Graduating High School Global Citizens Through Educationally-Aligned Study Abroad
CIEE believes study abroad should be a normal part of every high school student’s education, and it starts with educators.
The CIEE High School Study Abroad Conference brings high school teachers and administrators together for a professional development weekend focused on making global education standard practice, not a rare opportunity.
2026 High School Study Abroad Conference: New York City, October 3–4
- Pricing: $495
- PD Credit: Earn a Certificate of Completion for up to 10 hours of Professional Development credit (subject to district approval)
- Attendees receive: Full access to all conference sessions and activities, plus most meals. Travel and accommodations are attendee’s responsibility
Educators return home equipped to make high school study abroad the norm with:
- Concrete tools to build a culture of global citizenship at their schools
- Scholarship resources to open study abroad up to more students, regardless of financial background
- Proven techniques to help your students stand out in college applications
Space is limited, register early to secure your spot.
Register for the CIEE High School Study Abroad Conference today
Day 1
Oct 2, 2026
Day 2
Oct 3, 2026
Day 3
Oct 4, 2026
8:00 am-5:00 pm
Most guests will arrive and check into the hotel on Friday, October 2.
Registration will be open from 8am-5pm as attendees arrive independently throughout the day.
10:00 am - 1:00 pm
2:00 pm - 5:00 pm
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Angelo’s Pizza
8:00 am - 9:00 am
Networking Breakfast
Kick off your day by connecting with fellow educators, industry leaders, and CIEE staff over breakfast.
9:15 am - 10:00 am
Opening Remarks
Jim Pellow, President and CEO of CIEE, will open with an overview of the conference’s theme, what to expect from the weekend, and key trends in study abroad.
Jim Pellow
Matt Redman
10:00 am - 10:15 am
Partner Awards
Join CIEE in celebrating the achievements of our partner schools. We recognize outstanding dedication, innovation, and leadership in expanding access to study abroad experiences.
Joanna Blanck
10:15 am - 10:45 am
Opening Keynote
Jeff Selingo
11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Breakout Sessions: Inside CIEE Programs
High School Summer Abroad Spanish Language & Culture Programs
Step inside CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad Language & Culture programs in Madrid and Merida. In this instructor-led breakout session, you will hear directly from CIEE Center staff and language... Read More
Pedro Morote
María Pilar Ojeda Estrella
Carolina Zumaglini
Katie Gallegos
11:00 am-12:15 pm
High School Summer Abroad STEM Programs
Step inside CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad STEM Topic programs in Nice, Lisbon, and Monteverde. In this instructor-led breakout session, you will hear directly from CIEE Center staff and instructors... Read More
Ana Rita Ribeiro
Iwona Ivanov
Andrea Silvestri
11:00 am-12:15 pm
High School Summer Abroad Arts & Culture Programs
Step inside CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad Arts & Culture Topic programs. In this instructor-led breakout session, you will hear directly from our CIEE Center staff and instructors about how... Read More
Emma Dee
Daniele Bini
Alexis Giachetti
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Networking Lunch
Recharge and continue the conversation over lunch. Connect with others to discuss morning sessions and expand your professional network.
