FALL ANNUAL MEETING

Thank you to everyone who joined us today for the FAPEL Fall 2026 Meeting. We greatly appreciate your participation, thoughtful questions, and engagement throughout the morning.

In case you missed it, today’s program included FAPEL updates, important FLDOE FELE data and field updates, and several excellent presentations and discussions. 

The agenda featured representatives from the Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development and Retention, the Office of Post-Secondary Assessment, Dr. Christopher Thomas, and Jessica Janasiewicz. 

A special thanks to Dr. Christopher Thomas for his presentation, Centaurs, Cyborgs, and Clones: The Law and Ethics of AI in Schools. His session explored important legal, ethical, and professional considerations surrounding AI in education. 

We also sincerely thank Jessica Janasiewicz for her timely presentation, The Climate of Advocacy in a Shifting Policy and Political Environment, which provided valuable context regarding Florida’s policy environment, legislative developments, and advocacy. 

A special thanks as well to Dr. Sarah Hall, Bureau Chief, Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development and Retention, Florida Department of Education, and her team for sharing important FELE and field updates  

We also appreciate Michele White, FASA Executive Director, for highlighting the upcoming Discover ’27 Conference and opportunities to strengthen the connection between research and practice. FASA is currently inviting proposals for breakout sessions, roundtable discussions, and Research Hall presentations, creating multiple opportunities for researchers and practitioners to share work that can inform educational leadership across Florida. FASA

We want your feedback. Please take a few minutes to complete the FAPEL Conference Evaluation. Your responses will help us strengthen future meetings and provide programming that best serves our members. Survey: https://forms.cloud.microsoft/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=3vcbdOXi30aNZ4JgffneqpWpQlriBEhIii8K9hXbuRVURE1ETlgzWFhGVlQxNkJaNUhPUTNSNkVNUi4uFAPEL 

Spring Annual Conference at USF

Please also plan to join us for the FAPEL Spring Annual Conference at the University of South Florida College of Education – TECO.
 

Theme: From Inquiry to Impact: Research that Informs, Teaching that Transforms, and Service that Sustains Educational Leadership in Florida

Dates: 

• FAPEL Spring 2027 Conference
• March 1-2, 2027
• Location: USF College of Education, Tampa, FL
• Awards Banquet on March 1st 2027

Conference and Awards Banquet Registration:
This Registration link is forthcoming.

FAPEL Membership Payment 

Links $50.00  Individual Membership
https://connect.intuit.com/pay/FloridaAssociationOfProfes/scs-v1-4add45c71e104487a7b0427bb9f1c956133042651ac440de9fd7ee3575d673961e7c6ed608f24e7f90ab629a66df4591-1?locale=EN_US&cta=saveandcopy

Link $200.00  Institutional Membership
https://connect.intuit.com/pay/FloridaAssociationOfProfes/scs-v1-f63515adc7e34dae9a882e3fabd68af9cc82dc25ac0b445e8910f2f453afb1b3d94965b9b65c45c897162d2dcd9c7b0f-1?locale=EN_US&cta=saveandcopylink

Thank you again for your continued involvement and support of FAPEL. We hope to see you at USF for our Spring Annual Conference. 

----------------------

FALL 2026 ANNUAL MEETING

October 5, 2026

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

ZOOM:

https://ucf.zoom.us/j/98117521073?pwd=3NF2tM5L9hku1lLMyuwaG47nCtE5gn.1

Meeting ID: 981 1752 1073

Passcode: 181061

9:00 a.m.-9:15 a.m. 

FAPEL President's Welcome and Opening Remarks 

FAPEL President Dr. Zorka Karanxha 

Pearson: Dr. Heather S. Klesch, VP Educator Solutions for Licensing and Learning FASA Executive Director: Michele White

9:15 a.m.-9:30 a.m. 

FAPEL Business Meeting 

FAPEL President: Dr. Zorka Karanxha 

FAPEL Secretary: Daniel Eadens

FAPEL Treasurer: Dr. Kevin Forehand

9:30 a.m.- 10:15 a.m. 

FLDOE FELE Data and Updates

Bureau of Educator Recruitment, Development, and Retention:  

Dr. Sarah Hall, Betsy Williamson

Office of Post-Secondary Assessment: Jenny Black, Phil Canto, Dr. Suleyman Olgar, Hope Bryant

10:15 a.m.-10:30 a.m. 

BREAK

10:30 a.m.-11:15 a.m. 

Session Session 1 

Dr. Christopher Thomas

Centaurs, Cyborgs, and Clones: The Law and Ethics of AI in Schools

11:15 a.m.-12:00 p.m. 

Session Session 2 

Jessica Janasiewicz

FASA Advocacy: The climate of advocacy in shifting policy environment

12:00 p.m.-12:15 p.m.

 FAPEL President’s Closing Remarks 

Dr. Zorka Karanxha

Evaluation

--------------------------------------------------------------

SPRING 2026 ANNUAL CONFERNCE

Here’s the link for the FAPEL Conference and Awards Banquet Registration:

https://forms.gle/V28S1wUvir8zkndx6  

Here is the link to pay this Registration Fee: https://connect.intuit.com/pay/FloridaAssociationOfProfes/scs-v1-a74ce76003834036aeb8f8d63c808c74679e6ac806e6443cb8490661574992bc525c698076234be7a35fffb32cadc607?locale=EN_US 

Here is the link for the Hotel: Embassy Suites, by Hilton:

BOOKING LINK: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/fapel-meeting-at-usf/                        

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

FAPEL SPRING 2026 MEETING AGENDA

Navigating Shifting Policy and Informational Environments and Their Impact on Educational Leadership Preparation.

