enthusiastic woman presenting to group of seated audience members while row of students stand near a wall

Annual PDP Conference

The PDP Consortium holds its annual conference at the beginning of each fall semester. Conferences bring together professional development stakeholders - including school teachers and administrators, campus faculty and staff, and teacher candidates - for lively discussions on selected topics. In addition, teacher candidates share their current research through workshops and poster presentations. 

PDP 2026 Conference Dashboard

Friday, October 2
Friday, October 2 
7:45 AM to 1:00 PM
Buffalo State University
Campbell Student Union 
 
  • On arrival, please sign in at the registration table. 
  • The detailed list of presenters, session descriptions, and session locations will be posted below. 
  • Reach out to any PDP Representative in an orange shirt, or stop at the registration table, if you need assistance. 
  • 7:45 AM - 8:30 AM Breakfast 
  • 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM Welcome
  • 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Poster Session
  • 9:15 AM - 10:45 AM  Paired Concurrent Sessions
  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Collaborative Conversations
  • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch & Keynote Address 
  • All events are held in the Campbell Student Union Social Hall, Assembly Halls, and the Student Organization Resource Center (basement level).
  • Ticketing is suspended in all campus lots. You are welcome to park in any legal parking space available. 
  • NOTE: Vehicles parked at a metered (without paying) or reserved space will be ticketed.
On the day of the event (only) guests can use the following login information for Wi-Fi access. NOTE: The login information is case and space specific; enter the information exactly as shown. Buffalo State employees should use their regular campus credentials.
 
  • Username: SOEguest
  • Password: PDSconference2026!

Past Conference Keynotes

  • 2025 Conference: Colleen Keough, NYS Teacher of the Year
  • 2024 Conference: Zachary Arenz, NYS Teacher of the Year
  • 2023 Conference: Billy Green, NYS Teacher of the Year & Ethan Siegel, Astrophysicist 
  • 2022 Conference: Jillian Hanesworth, Literary Freedom founder and first ever Poet Laureate from Buffalo
  • 2021 Conference: Jennifer Wolfe, NYS Teacher of the Year
  • 2019 Conference: Alhassan Susso, NYS Teacher of the Year
  • 2018 Conference: Christopher Albrecht, NYS Teacher of the Year (photos)
  • 2017 Conference: Amy Hysick, NYS Teacher of the Year
  • 2016 Retreat: Jevon Hunter, Woods Beals Endowed Chair at Buffalo State (photos)
  • 2015 Retreat: Charles Giglio, NYS Teacher of the Year (photos)
  • 2014 Retreat: Ashli Skura Dreher, NYS Teacher of the Year
  • 2013 Retreat: Greg Ahlquist, NYS Teacher of the Year (photos)
  • 2012 Retreat: Katie Ferguson, NYS Teacher of the Year (photos)
  • 2011 Retreat: none
  • 2010 Retreat: none
  • 2009 Retreat: Deepa Govindaraj, Minerva co-founder
  • 2008 Retreat: Theresa Janczak, Exceptional Education faculty
  • 2007 Retreat: Ron DeCarli
  • 2006 Retreat: Push Theatre
  • 2005 Retreat: Poetry Alive!
  • 2004 Retreat: Karmina Amin, storyteller