ITASCA, IL - June 2026
The 2025-2026 events season wrapped this month as pioneers, managers, principals, superintendents, and visionaries from across the entire network were present for the 2026 Concept Schools Leadership Summit, held at the Eaglewood Lodge.
The event consisted of three days - the first being a pre-summit day in which key players gathered and discussed plans and ideas for the coming year, followed by two days of intense interactions, discussions, brainstorming sessions, meetings, networking, and sharing of our highest achievements of the academic year.
A Gathering of Minds
The purpose of hosting and producing this annual event is to ascertain the many needs and requirements to help each of our schools thrive. While networking plays a crucial role throughout the entire event, the chance to meet as a united Concept team maintains an inherent value that goes beyond classrooms and campuses.
These passionate, mission-driven educators and leaders shared best practices among their schools and how their involvement equates to overall student success. We gathered story after story of individuals who thrive in their classrooms, and while recognition of our achievements continues to be important, there exists room for improving methodologies and to combine efforts as a means of creating an educational standard that remains second to none.
Aspiring Leaders from Around the Network
The path to leadership at Concept Schools is one in which contribution, commitment, determination, and passion take precedence. This year, Concept Schools inducted 21 new members into the Aspiring Leaders Program, all of whom completed a stringent set of requirements to gain acceptance. These educators set a goal for themselves to become players of impact for their schools, as well as advocates for positivity in their communities, and the Aspiring Leaders Program presents the perfect opportunity for personal and professional development while adhering to the foundation of our mission.
| One of the more notable program inductees was Aaron Lutterodt, Physical Education Teacher, CYSP Coordinator and Coach at HSA Cincinnati. Mr. Lutterodt is not only an avid educator and parent, but he is also of particular merit for Concept Schools as he himself is an alumnus of the school in which he now teaches/leads. |  |
This moment – along with the induction of 20 others program participants – personifies an aspiration for greatness among all of our students. If Mr. Lutterodt felt a calling to return to his alma mater, to become a significant contributor to the betterment of his school and community, and to never forget from where he came and remain committed to helping other young students (including his daughter) discover their own excellence, then the program has become even greater than we expected.
Professional Development +
The continuous improvement and development of our educators is an important priority for Concept Schools. Educators who are valued and appreciated not only remain committed and engaged in their classrooms, but they also make more prominent impacts in the lives of each of their students.
The opportunity to enrich these leaders with greater knowledge of our best practices and available resources certainly deepens their sense of contribution towards the greater whole of Concept Schools. Thus, this event becomes more than simply professional development, but more so a gathering among teams of educational professionals who are committed to working towards progression in every aspect of our mission. We are there for one another, we support one another, and we are empowered to ask questions and to be present, ready and willing to be of service at any given moment.
The Path to Success
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One of the highlights of the event occurred on the final day, when attendees were introduced to Mr. Thomas Bittings Jr., graduate of HSA McKinley Park High School, a former enthusiast in the realm of robotics, a young man who dreamed of building a problem-solving device to help his beloved grandmother, and presently the CEO of a company that is saving lives. Mr. Bittings’s astounding presentation was one of perseverance and hope, where every person in the room saw the culmination of their determination alive in well in a former student who found success despite numerous obstacles. |
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“The problem that changes your life may be in front of you right now,” declared Mr. Bittings, enthusiastic as one would expect of a senior at Morehouse College who lives his dream on a daily basis. “Go solve it!”
To wrap the event, Mr. Ali Uslu presented awards and designations to attendees who achieved distinctions, notorieties, milestones and anniversaries, none of which were more applauded then the 3 winners of the illustrious Teacher of the Year Award. To these prominent educators, teaching is more than a profession, it is a calling to a greater purpose.
If we can build and establish relationships, then learning, education, and success will follow. These awards represent a collective effort by leaders who have both the responsibility and the privilege to work in education. We open doors and change lives, collectively, and we are united by our desire to promote common good to all students.
Click below to see the carousel of images from the 2026 Concept Schools Leadership Summit.
