2026 Coach 2 Coach Conference

July 15th, 2026 9am- 2:30pm

Mebane Hall – UNC Charlotte Main Campus

Registration is now open! Now accepting session proposals!

The inaugural 2026 Coach 2 Coach Conference will provide a dedicated space for instructional coaches across Southwestern North Carolina and beyond to exchange practical strategies and expand their leadership capacity. Recognizing that many coaches operate without formal training or a peer network, this low-cost conference aims to bridge the gap—offering a high-impact opportunity to collaborate, develop expertise, and better serve schools and districts. The deadline to submit a proposal is April 13, 2026.

The theme of this year’s Coach 2 Coach conference is “Ignite the Impact: Bridging People, Practice & Purpose“.

Three strands have been established to best reflect the conference’s overall mission:

Strand 1: People: Coaching the Person, Not Just the Practice
Strand 2: Practice: Sharpening the Craft of Instructional Coaching
Strand 3: Purpose: Leading with Vision and Sustaining Impact

We look forward to seeing you there!

keynote speaker: amanda pembroke ’11

Amanda Pembroke grew up in Western North Carolina, where she regularly played school with her younger siblings. A proud product of public schools, she attended UNC Charlotte as a NC Teaching Fellow with the dream of one day creating the same sense of community, service, and learning that shaped her own upbringing. As a classroom teacher and volleyball coach, Pembroke brought these values to life through a balanced approach that helped students achieve meaningful results. When a personal circumstance required her to step away from the classroom, she pivoted to instructional coaching – discovering a renewed sense of purpose in supporting teachers.

Today, Pembroke serves as an instructional coach at China Grove Middle (Rowan-Salisbury Schools) where she has been named staff member of the year twice, has facilitated professional development with the NCDPI Coaching Collaborative and at various state conferences, participates in district planning teams to support teacher needs across the district, and collaborates with university partners and district leadership to coach pre-service, beginning, and experienced teachers. With nearly 15 years of experience in education, Pembroke models resilience and brings a people-centered approach to coaching. Grounded in her belief that everyone is both worthy and capable, she believes in a coaching approach that begins with people and grows through practice.