11th Annual Family & Community Engagement Conference
October 28-30, 2026
Welcome to the 11th Annual Idaho Family & Community Engagement Conference!
The Idaho Family & Community Engagement Conference (FACE) has become one of the most anticipated annual educator training events. It continues to increase active participation and communication between families, schools, and communities with the objective of educating the whole child to ensure academic achievement and success. This unique statewide conference brings together 300 school administrators, teachers, school counselors, school community resource workers, and community organizations. It is through this collaborative network of school, family, and community partnerships that support students to be successful today and in the future.
It is our hope that you will gain insight from this year’s event that will assist in your efforts to build meaningful partnerships with parents and families. As you will note, each of our speakers are diverse in expertise, but share a common purpose of building positive relationships that encourage families and students the ability to succeed. Over the years, many of you have become friends and we strive each year to provide essential information that it is worthy of your attendance. We look forward to coming together once again and learning from you and with you!
New this year, the conference will include a dedicated Liaison Training Day for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Liaisons. These specialized sessions are designed to provide role-specific updates, practical resources, and collaborative learning opportunities to help liaisons effectively support students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care. While this training is intended for designated liaisons, it offers valuable professional development and fulfills required training expectations for those serving in these important roles.
Who Should Attend?
McKinney-Vento Liaisons and Foster Care Liaisons serving at the school district level.
What Will I Learn?
Participants will engage in training specific to their role, including:
McKinney-Vento Focus Areas
-McKinney-Vento essentials
-Identification scenarios
-Idaho Data: achievement, growth, and success
-Program needs assessment
-Informed funding decisions
-Effective practices and innovative approaches from districts across Idaho
Foster Care Focus Areas
-New processes
-Available resources
-Role responsibilities
-Federal requirements
-Collaborative partnership models
The Idaho Family & Community Engagement Conference (FACE) has become one of the most anticipated annual educator training events. It continues to increase active participation and communication between families, schools, and communities with the objective of educating the whole child to ensure academic achievement and success. This unique statewide conference brings together 300 school administrators, teachers, school counselors, school community resource workers, and community organizations. It is through this collaborative network of school, family, and community partnerships that support students to be successful today and in the future.
It is our hope that you will gain insight from this year’s event that will assist in your efforts to build meaningful partnerships with parents and families. As you will note, each of our speakers are diverse in expertise, but share a common purpose of building positive relationships that encourage families and students the ability to succeed. Over the years, many of you have become friends and we strive each year to provide essential information that it is worthy of your attendance. We look forward to coming together once again and learning from you and with you!
New this year, the conference will include a dedicated Liaison Training Day for McKinney-Vento and Foster Care Liaisons. These specialized sessions are designed to provide role-specific updates, practical resources, and collaborative learning opportunities to help liaisons effectively support students experiencing homelessness and students in foster care. While this training is intended for designated liaisons, it offers valuable professional development and fulfills required training expectations for those serving in these important roles.
Who Should Attend?
McKinney-Vento Liaisons and Foster Care Liaisons serving at the school district level.
What Will I Learn?
Participants will engage in training specific to their role, including:
McKinney-Vento Focus Areas
-McKinney-Vento essentials
-Identification scenarios
-Idaho Data: achievement, growth, and success
-Program needs assessment
-Informed funding decisions
-Effective practices and innovative approaches from districts across Idaho
Foster Care Focus Areas
-New processes
-Available resources
-Role responsibilities
-Federal requirements
-Collaborative partnership models
Location
Sun Valley Resort
1 Sun Valley Road,
Sun Valley, Idaho
1 Sun Valley Road,
Sun Valley, Idaho
Date & Time
October 28, 2026
Power Up Together FACE Pre-Conference Session
Cohosted by the Idaho Out-of-School Network & Idaho Coalition for Community Schools
McKinney-Vento & Foster Care Liaison Training - 1:00-5:00 PM
October 29, 2026
General Conference
October 30, 2026
General Conference
Power Up Together FACE Pre-Conference Session
Cohosted by the Idaho Out-of-School Network & Idaho Coalition for Community Schools
McKinney-Vento & Foster Care Liaison Training - 1:00-5:00 PM
October 29, 2026
General Conference
October 30, 2026
General Conference
Sponsors
Speakers
Diane Sweeney
Diane Sweeney is the founder of Student-Centered Coaching, a framework for instructional coaching that focuses on increasing student and teacher learning. As the author of several books including the new edition of Student-Centered Coaching: The Moves – 2nd Edition (2026), Diane holds a longstanding interest in how adult learning translates to learning in the classroom. She has a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Denver and a Master’s Degree in Bilingual and Multicultural Education from the University of Colorado, Boulder. After teaching and coaching in the Denver Public Schools, she served in the nonprofit sector to support instructional coaching in high needs schools. Since then she has become a respected voice in the field of coaching and professional development.
