A FEN General Membership meeting is scheduled for Friday, October 30, 2026 at the Hotel Alba, Tampa.
Please complete the RSVP form on this page to confirm your attendance. The RSVP should be in the name of the attendee. This registration will help us prepare meeting materials, produce a name badge and arrange the FEN-sponsored breakfast service.
If you need a room for the night of October 29th, you can reserve one at the Hotel Alba,located at 5303 W Kennedy Blvd, Tampa, FL 33609. To reserve a room:
By Phone: Call the hotel directly at (813) 289-1950.
Online: You can also book your room using this link: FEN Meeting at the Hotel Alba – October 30
The group rate is $185 per night.
Be sure to book by Friday, September 25th, 2026 to receive this rate. Room reservations and travel costs are the responsibility of each attendee.
7:30 AM – FEN-sponsored breakfast.
8:30 AM – Welcome, LeighAnn Blackmore, President, FEN.
Educator Certification (Changes): What Districts Need to Know. Explore the latest changes to educator preparation and certification requirements, and what they mean for district hiring, certification, and talent acquisition. This session will highlight key changes affecting certificate renewal, reinstatement, subject-area exams, and alternative certification pathways. Presenter: Dr. Scott Richman, Supervisor of Professional Learning, Hillsborough County School District.
Documents discussed during the presentation include: 2026 FEAPs, FEAPs Progression Plan, HCPS Educator Rubric crosswalk with the new FEAP indicators.
Public Employees and First Amendment Rights. An overview of public employees’ First Amendment rights, the legal and practical considerations in the K–12 school setting. Presenter: Jonathan Squires, Esq. General Counsel, Hillsborough College.
Planning for Progress. A presentation on how the Pinellas School District is addressing declining enrollment and excess capacity while working to preserve and strengthen academic opportunities through school closures, K–8 configurations, early learning expansion, and other program changes. Attention will be given to the HR and labor relations side of this work, which often receives less attention than facilities, enrollment, and boundary decisions. Presenter: Michael Vigue, Chief Human Resource Officer, Pinellas County School District.
Negotiation Insights Exchange. An open forum for participants to share updates on negotiations – what’s working, what’s difficult, and success stories. Facilitated by FEN Officers