Education WV Activist Academy
June 22-24, 2026
Embassy Suites- Charleston, WV
Registration deadline is May 28, 2026 at 11:59 PM.
Grow your skills, empower your profession.
Spend a few days sharpening your skills with Education West Virginia at our first ever Activist Academy. Our new biennial summer conference, kicking off on Monday, June 22 and concluding on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, will provide tools to help you grow in your profession as well as be a stronger advocate for education employees and the students we serve.
Local EWV officers will begin with role-specific sessions at 10 AM on June 22. All other members should arrive between 3:30-5:30 PM on June 22 for registration. The cost of double-occupancy lodging, onsite meals and the group outing is covered by Education WV. All Education WV members in good standing are eligible to attend.
Space is limited, so don’t delay your registration! The registration deadline is May 28, 2026 at midnight.
On Monday evening, we will be celebrating the EWV locals who have chartered their new merged local and enjoying an evening of fun and fellowship with a dj and karaoke night. On Tuesday, get ready for a field trip! We are taking a group outing to GoMart Park where we will cheer on the Charleston Dirty Birds baseball team.
Presenters at the Activist Academy will include NEA and AFT national staff, union advocates and historians, and Education West Virginia members and staff.
Tentative Agenda
(full agenda, directions, and more details will be provided to registered participants at a later date)
Monday, June 22, 2026
Local Leaders Intensive (for Education WV local officers)
9:30 AM – Registration for Local Leaders
10:00 AM – General Session
10:30 AM – Role Based Sessions
Noon – Lunch
1:00-1:50 PM – Breakout Sessions
2:00-2:50 PM – General Session
3:00-4:30 PM – Local Back to School Planning
3:30-5:30 PM – Registration for non-officer attendees
6:00-6:30 PM – Reception
6:30-8:00 PM – Dinner & Presentation of Local Charters
8:30-10:30 PM – DJ & Karaoke
Tuesday, June 23, 2026
8:30- 9:30 AM – General Session
Keynote Speaker -Brooke Bailey, Milken Award Winner, EWV-Wyoming Member
9:30- 10:00 AM – General Session-Topic to be announced
Breakout Sessions: Breakout topics will include special education, school finance, service personnel laws and rights, locality pay, and other topics to be announced.
10:00-10:50 AM – Breakout Session 1
11:00-11:50 AM – Breakout Session 2
Noon – Lunch
1:00-1:50 PM – General Session: School Safety
2:00-2:50 PM – Breakout Session 3
3:00-3:50 PM – Breakout Session 4
6:00 PM – Group Outing: Dirty Birds Game & Dinner- Go Mart Park
(Shuttle service to ballpark will be available)
Wednesday, June 24, 2026
8:30 AM-Noon – General Sessions
Topics include local advocacy, organizing, attacks on public education, mobilizing for positive change and more.
Must be an Education WV member in good standing to attend. To register for the conference, complete the form at this link: https://leadernet.aft.org/webform/2025-education-wv-activist-acade