TECO, USF College of Education

March 2nd, 2026 from 9:00AM – 4:00PM

“A Call to Action: Addressing the Challenges of Leadership, Policy and Practice.” 

9:00 am 

President’s   Welcome- Dr.   Zorka Karanxha, FAPEL President

USF College of Education Associate Dean’s Welcome:   Dr. Bill Black 

Pearson Welcome: Dr. Heather S. Klesch, VP   Educator Solutions for Licensing and Learning

FASA Welcome: Michelle White, FASA Executive   Director 

9:15 am  - 9:45 am

FAPEL Business Meeting: 

· President’s Report: Zorka   Karanxha

· Treasurer’s Report: Daniel Reyes-Guerra

· Constitutional Changes: Vote   Required

· FAPEL Research Initiative: Michelle White, Bill Black, Dan   Eadens

9:45 am – 10:45 am

Keynote Speaker on Research on Policy Issues in   Florida

Dr. Jose   Castillo, Professor of School Psychology   (https://www.usf.edu/education/faculty-staff/faculty-directory/castillo-jose.asp) Kelly Justice, Director of Institute for   School-Community Partnerships, Integrated Services, and Child Mental Health   and Education Policy, USF.

Is MTSS a   process for special education eligibility determination, continuous   improvement, or both?: Ask school leaders.

10:45 am - 11:00 am

BREAK

11:00 am - 12:00 pm

FLDOE   Updates and Reports

Dr.   Josey McDaniel, Deputy Chancellor for Educator Quality

Dr.   Sarah Hall, Ashley Harvey, Marsha Dixon

Bureau   of Educator Recruitment, Development and Retention

Dr.   Suleyman Olgar, Jenny Black

Office of Post-Secondary   Assessment

12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

LUNCH –TECO Room

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Dr. Jason   LaFrance, Associate Professor, Appalachian State University,   (https://mcl.appstate.edu/p/lafrance) 

From Overload to Optimization: How Generative AI   Can Redefine Faculty Workflows

2:00 pm - 2:45 pm

Discussion on   Issues and Policies on Improving Higher Education and K12 Collaboration

Panel:

Michelle White, FASA Executive Director

Dr. Daniel Reyes-Guerra, FAU Professor & FAPEL   Treasurer

Dr. Bill Black, USF COEDU Associate Dean &   FAPEL President Elect

Dr. Daniel Eadens, UCF Associate Professor &   FAPEL Secretary

2:45 pm - 3:00 pm 

Break

3:00 pm - 3:40 pm

Dr. Laura   Boilini, Clinical Associate Professor & Program   Director, University of North Florida

Practicing Art with Laura Boilini

3:40 pm - 4:00 pm

Discussion and   Closing Remarks

Pressing Issues Moving Forward 

---------------------------------------------------- 

 The annual registration fee for the Conference and Banquet is $60.00. Attendance at the Banquet or the Conference or both requires payment of the $60.00 registration fee. This fee is non-refundable after February 15, 2026. The Spring Conference is open only to those with current Individual memberships or Institutional memberships, so be sure to also update your annual membership, if you have not already done so. 

----------------

Here’s the link for the FAPEL Conference and Awards Banquet Registration:

https://forms.gle/V28S1wUvir8zkndx6  

Here is the link to pay this Registration Fee: https://connect.intuit.com/pay/FloridaAssociationOfProfes/scs-v1-a74ce76003834036aeb8f8d63c808c74679e6ac806e6443cb8490661574992bc525c698076234be7a35fffb32cadc607?locale=EN_US 

Here is the link for the Hotel: Embassy Suites, by Hilton:

BOOKING LINK: https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/fapel-meeting-at-usf/

Book before: February 16, 2026

Hotel Location: 3705 Spectrum Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33612 

(813)-977-7066

Rooms & Rates

• 2 Room Suite-1 King Bed-nonsmoking - $195.00
• 2 Room Suite-2 Double Beds-nonsmoking - $195.00

As soon as you have registered for the Conference, you will be emailed the entrée options survey to those members who have registered for the conference (and indicated that they will be attending the banquet).   

Questions regarding membership dues and conference registration fees, please contact Dr. Daniel Reyes-Guerra dreyes@fau.edu

                                  FAPEL BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2025-2026

President, Zorka Karanxha , University of South Florida (Karanxha@usf.edu)

President-Elect, William R. Black, University of South Florida  University of South Florida (wrBlack@usf.edu)

Past President, Sheila Moore, University of Central Florida (Sheila.Moore@ucf.edu)

 Secretary & Website Editor, Daniel Eadens, University of Central Florida (Daniel.Eadens@ucf.edu) 

Treasurer, Daniel Reyes-Guerra, Florida Atlantic University (DReyes@fau.edu) 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

FAPEL meeting Events page and click on FAPEL SPRING 2026 MEETING Registration Form link (COMING SOON).

Questions regarding membership dues and conference registration fees, please contact Dr. Daniel Reyes-Guerra dreyes@fau.edu

MEMBERSHIP: 

$50.00 - Individual Membership 

CLICK HERE:  

https://connect.intuit.com/pay/FloridaAssociationOfProfes/scs-v1-a0b2f66bd6bf409bb3ad54bfdad973872f30bb13ea464690bf29db545f369828a68549c4d6f24f25812d2d2b6dc86e37?locale=EN_US 

$200.00 - Institutional Membership

CLICK HERE:   

https://connect.intuit.com/pay/FloridaAssociationOfProfes/scs-v1-83b8701489b44ff18c7a8a0f8cda7bc2e253d663e175410bb82dd23b1941dfed6a58bdd065d34940b6a4db5a931ce66d?locale=EN_US