

8:30 - 9:30 Keynote- Sarah Sirgo (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1)

9:45 - 10:45 Concurrent Session 1 (Seaside Conference Rooms 2 - 6)

11:00 - 12:00 Concurrent Session 2 (Seaside Conference Rooms 2 - 6)

12:00 - 12:30 Visit Exhibit Hall

12:30 - 2:15 Luncheon/Awards Banquet (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1)

2:30 - 3:30 Concurrent Session 3 (Seaside Conference Rooms 2 - 6)

3:45 - 5:00 Exhibit Hall Open/Reception- Terrace Lobby- Josten’s Sponsor

                Lifetouch Complimentary Headshots (Exhibit Hall) 

5:00 Dinner On Your Own

7:30 - 9:00 DJ Mo! (Seaside 4/5/6)

Saturday, November 7

8:00 - 9:00 Registration- Terrace Lobby (Conference Center- 2nd floor)

8:00 - 8:30 Continental Breakfast Buffet/Welcome (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1)

8:30 - 9:30 Keynote Panel- Pepukayi, Martirano, Barnes (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1)

9:35 - 10:35 BOOM Sessions (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1)

10:35 - 10:45 Closing Remarks/Evaluation (Atlantic Ballroom Hall 1)

Thursday Keynote 

Frank Kros

“Extraordinary Mental Health: Practical Strategies for Leaders, Their Staff, and Their Students”

Frank J. Kros, MSW, JD is a nationally recognized child advocate, educator, author, and speaker with extensive experience serving children, families, schools, and youth-serving organizations. He is the founder and president of Kros Learning Group (KLG), a professional development, coaching, and consulting firm established in 2019. Prior to founding KLG, Frank held leadership positions with the Transformation Education Institute, the National At-Risk Education Network, and The Children’s Guild Alliance.

All concurrent sessions on Thursday will focus on mental health for students, staff, and school leaders.

Thanks for the support of...

Celebrating Maryland's Finest

Come see their panel presentation Thursday (12:00 & 1:15pm) in Seaside 6 focused on supporting staff mental health!

Friday Keynote

Dr. Sarah Sirgo

"Other Duties As Assigned"

Dr. Sarah Sirgo is an accomplished educator and leader in public education. Currently, she serves as the Chief of Staff for Frederick County Public Schools and is also an Adjunct Faculty member at Bowie State University. With nearly 30 years of experience in education, Dr. Sirgo has held various roles, including speech language pathologist, special education teacher, and principal. Dr. Sirgo also served as a consulting principal who mentored and coached aspiring principals as well as those who were in their first year on the job and then served as a principal supervisor for nearly 8 years. She has a strong focus on leadership, growth, and organizational strategy, emphasizing the importance of people in effective leadership.

Saturday Keynote Panel

Dr. Pepukayi’s prior experiences in education include elementary teacher, assistant principal, and principal in Delaware and Ohio. Because of her passion for teaching and educating, she has facilitated an Aspiring Administrator’s Program, mentors school-aged youth, served on various state committees around principal pipelines and evaluations, and speaks at national conferences.

Dr. Martirano has done it all. He's been a science and math teacher, a principal at elementary, middle, and high schools, a central office administrator, and a superintendent in two Maryland counties. He also served as State Superintendent of Schools for West Virginia and as a Senior Fellow for the Center of Digital Education. Through all his leadership roles, he's happiest when he's in a classroom with students.

Bill Barnes began his career with HCPSS in 2008, serving as the Coordinator of Secondary Mathematics and Director of Secondary and Pre-K-12 Curricular Programs. Prior to that, he served as a high school math teacher. Throughout his extensive career in education, he has held multiple leadership roles on state and national committees, panels, and groups; primarily focused on mathematics education. He has committed his entire career to enhancing educational outcomes for all students.

Saturday BOOM Sessions!

Sign up to be a presenter here!