Onward and Upward!
Continually Striving Towards Student Mastery
SMCAA Fall 2025 Conference
October 30 – 31, 2025
Margaritaville, Osage Beach, MO
SMCAA is proud to announce Victoria Brownlee as the keynote speaker for our SMCAA Fall 2025 Conference. Victoria Brownlee has worked in education over 14 years, gaining experience in curriculum development and project and leadership development. Victoria’s unwavering dedication to the world of education, combined with her profound understanding of assessment methodologies, curriculum design, and research-based instructional strategies, positions her as a highly respected resource for educators, school leaders, and entire educational districts. Victoria’s keynote and morning learning sessions will be based on work done by Dr. Susan Brookhart. Some of the books Victoria will be utilizing and pulling from for the training can be found by clicking on this link. Previously, Victoria worked as a teacher, instructional specialist, building-level leader, and education consultant. In addition to her direct work with students, Victoria developed and delivered professional development designed to increase student achievement and collaborated with stakeholders to create equitable learning environments.
Plan now to join us in October as we explore and learn about successful practices in providing student feedback, standardized assessment performance, success criteria, and various other useful tools and strategies from Missouri educators.
Day 1 – October 30th:
During our Keynote session, Ms. Brownlee will share skills related to providing effective feedback that advances learning. Participants will analyze examples of feedback and learn feedback strategies that help students answer the question, “Where am I now, and what do I do next?”
Second Morning Session: After the morning keynote, participants will have the chance to continue learning from Victoria Brownlee as we focus on Practicing with Success Criteria. Through this learning experience we will think and work deeply with the concept of success criteria. Questions being considered during our time together include: What is success criteria? How do we use it? How do we connect with our learners?
Afternoon Session: Improving Standardized Test performance and Classroom Achievement led by Russell Hatch, ACT Instructional Mastery Trainer at ACT Inc. Russell will share practical strategies currently empowering students and educators nationwide in standardized assessment success classroom instruction
Second Afternoon Sessions: The day will end with attendees choosing one of two breakout sessions to attend:
Breakout One: Special School District’s Proficiency Scale Journey
Breakout Two: Mastery in Motion: Guiding Students Towards Success with Proficiency Scales.
Day 2 – October 31st: Participants will engage in breakout sessions led by Missouri teachers and administrators. Topics include:
- SSD’s Proficiency Scale Journey
- Mastery in Motion: Guiding Students Towards Success with Proficiency Scales
- Leveraging the Power of Short, Critical Writing in Driving Student Learning
- From Small Steps to Big Shifts: One School’s Path to Competency-Based Education
Our culminating event will include lunch with a message from DESE Commissioner of Education, Dr. Karla Eslinger.
SMCAA Members:
- One Day: $225.00 per person
- One Day Team Special of 3: $645.00
- Two Day $260.00 per person Early Bird Special by August 25, 2025; After August 25th, $275.00 per person
- Two Day: Team of 3: $750.00
Non- Members:
- One Day: $325 Per Person
- Two Day $375.00 per person
- Two Day Early Bird Special $360.00 per person
For overnight accommodations: Margaritaville at 1-800-826-8272. Ask for the Show Me Curriculum Administrators Association rate of $138.00 per night. Code: SHOW, Conference Room Block Deadline September 30, 2025. This rate will only be honored based upon availability after this date. We suggest you make your room reservation(s) and register as soon as possible, as seating is limited for this conference.