2025 Annual Conference Schedule and Events

Before a single law is passed or a business is launched, a society must know what it stands for. In this powerful opening session, attendees will come together to revisit the critical first step of society creation—defining the core values that will shape every decision made during the conference society experience. This is not about starting from scratch, but about renewing purpose and perspective. Together, we will explore how revisiting these foundations can reenergize our work and model for students the importance of ethical leadership, civic responsibility, and staying true to a shared vision.

In MicroSociety schools, student governments thrive as dynamic ecosystems—led by classroom mayors, grade-level governors, and school-wide branches that mirror the executive, legislative, and judicial roles of real-world governance. These structures provide authentic leadership experiences and help sustain a healthy balance of power. This session recognizes the vital functions of each level of government while introducing the Leadership Circle—a bold new advisory model that unites perspectives from government, business, and HEART. Together, attendees will grapple with a real-world “Messy Problem” commonly faced in MicroSociety schools and present their recommendations to the Leadership Circle. Participants will leave with a deeper understanding of how this framework can elevate student leadership, fostering critical thinking, collaborative problem solving, and values-based civic action in their own school communities.

With values defined and leadership in place, participants will now draft the governing document for their conference society—a constitution that outlines the rules, structures, and shared responsibilities essential to civic life. But this is more than just a structural exercise; it’s a chance to rethink the role of rights and responsibilities in shaping culture. This hands-on session offers a fresh approach to constitutional thinking by encouraging teams to embed a Bill of Rights and Obligations directly within each section of their ruling document, rather than tacking it on at the end. Through thoughtful discussion, attendees will explore how rights and responsibilities, founded in core values, shape governance across sectors. And they will decide how best to structure them, modeling the kind of purposeful self-governance students need to lead with clarity and conscience.

This culminating moment brings the constitutional process to life. Participants will step into the role of citizen delegates, reviewing and ratifying the governing documents created by their peers. It’s a fast-paced, high-impact simulation of democratic practice that reinforces the power of collective decision-making. More than a ceremonial close, this experience models how students can engage in authentic processes of consensus-building, self-governance, and constitutional thinking—skills that will serve them as civic participants today and as leaders tomorrow.

Change can be challenging—but it shouldn’t derail your MicroSociety momentum. This session is designed for school leaders, principals, coordinators, and teacher-leaders looking to overcome resistance, build trust, and unite their teams around a shared vision. We’ll explore the human side of change—mindsets, motivation, and collaboration—while offering honest conversation, practical strategies, and real-world solutions to turn obstacles into opportunities. Walk away with tools to engage your staff, strengthen leadership, and keep your MicroSociety thriving.

Step into the future of classroom innovation with 4th Terra—MicroSociety’s groundbreaking digital simulation where students design and govern their own society. In this interactive session, we’ll unveil exciting new updates to the game, including a deeper integration of real-world problem-solving, team roles for collaborative management, and an expanded Challenge Card system featuring STEM, entrepreneurial, and social-emotional learning tracks. Learn how 4th Terra empowers students to balance environmental impact, financial security, health, community, and joy as they strive to build a thriving society. Whether you’re new to MicroSociety or a returning fan, this session will equip you to bring immersive, standards-aligned learning into any classroom—no whole-school model required.

This session will challenge your mindset about Math and its applications not only within your school’s MicroSociety and classes, but also to real life. Participants will be exposed to the breadth and depth of math’s expansive reach and how to harness this tool to be part of each child’s repertoire. The 75 minutes will be spent with key information and activities to experience math’s dynamic application in their MicroSociety worlds, plus how to tie in key concepts from various grade levels to common MicroSociety activities.

Step into your leadership potential with this dynamic workshop designed for educators ready to drive meaningful change. Rise & Lead explores strategies to foster voice, choice, and agency in both students and staff—key ingredients for thriving, future-ready learning communities. A central focus of the session is the role of Shared Leadership Teams, which serve as powerful catalysts for schoolwide transformation. Participants will explore how these teams distribute leadership, build collective capacity, and create a culture of shared responsibility. Through interactive discussions and practical tools, you’ll reflect on your personal leadership style, strengthen your collaborative decision-making skills, and design actionable steps to lead within and beyond the classroom. Whether you’re guiding a team, mentoring peers, or nurturing young changemakers, this session will ignite your power to shape the future of education—together.

In this interactive and collaborative session, we’ll reflect on powerful insights from middle-grade students across six MicroSociety schools shared during the Gala evening panel. Their voices shed light on what they value most about MicroSociety, and how they believe it can evolve to better support their growth, passions, and futures. As thought partners, you’ll engage in meaningful dialogue, contribute your own experiences, and help co-design a path forward. This will be a space to share ideas, tackle challenges, and problem-solve together as we explore how to build more space for student and teacher autonomy, ignite deeper purpose and engagement, and bring to life new possibilities. Join us to dream boldly, think practically, and help shape the next chapter of the MicroSociety movement—rooted in the voices of those it serves most: our students.

