Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) Ft. Worth – 2025

Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) Fort Worth – 2025

June 18, 2025 - June 21, 2025

Fort Worth, TX

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About

The annual Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) is the flagship training conference for the Texas Association of School Boards. SLI is designed to meet the needs of school board members, school district personnel, and education service center board members.

You have a choice to attend the Institute that best fits your summer plans - in San Antonio or Fort Worth. The schedules, general session speakers, and offerings for newly elected school board members and board officers are exactly the same in both locations.

Session Submission is Now Closed

The session submission application for SLI closed on Friday, March 14, 2025, at 5 p.m. Thank you to everyone who submitted proposals!

We appreciate your willingness to share your expertise and contribute to an enriching learning experience for Texas school board members. Submissions are currently under review, and selected presenters will be notified in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions, please contact Nicole Green at nicole.green@tasb.org.

Stay tuned for more updates, and we look forward to an inspiring SLI event!

Important Presenter Documents:

Important Registration Dates

Ft. Worth Location Only

Early Registration
Wednesday, April 16 - Wednesday, May 21
$535
Standard Registration
Thursday, May 22 - Tuesday, June 17
$560
On-Site Registration
Wednesday, June 18 - Saturday, June 21
$610

See San Antonio location for registration rates.

The registration fee includes three breakfasts, two lunches, refreshment breaks, receptions, and materials, Wednesday–Saturday.

All reservation requests must be made through Convention Housing Management (CHM) and their housing website to receive the special rate at each hotel.
In order to receive the CHM housing link, you must first register for SLI.
Housing for SLI will only be available to registered attendees.

Ft. Worth Location Only

Early Registration
Wednesday, April 16 - Wednesday, May 21
$535
Standard Registration
Thursday, May 22 - Tuesday, June 17
$560
On-Site Registration
Wednesday, June 18 - Saturday, June 21
$610

See San Antonio location for registration rates.

See Location for Housing information.

Registration FAQ

Find answers to questions about registering your team for Summer Leadership Institute (SLI).

Which registration type is right for my trustee?

This year, we have three different registration “tracks” that you can choose from for your trustee.

General Attendee: For those who plan to attend the full conference, but not Texas Trustee Institute for new board members or Board Officer Institute.
Texas Trustee Institute: Training designed for newly elected school board members.
- Part One, Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. includes lunch
- Part Two, Friday 9:45 a.m.- 3:45 p.m. included lunch
Board Officer Institute: In-depth training for board officers or those aspiring to be an officer.
- Thursday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. includes lunch

My board member is no longer able to attend SLI (Summer Leadership Institute). How do I cancel their registration? 

From your registration confirmation email, click “Edit Order” above Order Details. This will allow you to make any necessary changes such as editing sessions, substituting attendees, or canceling the registrant entirely.

Please refer to our Terms and Conditions for cancellation fees.

Important: You will need to contact CHM or Hotel directly to switch the name for the hotel room. If it is the Friday before either location, you must reach out to your hotel directly to change the name.

If it is before the deadline, please reach out to CHM directly.

Call 800-563-6493 or email sli@chmrooms.com.

My trustee(s) is/are no longer able to attend SLI in San Antonio/Fort Worth and would like to change locations. How do I do that?

Open the registration confirmation email from registrar@tasb.org and click Edit Order.
Log in using your TASB credentials.
Click Cancel Registrant under the name of the attendee who is no longer attending.
When selecting a cancellation reason, please select Attending SLI-San Antonio Instead or Attending SLI-Fort Worth Instead.
Register for the other location.
In your confirmation, you will receive information to reserve hotel accommodations in the new host city.
TASB Registrars will process any refunds or invoicing changes that are needed behind the scenes.

Important: You will need to contact CHM or Hotel directly to cancel the original hotel room. If it is the Friday before either location, you must reach out to your hotel directly to change the name or cancel.

If it is before the deadline, please reach out to CHM directly.

Call 800-563-6493 or email sli@chmrooms.com.

I had an election and I need to register a new board member for an event. 

