2027 Women in Educational Leadership Conference

Thursday, March 26 Keynote Willow Sweeney
Living a Top 20 Life

“Becoming our Top 20 Selves” focuses on the importance of Social and Emotional Intelligence. Sometimes our inside life is effective, which we call being our “Top 20” selves. Sometimes our Social and Emotional life is ineffective, which we refer to as our “Bottom 80” selves. Both are natural and normal parts of the human experience. This training will help attendees identify when they are operating as a Top 20 and as a Bottom 80, and suggest ways to navigate through life more effectively when experiencing “Bottom 80” moments. 

Living Above and Below the Line: Discovering the Power of Choice

The training focuses on becoming aware of our thinking, so we know when it is working and when it is not working. It explores (1) the conditions that come up in our life that invite us to go Below the Line, (2) indicators telling us when we are Below, (3) how to handle Below the Line experiences with more grace and dignity and (4) how to trampoline back Above the Line.

Get to Know Willow Sweeney

Willow has co-authored four books. Top 20 Teachers: The Revolution in American Education, Top 20 Parents: Raising Happy, Responsible and Emotionally Healthy Children, Top 20 Teens: Discovering the Best-kept Thinking, Learning and Communicating Secrets of Successful Teenagers and their newest book, Rebalanced Thinking, Rebalanced Living.

Willow's career has included high school teaching, coaching and she has been a national speaker and trainer since 2002. She and her husband, Brian, have two sons and live in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Friday, March 27 Keynote Rachael George Gutierrez 
Insert She Leads: Real Conversations, Bold Moves, and Leadership That Lasts

Being a woman in educational leadership comes with incredible opportunities, but let's be real, it also comes with challenges that we don't always talk about!

Inspired by She Leads: The Women's Guide to a Career in Educational Leadership, this interactive workshop brings women together to have those conversations, learn from one another, and explore what it really means to lead as a woman in education.

Throughout our time together, we'll connect over shared experiences, challenge our thinking as we work through real leadership situations, collaborate to share ideas and strategies, and commit to taking meaningful next steps in our own leadership journeys.

Expect laughter, honest conversations, movement, and plenty of opportunities to learn from the amazing women in the room. We'll tackle real challenges, share what's working (and what's not!), and explore practical strategies you can take back and use right away.

Whether you're exploring leadership, stepping into a new role, or have been leading for years, this is an opportunity to learn, grow, and build connections with other women who understand the journey.

Get to Know Rachael George Gutierrez

From fighting wildland fires with the U.S. Forest Service to putting out fires in schools, education was the last place Dr. Rachael George Gutierrez expected to find herself. A pivotal conversation inspired her to put down the chainsaw and pursue a different kind of impact, one that would shape her career in educational leadership.

Today, Rachael is an award-winning educational leader, author, keynote speaker, and former wildland firefighter with more than 22 years of experience in education. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Elementary Programs for Oregon Trail School District and teaches educational leadership courses at the University of Oregon.

She is the co-author of She Leads: The Women's Guide to a Career in Educational Leadership and PrincipalED: Navigating the Leadership Learning Curve. Throughout her career, Rachael has been passionate about developing leaders, challenging the status quo, and creating opportunities for students and educators to thrive.

As principal of Sandy Grade School, she led the transformation of one of Oregon's lowest-ranked elementary schools into a top-performing school in the state's top 20%, earning ICLE Model School recognition for closing achievement gaps. She also led a middle school recognized by the State of Oregon as a Level 5 Model School.

Known for her energy, humor, and down-to-earth approach, Rachael brings real leadership experiences and practical strategies to her work with educators across the country. She is especially passionate about supporting women in educational leadership, helping them find their voices, navigate challenges, and lift one another up along the way.