ACSA is helping administrators accelerate in their career goals with its popular Academy Program.

Consider ACSA your “pit crew” to support you in getting that checkered flag. ACSA Academies help you build the administrative and leadership skills needed in your current job, while preparing you to take advantage of career advancement opportunities. This year’s Academy Program will feature 20 cohorts in the following eight leadership specializations:

ACSA members have received the 2025-26 ACSA Academy Catalog in the mail and the program will officially open for registration on June 1. Opening Academy weekends will convene beginning mid-September through mid-October. Meetings are held on Friday evenings and all day on Saturdays, so working professionals can tend to the duties of their current role.

Academy participants Participation in ACSA’s Academy Program distinguishes participants as educational leaders who intentionally seek to grow in their professional knowledge, skills and connections, and to engage in professional learning and networking with fellow educational leaders locally, regionally and statewide. ACSA plans for participants to experience the maximum benefit in all meeting formats. Participants will be actively engaged and committed to participation through sharing and applying their learning and expanding their professional networks. Upon completion of all requirements, they will earn their Academy Certificate of Completion.

Highlights for 2025-26 Virtual/online and hybrid formats: All Academy leadership specializations are offered in a virtual/online format. Two specializations (Personnel Administrators and Superintendents) will also have the option of a hybrid format that meets online on Fridays and in-person on Saturdays.

Single cohorts: Three Academy specializations this year will be offered as single online cohorts: Equity Administrators, Pupil Services and School Business.

Act fast: If you plan to attend one of these Academies, sign up early. Academy cohorts are limited to 30 registrants to ensure an optimal learning environment.

Premier executive professional learning options ACSA offers two premier executive professional learning programs for superintendents: the Superintendents Academy (designed for aspiring and first-year superintendents) and the New Superintendents Seminar Series (designed for first- and second-year superintendents). To learn more about NSSS and to see a comparison of both programs, refer to the Academy Catalog or visit www.acsa.org/nsss.

Complete 2025-26 Academy Program information and registration, including academy scholarships (eight for $500, and one exclusively for superintendents for $1,000), will be available at bit.ly/Academies2025-26. Please contact Trish Elmore at telmore@acsa.org for additional assistance.