2026 MSAA Summer Institute

From Steamboat Willie to The Lion King to the emotional brilliance of Pixar films, Disney stories have always taught us what it means to lead with heart, courage, and purpose. This session invites school leaders to explore how the magic of Disney and Pixar can translate into meaningful, everyday leadership practices that build joyful, connected school communities. Principal Marty Geoghegan using clips, powerful images, quotes, and music, will have participants examining leadership lessons drawn from classic and modern Disney films and connect them to practical actions such as celebrating students through Good News calls home, reinforcing positive behavior systems, teaching and connecting with students during RTI/learning blocks, highlighting classroom learning through social media, and creating simple traditions that strengthen school culture.

STEM activities are essential for learning, but they carry risks that demand more than just classroom supervision. School leaders are responsible for adopting safety programs that align with standards, but what happens when best practices meet the unpredictable reality of a chemical reaction? This session features a case study into a real-world science experiment that took an unexpected turn, requiring a response from both the local fire department and the state HazMat team. Participants will explore:
•    The critical role of district leadership in developing robust safety policies.
•    Why partnerships with public safety officials are the backbone of effective crisis management.
•    Lessons learned from the HazMat response to help refine your own district’s emergency procedures.
Join us to learn how proactive collaboration between school administrators and first responders can turn a potential disaster into a well-managed incident, ensuring the continued safety of students and staff alike.

Being a leader can be gnarly! Sit back, take a chill pill, and kick it old school with former DJ and current public school superintendent Sean Buchanan as he shares his Top 10 Big Hit Education Lessons from the DJ table!