Reston, Virginia, July 05, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thousands of principals from across the nation will convene in Philadelphia, July 9-11, to attend the 2017 National Principals Conference. Jointly presented by the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), 2017 NPC is the first-ever joint conference for pre-K through grade 12 principals.

The 2017 NPC affords unprecedented opportunities for Pre-K–12 school leaders to build transition bridges and strategies to fully prepare students for success in elementary, middle school, high school, and beyond—to college and careers.

Concurrent sessions will present case studies, best practices, and new research on topics such as increasing professional capacity, elevating student efficacy, connecting positive climate, and personalized student learning. The conference will also feature world-renowned educators, visionaries, and thought leaders such as Sherry Turkle, social psychologist and author of Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age; author, speaker, and consultant, Michael Schmoker (Leading with Focus); and Kevin Carroll, acclaimed speaker and author of the Red Rubber Ball series. Additional conference highlights include:

The State of American Education Panel. A renowned panel of education thought leaders will share their unique perspectives on school choice, the role of the federal government in education, educator shortage, and more. This panel will expose attendees to an engaging and thought-provoking discussion while also providing them opportunities to ask difficult questions on these controversial issues.

Unconventional & Experimental Learning. From unconferences to connectathons to hackathons, conference attendees will be able to guide their own self-directed interactions, collaborate with peers in a relaxed setting, discover fresh solutions to improve leadership practice, and develop their own professional learning networks.

Community Impact:

Playground Build: On Sat., July 8, one day prior to the conference, over 100 principals will come together to build a playground at Stonehurst Hills Elementary School in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. This is the ninth year that the National Association of Elementary School Principals has partnered with Landscape Structures to donate and build a playground at a deserving elementary school. This year, principals representing the National Association of Secondary School Principals are joining in the service day.

Principals 5K Run/Walk: The Pennsylvania Principals Association is sponsoring a 5KRun/Walk on Sun., July 9. Proceeds will benefit the PA Leadership Educational Foundation.

For more information about the 2017 National Principals Conference, visit principalsconference.org. Join the conversation on Twitter with #NPC17 and by following @PrincipalsConf.

About NAESP

Principals are the primary catalysts for creating lasting foundations for learning. Since 1921, the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) has been the leading advocate for elementary and middle-level principals in the United States and worldwide. NAESP advances the profession by developing policy, advancing advocacy, and providing professional development and resources for instructional leadership, including specialized support and mentoring for early career principals. Key focus areas include pre-K-3 education, school safety, technology and digital learning, and effective educator evaluation. For more information about NAESP, please visit www.naesp.org. NAESP administers the National Principals Resource Center, the American Student Council Association, and the President's Education Awards & American Citizenship Awards Programs.

About NASSP

The National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) is the leading organization of and national voice for middle level and high school principals, assistant principals, and all school leaders from across the United States and more than 36 countries around the world. The association connects and engages school leaders through advocacy, research, education, and student programs. NASSP advocates on behalf of all school leaders to ensure the success of each student and strengthens school leadership practices through the design and delivery of high quality professional learning experiences. Reflecting its long-standing commitment to student leadership development, NASSP administers the National Honor Society, National Junior Honor Society, National Elementary Honor Society, and National Association of Student Councils.