Overview

The 2025 MSTA Leadership Conference is designed for and presented to local and aspiring MSTA/Community Teacher Association (CTA) leaders working in school districts ranging in size from less than 200 students to over 25,000 students.  This event also serves Student MSTA leaders engaged in teacher education programs on more than 40 Missouri higher education campuses.  

Nearly 400 MSTA leaders attend this conference to learn more about MSTA and about their local leadership positions.  Participants leave the conference recharged and energized from the opportunity to collaborate with other Missouri leaders in a fun and relaxing environment.  Leadership Conference will be held at the Executive Center in Columbia, Missouri, on July 15-16, 2025.

The Leadership Conference Experience

MSTA provides relevant learning experiences, essential tools, and networking opportunities that will make our leaders and their local CTA more successful.  Our overarching goal is to provide attendees with strategies to support successful membership recruitment and increase member satisfaction by connecting CTA members and leaders with MSTA services, benefits, and resources.   

MSTA is interested in YOUR expertise for the 2025 Leadership Conference.  

We are seeking session presenters to train and inform leaders:

  • in member recruitment strategies,
  • in ways to use technology to simplify communication and leadership responsibilities, and
  • to help MSTA members get the most out of their membership.  

The following are the core objectives MSTA requires for all session proposals that are reviewed and approved by MSTA staff:  

  • Relevant content for both veteran and new or potential leaders that will stretch their thinking and offer new approaches
  • Content which is delivered in an engaging way that draws on the experience of the attendees
  • Application exercises that involve the participants
  • Examples of real success (and lessons learned from failures)
  • Practical tools that can be applied immediately in their organizations

Leadership Conference Topic Ideas

Our goal is to offer attendees the knowledge and tools to be more effective in their MSTA leadership role.  Through the Leadership Conference experience, we will increase membership and member engagement by providing new ideas and activities, thus fashioning successful leaders, and making CTAs more successful.  Since many participants will be returning attendees, most session content will go beyond the basics.  We appreciate and welcome a wide variety of creative proposals to find the best-of-the-best.  Priority will be given to new ideas and workshop topics. 

Based on participant feedback, these topics appeal to our audience:

  • Membership recruitment
  • Membership engagement
  • Leadership
  • Time management
  • Work/Life balance
  • Technology/Database Management
  • Communication

Submission and Selection Process

The deadline for submitting proposals is Monday, January 20, 2025.  All proposals must be submitted using the online form below.  Upon submitting a proposal, you will receive confirmation.  A team of MSTA staff members will review each session proposal and make selections. MSTA will not accept proposals submitted by out-of-state presenters and/or consultants promoting their business. Preference will be given to MSTA members.

You will be notified by Feb. 18, 2025, of the status of your proposal.  Proposals will be reviewed based on the following criteria:

  • How is the topic relevant to the audience?
  • Engaging presentation style(s) to present new ideas or innovative approaches.
  • How will the session meet the needs of the audience?
  • How will the session engage participants?
  • Can participants easily implement session ideas?

If Your Proposal Is Selected

Compensation:

  • Presenters will be compensated $100.00 when there is one presenter. Presentation groups with 2 or more presenters will be paid $150 to be divided amongst all presenters.
  • One hotel room at the nightly group rate ($135 dollar value) and all conference meals.
  • Roundtrip mileage reimbursement at the rate of $0.40 per mile.