First, update your district’s member profile from your TASB dashboard after logging in.
Under My Services, expand Leadership, and then click Member Profile. 
Click Board/Officers.
Click Change next to the board member who is no longer with the district and then select Remove From Position. 
Enter the last day they were on the board, and then click Remove. 
With Board/Officers selected, click Add, and then select New Member. 
Fill out the information for the new board member and click Save. 
Go to the registration page for the location they plan to attend and register them.
The newly added board member should appear in your Select Existing Account list.  
Complete the registration and you will receive an email confirmation.

I had an election and need to substitute the registration for a board member. 

If a registration order has already been placed and you need to substitute, or switch out one the former board members for a new board member on the order, follow these steps:

First, update your district’s member profile from your TASB dashboard after logging in.
Under My Services, expand Leadership, and then click Member Profile. 
Click Board/Officers.
Click Change next to the board member who is no longer with the district and then select Remove From Position. 
Enter the last day they were on the board, and then click Remove. 
With Board/Officers selected, click Add, and then select New Member. 
Fill out the information for the new board member and click Save. 
Open the registration confirmation email from registrar@tasb.org and click Edit Order
In the new window, you will click Edit under the name of the registrant you need to substitute
- Please note, you may need to enable pop ups for this feature to work.
Select the name of the new board member from the Select Existing Account list.
Complete the registration and you will receive an email confirmation.

Additional Information

For additional information about this event, contact us directly for support at 800-580-8822.

Registration: registrar@tasb.org
Housing: SLI@chmrooms.com
Special Needs: cristina.mckee@tasb.org
Other SLI questions: nicole.green@tasb.org
SLI FAQ
Event Terms and Conditions

Summer Leadership Institute, Ft. Worth is being held at the Omni Ft. Worth Hotel located at 1300 Houston Street, Ft. Worth, TX 76102.

Selecting Hotels

All main events (general sessions, education sessions, and meals) will take place at the Omni Hotel.

HOTEL list coming soon.

All reservation requests must be made through Convention Housing Management (CHM) and their housing website. CHM is the official SLI housing coordinator. Housing for SLI will only be available to registered attendees.

For questions related to housing, please call 800.563.6493 or email sli@chmrooms.com.

Transportation in Ft. Worth

Molly the Trolley offers free public trolley service to explore downtown Fort Worth.
The trolley runs about every 15 minutes and stops in front of the Omni by the Starbucks entrance.

Housing FAQ

Find answers to questions about housing and shuttles.

The hotel my board wants to stay at is not available. What do I do?

TASB has secured a sufficient number of rooms in San Antonio and Fort Worth. In the event that your preferred hotel, room type, or date is not available at the time of booking, we encourage you to join the waitlist Please be aware that the waitlist operates solely on cancellations and does not guarantee a reservation. However, if a room becomes available, CHM (Convention Housing Management) will promptly notify you.

To get on the waitlist, you must make reservations at one of the available hotels listed.

After making your reservation, return to the main housing page and select the “Waitlist” icon in the right-hand column.

I have a board member who is handicap-accessible and must be at headquarter hotel.

To request a handicap accessible room please follow these steps:

Register first for the conference to receive the housing link
Enter your Arrival Date, Departure Date, and Number of rooms, then click "Search".
Select your desired Hotel and Room Type.
If everything looks correct on the "Extend your stay" page, click "Next".
Add the guest information on the Guest Information page.
- In the Request field at the lower portion of the page, check the box for "Accessible room". provide specific details regarding the attendee's needs (i.e.- roll-in shower required, accessible bathroom with grab bars, wheelchair-accessible pathways, and entrances etc.) Be as thorough and specific as possible to ensure their comfort and accessibility during their stay.
Follow the next steps to complete the booking.

***Please note, If your preferred hotel is not available, please follow the steps above to make reservations at one of the available hotels listed. Then submit a wait list request.