Leading a school is both a privilege and a challenge—and no one understands the complexities of that role better than fellow principals. The Principals Roundtable is a dynamic, solutions-focused forum where school leaders come together to collaborate, problem-solve, and share real-time strategies for driving positive change in their schools.

In this interactive session, principals will:

• Engage in peer-to-peer dialogue around common leadership challenges and opportunities;
• Exchange effective practices in areas such as staff engagement, instructional leadership, school culture, and MicroSociety implementation;
• Reflect on data, vision, and priorities through facilitated discussions and targeted prompts;
• Build a trusted network of support and inspiration to carry forward beyond the session.

This roundtable is more than a meeting—it’s a space for honest conversation, creative thinking, and collective growth. Whether navigating new initiatives, managing resistance to change, or seeking to elevate your school’s impact, the Principals Roundtable empowers leaders to lead boldly—together.

Leadership is one of the most critical—yet often overlooked—skills for business owners and managers. This engaging session is designed to strengthen core management competencies through dynamic role-playing exercises. Participants will explore and practice essential leadership techniques including:

• Effective Communication: Learn how to clearly convey expectations, provide constructive feedback, and foster open dialogue.
• Positive Reinforcement: Understand the power of recognition and how to use it to build trust and encourage desired behaviors.
• Motivating Employees: Discover strategies to inspire and energize team members, increasing productivity and job satisfaction.

Whether your managers are new to leadership or looking to sharpen their skills, this session provides practical tools and insights that they can immediately apply in the workplace.

Explore how Orff Schulwerk, a dynamic process-based approach to music education, can inspire student creativity and connect directly to the concept of MicroSociety. Through the use of children’s literature and student choice, this workshop will guide participants in creating a student-led performance that fosters collaboration, leadership, and community. Attendees will experience firsthand how integrating movement, singing, and instrument play can empower students to take ownership of their learning. Join us to discover practical strategies for building a rich, student-centered music classroom.

Being a MicroSociety Coordinator means wearing many hats—and sometimes juggling them all at once. This interactive roundtable is designed specifically for Micro Coordinators to come together in a supportive, solutions-oriented space to collaborate, problem-solve, and plan for success.

Together, we’ll dig into the “messy middle” of coordination work with focused discussions around:

• Fundraising strategies that sustain and grow your MicroSociety;
• Tackling complex challenges like inconsistency in staff buy-in or student participation;
• Leveraging social media to celebrate student work and build community engagement;
• Bringing the MicroSociety Constitution to life in a way that reinforces student voice, citizenship, and accountability.

Participants will share wins, workshop challenges, and leave with practical ideas and renewed energy. Whether you’re new to the role or a seasoned Coordinator, this is your time to connect with colleagues who get it and build the systems that make your MicroSociety thrive.

At the heart of every successful school and MicroSociety lies one essential truth: relationships matter. This workshop focuses on the pivotal role strong staff relationships play in creating a culture of collaboration, innovation, and shared ownership. When trust is high and relationships are nurtured, buy-in grows, change becomes possible, and teams are more willing to step into leadership and take on new projects.

Participants will explore:

• Strategies for building authentic relationships rooted in respect, empathy, and active listening;
• How to recognize and address resistance with compassion and clarity;
• Methods for fostering collective purpose and aligning individual strengths to shared goals;
• Approaches for creating safe spaces where staff feel heard, valued, and empowered to contribute.

Through reflection, real-world scenarios, and collaborative planning, educators and school leaders will leave with a stronger foundation for developing the relationships needed to sustain momentum—not just in MicroSociety, but across the school community.

Because when relationships are strong, everything else becomes possible.

Bringing core academics into MicroSociety doesn’t have to feel like a stretch—it can be seamless, intentional, and energizing. In Struggle No More!, educators will discover practical strategies for embedding math and ELA standards into the real-world roles, ventures, and systems that define MicroSociety. This workshop is designed to help teachers stop compartmentalizing and start connecting—making academic learning more engaging and meaningful for students.

Participants will:

• Explore high-impact examples of how math (like financial literacy, measurement, data analysis) and ELA (like persuasive writing, reading comprehension, communication) naturally occur in student jobs, government, business, and civic life;
• Learn how to design integrated lessons and formative assessments that align with standards and reinforce key skills;
• Gain tools to document academic progress within authentic Micro contexts;
• Discover how integration improves student motivation, ownership, and long-term retention.

If you’ve ever wondered how to “make it count” for both academics and Micro, this session will show you how—with confidence, clarity, and creativity.

Discover how digital marketing and artificial intelligence can transform student engagement and entrepreneurship in the classroom. In this session, Thobi shares practical strategies from her own experience as an educator and brand strategist to show how real-world content creation, brand development, and AI tools can empower students to think creatively, build ventures, and apply 21st-century skills. Learn how these tools not only help students launch their own classroom-based businesses but also position them as creative consultants capable of supporting peer and community-led initiatives. Whether you’re building a classroom brand or exploring tech integration, this session offers actionable steps, classroom-ready tools, and inspiring examples to bridge education with the digital world.