Spring ANNUAL conferEnce

                        FAPEL SPRING 2026 MEETING AGENDA

Navigating shifting policy and informational environments and their impact on educational leadership preparation.

Awards Banquet March 1st, 2026, 6pm – 9pm, The Columbia Restaurant, Ybor City,  2117 E 7th Ave, Tampa, 33605, FL

Conference March 2nd, 2026, 9AM – 4PM

9:00 a.m. 

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

USF College of Education Dean’s Welcome

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

FASA Welcome: Michelle White, FASA Executive   Director 

9:30 a.m. -  10:15 a.m.

FAPEL Business Meeting: 

· Presidents’ Report: Zorka   Karanxha

· Treasurer’s Report: Daniel Reyes-Guerra

· Constitutional Changes: Vote   Required

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

10:15 am – 10:25 am

BREAK

10:25 am – 11:00 am

Keynote Speaker on Research on Policy Issues in   Florida

Dr. Jose Castillo, Professor of School   Psychology, USF (https://www.usf.edu/education/faculty-staff/faculty-directory/castillo-jose.asp) MTSS Implementation in Florida and Family   Engagement

11:00 am - 12:45 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

Phil   Canto, Suleyman Olgar, Hope Bryant 

Office of Post-Secondary   Assessment

11:45 am - 1:00 pm

LUNCH –TECO Room

1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Dr. Jason   LaFrance (https://mcl.appstate.edu/p/lafrance) 

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

2:00 pm - 2:45

Panel: Discussion on Issues and Policies On Improving Higher Education and   K12 Collaboration 

2:45- 3:00 

Break

3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Session

Practicing Art with Dr. Laura Boilini 

3:30 pm - 3:45 pm

Discussion

Pressing issues moving forward 

3:45 - 4:00 

Closing Remarks

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 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. 

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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) 

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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