Chase Christensen
Chase Christensen leads with a commitment to both student success and staff well-being. Recognized as the 2025 Wyoming Principal of the Year, he has championed initiatives that strengthen school safety, expand mental health supports, and build a culture of belonging in rural schools. His leadership emphasizes that safe, healthy learning environments—free from violence and supported by strong wellness systems—are the foundation for student achievement.
Chase is also deeply engaged in shaping the role of technology in education. He has overseen districtwide work on instructional technology, from integrating AI tools to setting thoughtful boundaries on cell phone use. He believes schools must strike a balance between leveraging the promise of educational technology and protecting students from its potential harms, ensuring that innovation enhances, rather than disrupts, teaching and learning.
Drawing on his experience as both a district leader and statewide education advocate, Chase brings a practical, student-centered perspective to discussions on well-being and the future of educational technology.
James Allrich
James Allrich is a student-centered, restorative school leader committed to ensuring the success of every child through high expectations, collaboration, equitable access, and excellence in teaching and learning.
He has been the principal of Argyle Middle School, a whole-school tech magnet in Montgomery County, Maryland, for eleven years. He is a fierce advocate for social-emotional learning, equitable policies, and restorative practices.
His leadership and involvement extend beyond the school building. Mr. Allrich serves on the board of directors for both the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) and the Maryland Association of Secondary School Principals (MASSP), and he is the middle school chair of the Montgomery County Association of Administrators and Principals (MCAAP).
He was named the Maryland Principal of the Year for 2023 and was a Washington Post Principal of the Year finalist, among other recognitions. He is currently pursuing a doctoral degree at Bowie State University, focusing his research on restorative justice in schools.
April D. Knight
With more than 34 years of service in education and 21 years as a dedicated principal, April D. Knight stands out as a visionary leader in education. It’s this leadership that led to her being elected NAESP vice president, serving in that capacity from 2023-2024, then as president elect from 2024-2025, and now taking the helm as NAESP president from 2025-2026.
In Ohio’s Columbus City Schools, she is principal of Avondale Elementary, where she brings an unwavering commitment to academic excellence, equity, and community engagement.
Knight’s journey began in the classroom, where she taught first grade through fourth grade before transitioning into roles that shaped districtwide literacy and curriculum initiatives. Her path through literacy facilitator, curriculum coordinator; and leadership intern roles provided a firm foundation for her impact as a school leader.
Knight’s influence extends beyond her school. She has held key leadership positions such as president and vice president of the Columbus Administrators Association and Columbus Elementary Administrators Association, in addition to serving on the Board of Directors for the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators for 5 years. She has served on the Superintendent’s Advisory Committee for the past four years and has contributed to vital district teams, including finance and appropriations, innovation and reform, and contract negotiations.
A proud NAESP member since 2003, Knight served as the NAESP Zone 3 director from 2019 to 2022 and holds certification as an NAESP mentor. Her commitment to nurturing future administrators is evident through her mentorship with the Beginning Administrator Mentoring Academy, as well as having leadership interns shadowing her for the past 12 years. She also works to promote excellence in the principalship by serving on the Ohio Association of Elementary School Administrators’ Recognition Awards Service Team for the past 10 years.
Knight earned her administrative licensure from The Ohio State University, where she also completed a Master of Arts in Children's Literature. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Otterbein College.
Moderator
Mark Cannizzaro, President of the American Federation of School Administrators/AFL-CIO
For over thirty-eight years, Mark Cannizzaro has been a steadfast advocate for public education and a champion for school leaders and the students they serve. A respected educator, transformational union leader, and tireless voice for equity, Mark has worked to ensure that every child has access to a high-quality education—one rooted in opportunity and driven by strong, effective school leadership.
Mark began his career as a physical education teacher and rose through the ranks to become a principal and nationally recognized voice in education. He taught and served as assistant principal at Totten Intermediate School (I.S. 34), then led Paulo Intermediate School (I.S. 75) as principal, earning recognition as a model middle school under his leadership. From 2003 to 2012, Mark’s leadership at I.S. 75 fostered a culture of academic excellence and collaboration.