1:45 pm - 3:00 pm
Breakout Sessions: Inside CIEE Programs
High School Summer Abroad French Language & Culture Programs
Step inside CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad Language & Culture programs in Paris, Rennes, and Toulouse. In this instructor-led breakout session, you will hear directly from CIEE Center staff and... Read More
Claire Alexandre
Isabelle Jaffe
James Benn
Katie Gallegos
1:45 pm-3:00 pm
High School Summer Abroad Leadership & Service
Step inside CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad Leadership & Service Topic Programs in Rabat and Santiago. In this instructor-led breakout session, you will hear directly from CIEE Center staff and... Read More
Melanie Fitzsimmons
Lucia Aguero
Andrea Silvestri
High School Summer Abroad Social Change and Business
Step inside CIEE’s High School Summer Abroad Social Change and Business Programs in Seoul, Sydney, Berlin, and Amsterdam. In this instructor-led breakout session, you will hear directly from CIEE Center... Read More
Bruno Rocha
Stephen Murray
Crystal Reay
Beatrice Cho
Alexis Giachetti
3:15 pm - 3:30 pm
Saturday Wrap Up Activity
Join us to reflect on the day’s sessions, get the full breakdown on what’s ahead, and find out how to win a prize at the CIEE mixer! We’ll walk through... Read More
Katie Gallegos
3:45 pm - 5:00 pm
Meet CIEE Mixer
Meet the CIEE team behind the programs! This interactive session gives you a chance to ask questions to our international staff, discover more about our programs, and learn how we... Read More
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Monarch
Offsite Reception
Monarch Rooftop – Skylight Lounge
7:45 am-8:45 am
9:00 am - 9:15 am
Energizer Activity
Mike Chodroff
Anne Rothacker
9:15 am - 10:00 am
Closing Plenary Alumni Panel
Hear directly from alumni as they share their stories of how their CIEE programs shaped them as global citizens and fueled their personal growth, academic paths, and future careers.
10:15 am - 11:15 am
Breakout Sessions: Shaping Global Culture at Your School
10:15 am-11:15 am
Mobilizing Alumni
Sharing alumni stories is the most effective way to pique your students’ curiosity about study abroad, and more importantly to get them to take the leap to travel. In this... Read More
Pierre Le Gall
Skylar Jeffries
Katie Gallegos
10:15 am-11:15 am
College Readiness & Post-Graduation Opportunities
The path from high school to college isn’t the same for every student. Explore CIEE’s post-graduation offerings: Gap Year Abroad for students who want a purposeful year before college, and... Read More
Sara Hart
Stephen Bush
10:15 am-11:15 am
Funding Study Abroad Through Fundraising and Partnerships
Cost is one of the biggest barriers families face when considering study abroad, but it doesn’t have to be. In this session, Matt Redman (VP, High School Programs) and Jenn... Read More
Jenn Higgins Pitre
Matt Redman
10:15 am-11:15 am
Study Abroad as Fuel for the IB Journey
The IB Diploma Program challenges students to think globally, act responsibly, and engage meaningfully with diverse perspectives. In this interactive session, we’ll explore how study abroad experiences can reinforce key... Read More
Jeff Bradley
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Breakout Sessions: Developing as Global Educators
11:30 am-12:30 pm
Designed by You, Delivered by CIEE: Custom School Trips
Want to design an international trip that aligns with your curriculum and your students’ needs? Anne Rothacker and Kaerra McCray from CIEE’s Custom Programs team, joined by a high school... Read More
Kaerra McCray
Anne Rothacker
11:30 am-12:30 pm
More Than a Summer: How Semester and Year Abroad Strengthens Student Pathways
Few experiences shape a student or strengthen a college application like a semester or full academic year abroad. Join Joanna Blanck and Jeff Bradley to learn how CIEE’s two pathways... Read More
Jeff Bradley
Joanna Blanck
11:30 am-12:30 pm
From the Field: Insights from CIEE Summer Site Visits
Each year, CIEE organizes summer abroad program site visits to give educators a chance to see program in action, network with like-minded peers, and borrow best-practices and instructional strategies from... Read More
Erin El-Tawil
Tania Huitrón
11:30 am-12:30 pm
Building a Culture of Care: Coordinating Care, Response and Outcomes
What if incident management could do more than document problems? This session explores how a robust incident management system can become the foundation of a culture of care, supporting individuals... Read More
Bill Bull
12:45 pm-1:00 pm
1:00 pm
2025 Chicago, IL
Graduating Global Citizens
2024 Washington D.C.
Global Leadership—Empowering Future Success Through Study Abroad
2023 New Orleans, LA
Place-based learning and authentic resources in the classroom
2022 Palo Alto & New York
Intercultural leadership and social emotional learning
2021 Denver, CO
Connecting World Languages to Other Subject Areas and Weaving Social Justice into the World Language Curriculum