Events

Collaborate, Innovate, Lead

ERDI’s events provide education leaders and solution providers with a platform for collaboration, innovation, and professional growth.

From R&D Institutes to Thought Leader Symposiums, our events address the critical challenges and opportunities shaping PK-12 education.

Our Convenings

R&D Institutes

ERDI Institutes are immersive learning and collaboration experiences that bring together education leaders, solution providers, and members of the Expert Network from across the country. Participants engage in Research and Development Panels, executive briefings, roundtable discussions, networking experiences, and collaborative learning opportunities designed to strengthen both educational practice and innovation.

Institutes provide a unique opportunity for leaders to influence the future of education while learning from colleagues representing diverse roles, experiences, and perspectives.

Thought Leader Symposiums

ERDI Thought Leader Symposiums bring together leaders from across the country to explore a specific problem of practice in depth. Framed around a carefully selected theme, Symposium participants engage in case studies, leader vignettes, facilitated dialogue, collaborative reflection, and strategic discussion designed to deepen understanding and support implementation. These experiences create a supportive environment where leaders can think deeply, question assumptions, share experiences, learn from one another, and develop context-specific approaches to leadership and organizational improvement. The goal is not simply to discuss ideas, but to generate actionable learning that strengthens educational systems and improves outcomes for students.

ERDI Bootcamps

ERDI Bootcamps are highly interactive, team-based learning experiences designed to help education leaders move from understanding to implementation. Focused on a specific leadership challenge or strategic priority, Bootcamps combine research, frameworks, practical tools, facilitated dialogue, and collaborative planning to help leadership teams translate ideas into action.

Each Bootcamp is organized around a framework and provides participants with the opportunity to examine key levers of improvement, explore supporting rubrics and implementation checklists, assess their current state, and develop practical strategies aligned to their local context and priorities. District teams work together throughout the experience to establish shared understanding, identify priorities, and begin developing actionable implementation plans.

ERDI Impact Experiences

Born from the work of the National Council of Innovative Instructional Leaders (NCIIL), ERDI Impact Experiences provide members with an opportunity to move beyond theory and observe systems transformation firsthand. These immersive site visits allow participants to step inside school systems that are actively engaged in significant improvement efforts. Rather than learning through presentations alone, participants engage directly with superintendents, cabinet leaders, principals, teachers, and students to better understand how leadership strategies, instructional frameworks, organizational structures, and district priorities come to life in schools and classrooms.

Impact Experiences are intentionally designed to provide an authentic view of system transformation. Participants explore not only successes, but also the challenges, trade-offs, decisions, and continuous improvement efforts that accompany meaningful change.

Upcoming Events

Fall Thought Leader Symposiums | Chicago, IL
Oct
25
to Oct 30

Fall Thought Leader Symposiums | Chicago, IL

Systems Leadership

National Council of Senior Leaders (NCSL)

October 25-27, 2026 (At capacity)

Leading for Transformation

National Council of Innovative Instructional Leaders (NCIIL)

October 27-29, 2026 (At capacity)

Leading for Transformation

National Council of Innovative Technology Leaders (NCITL)

October 28-30, 2026

View Event →
Spring Thought Leader Symposiums | Chicago, IL
Apr
25
to Apr 29

Spring Thought Leader Symposiums | Chicago, IL

Systems Leadership

National Council of Senior Leaders (NCSL)

April 25-27, 2027

Leading for Transformation

National Council of Innovative Instructional Leaders (NCIIL)

April 27-29, 2027

Leading for Transformation

National Council of Innovative Technology Leaders (NCITL)

April 27-29, 2027

View Event →

Save the Date

Fall Thought Leader Symposiums | Chicago, IL | October 24-29, 2027

Winter R&D Institute | Charleston, SC | January 30-February 4, 2028

Spring Thought Leader Symposiums | Chicago, IL | April 23-28, 2028

Summer R&D Institute | Baltimore, MD | July 9-15, 2028

Testimonials

  • “ERDI is a welcoming community of forward-thinking educators looking to transform how we all come together to serve students. They are can't-miss events."

    – Ben Gustafson, Co-Founder, Classroom Mosaic

  • “ERDI is one of the highlights of our event calendar - we look forward to engaging with this community because of the feedback we get here..”

    – Mike Discenza, Chief Technology Officer, SchooLinks

  • “ERDI provides a wonderful forum to meet regularly with administrators and build relationships that establish an important level of understanding and trust. ERDI makes you feel you are part of a family.”

    – Lisa Schmucki, CEO, EdWeb

Contact Us

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