Photo credit: WXY/Albert Vecerka
Join us for the APA Public Schools + Communities Division’s first conference dedicated to school planning! Friday, November 7, 10:00am – 4:00pm CST
Planning for schools and communities is complex in our current world of school policy shifts, an affordability crisis, and climate change. From enrollment shifts to bus driver shortages to housing issues for teachers, school districts and the planners who support them are navigating a range of evolving challenges and opportunities. At APA’s School Planning Summit, you will gain valuable insights into current trends, enhance your expertise, and connect with experts and peers on innovative ideas to support our public schools and communities.
- APA members:
- $100
- Student APA Members:
- $25
- Non-APA members:
- $125
To become a student APA member, sign up for a free membership here.
Please note that registration will be processed through the APA National website.
If you are not an APA member, you will need to set up an APA non-member account.
Questions? Email
[email protected].
Conference Program – 10:00am – 4:00pm CST
Download the PDF of the Conference Program HERE
The School Planning Summit will feature 12 educational sessions offering more than 13 AICP CM credits across three tracks:
TRACK 1: Schools + Communities
TRACK 2: School Facility Trends
TRACK 3: School Planning + Policies
WELCOME: Introductory Remarks
10:00 am – 10:15 am CST
ADAM LUBINSKY, PhD, AICP
Chair, APA Public Schools + Communities Division / Principal, WXY / Associate Professor of Professional Practice, Columbia University GSAPP
Student-Led Planning: Facilities, Playgrounds, and Safe Routes, Oh My!
10:15 am – 11:30 am CST
CM Credits: 1.25
KAREN SUMMERVILLE
Director of Communications & Public Engagement, Brailsford & Dunlavey
CORDELL BOCK, AICP
Planner II, Albuquerque Public Schools
DANIELLE DENK
Community Schoolyards Initiative Director, Trust for Public Land
CHARLOTTE ROED, AICP (MODERATOR)
Senior Associate, Brailsford & Dunlavey (MODERATOR)
The Great School Reshuffle: Schools as Levers for Integrated Development
10:15 am – 11:30 am CST
CM Credits: 1.25
KELLY MURPHY, AICP
Senior Director Real Estate Services, NYC School Construction Authority
LAUREN ALGER, PE, ENV SP
VP, Director of Sustainable Design, STV
ROBIN O’HARA, LE Fellow, REFP
Senior Planner, Montgomery County Public Schools
VERONICA CHUAH, AICP (MODERATOR)
Senior Real Estate Manager, NYC School Construction Authority
Fostering Diverse Schools
10:15 am – 11:30 am CST
CM Credits: 1.25
CHRIS RICE, AICP
Associate Principal, WXY
KAMAR SAMUELS
Superintendent, Manhattan Community School District 3, NYC Public Schools
MEGHAN DUNN
Superintendent, Brooklyn Community School District 13, NYC Public Schools
EFFIE McMILLIAN
Chief of Staff and Strategic Planning, Winston Salem/Forsythe County School System
HALLEY POTTER (MODERATOR)
Director of PK-12 Education Policy and Senior Fellow, Century Foundation (MODERATOR)
Communities Leading Schools: Insights from Cincinnati and San Diego
11:35 am – 12:50 pm CST
CM Credits: 1.25
ADRIANA CHAVARÍN-LÓPEZ, Ed.L.D.
Co-Founder and CEO, Sabbaticalize
ADELYN STROUP
Director of Strategic Initiatives, Community Learning Center Institute
MICHAEL VEA, Ed.L.D.
