On September 16 and 17, the Riverside Convention Center will host the 13th Annual Excellence Through Education Conference, a two-day gathering built around one blunt keynote speaker's origin story: a man expelled from 10 elementary and middle schools and arrested for burglary at age 11 who went on to earn a doctorate.
The Riverside County Office of Education announced the conference details, confirming the event will run at the convention center located at 3637 Fifth St., according to MyNewsLA.com. This year's theme, “Creating Possibilities: Imagining More. Designing Better. Measuring What Matters,” frames the program, according to the Riverside County Office of Education. RCOE's Systemic Impact and Change team coordinates the event to align district leadership practices across Southern California, per the same office.
County Superintendent of Schools Edwin Gomez, who is expected to address attendees, said the education community must “imagine new ways to serve, design better systems, and ensure student success matters most,” per MyNewsLA.com. Gomez won 100% of the vote on June 7, 2022, according to the Riverside County Office of Education. He previously led both the Adelanto Elementary and Coachella Valley Unified school districts before taking the countywide post.
A Keynote Lineup Built on Hard-Won Second Chances
Top billing goes to Dr. Tommie Mabry, described in conference materials as a consultant and award-winning author. Mabry's path to the podium is anything but conventional: he was expelled from 10 elementary and middle schools and arrested for burglary at age 11 before eventually earning a doctorate from Jackson State University and publishing the memoir “A Dark Journey to a Light Future,” as reported by USA Today. That background now informs his professional training on reaching at-risk students and building effective relationships in classrooms.
Also headlining is Dr. Candy Singh, a former superintendent and university professor who spent 11 years leading Fallbrook Union Elementary School District, guiding it to become the nation's first “Leader in Me” Lighthouse School District, according to LeaderInMe.org. She joined the University of La Verne in 2023 as a Clinical Professor of Leadership, where her work centers on helping K-12 administrators and site principals build stronger school cultures.
Ernesto Mejia, billed as a parental engagement expert, co-founded the youth engagement company CoolSpeak, which provides motivational speakers for students.
Rounding out the keynote roster is Tony Plana, an award-winning actor, producer, director and arts advocate best known for his role on “Ugly Betty.” Plana co-founded and serves as Executive Artistic Director of the East LA Classic Theatre, according to All American Speakers.
Student Performances and Wellness Sessions Round Out the Agenda
Beyond the keynote sessions, the conference will include student performances, networking activities and wellness activities woven throughout the two-day schedule, per MyNewsLA.com. Educators can find full conference information and registration details at events.rcoe.us/2026excellence-through-education.
The 2026 conference will be held at the Riverside Convention Center, according to the Riverside County Office of Education.
Why System Design Matters for a Sprawling County
RCOE's Systemic Impact and Change team focuses on aligning district leadership practices across Southern California.
The conference's theme calls for imagining more, designing better and measuring what matters.
