Great news for school administrators and educational leaders: Early-bird registration pricing for the Black Principals Network’s Eastern Regional Leadership Summit has been extended to August 16. 

With the theme, "Grounded in Truth. Forward in Strategy," this summit takes place October 9-10 in the Greater Baltimore area, and is designed to equip, energize, and elevate Black school leaders from across the region. If you’ve been looking for a meaningful opportunity to invest in your professional growth, now is the time to register and secure the final discounted rate. 

Plus, BPN recently announced the first round of speakers for the summit, featuring the lineup for the Breakout Sessions. These dynamic school leaders, practitioners, and thought partners will spark timely conversations grounded in leadership, reflection, and collective impact.

Dr. Ian Buchanan, Interim Chief of Schools, Confluence Academies

“Don’t Flinch: Grounded Leadership Under Pressure”

Black principals lead in environments where the stakes are high, pressure is constant, and the margin for error can feel dangerously small. Staff conflict, public scrutiny, resistance to change, and imposter syndrome can trigger a leadership “flinch.” “Don’t Flinch” is an interactive leadership experience that helps Black principals remain grounded in truth and move forward with strategy when pressure rises.

Kazmir L. Davis and Le'Yondo Dunn, Principals / Head of Schools, YouthBuild Philly

“Grounded in Grief, Forward in Strategy: What Leadership Costs When Your Community Experiences Trauma”

School leaders are often expected to hold everyone else’s pain while having very little space to process their own. This interactive session explores the hidden burdens of leadership and introduces the HOLD Framework: a practical approach for Honoring the Reality, Organizing the Response, Leading the Healing, and ensuring leaders Don't Carry It Alone.

Muronji Inman-McCraw, Principal, Inspired Teaching Demonstration School

“From Hero to Architect: Redefining the Principalship Through Community”

Black principals are often celebrated for being indispensable—but what if our greatest act of leadership is creating schools where excellence is rooted in community rather than our constant presence? This session invites leaders to become architects of communities where leadership is shared, trust is cultivated, and responsibility is held collectively.

Noelani Gabriel Holt and Robyn Milliner, Principals, Amber Charter Schools and Growing Up Green Charter School

“I Am Because We Are: Building Cohesive Leadership Teams For Sustainable School Improvement”

Sustaining the complex work of the principalship requires leadership that builds collective capacity and shares responsibility. Grounded in the principles of culturally responsive leadership, participants will learn a practical framework for building cohesive leadership teams rooted in trust, shared purpose, and collective accountability to advance equitable student success.

Tierionna Pinkston, Principal, The Noble Academy/Noble Schools

“Sustainable Disruption: Liberation Without Losing Yourself”

Black principals are often expected to disrupt inequitable systems while absorbing the cost of that disruption — their rest, their health, their longevity in the seat. This session challenges the assumption that liberation requires martyrdom. Using the Four Ways to Disrupt Systems framework, leaders will assess the cost, visibility, and sustainability of different forms of disruption and leave with a personalized disruption strategy.

Troy H. Wilson, II, Principal, Excellence Community Schools

“The Joy Advantage: Designing School Systems Where Learning, Belonging, and Excellence Thrive”

In high-performing schools, joy and academic excellence are often treated as competing priorities. Yet joyful, affirming learning environments are not a distraction from rigorous instruction—they are a critical condition for it. Participants will explore practical strategies for embedding rituals, routines, and traditions into existing systems to develop a tailored, yearlong Joy Calendar for their schools.

Attendees will return to their schools equipped with practical equity frameworks, restorative strategies to counter professional burnout, and an expanded network for ongoing collaboration. Click here to learn more.