NAESP’s 87th Annual Convention and Exposition is just four weeks away. Elementary and middle school principals from across the country (and abroad) will travel to Nashville’s Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center (April 4-8) to network, learn, and lead.

This year’s convention will feature dynamic keynote speakers: Daniel Pink, an expert on innovation and competition and author of A Whole New Mind (Sat., April 5 at 3:30 p.m.); political pundits James Carville & Mary Matalin (Sun., April 6 at 1:00 p.m.); and Consuelo Castillo Kickbusch, Lt. Col. and founder of Educational Achievement Services Inc. (Mon., April 7 at 3:30 p.m.). Former Nashville mayor Bill Purcell will also lead the Diversity Forum, a panel of leaders reflecting on the challenges of serving diverse learning communities (Sat., April 5 at 12:30 p.m.).

Other highlights include sessions covering issues important to principals, including No Child Left Behind, school leadership, and early childhood education; and the presentation of NAESP’s second annual Principal’s Read Aloud Award, which was created to recognize and support quality children’s books and encourage principals to read to children.

For more information on this year’s convention, visit www.naesp.org.