Thinking Big
The Education Leadership Conference Returns on April 24th, 2026!
Education is evolving faster than ever and so are the challenges and opportunities facing learners and educators alike. Thinking Big is a conference designed to spark bold ideas, share transformative practices, and inspire collective action. Join educators, innovators, and thought leaders as we explore how creativity, equity, and emerging technologies can reshape classrooms, campuses, and communities. Together, we’ll move beyond incremental change to envision what’s possible when we truly think big about the future of learning.
Our theme for this year’s conference is Thinking Big: Where Bold Ideas Meet the Future of Education where we will be asking what happens when we dare to think beyond the traditional classroom? Join us as we explore the strategies employed by K-12 leaders to envision bold, equitable, and future-ready approaches to teaching and learning.
Thinking Big
THE CONFERENCE: April 24, 2026
The conference will feature 2 keynotes and 6 panel discussions:
TBD
TICKETS AND REGISTRATION
Early bird registrations for the conference will open in December! Please see below for the ticket prices:
General - Early Bird: $60
General - Regular Admission: $100
Location
Join us in-person for this year's conference at the Yale School of Management’s Evans Hall (165 Whitney Avenue) in New Haven, Connecticut. Named among the 52 must-visit destinations worldwide in 2023 by The New York Times, New Haven sets the stage for an inspiring and enriching conference experience. Press here for more information on how to get to the conference.
Our Mission
The Yale School of Management Education Leadership Conference seeks to create a constructive dialogue about how leadership skills applied to the education sector can be used to solve the most pressing and complex challenges in education.
Learn more about our history and prior conferences.
Past ELC in Numbers
15
years hosting the ELC
Challenging leaders to think critically about the biggest questions facing education.
15+
Panels and workshops aNNUALLY
Engage in discussions and connect with other professionals across a diverse range of topics through panels, interactive sessions, workshops, and expos.
500+
ATTENDEES annually
Each year our attendees represent leaders affecting education outcomes at all levels, from the community and classroom to state and federal education policy professionals.
A special thank you to our 2025 sponsors, without whom our event would not be possible.
The Education Leadership Conference is a student-led conference at the Yale School of Management.