Proposal Guidelines

Register for AOCC 2026 to see our presenters!

Our Call for Proposals is now closed. Thank you so everyone who submitted a proposal that spoke to Rewriting the Narrative: Persistence as Innovation. Please join us on March 6th and 7th - register with the link below.

REGISTER for AOCC 2026!

Rewriting the Narrative: Persistence as Innovation invites interested participants to reimagine persistence not as endurance alone, but as a creative force that has driven meaningful transformation. Rooted in the idea that we are constantly “Responding to an Ever Evolving Education System that requires Collaboration, Innovation, and Systems Change,” this convening invites participants to reflect on how every obstacle overcome created an opening for reinvention. 

The conference centers persistence as a form of innovation—one that has a continues to fuel equitable, human-centered learning environments capable of adapting to the complexity of today’s world. Together, we affirm that rewriting the narrative begins with persistent, collective action toward building learning systems that reflect the world our students deserve.

A workshop presenter who is pointing and facilitating in a room with participants.

Presentation Formats

  • Workshop: facilitate interactive sessions devoted to a single topic or theme.
  • Lecture: present a scholarly subject, project, or practice-based initiative.
  • Panels: at least 3 speakers.
  • Artwork: showcase creative work that illustrates the lived experiences of students and/or educators of color.
  • Screening or Performance: pieces (films, dance, music, etc.) should be no longer than 20 minutes, and leave time for a Q&A session to follow.
  • AOCCX: Storytelling should only be 8-10 minutes, bipartisan, and aligned with the theme.
  • Other: We welcome various forms of presentations. If you feel like your idea does not fit the categories above, please submit it and articulate how your work aligns with this year’s theme. 

Selection Criteria

We are looking for work that...  

  • Represents intergenerational work that aligns within and throughout our theme.
  • Articulates a clear purpose and defines outcomes for attendees and/or a targeted audience.
  • Is thought-provoking and has the potential to stimulate active engagement of participants. 
  • Tell an engaging story of Rewriting the Narrative: Persistence as Innovation (AOCC X) 

All submissions must include goals, proposed activities, expected audience size, and proposed length of time (up to 60 minutes) and indicate prior experience in conducting such a session (if any).  If you submit for AOCCX, you are encouraged to submit a link to a 5-minute pitch of your orator idea. 

Proposal descriptions should be kept to around 500 words.

Please make explicit how your session will meaningfully deepen attendees’ ability to act in support of social justice in education. 

Deadline

The deadline to submit a proposal is Friday, February 6th 11:59pm EST.

FAQs

  • How long do the presentations needs to be?
    Proposed sessions can be up to 60 minutes long, except where indicated under "Presentation Formats."
  • Will be travel and lodging be covered if my proposal is selected for AOCC 2026?
    Unfortunately, we cannot provide funding for travel or lodging to presenters.
  • Who can I contact if I have further questions?
    If you have any questions, please contact us at hgse.aocc@gmail.com