Join us at MiCSS25!

The annual Michigan Charter School Symposium (MiCSS25) is an exclusive event for charter professionals across the Mitten, built to help us push boundaries, learn from each other, and grow together. Join us for MiCSS25 on December 10-11, 2025 at the Detroit Marriott Troy.

Event pricing is as follows:

- MAPSA members - $475*

- Non-member educators - $650*

- Non-educator professionals - $850*

- MAPSA Social only - $300

*The MAPSA Social ticket is included at this rate

Is your charter school authorized by one of the authorizers listed below?

Use the discount code at checkout for educators who work in their school buildings:

Bay Mills Community College- use code BMCC25 for $100 off
Central Michigan University- use code CMU25 for $200 off the first 25 people to register
Ferris State University- use code FSU25 for $200 off registration for 2 people from every FSU school
Lake Superior State University- use code LSSU25 for $100 off the first 20 people to register
Northern Michigan University- please contact your school leader if you are interested in attending and they will provide next steps
Oakland University- use code OU25 for a free registration for the first 35 people to register
Saginaw Valley State University- use code SVSU25 for $200 off the first 25 people to register

✨Keynote Spotlight✨

Dec. 10 — Johan Martinez-Khalilian will take the stage with his talk The Crazy Ones. Drawing from years of coaching elite athletes and high-impact leaders, Johan will help attendees unlock the mindset required to take unconventional paths, dream bigger, and take courageous action.

Dec. 11 — Dr. Stuart Ablon, global leader in mental health and behavior science, founding director of Think:Kids at Mass General and author of Changeable will lead a workshop sharing how to replace power struggles with problem-solving to protect mental health and deepen connection.

December 11, 2025
8:00-9:00 AM | Registration & Breakfast
9:00-12:00 PM | Workshop with Dr. Stuart Ablon

A sneak peek of some of the breakout sessions coming to MiCSS25, each designed to spark fresh thinking, foster bold leadership, and empower our charter community.

🔥 Firefighting to Freedom: Building Clarity Systems that Protect Time, Energy, and Impact
Lindsie Boykin | Leaders Need Systems
Too many school leaders spend their days putting out fires instead of leading with intention. In this session, participants will use the Leaders Need Systems 3C Framework™ to assess communication gaps, redesign routines to reduce chaos, and apply practical, equity-centered tools to build proactive, sustainable leadership.

📧 Gmail & Google Calendar Secrets – Lissa Brunan, Engaging TECHniques
Learn powerful tips, hidden features, and time-saving tricks to take control of your inbox and calendar. Hands-on session—bring your device!

📄 Crafting Your Team's Blueprint and Reigniting the Passion – Anthony Dodson, Family is Forever
Explore strategies to align personal values with professional aspirations, foster leadership, resilience, and collaboration and cultivate purpose-driven pathways for impactful change.

📖 The Persuasive Power of Storytelling – Dr. Jerry Evanski, 212 CreativEd, LLC
Discover how to craft stories that trigger connection, trust, and action. Learn science-backed techniques to make your message unforgettable.

🗣️ Softer Isn’t Safer – Connie Hamilton, Hamilton Consultants
Master the art of giving feedback that builds trust and sparks growth—whether to struggling teachers or your top performers.

🤝 Team-Based Models that Empower – Dara Klein, ASU Next Education Workforce; Lindsay Solomon & Hayden Dry, Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences
Hear how Detroit educators use team structures to boost teacher leadership and student-centered learning—and try an interactive design challenge yourself.

🌪️ Managing Through Uncertainty – Stephen McClain, The Management Center
Gain practical tools to set priorities, communicate clearly, and sustain your team—no matter the unknowns.

🍍 Be a Pineapple Person in a Prickly World – Annie Meehan, AM Speaking and Consulting
Learn three simple steps to spread kindness, strengthen relationships, and communicate with impact.

🌍 A Roadmap for Global Citizenship – Aaron Moniz, Inspire Citizens
Get practical tools and a self-discovery framework to bring your school’s global citizenship vision to life.

✨ Transforming Schools into Liberatory Spaces: Building Independent learners through a Restorative and Culturally Responsive School Culture - Michael Payne Jr., Boldly Moving Education Ahead
Discover how the Liberating Learners Framework empowers educators to build restorative, culturally responsive, and student-centered school communities that foster equity and social-emotional growth.

💥 Passion, Pain & Poetry – Schwartzen Precil, Hero Leadership Group LLC
Use storytelling, poetry, and emotional intelligence to turn adversity into purpose-driven leadership.

🎭 Finding Your ART in Leadership – Jess Vann, Creative Spaces Consulting
Boost your authenticity, resilience, and transformation through theatre-inspired leadership practices.

🛟 When Grown-Ups Need to Grow Up – Tara Colvin & Cathy Henkenberns, Thought Design
Break the cycle of drama and rescue with strategies that build ownership, maturity, and accountability.

🚀 Future-Ready by Design: Crafting Your District’s Portrait of a Graduate – Dr. Tovah Sheldon, Michigan Virtual; Dr. Sarah Pazur, CS Partners
Learn how to define the skills, mindsets, and competencies students need to thrive in a changing world. Walk away with a practical process and tools to create or refine your district’s Portrait of a Graduate.

🗣️ Hear Their Voices – Kurtis Dollison, National Heritage Academies; Aquan Grant-Wayne, Grand Valley State University Division of K-12 Education Innovation and Scholar Success
Explore systemic barriers faced by Black male students and hear directly from students and leaders on solutions to create more equitable schools.

🤝 Community Agreements: A Tool to Foster Authentic Family & Community Partnerships – Clare McKenna & Iffa Kazi Davis, Henry Ford Learning Institute
Engage in co-creating restorative community agreements that give all stakeholders a voice and build trust, equity, and authentic collaboration.

🌏 From Conflict to Connected: Raising Achievement for Immigrant English Learners Through Culture and Climate – Randy Speck, Education Management and Networks
Discover strategies to foster inclusive, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive school environments that boost achievement for ESL and immigrant students.

🏆 Transparency in Education and True Grade Level Proficiency Leading to National Blue Ribbon Success in Detroit – Salwa Kinsey, Shena Scott & Dr. Kyle Worden, NHA Pembroke Academy
See how Pembroke Academy’s Grade Level Placement Model and transparent practices led to Blue Ribbon success, and learn key strategies to boost scholar outcomes and family partnerships.

See you @ Detroit Marriott Troy
200 W. Big Beaver Rd.
Troy, MI 48084

Book your room at the Detroit Marriott Troy
under MAPSA's discounted room block, for $259/night.

Block start date: Tuesday, December 9, 2025; block end date: Thursday, December 11, 2025.

BOOK NOW>>

Symposium cancellation requests must be received in writing. Cancellations received by September 30, 2025 will be subject to a 20% cancellation fee. Cancellations received from October 1, 2025, through November 19, 2025, will be subject to a 70% cancellation fee. Email mapsa@charterschools.org your cancellation request. No refunds will be given after November 19, 2025. We do suggest sending someone else from your organization as a replacement if needed at no additional cost by emailing mapsa@charterschools.org.

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Join us at MiCSS25!

✨Keynote Spotlight✨

A sneak peek of some of the breakout sessions coming to MiCSS25, each designed to spark fresh thinking, foster bold leadership, and empower our charter community.

YOUR INFO