What is AVID National Conference (NatCon)?
AVID National Conference is our annual premier professional learning event that brings educators, leaders, and AVID community members together to share strategies, celebrate impact, and envision what’s next in education.
NatCon is more than a conference; it's a movement of educators and leaders who believe in the power of possibility and the promise of every student. It's where ideas become strategies and strategies become impact. Together, we will share innovations, research, and best practices that elevate teaching, strengthen systems, and change lives.
AVID NatCon 2025 Recap
December 11–13, 2025
San Diego, California | Manchester Grand Hyatt
A Milestone Year at NatCon 2025
The AVID community came together in San Diego for 3 days of connection, learning, and celebration at AVID National Conference—marking the grand finale of AVID’s 45th anniversary. This year’s conference delivered a focused, evidence-driven experience centered on instructional quality, implementation, and student impact.
Key moments included the release of new AVID Elementary and AVID Excel® research findings, announcements outlining the future of elementary implementation, and partner-led sessions focused on aligning AVID with college, career, and Career and Technical Education (CTE) priorities. The conference also celebrated excellence across the AVID community through the inaugural AVID Global Achievement Awards and amplified student and alumni voices that brought the AVID experience to life.
Together, these conversations reinforced AVID’s commitment to continuous refinement, strong implementation, and meaningful outcomes for students.
Quick Links
*Session resources are available in the app and on the website for review through February 28, 2026, so you can revisit sessions you attended or explore others you may have missed.
Conference Highlights
New research released for AVID Elementary and AVID Excel, reinforcing the role of instructional quality and professional learning.
Demonstration and Showcase status for AVID Elementary announced for 2026, recognizing strong implementation and instructional practice.
College, career, and CTE alignment highlighted through partner-led sessions and sustainable funding strategies.
Global Achievement Awards honored educators, leaders, and Site Teams making measurable impact.
Student and alumni voices anchored learning in lived experience and purpose.
New research presented at the conference reinforced AVID’s commitment to evidence-informed improvement.
The AVID Elementary study examined outcomes for more than 360,000 students across 221 schools, showing positive impacts on elementary English Language Arts achievement for students with sustained exposure and higher middle school GPA. Findings highlighted the importance of instructional quality and professional learning while identifying opportunities for growth in mathematics instruction and student data use.
The AVID Excel study, spanning more than 7,000 students across 71 schools, demonstrated statistically significant positive outcomes for multilingual learners, including higher English language proficiency, increased ninth-grade reclassification rates, and higher enrollment in the AVID Elective. Results emphasized the value of strong implementation and differentiated support.
Beginning in 2026, AVID will introduce Demonstration and Showcase status for AVID Elementary. This new designation will recognize sites that exemplify strong implementation and instructional practice while creating opportunities for observation, shared learning, and continuous improvement across the elementary community.
AVID will continue to release new research findings at future National Conferences, supported by additional resources including white papers and case studies.
Partner-led sessions highlighted how districts and schools are leveraging CTE funding to strengthen AVID-aligned college and career pathways. Educators shared practical strategies for aligning AVID implementation with workforce priorities, navigating funding structures, and building sustainable models that connect academic preparation to postsecondary and career opportunities.
The conference honored the inaugural recipients of the AVID Global Achievement Awards, recognizing educators, leaders, and Site Teams who exemplify excellence in implementation and a deep commitment to student success. These honorees reflect the leadership, purpose, and impact that define the AVID community. Read the full announcement.
2025 Winners:
- District Leader: Jodie Kuleck, Alexandria City Public Schools, Alexandria, Virginia
- Elementary Principal: Kimberly Hutcherson, Richland School District Two, Center for Achievement, Columbia, South Carolina (now serving at the district office)
- Secondary Teacher: Crystal Medina, Humble Independent School District, Atascocita Middle School, Houston, Texas
- Counselor: Sarah Elmore, Madison Metropolitan School District, Madison East High School, Madison, Wisconsin
- Elementary Teacher: Matthew Rodney, Corona-Norco Unified School District, formerly VanderMolen Elementary and now at Ronald Reagan Elementary School, Eastvale, California
- Site Team: Fontana High School, Fontana Unified School District, Fontana, California
- Secondary Principal: Renee Kory, Kyrene School District, Kyrene Aprende Middle School, Chandler, Arizona
- Staff Developer: Robin Ilac, Santa Maria-Bonita School District, El Camino Junior High School, Santa Maria, California