If needed, you may request to be placed on a waitlist for specific hotels in the following order:
1. Marriott Rivercenter (Headquarter hotel) (San Antonio)/ Omni Fort Worth (Fort Worth)
2. Marriott Riverwalk (San Antonio)/ Fairfield Inn Fort Worth Downtown (Fort Worth)
3. Grand Hyatt (San Antonio) / Sheraton Fort Worth Downtown Hotel (Fort Worth)
While housing coordinators will make efforts to accommodate special needs, they cannot guarantee that the entire board will be at the same hotel.

Once the reservation request and/or waitlist has been completed, CHM will be in touch. Note the waitlist operates solely on cancellations and does not guarantee a reservation. However, if a room becomes available, CHM will promptly notify you.

Additional Information

For additional information about this event, contact us directly for support at 800-580-8822.

Registration: registrar@tasb.org
Housing: SLI@chmrooms.com
Special Needs: cristina.mckee@tasb.org
Other SLI questions: nicole.green@tasb.org
SLI FAQ
Event Terms and Conditions

Conference Schedule

Additional Information

For additional information about this event, contact us directly for support at 800-580-8822.

Registration: registrar@tasb.org
Housing: SLI@chmrooms.com
Special Needs: cristina.mckee@tasb.org
Other SLI questions: nicole.green@tasb.org
SLI FAQ
Event Terms and Conditions

We are thrilled to introduce the incredible lineup of speakers joining us for this year’s Summer Leadership Institute! These thought leaders, innovators, and industry experts bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to inspire, educate, and empower our communities. Each speaker has a unique story to share, offering valuable insights that will challenge perspectives and spark meaningful conversations.

Get ready to learn from the best—here’s who will be taking the stage!

Kristen Ziman

Ziman is known for her transformative impact across various industries. With more than 20 years of leadership experience, she has a proven record of driving organizational excellence, fostering innovation, and empowering individuals and teams to achieve their full potential.

Holding two master’s degrees and having completed executive education at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Ziman brings a wealth of academic and practical knowledge to her audiences. Her approach to leadership is characterized by a deep commitment to accountability, innovation, and community engagement.

Ziman’s influence extends far beyond her previous role as the first female chief of police in Aurora, Illinois. As a published author of the memoir Reimagining Blue, she shares insights on leadership, resilience, and the power of optimism, drawing from her extensive experience to inspire professionals across all fields.

Ziman’s experience in managing critical incidents, including the tragic mass shooting at the Henry Pratt Company in 2019, underscores her expertise in crisis leadership and her dedication to building resilient organizations. Her leadership philosophy is universally applicable, offering valuable lessons to professionals in all sectors looking to optimize performance and foster a culture of excellence.

Mickey Smith, Jr.

Educator, encourager, and musician are just a few of the words used to describe Smith. As a seven-time teacher of the year and recipient of the 2020 GRAMMY Music Educator Award, Smith has inspired both children and adults alike through his unique motivational mixture of music and message. The international keynote speaker and presenter continues to serve as a full-time teacher at The King’s Academy in West Palm Beach, Florida. Through his love for music, Smith blends the roles of educator and entertainer to create a dynamic experience that entertains, educates, and elevates everyone to excellence. He is dedicated to helping educators discover their sound. No matter what the classroom challenge may be, he strives to encourage others to keep on going.

Zebb Terry

Shocked by the death of a close friend in his mid-twenties, Terry asked himself a simple question: ‘Am I happy?’. With his answer being NO, he created a list of 100 things he hoped would transform his life. The ripple effect of Terry’s journey has gone on to help millions of people unlock limitless possibilities in their own lives. His story has been turned into books, reality shows, and is constantly featured by ESPN and Discovery Channel.

An expert in personal transformation, peak performance, and creating environments for success, Terry is recognized for his unique approach in combining brilliant humor, piercing insight, and real-time action. His revered storytelling and interactive teaching style has impacted millions and influenced thousands of organizations and Fortune 500 companies.

Additional Information

For additional information about this event, contact us directly for support at 800-580-8822.

Registration: registrar@tasb.org
Housing: SLI@chmrooms.com
Special Needs: cristina.mckee@tasb.org
Other SLI questions: nicole.green@tasb.org
SLI FAQ
Event Terms and Conditions

Continuing Education