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The New York School Nutrition Association (NYSNA) invites you to submit session proposals for consideration at the 2027 Spring Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY from May 11-13, 2027. Submit A ProposalShare What’s Working in Your Program – 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 in May 2027. 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? (Descriptions below)
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. Presenters agree to be available on May 12 or 13, 2027, as determined by NYSNA. The conference committee will confirm the exact time in early Spring of 2027. Speakers who are industry partners MUST purchase a Full Registration at the 2027 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 & Campfire Chat Topics:
Innovative Solutions Sessions (Industry Partners) - 30 minute sessions, presented twice The Innovative Solution Sessions will take place on Wednesday 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. Presenters agree to be available on May 12, 2027. Speakers who are industry partners MUST purchase a Full Registration at the 2027 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. Innovative Solutions & Campfire Chat Topics:
Educational Breakout Sessions (All member types) - 1 hour sessions, presented once For 2027, our Conference Committee has identified four key areas of focus for educational sessions: Leadership, Food Service Director 101, Restore The Source, and Innovation. These will function as “tracks” our attendees can follow when choosing breakout sessions. To help inspire submissions, we’ve also outlined several topics we’d especially like to see represented within these tracks. Think of these as a starting point, not a checklist - you are not limited to the topics below. If you have a great session idea that fits within one of our four tracks, we encourage you to submit it for consideration. A Note About Industry Partner Submissions for Educational Sessions: Speakers who are industry partners MUST purchase a Full Registration at the 2027 Annual Conference. Workshops are not guaranteed to be accepted. All submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Committee. All Industry Partner submissions, if accepted, are beholden to a $1,000 workshop sponsor fee.
Educational Breakout Session Topic Suggestions - Organized by Track Restore the Source: Wellness at Work
Food Service Directors: Tips for Successful Directors
Leadership
Innovation in School Nutrition
Key Area Requirements All session proposals must align with one of the four USDA Professional Standards Key Areas:
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 For 2027, we’re especially interested in sessions that go beyond the traditional presentation format and give attendees opportunities to participate, share, and learn from one another. Examples of interactive formats the Conference Committee is seeking include:
Traditional presentations are still welcome, but preference may be given to proposals that thoughtfully incorporate opportunities for audience participation and connection. Don’t feel limited to the ideas above - if you have a creative or innovative way to bring your topic to life, we encourage you to submit it for consideration. Why Present? Presenting at NYSNA’s Spring Conference allows you to:
Submission Details
Submit A ProposalDon’t miss the opportunity to share your school nutrition expertise! The proposal submission deadline is October 9th, 2026.
Submissions will be reviewed by the Conference Committee.
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