Agenda: 2026 National Teacher Professional Development Conference

The ultimate professional development conference for educators — exploring Culinary, Architecture, Tourism & Hospitality in the first half, and Fashion, Retail, Textiles & Interior Design in the second.

*Agenda subject to change. Wear comfortable clothing — lots of walking, presentations, and site visits.

Day 1 • 9:00 AM – 6:30 PM

Tuesday, June 9

Culinary, Architecture, Tourism & Hospitality

Day Starts

9:00 AM • 135 Madison Avenue, Room 5C

9:00 AM
– 10:00 AM
(1 hr)
Welcome with WindowsWear
A kickoff presentation on Culinary, Architecture, Tourism & Hospitality.
Location: 135 Madison Avenue, Room 5C
10:00 AM
– 11:00 AM
(1 hr)
Teacher Professional Development
Connecting program content to national standards and classroom application with Gayla Randel, FCS Consultant.
Location: 135 Madison Avenue, Room 5C
11:30 AM
– 1:30 PM
(2 hrs)
José Andrés Group • Ritz-Carlton Hotel
With Hallie Leitter, Senior Manager, Sales & Events; including The Bazaar Bar, Bazaar Meat, Nubeluz, and Zaytinya for lunch.
Location: The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad • 25 W 28th St, New York, NY 10001
1:30 PM
– 2:30 PM
(1 hr)
Eataly
Explore the iconic Italian marketplace & food hall.
Location: 200 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010
3:00 PM
– 6:30 PM
(3 hr)
Architecture Cruise
A cruise along New York Harbor exploring NYC’s iconic skyline and architecture.
Location: Pier 62, Chelsea Piers

Day Ends

6:30 PM • Pier 62, Chelsea Piers

Day 2 • 12:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Wednesday, June 10

Culinary, Architecture, Tourism & Hospitality

Day Starts

12:00 PM • 42nd St between 5th & 6th Ave (across from 11 W 42nd St)

12:00 PM
– 1:30 PM
(~1.5 hrs)
Tea Around Town
A British-style afternoon tea aboard a double-decker bus tour of NYC.
Departure: 42nd St between 5th & 6th Ave (across from 11 W 42nd St)
2:00 PM
– 4:00 PM
(2 hrs)
Museum of Ice Cream
Immersive, experiential design through the lens of tourism & hospitality.
Location: 558 Broadway, New York, NY
All Attendees

6:30 PM – 8:30 PM • 2 hrs

Teacher Networking Reception

Open to all attendees of the 2026 conference. Connect, mingle, and celebrate!

Cocktail attire • Vintage Green Rooftop, 303 Lexington Ave 16th Floor, New York, NY 10016

Day Ends

8:30 PM • Networking Reception (Vintage Green Rooftop)

Day 3 • 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM

Thursday, June 11

Fashion, Retail, Textiles & Interior Design

Day Starts

10:00 AM • Berkeley College, 3 East 43rd Street

10:00 AM
– 10:30 AM
(30 min)
Welcome & Introductions
Welcome and introductions around the room.
Location: Berkeley College, 3 East 43rd Street
10:30 AM
– 11:30 AM
(1 hr)
Presentation by Professor Dyandra Brown (Berkeley College)
A broader view of the fashion business — the role of the U.S. industry and highlights in sourcing and sustainability, both domestically and globally.
Location: Berkeley College, 3 East 43rd Street
11:30 AM
– 12:30 PM
(1 hr)
NYC Fashion Retail: History & Current Landscape (WindowsWear)
An introduction to NYC’s fashion retail history and current landscape.
Location: Berkeley College, 3 East 43rd Street
12:30 PM
– 1:30 PM
(1 hr)
Lunch
Provided on-site.
Location: Berkeley College, 3 East 43rd Street
1:45 PM
– 2:45 PM
(1 hr)
Bach Mai (2025-2026 Designer-in-Residence) & Chuks Collins (2024-2025)
Meet the acclaimed couturier and explore his creative process.
Location: Berkeley College, 12 East 41st Street
3:00 PM
– 4:00 PM
(~1 hr)
Calvin Klein • Retail Design & Experience
With Benoit Tordeur, SVP Visual Experience & Production.
Location: 1460 Broadway, Room 12D
4:00 PM
– 4:20 PM
(20 min)
Dallas College & Marist University Brief Overview
With Veronica Montes (Department Chair, Career and Technical Programs, Dallas College) & Rebecca Brown (Department Chair, Marist Fashion)
Location: 1460 Broadway, Room 12D
4:30 PM
– 6 PM
(~1.5 hrs)
Textiles at Mood Fabrics
An exploration of the Garment District’s most iconic fabric showroom.
Location: 225 W 37th St, 3rd Floor, New York, NY 10018

