Your Career + Your Union
Professional and Leadership Development at MSEA
Through workshops, trainings, and conferences, MSEA provides members—from early career to veteran—valuable resources to help you feel confident and prepared on the job. Offerings range from in-person, virtual, self-paced, and webinar events on frontline issues, including passing Praxis, restorative practices, trauma-informed and culturally responsive education, and many more.
Leadership development includes skill-building and empowerment to support union values like organizing for good contracts, electing pro-public school county councils and school boards, ensuring a safe and healthy workplace, and protecting a fair and honest education.
Summer Leadership Conference This hallmark of leadership building is an MSEA tradition with tracks that dig deep into union skills and power building for rank-and-file members, including those early in their leadership journey, contract negotiations teams, union organizers, and early-career educators. July 28–30, 2026. For more information contact your local president.
MSEA Annual Convention Workshops The convention workshop schedule is filled with relevant professional development designed for you to apply immediately. Presented by member and visiting experts, the 2025 lineup included more than 20 workshops focused on instructional toolkits, social justice, personal growth, trauma-aware schools, and more. FREE October 16–17, 2026.
Minority and Women’s Leadership Training Programs The MSEA Minority and Women’s Leadership Training Programs are year-long leadership development programs for diverse educators in all job categories that prepares them to build and lead equitable, inclusive, safe, and just public schools and communities. FREE • Learn more at marylandeducators.org/getinvolved.
Instruction & Professional Development Conference Dig deep into current issues in public education at MSEA’s annual IPD conference. Presenters include member and staff experts and special guests. Last year’s event included workshops in four strands: New Educator Survival 101; School Engagement Reinvented; Elevating Our Diverse Communities; and Collaboration within School Communities. FREE • February 27, 2027.
ESP Professional Development Conference MSEA’s statewide conference is a professional development opportunity for ESPs across the state. Free and open to MSEA ESP members, workshops and trainings are chosen for their impact for members on the job and for local power-building and success in contract negotiations. Past conferences included sessions on career advancement, employee rights, union organizing, how to elect your bosses, restorative justice and trauma-informed approaches for ESP, and more. FREE • February 27, 2027.
Racial and Social Justice Summit A conference for educators, students, community members, and experts to discuss policies, practices, and ways of being firmly rooted in creating, maintaining, and protecting equitable, just, and inclusive educational and community spaces where everyone feels safe, supported, seen, heard, and valued. Past special guests include author and activist Blair Imani and Dr. José Luis Vilson. FREE • Winter 2027.
MSEA’s Praxis Support is dedicated to members working toward licensure. Our program focuses on the important need to support, recruit, and retain more educators and build a stronger, more diverse profession. Praxis Support includes: Praxis Core overviews and 1:1 tutoring; Praxis II overviews, assessment-based small groups, and 1:1 tutoring; Back-to-Basics Skills Series covering topics like test anxiety, study planning, reading comprehension, pre-algebra, and more. FREE • Classes are ongoing throughout the year! Visit marylandeducators.org/events.
Yes, You Can! Part 1 sets you and your students up for success with insights and information about classroom management. You’ll learn how to craft a practical and restorative approach to student behavior and take home real-world strategies to implement daily. Yes, You Can! Part 2 focuses on lesson planning. You’ll study standards and strategies that target transitions, pacing,
and communication into planning and instruction, and examine communication styles in student and caregiver communication. FREE • Look for the Yes, You Can! PD series near you this summer!
When You’re Ready…MSEA’s Jump Start program is for members interested in seeking National Board Certification (NBC), the most respected professional certification for educators. Maryland provides additional compensation for NBC—$10,000 annually, and an additional $7,000 for teaching in a low-performing school. FREE • MSEA’s Jump Start program is a great way to get started on your NBC journey.
Read President Paul Lemle’s column about National Board Certification here.
