Really appreciate Evan Abramson sharing why RTM continues to earn a spot on his calendar, because of the conversations, relationships, and practical ideas leaders bring back home. 👏 The best events don’t just inspire ideas, they create momentum. See what makes RTM different: https://lnkd.in/eH7yzSq9
Conferences matter. But in 2026, so does every line item. As a Director of Innovation and Technology, I believe deeply in the value of getting out of the building. Conferences are where we sharpen our thinking, pressure-test our roadmaps against what peers are actually doing, and come back with ideas that move districts forward. But here in NJ, budgets are tight and getting tighter. PD dollars are being scrutinized line by line, and rightly so. Which means we can't attend everything. We have to choose, and choose well. One that has consistently earned its spot on my calendar is RTM Business Group. What I love about it is the format itself. There's real time to learn from each other, not just sit and absorb. The sessions create a safe space to dig into the areas where I know I have room to grow, without the pressure of performing expertise. And instead of wandering a massive vendor hall, the time is structured around genuine partner conversations, the kind that actually lead to something useful back home. That's the bar for me now. Less transactional, more relational. Less booth-browsing, more problem-solving with people who get it. So I'm putting the question to this network: which conferences have genuinely changed how you lead, teach, or build? What makes one worth the registration fee over another that looks similar on paper? Is it the keynotes, the hallway conversations, a specific track, the people you keep running into year after year? I'd rather learn from your reasoning than guess at mine. Share your must-attend (and your skip it) below, and tell me why. Your honest take could shape how a lot of us spend limited dollars this year. #EdLeadership #EdTech #NJEducation #ProfessionalDevelopment