Save the Date!
61st NYSSSWA State Conference
November 11 – 13, 2026
at
The Hotel Ithaca & the Ithaca Conference Center!
NYSSSWA is so excited to announce that after 3 years of sold out conferences, we have contracted with the new, modern and well equipped Ithaca Downtown Conference Center for our 2026 State Conference with accommodations around the corner at the newly renovated Hotel Ithaca!
The Conference Committee has some exciting speakers and a Thursday reception planned to enjoy networking with attendees from across the state. We will be offering a Wednesday evening “Pre-Conference” yoga session with light snacks to follow on November 11th with our full conference on November 12th & 13th. We are currently in the process of confirming our speakers and hope to be able to provide the conference program by June 15, 2026, if not before, so keep checking back.
If you have not done so already, start talking with your district regarding funding and time off to join School Social Workers from across the State of New York for professional development dedicated to the needs of School Social Workers and the students, educators and parents we serve! (See further down the page for more information.)
Photo Credit: The Hotel Ithaca and the Ithaca Conference Center
Registration Opens June 1, 2026 to NYSSSWA Members
Be Sure To Be at the “Head of the Line”
Since we have sold out the last 3 years, we would like to acknowledge our NYSSSWA members and give them first priority regarding registration to “Save My Spot” for the Fall State Conference even prior to finalizing the program. Registration is NOW open to NYSSSWA MEMBERS ONLY. If you are a NYSSSWA FULL, ASSOCIATE, RETIRED or STUDENT member, you can register NOW! Once the speakers are confirmed, people who have registered already will also be among the first to select their sessions.
Please note: Everyone in NYSSSWA’s system is a “member” according to our system. However, if you are a Non-Member “member”, your membership has expired or you have not been a NYSSSWA member. If YOU would like to be among the first to be able to “Save My Spot”, register for the conference, and select your sessions; we encourage you to Join Now or make sure your NYSSSWA membership has been renewed and is current. (Log in to your NYSSSWA account to see your membership status/expiration date or contact member.services@nyssswa.org.)
Photo Credit: Dreamstime?
Conference Fees?
The Conference Committee has again agreed that the Regular Conference Fees will remain the same as they have been for the past few years.
Full & Associate Members: $399
Retired & Student Members: $349
Non-members: $499
A $50 Late Fee will again be added on October 9. Note that NYSSSWA membership is $85 if you would like to receive the discounted Member Rate, so consider joining or renewing today!!
Registration will CLOSE on November 1, 2026!
Photo Credit: Dreamstime MadArtists
The Hotel Ithaca
Where: 222 South Cayuga St Ithaca, NY 14850
“Enjoy a stay at Hotel Ithaca, ideally situated close to the city’s top attractions” and just around the corner for the Ithaca Conference Center. The hotel is also just minutes away from the finger lakes and “Ithaca’s breathtaking gorges, picturesque hiking trails, and the historic Cornell University campus. Savor the flavors of local wineries, browse the lively farmers’ markets, and dive into Ithaca’s unique art and culture scene—all within easy reach of the hotel.”
Hotel Room Fees: Rooms have been contracted for at The Hotel Ithaca around the corner from the Ithaca Conference Center for November 11 & 12 at $139.00 a night ($164.02 with tax). Additional room blocks are being explored with hotels very close by (easy walking distance).
Photo Credit: The Hotel Ithaca
Reservation Policy:
In order to assign room accommodations to individuals, each guest will need to guarantee their reservation by Wednesday, October 28, 2026. If reservations are not made by stated cutoff date, rooms may be reserved on a space only availability basis (rates could also vary). Please note that once the NYSSSWA hotel block is filled, conference rates may no longer apply. Hotel Reservation Link Pending.
Hotel Policy:
The total balance of individual guest stay must be paid upon check in. It is understood that all deposits are non-refundable, and payments must be made in US funds. Early departures from original reservations are non-refundable.
Why Come to Ithaca?
Last year CNN reported that Ithaca is one of “America’s Best Towns to Visit in 2025”.
“Ithaca’s not the kind of place where you drive for an hour, hike for miles, then finally lay eyes on an underwhelming trickle of a waterfall. The landscape in and around this friendly upstate New York town is so jampacked with falls — more than 150 within a 10-mile radius — that you don’t have to go far before coming upon another one, often more impressive than the last…
A showstopper when it comes to scenery, Ithaca sits at the southern tip of Cayuga Lake, the longest of New York’s Finger Lakes, surrounded by fertile land that’s home to wineries, cider houses and farms that stock produce-forward restaurants downtown.”
So take advantage of Veterans’ Day and come early or stay later to enjoy the Finger Lakes too!
Source: Hunter, , 2026-June, CNN
Photo Credit: The Hotel Ithaca
Need Help Convincing Your Supervisor or Superintendent?
If you have not done so already, meet with your supervisor to request funds. (There may be funds left over for 2025-2026 year or secure funds from the 2026-27 year.) NYSSSWA has put together a couple of sample initial letters that you can draw from to submit to your supervisor. Feel free to adapt to meet your needs.
Convince Your Supervisor–Letter 1 (Generic)
Convince Your Supervisor–Letter 2 (Includes the opportunity to list a few sessions that may be specifically pertinent to you and your district.)