b'COME ON DOWN! WAMOA 2024 Conference Wrap-UpW ith another record attendance this year, it was great to see so many returning faces welcome new folks in as everyone came together to learn, network, and bring new ideas back to school districts across the state. This years conference theme was about empowering WAMOA members to Come On Down, play the game, and be successful.When we asked attendees what they like about conference, top marks went to the keynote speakers, workshops, tradeshow and closing band. But the most impactful? No surprise: Building connections with other districts. Networking opportunities are invaluable to me when I attend a conference like this, said one attendee. My school is tiny, with only one maintenance person, so there is little continuity of information, especially with exterior contacts. Meeting new people from other districts is quite valuable.To recap: Our opening keynote speaker, former Wisconsin superintendent Joe Sanfelippo, kicked off the conference Wednesday talking about leading from where we are and the importance of intentionally recognizing all the roles within a school district. From there we moved into Regional Huddles, allowing regions to connect with their peers before heading into a full day of workshops featuring tracks for leadership, custodial, facilities improvements, facilities upkeep, health and safety, and an array of other learning opportunities. Thursday was all about networking! From hosting our Ed Partners for breakfast before Thursday morning workshops and the ever-fabulous Trade Show to Thursday nights Ed Partner Reception featuring Groove Principal, it was great to see people from across the state having the time to connect as humans, as peers, and as professionals. To close out, it was great to see so many people Friday morning for our business meeting, election announcements and closing session with Nash Fung, who used his knowledge of magic and being a former crisis line worker to show us how to create a supportive environment for teams to thrive.See you next year! Alicia & KatieSAVE THE DATE!2025 WAMOAFALL CONFERENCE OCT. 1-3, 2025 YAKIMA, WA14 WAMOA JOURNALFALL 2024'