Call for Proposals 2026
2026 OIE Annual Summit
September 8-10, 2026
Sheraton Grand at Wild Horse Pass (5594 W. Wild Horse Pass Blvd, Phoenix, AZ, 85226)
"Embracing Culture, Community, and Innovation in Education"
We invite education and community professionals to share your insights, expertise, and innovative ideas with educators, education professionals, tribal education staff, parents, and other community members. In 2025, we had 20 breakout sessions that delivered strategies, data discussion, and program information for educators, tribal representatives, parents, and students. We intend to continue to build on the momentum in 2026! Submit your Proposal today!
Call for proposals open: February 2, 2026
Call for proposals closes: May 1, 2026
Presenters notified by: May 29, 2026
The Office of Indian Education (OIE) is excited to announce the acceptance of session proposals for the 2026 OIE Annual Summit!
We are seeking sessions that build on our theme, "Embracing Culture, Community, and Innovation in Education." The goal of the Annual Summit is to convene educators, parents, administrators, and tribal leadership to foster collaboration in raising academic outcomes of Native American students. Please consider this goal and the event objectives below as guides for tailoring your session(s) for target audiences.
- Enhance understanding of student well-being and mental health
- Strengthening knowledge of educational systems and parent advocacy
- Develop effective leadership and school improvement strategies
- Advance instructional practices
- Promote technology integration and ethical innovation
We have also developed a list of trending topics within Indian Education that are of great interest to our community. If you have expertise in these areas, we encourage you to share it with our community through one or more sessions:
| Student Well-being & Mental Health (Target audience: Anyone): Including student Well-being & Mental Health (anyone), accessing mental health resources for students and families, and digital safety and wellness to protect students. |
| Educational Systems & Parent/Community Empowerment (Target audience: Parents or caregivers, education staff and administrators): Including navigating education systems such as helping families and educators understand processes, identifying funding sources to assist schools (grants, Title programs, tribal resources, etc.), and policy/program updates (state, federal, or tribal education policies). |
| Instructional Practices & School Engagement Strategies (Target audience: Education staff and administrators): Including effective leadership practices for school improvement, culturally responsive and innovative teaching practices (focus areas), incorporating culture and language into curriculum, instructional coaching best practices for teacher growth, data-driven decision making, and community engagement strategies. |
| Technology & Innovation (Target audience: Anyone): Including technology integration (assistive technology, school communication apps, etc.), safe use (cybersecurity), and Artificial Intelligence (AI) in education, or opportunities and ethical considerations. |
If you are interested in sharing your expertise with the Arizona education community, OIE invites you to submit a proposal no later than May 1, 2026.
Submission Details
Sessions should align with these topics:
- Student well-being & mental health
- Educational systems & Parent/Community Empowerment
- Instructional Practices & School Engagement Strategies
- Technology & Innovation
Session Format: Presentation, Interactive Workshop, Panel, or Fishbowl Discussion. All sessions are 75 minutes in length. The OIE Annual Summit is in-person only (no virtual components). Each room will be supplied with a projector screen, microphone, and podium. Presenters are responsible for bringing their own laptops and necessary adaptors.
Target Audience: PreK-12 Administrators and education leaders, education staff, and/or parents and caregivers
Upon selection, OIE staff may request edits to session titles and descriptions for clarity. For 2026, there are up to 20 breakout sessions to fill. Reviewers will evaluate proposals based on diversity of topics, relevance, and qualifications. Our conference is designed to bring together educators, administrators, parents, and caregivers to share insights and strengthen collaboration in support of Native American student success. We see this event as a chance for people to connect, learn from one another, and spark new solutions that really make a difference.
Eligibility
Proposals are welcome from all education professionals, tribal entities, and support organizations. Reviewers will be evaluated for diversity of topics and relevance. In addition to aligning with one of the topics in the list above, topics that are grounded in research, data, or successful practice are highly encouraged. Questions about eligibility, email [email protected].
How to Submit
Click below to submit your proposal today! Yes, if so inclined, you can submit multiple proposals for review. Plan to complete in one sitting; the form does not auto-save.
Presenter responsibilities
Notifications will be sent to the primary email included on your application no later than May 29, 2026. Presenter confirmation deadline is June 8, 2026. Notification emails will include event details and additional required presenter information.
Presenters are encouraged to provide key materials in digital form, handouts, and/or follow-up materials for participants.
Cost: Verified presenters will receive a registration discount. More details will be provided.
Contact: If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Elaine at [email protected].
Sponsorship opportunities available! Contact Lynnann at [email protected].