Luke Mickelson
Luke Mickelson is the Founder of Sleep in Heavenly Peace (SHP), a nonprofit organization dedicated to ensuring that no child sleeps on the floor. What began in his garage in Idaho in 2012 has grown into a nationwide movement with more than 400 chapters and hundreds of thousands of beds delivered to children in need. Luke is a nationally recognized speaker, nonprofit leader, and advocate for the power of service, community, and purpose-driven leadership. His story and the work of SHP have been featured on CNN Heroes, NBC Nightly News, Good Morning America, Mike Rowe’s Returning the Favor, and numerous other national media outlets.
Debbie Critchfield
Debbie Critchfield was sworn in as Idaho’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction on January 2, 2023. She previously served for seven years on the Idaho State Board of Education and was appointed to education task forces by both Governors Brad Little and Butch Otter. Debbie served as an elected school board member in Cassia County for ten years and was on the executive committee of the Idaho School Boards Association. She is a former local library trustee and Oakley Valley Arts Council president, and worked as the public information officer for Cassia School District for nine years.
Debbie and her husband Dave live near Oakley, where they raised their four children. They have four grandchildren.
Debbie and her husband Dave live near Oakley, where they raised their four children. They have four grandchildren.
Annette Tipton
More information coming soon!
Mari Ramos
Mari Ramos serves as Chief Executive Director of the Idaho Hispanic Foundation, where she leads efforts to expand economic opportunity, education, civic engagement, and access to resources for Hispanic and underserved communities across Idaho. Her work focuses on building partnerships and creating pathways that help families, entrepreneurs, and emerging leaders thrive.
Under her leadership, the Foundation has expanded programming in entrepreneurship and workforce development, education, health and wellness, youth engagement, and community resource navigation, while growing the Idaho Hispanic Community Center into a hub for services, programs, and community connection.
A longtime community advocate, Mari serves on numerous boards and community initiatives throughout Idaho. Her leadership and service have earned her several recognitions, including the 2025 CEO of the Year Award for Community Development & Empowerment, the Ohtli Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Government of Mexico for service to Mexican communities abroad, and recognition as an Idaho Business Review Woman of the Year and Community Impact STAR honoree.
As the daughter of immigrants, Mari brings both lived experience and a deep commitment to ensuring families have access to opportunity, community voices are represented in the decisions that affect them, and the next generation of Idaho leaders has the support and pathways to succeed.
Under her leadership, the Foundation has expanded programming in entrepreneurship and workforce development, education, health and wellness, youth engagement, and community resource navigation, while growing the Idaho Hispanic Community Center into a hub for services, programs, and community connection.
A longtime community advocate, Mari serves on numerous boards and community initiatives throughout Idaho. Her leadership and service have earned her several recognitions, including the 2025 CEO of the Year Award for Community Development & Empowerment, the Ohtli Award, one of the highest honors bestowed by the Government of Mexico for service to Mexican communities abroad, and recognition as an Idaho Business Review Woman of the Year and Community Impact STAR honoree.
As the daughter of immigrants, Mari brings both lived experience and a deep commitment to ensuring families have access to opportunity, community voices are represented in the decisions that affect them, and the next generation of Idaho leaders has the support and pathways to succeed.
Charles Fay
Charles Fay, Ph.D. is a parent, internationally recognized author, consultant and highly skilled public speaker.
Millions of educators, mental health professionals, and parents world-wide have benefited from his practical and down-to-earth solutions to the most common and frustrating behaviors displayed by youth of all ages. These solutions come directly from years of research and clinical experience serving severely disturbed youth and their families in psychiatric hospitals, public and private schools, and homes.
Dr. Fay’s interest in education and psychology were piqued as a child from years of exposure to some of our nation’s most dynamic experts in these fields. This early exposure came as a result of participation in training events with his father, Jim Fay. Jim is one of the nation’s leading experts on child discipline and has over fifty years of experience in public education. The internationally recognized Love and Logic approach was literally developed around Charles Fay as he grew. Now he jokes, “I think that’s why I became a psychologist…just to figure out what they were doing to me as a kid. But…let me be clear…I absolutely adore my mom and dad as a result.”
Dr. Fay earned his Ph.D. with highest honors in 1997 from the University of South Carolina. Prior to and during his university training in school and clinical psychology, he enjoyed extensive experience working with children in psychiatric, public school and mental health settings.
Dr. Fay currently works full time as an author, consultant, public speaker and CEO of the Love and Logic Institute. Because of his high-powered sense of humor and story-telling skills, audiences experience the most memorable and life changing form of learning: learning that’s mentally connected to joy and real-life examples.
