The 2018 K12 Facilities Forum was a true meeting of the minds, bringing together senior administrators from the largest and fastest-growing school districts to connect with one another and the industry’s top suppliers.
“Outstanding event! Such a great learning and networking opportunity,” said Anthony Cox, Chief of Operations, Rock Hill Schools.
The Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa provided a relaxing backdrop for district leaders to hit the refresh button and explore new approaches to their most pressing challenges. Right off the bat, innovation expert George Couros set the tone of the event with his high-energy keynote on tech and innovation in the k-12 world. The fresh ideas that emerged over the three-day retreat certainly followed suit with Couros’ message of disruption.
Anisa Heming, Center for Green Schools at the US Green Building Council
Marios Demetriou, Assistant Superintendent, Finance & Operations, Ann Arbor Public Schools, described the mix of TED-style talks and collaborative discussions as “informative at multiple levels.” Jema Estrella, Director of Facilities Construction for the LA County Office of Education, said the content was “transformative.”
Attendees also valued uninterrupted, one-on-one time with some of the industry’s leading suppliers.
Danielle Floyd, Chief Operations Officer of The School District of Philadelphia, echoed this sentiment: “Having small discussions with vendors was so much better than walking a large trade show floor.” For Bryan Saunders, Director of Construction at Springfield Public Schools, his meetings have already been productive; “a couple of new connections are already working on solutions to my inquiries of product use,” he shared.
Suppliers, too, spoke highly of the opportunity to connect with new partners. “It was an insightful experience to be in an atmosphere full of district leaders who want to make a meaningful and positive impact on the K-12 environment,” Khary Knowles, Executive Director of Education, Vanir Construction Management.
It wasn’t all work and no play, however! A BBQ dinner party on the San Antonio Riverwalk and a local brewery tour allowed attendees to make organic connections in a memorable setting. “Although each activity was great fun, it was always structured with the deeper intention of building connections. This, in my opinion, is what separates the K12 Facilities Forum from other events,” said Jeremy Trimble, Chief Operations Officer at Eanes ISD.
Check out our collection of over “230 photos” from the retreat. You can also check out summaries and videos of the various presentations on our the K12 Facilities Forum blog.
Join us at the 2019 K12 Facilities Forum in San Diego to learn more about the latest innovations in school facilities planning.
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