IDEACON

February 17 - 19, 2025

About IDEAcon

IDEAcon isn't just a conference; IDEAcon is an experience.


From daily t
hought leaders in the areas of education and DEI and Accessibility who represent innovative practices both locally and across the country to hundreds of sessions that allow you to truly customize your IDEAcon experience based on your own comfort level and curiosity with idea/skills/tools to evening social events that truly make you feel like you're part of the IDEA family, IDEAcon is a conference you won't forget, for all the right reasons.

IDEAcon 2024 Highlights

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Does your district have remaining funds in the current budget for professional development?  We've got you covered!


IDEA created a “Super Saver” early bird registration that will last until August 1. Schools can pre-purchase IDEAcon 2025 registrations now but wait to assign them to specific people until the 24-25 school year. If your school/district is interested, click the button below!


Pre-Register for 2025!

Call for proposals is now closed!

Each year, IDEAcon attendees learn with over one hundred amazing presenters representing a wide range of fields, topics, and teaching styles. The conference would not be possible without our presenters!


Thank you to those who submitted proposals. Our call for proposals for the 2025 conference will open the summer of 2024.

WHY PRESENT AT IDEAcon

IDEAcon would not be what it is without our presenters. We recognize that it takes a lot of time and effort to prepare a presentation, and we are proud of all of our presenters that share their work at our conference. 


IDEA remains committed to providing a conference registration to the lead presenter for each IDEAcon session. All co-presenters must pay for their own registration.


Our call for proposals typically runs from June until August.

THE SELECTION PROCESS

Once the Call for Proposals closes, each submission gets blindly reviewed at least three times by a group consisting of IDEA Conference Committee, IDEA Governing Board and Executive Board members, along with IDEAcon volunteers.


On "Selection Saturday", our Conference Committee builds the IDEAcon schedule aiming to create a balanced, engaging, and innovative event. Invitations to accepted presenters are expected to be sent in early October.

Proposal Guidelines

Exhibit at IDEAcon

The IDEA team recognizes how important our exhibitors are, and we show this value in a number of ways:

  • Opportunities for exhibitor sessions in the exhibit hall.
  • Opportunities for additional sponsorships.
  • Dedicated time for attendees to experience the exhibit hall including a Monday night “Welcome” social that takes place IN the exhibit hall.
  • Hands-on/Experiential stations IN the exhibit hall that offer programming throughout each day of the conference.
  • Attendees can experience your product first-hand our DEMOcon Playground


IDEA believes that all of these things highlight how important our exhibitors are to a successful and well-rounded conference, but this is also the time to give you the, “But wait, there’s more!” line. Because there is more. IDEAcon also gives exhibitors the opportunity to select their ideal booth location in the exhibit hall. Does your product fit best with IDEA Exchange? Pick a booth near that space!


All of this customization allows you to take an even more targeted and personal approach in the exhibit hall and lets attendees know how you’re a necessary part of their story. We’d love to welcome you to the IDEAcon exhibitor family!

Learn More!

2024 IDEAcon Planning Committee

Joy Blake - Chicago Public Schools

Scherrie Davis - Elementary School District 159

Andy Fekete - Community Consolidated School District 93

Caren Kimbarovsky - Libertyville School District 70

Mike McGowan - Sunnybrook School District 171

Susan O'Day - Prairie-Hills School District 144

Li-Wei Peng - Governors State University

Dallas Turner - Rockford Public Schools

Bill Witkowsky - Will County School District 92


Past IDEAcon Keynotes

Stephen Reid (2024)

Our Voice Alliance (2024)

Briana Morales (2024)

Katie Klein & iO Theater Chicago (2023)

Pierre Paul (2023)

Evan Struck (2023)

Stephanie Evergreen (2023)

Barute Kafele (2022)

Kat Cho (2022)

Bellen Woodard (2022)

Kate Biberdorf (2022)

Past IDEAcon Thought Leaders

Dr. Desiree Alexander (2024)

Jed Dearybury (2024)

Dr. Shaniqua Jones (2024)

Dee Lanier (2024)

Rachelle Dene Poth (2024)

Abeer Ramadan-Shinnawi (2024)

Carly Spina (2024)

Carrie Baughcum (2023)

Dr. Marcus Belin (2023)

Scott Bricker (2023)

Sallee Clark (2023)

eTwinz (2023)

Jeni Long (2023)

Michael Matera (2023)

Dr. Adam Phyall (2023)

Lainie Rowell (2023)

Julie Smith (2023)

Dr. Mandi Tolen (2023)

Yaritza Villalba (2023)

Jordyn Zimmerman (2023)

Nyree Clark (2022)

Carole Collins Ayanlaja (2022)

Jaime Donally (2022)

Sheldon Eakins (2022)

Ali Hearn (2022)

Alberto & Mario Herráez

Coach Victor Hicks (2022)

Sawsan Jaber (2022)

Kerry Magro (2022)

Courtney Orzel (2022)

Sarah Said (2022)

Ken Shelton (2022)

Victoria Thompson (2022)

Jorge Valenzuela (2022)

Evan Whitehead (2022)


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