Partner, School Design at Transcend
Addressing the Challenges of School Closures
11:35 am – 12:50 pm CST
CM Credits: 1.25
CHRISTOPHER WILLIAMS
Director of Planning, Pasco County Public Schools (FL)
GARET STEEL PRIOR
Senior Policy Advisor on Infrastructure, Multnomah County (OR)
ARIEL BIERBAUM, MCP, PhD
Associate Professor of Urban Studies and Planning, University of Maryland
SHANNON JAAX, AICP (MODERATOR)
Chair Elect, APA Public Schools + Communities Division / Founder, Jaax Street Partners
Transportation Solutions: Call to Action for Planning Practitioners
11:35 am – 12:50 pm CST
CM Credits: 1.25
KAI MONAST, PhD
PhD Associate Director, NC State University—Institute for Transportation Research & Education
JONAH FREEDMAN
Program Manager—Bicycle and Pedestrian Group, NC State University—Institute for Transportation Research & Education
KEVIN R. HART
TIMS Project Leader, NC State University—Institute for Transportation Research & Education
BRIAN STARK GODFREY
Land Use Planner—OREd (Land Use and Student Enrollment), NC State University—Institute for Transportation Research & Education
MATHEW PALMER (MODERATOR)
Project Director—School & Community Aligned Master Planning, NC State University—Institute for Transportation Research & Education
Lunchtime: “Preparing for the Planning Job Market”
12:55 pm – 1:40 pm CST
MICHAELA TSAPATSARIS
Cornell University student
ANNIKA NINA MARTELINA YU
Columbia University MSUP ‘26
SHANNON ONLAM HUI
Columbia University MSUP ‘25
Lunchtime: “Equal Access to Schools: Challenges and Strategies”
12:55 pm – 1:40 pm CST
TIM DEROCHE
President, Available to All
SARALEE L. MORRISSEY, FAICP
Founder, Saralee Morrissey Consulting and Immediate Past Chair, APA Public Schools + Communities Division
Lunchtime: “Reimagining Safe Routes to Schools for Teens”
12:55 pm – 1:40 pm CST
KATHERINE SHOR
Senior Planner, Town of Chapel Hill, NC
ALYSON WEST
Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Town of Chapel Hill, NC
Housing Solutions for Educators
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm CST
CM Credits: 1.25
RICHARD BARRERA
Trustee, San Diego Unified School District and Deputy Superintendent/Senior Policy Adviser, California Department of Education
VAN SCHOALES
Senior Policy Director, Keystone Policy Center
TRINITY DAVIS, PhD
President and Founder, Teachers Like Me
KWAME SPEARMAN
Educational Housing Consultant, Keystone Policy Center
SARA HINKLEY (MODERATOR)
California Program Manager, Center for Cities + Schools
Building Tomorrow’s Schools Today: Sustainability Implementation Meets Financial Feasibility
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm CST
CM Credits: 1.25
HANNAH PRESS
Assistant Project Manager, Brailsford & Dunlavey
STEPHANIE SEIDMON
Program Director, UndauntedK12
PRANITA RANBHISE
Director of Planning, Oakland Unified School District (CA)
JASON WASHINGTON
Associate Superintendent of Supporting Services, Prince George’s County Public Schools
DAVE KARLSGODT (MODERATOR)
Vice President, Infrastructure, Energy and Sustainability, Brailsford & Dunlavey
Shrinking and Growing: Innovative Approaches to Enrollment Projections
1:45 pm – 3:00 pm CST
CM Credits: 1.25
SARAH BRASHEAR
Director of School Planning, DC Public Schools
MARIO GIAMPIERI
Senior Associate, WXY
TOM MOORE
Demographer, Orange County Public Schools (FL)
DARE BRAWLEY (MODERATOR)
Associate, WXY
Track 1: Coming Soon
3:05 pm – 3:50 pm CST
CM Credits: 0.75
National Center on School Infrastructure (NCSI): Exploring Best Practices in Educational Facility Master Planning
3:05 pm – 3:50 pm CST
CM Credits: 0.75
JEFF VINCENT
Director, National Center on School Infrastructure
NAOMI CYTRON
Managing Director, National Center on School Infrastructure
BILL SAVIDGE
Planning Consultant, National Center on School Infrastructure
MARY MORRIS
Planning Consultant, National Center on School Infrastructure
Building the Case for Federal Investments in Our Public Schools: Policy & Advocacy Deep Dive
3:05 pm – 3:50 pm CST
CM Credits: 0.75
ALLY TALCOTT
Executive Director, Build America’s School Infrastructure Coalition
DAVID STURTZ
Founder & CEO, Sturtz & Company
CLOSING: Final Remarks
3:50 pm – 4:00 pm CST
SHANNON JAAX, AICP
Chair Elect, APA Public Schools + Communities Division / Founder, Jaax Street Partners
Who Should Attend
- School district staff and board members
- Planning professionals working with (or aspire to work with) school districts
- K-12 design professionals who want to broaden their thinking
- Local elected officials
- Researchers and scholars including those who study schools, neighborhoods and communities
- Students of urban planning
Sponsors
Becoming a sponsor for the School Planning Summit is a valuable means to show support for school planning. Take advantage of a range of benefits specially designed to promote your company or organization. Please consider one of the opportunities listed in the Sponsorship Packet . Contact Amber Dickerson for more information.
TRANSFORMATIONAL
LEADER
- Logo included in the Program, Promotional Materials & Website
- Full Page w/Logo in Newsletter
- Two Complimentary Conference Registrations
- Special Social Media Recognition
EDUCATIONAL
VISIONARY
- Logo included in the Program, Promotional Materials & Website
- 1/2 Page w/Logo in Newsletter
- One Complimentary Conference Registration
- Special Social Media Recognition
KNOWLEDGE
ARCHITECT
- Logo included in the Program, Promotional Materials & Website
- Listed w/Logo in Newsletter
- One Complimentary Conference Registration
▶ Transformational Leaders
▶ Educational Visionaries
▶ Knowledge Architects
Partners
We are also offering partnership opportunities for academic institutions and school-related
nonprofit organizations that help promote/advertise the conference via their social media and
contacts will be highlighted on the website and during the conference. If you are interested,
please reach out to Adam Lubinsky.
