CLICK HERE TO SUBMIT YOUR PRESENTATION PROPOSAL(S)

Share What’s Working – and What You’ve Learned Along the Way

The New York School Nutrition Association (NYSNA) invites school nutrition professionals, partners, and subject-matter experts to submit breakout session proposals for our Spring Conference this April.

We are looking for practical, real-world sessions that help school nutrition teams do their jobs better today — and prepare for what’s coming next. You do not need to be a “professional speaker” to present. If you’ve solved a problem, tried something new, or learned lessons the hard way, we want to hear from you.

Sessions should be interactive, honest, and focused on takeaways attendees can use immediately.

What Kinds of Sessions Are We Looking For?

Campfire Chat Sessions (Industry Partners) - 30 minute sessions, presented once

Campfire Chat Sessions will take place on Wednesday and Thursday in the Marketplace. The goal of Campfire Chat Sessions are to informally exchange ideas and short best practices within 30 minutes. 

By submitting, presenters agree to be available on April 29 or 30, 2026 in person at our 2026 Spring Conference. The conference committee will confirm the exact time in early Spring of 2026. Speakers who are industry partners MUST purchase a Full Registration at the 2026 Annual Conference. Workshops are not guaranteed to be accepted. All submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Committee. If accepted, a $750 workshop sponsor fee will apply.

Innovative Solutions Sessions (Industry Partners) - 30 minute sessions, presented twice

The Innovative Solution Sessions will take place on Thursday at the Spring Annual Conference, presented by accepted Industry Partners. These sessions are designed for industry leaders to showcase their programs, products or services to key decision-makers, discuss their solutions in-depth, and receive valuable feedback. At the same time, operators will be introduced to the latest products in the market; spanning food, beverage, supplies, services, technology, and equipment. Network & Engage with School Nutrition Leaders.

By submitting, presenters agree to be available on April 30th. Speakers who are industry partners MUST purchase a Full Registration at the 2026 Annual Conference. Workshops are not guaranteed to be accepted. All submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Committee. If accepted, a $1,500 workshop sponsor fee will apply.

Suggested Topics

Below are topics identified by our Conference Committee as areas of special interest in 2026. Please keep in mind that these are requested topics, not requirements — if your idea isn’t listed but this list has sparked a great idea, submit it anyway:

Innovative Solution & Campfire Sessions ideas:

• Buy American
• How to Elevate Scratch Cooking
• Using AI for menu planning/looking to the future
• Getting kids though the line faster – More efficient lunch lines
• Digital Marketing / Digital Menu marketing; Menu Boards samples
• Building Participation in programs
• Unique ways to get feedback on your program / offerings

Key Area Requirements

All session proposals must align with one of the four USDA Professional Standards Key Areas:

• Key Area 1: Nutrition (1000)
• Key Area 2: Operations (2000)
• Key Area 3: Administration (3000)
• Key Area 4: Communications and Marketing (4000)

Presenters are asked to select the Key Area that best fits their session when submitting a proposal. Final Key Area determinations will be made by NYSNA as part of the review process. If a session description does not clearly demonstrate alignment, additional information may be requested. Sessions that do not align with one of the USDA Professional Standards Key Areas may be declined, or may not be eligible for CEUs, at NYSNA’s discretion.

For additional details, please refer to the USDA Professional Standards guidance document.

Session Format

• Interactive discussion is encouraged
• Sessions may be solo presentations, panels, or facilitated conversations

Why Present?

Presenting at NYSNA’s Spring Conference allows you to:

• Share your experience with peers who understand your challenges
• Help shape best practices across New York
• Build your professional profile within the school nutrition community
• Contribute to the growth and strength of our field

Submission Details

• Proposal Deadline: February 6, 2026 Extended indefinitely
• All proposals will be reviewed by the Conference Committee in late Winter 2026
• Sessions should be educational, not sales-focused