CESA Symposium 2026

Mission-Driven Leadership

Join Christian school leaders from across the country and the globe for the 2026 CESA Symposium, a gathering designed to enliven hearts, minds, and spirits through thought-provoking content and shared experiences that strengthen leaders in Christian schools.

As we “stay the course” together in Arlington, Texas, we will focus on mission-driven leadership marked by grit, perseverance, and steadfast faithfulness to fulfill the missions God has entrusted us with.

At this Symposium, you will:

Engage with best-in-class content that equips you to lead with conviction, courage, and long-term perseverance in your specific role AND with your team.
Build and deepen relationships that strengthen the broader Christian school movement and give you fellow “trail riders” for the journey ahead.
Enjoy time with your team and other leaders, leaving with renewed energy, resolve, and actionable next steps to keep moving your school’s mission forward.

Event Dates: October 4–6, 2026
Location: Arlington, Texas – Loews Arlington

Who Should Attend?

This Symposium is designed for Christian school leadership teams who want to lead with mission clarity and steadfastness over the long haul.

Leaders who will benefit include:

Heads and Assistant Heads of School
Board Members (with a special “trail pass for Sunday and Monday’s events)
Business Office, Operations leaders, and IT leaders
Development, Admissions, Alumni, and Marketing/Communications leaders
Principals, Division Heads, and Academic leaders
Christian Life, Student Life, Diversity, and Spiritual Life leaders
Athletic Directors and Arts Directors

Teams will find both whole-school, mission-focused content and sessions tailored for leadership that are transferable across roles and positions.

Keynotes

What’s New in 2026?

This year’s Stay the Course theme introduces new ways to strengthen leaders for a long, faithful run

Board Member “Trail Pass”: A two-day trail pass for Board members (Sunday–Monday) with focused breakouts on governance, mission fidelity, and standing shoulder-to-shoulder with heads of school.
New Event App – Whova: Use the Whova app to connect with attendees, exhibitors, and sponsors, share resources, and keep your whole team aligned throughout the event.
Opening Night Collective Experience: An opening night experience that will engage your entire team with their counterparts at other schools. Our sponsors will be hosting a reception on the lawn, and we will gather in Collective groups. This allows time for networking, meeting new people, and building relationships that last long after the symposium.
CESA School Photo Montage: We ask that each school submit 5 photos that best represent your school’s mission, the heart of your community, and that capture your school’s spirit. We will create a montage that will be viewed on the jumbo screen on the lawn at Loews Arlington Hotel.
Optional Tuesday School Tour: Consider staying on Tuesday with your team and coordinating a visit to a local CESA school.

What’s New in 2026?

Beyond the keynote sessions, attendees will engage in dynamic 75-minute breakout sessions that dive deeper into real-world leadership challenges. This year’s sessions are organized around three focus areas:

Staying the Course
Explore how enduring leadership begins with clarity of mission and conviction. Sessions in this track will address topics such as strategic alignment, navigating change, developing future leaders, and sustaining spiritual formation within teams and institutions.

Authentic Relationships
Every healthy school community thrives on trust, partnership, and shared purpose. These sessions will focus on strengthening relationships across your school’s ecosystem—parents, faculty, boards, donors, and the wider community—while keeping Christ-centered values at the core.

Tools for the Journey
Today’s leaders face both opportunity and pressure unlike any other time. This track offers practical tools for resilience, adaptive leadership, and discernment, helping leaders make wise, mission-aligned decisions and innovate with integrity.

Whether you’re leading a school, serving on a board, or guiding a team, the 2026 CESA Symposium is a vital space for renewal, collaboration, and vision. Join us this fall to reconnect with your calling, refine your leadership, and strengthen the mission that anchors your work.

CESA is committed to robust, peer-to-peer learning, and the Symposium is a great place for that to happen! We would love to consider proposals for breakout sessions that will equip leaders with quality thinking, spiritual and relational depth, and inspiration! We are taking proposals through March 20, 2026.

Submit A Proposal for a Breakout Session Here

Schedule

Sunday, October 4

5 p.m. – Registration and Reception, Honor Ballroom Foyers, Loews Arlington
6 p.m. – Dinner and Opening Session, Honor Ballroom
7:30–9:30 p.m. – Dessert and Networking with Collective Groups, Event Lawn

Monday, October 5

7:30 a.m. – Breakfast, Event Lawn
8:30–9:45 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
9:45–10:15 a.m. – Trail Break
10:15 a.m.–12:15 p.m. – Keynote Session with Peter Greer & Jill Heisey
12:15–1:15 p.m. – Lunch, Honor Ballroom
1:15–2:30 p.m. – Breakout Sessions as Collective Groups
2:30–3 p.m. – Trail Break
3–4:30 p.m. – Breakout Sessions
4:30-5:30 p.m. – MOC and Candidate Heads of School Reception
Evening – Dinner on your own (invite another school to continue the conversation)

Tuesday, October 6

7:30 a.m. – Breakfast- seated with Collective Group, Event Lawn
8:30–9:45 a.m. – Breakout Sessions
9:45–10:15 a.m. – Trail Break
10:15 a.m.–12 p.m. – Closing Keynote Session with Jon Eckert

You do not want to miss the closing session with Jon Eckert, so please schedule departure flights after 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 6.

Venue & Lodging

The Symposium will be hosted at the Loews Arlington Hotel, a first-of-its-kind meetings and resort destination in the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District. There are also rooms available at Loews Live.

Blocks of rooms are available for CESA participants at a preferred rate; early booking is encouraged. The two hotels are across the street from one another and connected via skyway.