AAEE 2026 in KCMO
The best in K-12 Educator Preparation, Recruitment, and Retention
2026 Annual Conference & Education Career Fair
October 19-22, 2026 • Kansas City, MO
Show Me the Future: Recruiting, Retaining, and Reigniting Educators
2026 Annual Conference & Education Career Fair
October 19-22, 2026
Kansas City, MO
About This Event
AAEE's annual conference and education career fair provides the following for members:
- Keynote and general session speakers focused on current trends
- Updates and key information for districts and universities looking to hire educators
- Networking (structured and informal) opportunities to meet other talent experts
- Attendees within the PK-12 educator preparation, recruitment, and retention.
- Education Career Fair with 50+ hiring institutions and local education candidates
You can expect to find the best in human resources, school operations, university recruitment, personnel and more!
Below are some of the professional job titles that have been represented at previous conferences.
- Apprenticeship to Teaching Instructor
- Assistant Dean, College of Education
- Assistant Director of Human Resources
- Assistant Director, Department of Education
- Assistant Professor
- Assistant Superintendent
- Associate Director of Talent Recruitment
- Associate Superintendent
- Beginning Teacher Development Coordinator
- Career Coach
- Career Director, Education
- Career Placement Coordinator
- Certification Technician
- Chief Human Resources Officer
- Coordinator of Staff Effectiveness
- Coordinator, Talent Management
- Director of Academic Services
- Director of Clinical Services
- Director of Diversity Recruitment
- Director of Employer Engagement
- Director of EPP Advancement
- Director of Human Resources
- Director of Recruitment
- Director of Talent Development
- Director, Talent Acquisition and HR Compliance
- Director, Talent Acquisition and Retention
- Diversity Specialist
- Education Program Manager
- Educator Preparation Specialist
- Educator Workforce Development Manager
- Employer Relations and Recruiting Coordinator
- Employment Coordinator
- Executive Director
- Executive Director of Human Resources
- Executive Director of Talent Management
- Federal Programs & Professional Development Director
- Founder
- Human Resources Generalist
- Human Resources Partner
- Human Resources Recruiter
- Human Resources Specialist
- Lead Teacher – Recruiting and Mentoring
- Licensure & Recruitment Specialist
- Director of Employer Engagement
- Managing Director of Research
- NBC Support Teacher Specialist
- Principal
- Professional Employment Recruitment and Retention Specialist
- Professor of Education
- HR Recruitment & Retention Coordinator
- Program Operations Director
- Project Director
- Recruitment and Retention Coach
- Recruitment Coordinator
- Recruitment Manager
- Recruitment Specialist
- Senior Career Advisor
- Senior Manager, Instructional Recruitment and HR Programs
- Senior Supervisor, Recruitment & Development
- Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist
- Special Projects Coordinator
- Supervisor of New Teacher Support and Licensure
- Supervisor of Staff Management
- Supervisor of Staffing & Recruitment for Special Education
- Talent Development and Recruitment Specialist
- Teacher Placement Manager
- Teacher Recruiter
- Teacher Recruitment Project Coordinator
The National AAEE Conference features 25 individual breakout sessions design to engage attendees in best practices, proven strategies and research on the topics of teacher pipelines, recruitment, human resources, talent development and career resources. See our impressive list of Breakout Session & Keynote Speakers.
Call for Speakers - OPENING SOON (check back in Dec. for 2025)
Our annual conference covers professional development and networking opportunities for professionals from: career services, Colleges of Education, academic advising, K-12 recruitment, school system administration, non-profit and for-profit education-related organizations, and state departments of education.
Location:
4445 Main St
Kansas City, MO 64111
Venue / Lodging
Event activities and lodging will be at the Marriott Country Club Plaza.
Featured amenities include a business center, express check-out, and complimentary newspapers in the lobby. Event facilities at this hotel consist of conference space and meeting rooms. Self parking (subject to charges) is available onsite.
Located in Kansas City (Midtown - Westport), Kansas City Marriott Country Club Plaza is a 5-minute walk from Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art and 10 minutes by foot from Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art. This hotel is 3.7 mi (6 km) from Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and 4 mi (6.4 km) from T-Mobile Center.
$189/night - Reservations open in March 2026.
Agenda Overview
Below is a general overview of what you can expect over the course of the multi-day event.
DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
Featured Speakers
The National AAEE Conference features 25 individual breakout sessions design to engage attendees in best practices, proven strategies and research on the topics of teacher pipelines, recruitment, human resources, talent development and career resources. See our impressive list of Breakout Session & Keynote Speakers.
Keynote Speakers
More information coming soon!
Breakout Sessions
More information coming soon!
Exhibitor & Sponsor Options
The AAEE Annual Conference, hosted in Pittsburgh this year, is the premier event for recruiting, retention and human resources and career center professionals in secondary and higher education. We feature two (2) days of exhibiting along with breaks and networking to help you expand your connections with attendees.
