2026 ACSA Personnel Institute

Your first year in HR leadership comes with a steep learning curve, and plenty of situations where no handbook, workshop, or preparation program quite prepares you for. This fast-paced session brings together the essential things every HR leader needs to know, from the mechanics of bargaining, employee classification, to navigating important legal processes and understanding where to turn when you need answers. Whether you’re new to the role or simply want to strengthen your foundation, you’ll leave with practical knowledge, useful resources, and greater confidence navigating the HR landscape.

As complaints about employees continue to rise in schools and workplaces, district leaders face increasing pressure to respond promptly, fairly, and consistently while minimizing legal and operational risk. This session will explore practical strategies for managing complaints involving employee misconduct, workplace conflict, professionalism, harassment, discrimination, and performance concerns. Attendees will learn how to establish effective intake and documentation practices, conduct appropriate preliminary assessments, determine when investigations are necessary, and communicate throughout the process. The presentation will also address common pitfalls that can escalate complaints and provide proactive approaches to improving workplace culture, accountability, and employee relations. Participants will leave with actionable tools to help their districts respond to complaints confidently, consistently, and lawfully.

Between chronic absenteeism, expanding leave laws, staffing shortages, substitute vacancies, and evolving employee expectations, Human Resources professionals are asking themselves a very real question: does anyone actually come to work anymore? This engaging and relatable session takes a practical—and honest—look at the growing complexities of employee leave administration in public education. Participants will explore the ever-changing maze of FMLA, CFRA, pregnancy disability and parental leave, workers’ compensation, paid sick leave, catastrophic leave, and negotiated leave provisions, as well as the increasingly blurred lines between contractual rights, legal obligations, and operational realities. Through real-world scenarios, interactive discussion, and shared “you can’t make this up” moments, attendees will unpack common leave challenges and staffing impacts facing districts today.

Employee absenteeism presents ongoing challenges for supervisors and managers, impacting operations, morale, and service delivery. This session provides practical guidance on managing attendance issues within the legal and contractual framework applicable to employees. Participants will learn strategies for identifying problematic attendance patterns, conducting effective and compliant conversations, navigating leaves and accommodations, and applying progressive discipline when appropriate. Designed for supervisors on the front lines, this session equips attendees with tools to address absenteeism consistently, fairly, and confidently while minimizing risk to the organization.