Media Appearances

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

What does it take for a high-poverty school to consistently beat the odds?

I’m excited to explore that question on November 9 in Saratoga Springs at the 2026 School Administrators Association of New York State (SAANYS) Fall Conference!

I’m honored to be presenting with Dr. Manya Bouteneff, Ed.D. for our session:

Beating the Odds: Five Practices That Are Raising Achievement in New York State’s Challenged Schools

Dr. Bouteneff will share research identifying schools across New York State that are consistently beating the odds – schools serving communities with high levels of poverty that are achieving unexpected and sustained success.

And this topic is personal for me. I was a principal in one of those schools.

I’ll share the five practices and strategies I used to help our school achieve and sustain results – including my ActUp!™ Strategy – and the lessons I learned about intentional leadership, culture, accountability, and creating the conditions for students and educators to succeed.

Because beating the odds isn’t about luck. It’s about leadership, intentionality, relationships, and practices that make a difference.

If you’ll be at #SAANYS26, I’d love to connect! Let’s learn from one another, share what’s working, and talk about how we can continue driving meaningful change in New York schools – in 2026 and beyond.

And there’s plenty more to look forward to in beautiful and historic Saratoga Springs – two days of learning, networking, collaboration, and rejuvenation, along with spotlight presentations, panel discussions, 30+ practitioner-led tabletop workshops, legislative and legal updates, and opportunities to connect with educational leaders from across New York.

👉 Register here and bring a guest.

International Society for Educational Planning (ISEP) International Conference, Nelson Mandela University, Africa

Dr. John E. McKenna delivers conference presentation on his book, “Strategies for Dealing with the Urgent Educational Challenge.”