Welcome!
Our theme this year is Reaching New Heights Together
MARCH 27, 2026
8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
In-Person limited to 200 attendees - Glendale Community College 6000 W Olive Ave, Glendale, AZ 85302
Breakfast, lunch, onsite exhibitors, and our award presentation available for in-person attendees.
Keynote Speaker
Title: Relate to Elevate: The Power of Connection in Exceptional Education
Description: In exceptional education, connection isn’t a soft skill — it’s a survival skill. Every breakthrough begins with trust. Every behavior is communication. And every student’s success is shaped by the relationships around them.
In this energizing keynote, Tessa Brock blends humor, honesty, and heart with practical insights from brain science, trauma-informed practices, and her own decades of experience walking alongside educators. Together, we’ll explore what it really means to “reach new heights” — not through hustle and exhaustion, but through alignment, relational safety, and the power of we.
Attendees will walk away feeling seen, strengthened, and reconnected to the purpose behind their practice, with practical strategies to elevate students, teams, and themselves.
Let’s reach new heights… together!
Bio: Tessa is a passionate, engaging and inspiring presenter who tackles the tough topics of Organizational Culture, Trauma Responsive Approaches, Communication, Reflective Practice, and Self-Care with a balance of expertise, honesty, and humor. Tessa has worked with schools through Fortune 500 organizations to enhance interpersonal interactions. Through her genuine and authentic manner, Tessa skillfully uses story to drive home key concepts that make a lasting impression. Tessa has a Master’s degree, is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), is Infant/Toddler Mental Health Endorsed Level III (IMH-E III), and is a Certified Executive Coach. Tessa actively coaches, trains, and consults with organizations and schools to enhance relationship-based and trauma-responsive skills and strategies used with professionals, students, and parents. The Neurosequential Network acknowledges that Tessa has completed NMT Training Certification through the Phase I level. She is an international speaker and national consultant.
SCHEDULE | ||
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8:00 – 8:30 AM | Registration & Networking (In-Person) / *Virtual Lobby Opens (Online) | |
8:30 – 8:45 AM | Welcome & Opening Remarks | |
8:45 – 10:00 AM | Keynote Address | |
10:00 – 10:15 AM | BREAK | |
10:15 – 11:15 AM | Breakout Session 1 | |
11:15 – 12:15 PM | Breakout Session 2 | |
12:15 – 1:15 PM | LUNCH | |
1:15 – 2:15 PM | Breakout Session 3 | |
2:15 – 2:30 PM | BREAK | |
2:30 – 3:30 PM | Breakout Session 4 | |
3:30 – 3:50 PM | Closing Session | |
4:00 - 5:00 PM | AZCEC Annual General Meeting (AGM) open to all Arizona CEC members. | AGM Zoom |
REGISTRATION | |
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Early Bird Rates - end January 31, 2026
Registration - begin February 1, 2026
| Registration Closed |
$50 Virtual Rate for AZCEC Student Chapter Members ONLY, get code from your student chapter advisor. | Student Advisor |
Paying by Purchase Order? AZCEC has moved! New Mailing Address: 2320 E Baseline Rd, Suite 148- 224 Phoenix, AZ, 85042 United States |
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EXHIBITORS & VENDORS | |
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AZCEC and AZCASE are proud to offer limited sponsorships and exhibitor tables at our in-person Annual State Conference on March 27, 2026 from 8am-4pm. Our theme this year is, “Reaching New Heights Together”. For over 30 years, AZCEC and AZCASE have provided a wonderful opportunity to exhibit your business, services and support for special education students, teachers, principals and administrators in Arizona. Last year, we hosted over 400 attendees at our annual (virtual) conference, and we anticipate a great response to our In-Person and Virtual conference this year. As always, we sincerely appreciate your support of our organizations, participants and student awardees! If you have questions or would like to promote your organization, please contact Carrie Brandon, our Exhibitor Host. |
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2025 Annual State Conference Sponsors | |
Keynote Speaker Sponsor | |
Speaker Sponsor | |
Speaker Sponsor | |
Breakfast Sponsor | |
Lunch Sponsor | |
I Can Do It Award Sponsor | |
Snack Sponsor | |
Exhibitor | |