After months of planning, AeriesCon 2026 has now come and gone, and I’m still reflecting on what an incredible week it was in Monterey.
Welcoming more than 1,500 school and district staff, our Aeries staff, and sponsors from across the Aeries community made this our largest AeriesCon yet. There’s something special about gathering people who care deeply about supporting schools and students, and Monterey turned out to be the perfect backdrop for those conversations.
From inspiring sessions and a powerful keynote from George Couros to a truly magical evening together at the Monterey Bay Aquarium, the entire week was filled with moments that reminded us why this community matters so much.
We absolutely loved hosting AeriesCon by the bay.
A huge part of that experience came from the team behind the scenes.
Leslie Stawarz, Natasha Perera, MCM, Kirsten Bumgarner, and Dimithri Perera poured their creativity, energy, and heart into every detail, creating a truly immersive, ocean-inspired experience for our attendees. From the big moments to the smallest touches, they made the entire week feel seamless.
I’m incredibly proud of this team and grateful to everyone who joined us in Monterey. Thank you for bringing the conversations, ideas, energy, and community that make AeriesCon so special.
Still riding the wave from this one. 🌊
PS - shout out to Ashley Diaz for capturing all the amazing photos from the week, including these!