A few highlights include:
- Sponsors are featured in the conference app
- Booths are located in a central area with attendee traffic
- Breaks are held in the exhibitor area
- Exhibitors are invited to attend all conference functions, including 2 meal events and general sessions
- Exhibitor Hours/Days
- Tuesday, Oct. 20 from 12pm to 5pm
- Wednesday, Oct. 21 from 9am to 5pm
For event sponsors, please see options listed below. We will setup a time to meet with you and discuss your sponsorship goals and how we can help you reach them. All sponsorship options are flexible to meet your marketing objectives and create a positive return on your investment in our conference. Contact AAEE at 614-800-1722 or email info@aaee.org for more information.
Exhibit Booth $1175
Reserve Your BoothJoin the AAEE annual Conference with an Exhibitor Table for 2 days. Plus, enjoy attending any sessions, meals and special events. Market your company's services to attendees from secondary and higher education. Your table will include two (2) chairs, prominent location with other exhibitors and near conference transition spaces and registration.
Breakfast Sponsor $2,200
- Annual membership (for-profit organization): Valued at $500
- Exhibitor table for the full conference: Valued at $850
- Registration for conference (one person): Valued at $425
- Speak for 5 minutes during breakfast (live in-person, live via video, OR pre-recorded video): Valued at $500
- Advertisement in the conference program (quarter page): Valued at $300
- Portion of sponsorship funds designated to the Janice S. Jones Scholarship Fund for Teachers: Valued at $250
For more information, please contact the AAEE National Office at 614-800-1722 or email execdir@aaee.org
Keynote Session Sponsor $2,200
- Annual membership (for-profit organization): Valued at $500
- Exhibitor table for the full conference: Valued at $850
- Registration for conference (per person): Valued at $425
- Speak for 5 minutes before introduction of Keynote Speaker (live in-person, live via video, OR pre-recorded video): Valued at $500
- Advertisement in the conference program (quarter page): Valued at $300
- Portion of sponsorship funds designated to the Janice S. Jones Scholarship Fund for Teachers: Valued at $250
For more information, please contact the AAEE National Office at 614-800-1722 or email execdir@aaee.org
Education Career Fair Sponsor $3,000
- Annual membership (for-profit organization): Valued at $500
- Exhibitor table for the full conference: Valued at $850
- Exhibitor table for the career fair: Valued at $150
- Registration for conference (one person): Valued at $425
- Advertisement in the conference program (quarter page): Valued at $300
- Advertisement in the next Job Search Handbook for Educators (quarter page); published in summer: Valued at $549
- Company name and logo in all job fair communications, including AAEE website: Valued at $500
- Opportunity to include company-branded item in conference bags distributed to each registered attendee (items purchased/provided by vendor): Valued at $200
- Portion of sponsorship funds designated to Janice S. Jones Scholarship Fund for Teachers: Valued at $250
For more information, please contact the AAEE National Office at 614-800-1722 or email execdir@aaee.org
Education Career Fair Sponsor $3,000
- Annual membership (for-profit organization): Valued at $500
- Exhibitor table for the full conference: Valued at $850
- Exhibitor table for the career fair: Valued at $150
- Registration for conference (one person): Valued at $425
- Advertisement in the conference program (quarter page): Valued at $300
- Advertisement in the next Job Search Handbook for Educators (quarter page); published in summer: Valued at $549
- Company name and logo in all job fair communications, including AAEE website: Valued at $500
- Opportunity to include company-branded item in conference bags distributed to each registered attendee (items purchased/provided by vendor): Valued at $200
- Portion of sponsorship funds designated to Janice S. Jones Scholarship Fund for Teachers: Valued at $250
For more information, please contact the AAEE National Office at 614-800-1722 or email execdir@aaee.org
Business Lunch Sponsor $4500
- Annual membership (for-profit organization): Valued at $500
- Exhibitor table for the full conference: Valued at $850
- Registration for conference (two people): Valued at $800
- Advertisement in the conference program (full page): Valued at $500
- Speak for 10 minutes during Business Lunch (live in-person, live via video, OR pre-recorded video): Valued at $1,000
- Company name and logo in all AAEE conference communications, including the website: Valued at $1,500
- Opportunity to include company-branded item in conference bags distributed to each registered attendee (items purchased/provided by vendor): Valued at $200
- Banner advertisement on home page of AAEE website (per month): Valued at $150
- Email campaign sent to AAEE members and contacts (per message): Valued at $150
- Portion of sponsorship funds designated to Janice S. Jones Scholarship Fund for Teachers: Valued at $250
For more information, please contact the AAEE National Office at 614-800-1722 or email execdir@aaee.org
REFUND & CANCELLATION POLICY
Refunds up to 21 days before the conference will be processed minus a $50 fee per person. Refunds within 21 days of the event will not be accepted. Substitutions are always welcome.