Millions of educators, mental health professionals, and parents world-wide have benefited from his practical and down-to-earth solutions to the most common and frustrating behaviors displayed by youth of all ages. These solutions come directly from years of research and clinical experience serving severely disturbed youth and their families in psychiatric hospitals, public and private schools, and homes.
Dr. Fay’s interest in education and psychology were piqued as a child from years of exposure to some of our nation’s most dynamic experts in these fields. This early exposure came as a result of participation in training events with his father, Jim Fay. Jim is one of the nation’s leading experts on child discipline and has over fifty years of experience in public education. The internationally recognized Love and Logic approach was literally developed around Charles Fay as he grew. Now he jokes, “I think that’s why I became a psychologist…just to figure out what they were doing to me as a kid. But…let me be clear…I absolutely adore my mom and dad as a result.”
Dr. Fay earned his Ph.D. with highest honors in 1997 from the University of South Carolina. Prior to and during his university training in school and clinical psychology, he enjoyed extensive experience working with children in psychiatric, public school and mental health settings.
Dr. Fay currently works full time as an author, consultant, public speaker and CEO of the Love and Logic Institute. Because of his high-powered sense of humor and story-telling skills, audiences experience the most memorable and life changing form of learning: learning that’s mentally connected to joy and real-life examples.
Marc Brackett
Marc Brackett, Ph.D., is the founding director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and a professor in the Child Study Center at Yale University. He’s the author of two bestselling books—Permission to Feel, available in 30 languages, and, most recently, Dealing with Feeling. Marc is the co-creator of RULER, an evidence-based framework for cultivating emotional intelligence that has been adopted by 5,000 schools. He’s authored over 200 scholarly publications and headlined over 700 conferences. Marc also is the co-creator of the award-winning How We Feel app and the Point of Connection, a conversation card game that builds real-life emotional intelligence.
Nick Edwards
Nicholas Edwards serves as Director of Security and Behavior for the West Ada School District, leading district-wide efforts in school safety, student behavior, and crisis response.
With more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement, military service, and public safety, Nick has held investigative, tactical, and leadership roles, including command of SWAT and Idaho’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. He has supported high-risk operations, complex investigations, and protective security missions involving senior government officials and the President of the United States.
Nick is a Command Sergeant Major (E-9) in the Idaho Army National Guard and a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. He holds degrees in law enforcement, criminal justice, and strategic leadership, along with numerous professional certifications in school safety, investigations, and critical incident response.
With more than 20 years of experience in law enforcement, military service, and public safety, Nick has held investigative, tactical, and leadership roles, including command of SWAT and Idaho’s Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force. He has supported high-risk operations, complex investigations, and protective security missions involving senior government officials and the President of the United States.
Nick is a Command Sergeant Major (E-9) in the Idaho Army National Guard and a graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. He holds degrees in law enforcement, criminal justice, and strategic leadership, along with numerous professional certifications in school safety, investigations, and critical incident response.
Communities for Youth
The Communities for Youth (C4Y) initiative is addressing youth mental health and well-being using an upstream approach based on the Icelandic Prevention Model. This model puts the community in the driver’s seat with guidance from a team of trained professionals, allowing them to understand data from the Idaho Youth Well-being Survey and determine the best path forward to addressing the most pressing youth mental health issues in their community. C4Y works with partners (teens, families, schools/districts, city leadership, and organizations) across the state. Our team consists of Boise State University staff and students committed to increasing well-being for youth living in Idaho.
Schedule
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 –
Power Up Together FACE Pre-Conference Session
Power Up Together FACE Pre-Conference Session
Cohosted by the Idaho Out-of-School Network & Idaho Coalition for Community Schools, Power Up Together highlights best practices for community school practitioners and out-of-school time (OST) professionals and strengthens the connection between the school day and out-of-school hours.
View Pre-Conference Sessions
Wednesday, October 28, 2026 –
McKinney-Vento & Foster Care Liaison Training - Building Pathways to Success
1:00-5:00PM
If you serve as a McKinney-Vento liaison for your school district or charter school, attendance at this training is required and is a monitoring requirement of the Idaho Department of Education. Foster Care Liaisons are also invited to participate in this training to receive updated guidance, resources, and support for their role.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
8:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Speakers
8:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Speakers
Friday, October 30, 2026
8:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Speakers
8:00 – 4:00 p.m. – Speakers
Location
Sun Valley Resort
1 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, Idaho
1 Sun Valley Road, Sun Valley, Idaho
Lodging Information
Rooms are available at the Sun Valley Resort during the Family & Community Engagement Conference for attendees at a first come, first serve basis. You must be registered for the conference in order to reserve rooms during this time frame. Don't wait too long to reserve your room!
CLICK HERE
CLICK HERE