Day Ends

4:30/6 PM • Mood Fabrics

Day 4 • 10:00 AM – 4/9:00 PM

Friday, June 12

Fashion, Retail, Textiles & Interior Design

Day Starts

10:00 AM • LIM College, 545 5th Avenue

10:00 AM
– 11:00 AM
(1 hr)
Teacher Professional Development (WindowsWear)
Connecting program content to national standards and classroom application with Gayla Randel, FCS Consultant.
Location: LIM College, 545 5th Avenue
11:00 AM
– 11:45 AM
(45 min)
Careers in the Fashion Business & Skills for Success (LIM College)
A look at career pathways and the skills students need to thrive in fashion.
Location: LIM College, 545 5th Avenue
11:45 AM
– 12:45 PM
(1 hr)
Partnering with Industry through THREAD (LIM College)
Bridging classrooms and industry partners.
Location: LIM College, 545 5th Avenue
12:45 PM
– 1:30 PM
(45 min)
Lunch
Provided on-site.
Location: LIM College, 545 5th Avenue
1:30 PM
– 3:30 PM
(~2 hrs)
5th Avenue Retail Immersion
With Denise Foley, Leader in Brand Experience, Visual Merchandising, and Retail Excellence — exploring Saks Fifth Avenue, Bergdorf Goodman, Tiffany & Co., Swarovski, and more.
Location: 5th Avenue between 49th and 57th Streets
4:00 PM
– 9:00 PM
(open)
The Met Museum • Conference Wrap-Up
Visit to The Metropolitan Museum of Art (open until 9 PM).
Location: 1000 5th Ave, New York, NY

Conference Ends

4/9:00 PM • The Met Museum • 1000 5th Ave

Participating Teachers

First Name Last Name School Location Option
CrisBauerIdaho Virtual AcademyMeridian, IDH1
RebeccaBrownMarist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NYF
KimberlyBushSouth Aiken HighAiken, SCH1
LauraCalvertWaukee Northwest High SchoolWaukee, IAF
CarmenCarterDallas CollegeDallas, TXH2
StephanieConoverMarist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NYF
HeatherDedieHolman Middle SchoolGlen Allen, VAH2
JenniferDoradoMustang North Middle SchoolsYukon, OKF
JenniferFinnMarist UniversityPoughkeepsie, NYF
LauraGarciaWaukee High SchoolWaukee, IAF
CrystalGrahamMesa Middle SchoolRoswell, NMH1
TaraHardemanMustang Central Middle SchoolYukon, OKF
LeslieHulseyMartha Layne Collins High SchoolShelbyville, KYH2
SusanIrvingWatauga High SchoolBoone, NCH2
SarahLarsonWF Sheyenne High SchoolFargo, NDH2
TheresaLauritsenWaukee Northwest High SchoolWaukee, IAF
CynthiaMcGuireCarl Ben Eielson Middle SchoolFargo, NDH2
ShaninMcKavishCalifornia High SchoolSan Ramon, CAH1
DanaMeansWaukee Northwest High SchoolWaukee, IAF
VeronicaMontesDallas CollegeDallas, TXH2
MeganMoranIdaho Virtual AcademyMeridian, IDH1
ChristieOrrFallsburg CSDFallsburg, NYH1
GaylaRandelState of MontanaHelena, MTF
ChristinRobyMustang High SchoolMustang, OKF
KarenRudeCentury High SchoolBismarck, NDH2
EricaSelbyDaviess County High SchoolOwensboro, KYF
HannahSpencerMid-Del SchoolsMidwest City, OKF
LisaWalkerDaviess County High SchoolOwensboro, KYF

