Pepperdine GSEP Brings Together Aspiring Educators and School Leaders at 2026 TK–12 Career Conference

Pepperdine University Graduate School of Education and Psychology (GSEP) hosted its annual TK–12 Career Conference on March 12, 2026, at the West Los Angeles Campus, welcoming students, alumni, and school partners for a day of conversation and connection around entering the teaching profession.

More than 25 TK–12 organizations participated, representing a range of school communities and approaches to teaching and learning. The conference was offered in a hybrid format, allowing candidates from in-person campuses and the online MA in Teaching program to take part.

The program began with a panel of school administrators who spoke openly about what they look for when hiring new teachers and how graduates can set themselves up for success in their first year of teaching. Following the panel, participants engaged in a networking lunch, in order to build peer-to-peer connections across campuses.

Attendees then joined four rotational roundtable discussions with representatives from participating schools. These sessions gave students a closer look at school culture, expectations for new hires, and the day-to-day realities of working in different TK–12 settings.

Students also walked away with a better understanding of the hiring process, including how to approach applications, interviews, and early career decisions, while making connections that may continue after graduation.

The TK–12 Career Conference remains a signature program for GSEP students to meet school leaders face-to-face and take practical steps toward their careers in education.