F = Full Conference (4 Days: Tuesday, June 9th — Friday, June 12th)
H1 = Half Conference (2 Days: Tuesday, June 9th — Wednesday, June 10th)
H2 = Half Conference (2 Days: Thursday, June 11th — Friday, June 12th)

Total Culinary (Days 1–2): 20  •  Total Fashion (Days 3–4): 22

Before You Go

Hotel • Attire • Photography • Travel

Hotel Hilton Garden Inn — Midtown Manhattan
Address: 45 East 33rd Street, New York, NY
Daily breakfast is included, and lunch is provided during conference days.
Room & taxes are already paid for. Please note you will still have to provide your credit card upon check-in to cover any incidental charges during your stay. If you don’t have incidental charges, then you won’t be changed any additional fees.
Room Type Confirmation Number Arrival Departure Guest Name
2 Double Beds3443532715Jun 10Jun 13Susan Irving
2 Double Beds3445082739Jun 08Jun 13Lisa Walker / Erica Selby
1 King Bed3445527871Jun 08Jun 15Shanin Mckavish
1 King Bed3446632763Jun 08Jun 13Hannah Spencer
1 King Bed3448002740Jun 10Jun 13Leslie Hulsey
2 Double Beds3449525153Jun 09Jun 13Cynthia McGuire / Sarah Larson
1 King Bed3452012284Jun 10Jun 13Karen Rude
1 King Bed3464433233Jun 08Jun 13Theresa Lauritsen
2 Double Beds3465360283Jun 08Jun 13Gayla Randel
1 King Bed3466289936Jun 08Jun 13Dana Means
2 Double Beds3466428389Jun 08Jun 13Christin Roby / Tara Hardeman
2 Double Beds3466623785Jun 08Jun 13Heather Dedie
1 King Bed3466704811Jun 10Jun 13Veronica Montes
1 King Bed3467336562Jun 10Jun 13Carmen Carter
2 Doubles Acc w/ Tub3468813014Jun 08Jun 11Megan Moran / Chris Bauer
1 King Bed3470314829Jun 08Jun 13Laura Calvert
1 King Bed3470946580Jun 08Jun 13Laura Garcia
1 King Bed3471896831Jun 08Jun 11Crystal Graham
1 King Bed3472234165Jun 08Jun 13Jennifer Dorado
Attire Comfortable Clothing & Walking Shoes
We’ll be doing a lot of activities and moving around the city — mornings begin with presentations, and afternoons are dedicated to site visits, tours, and immersive experiences.
For the Wednesday evening networking reception, please wear cocktail attire as we’ll be at a rooftop lounge (which is also covered in case of inclement weather).
Photography Conference Photography
The entire conference experience will be photographed for WindowsWear’s press and social media. By attending, you consent to appearing in conference photos and content.
Travel Getting To & From NYC
Attendees arrange their own transportation to and from New York City.

LaGuardia (LGA) — Closest to Midtown. Taxi/Uber/Lyft: $45–$60 • Bus + Subway: $3
JFK or Newark (EWR) — Taxi/Uber/Lyft: $65–$100, or AirTrain + LIRR / NJ Transit to Penn Station or Grand Central for about $15 (10–15 minute walk to the hotel).

Friday flights: The conference wraps at The Met, which closes at 9 PM. Book a later flight so you can enjoy the visit without rushing.
PD Credit Professional Development Certificate
You’ll receive a certificate for 14 to 30 hours of professional development depending on whether you attend the 2-day or 4-day option. These hours may be used toward license renewal as determined by your state and district.

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