KeyingIN Newsletter, October 2026

AI Academy: There’s Still Time to Attend!

This month, NBEA brings you opportunities to build your AI skills, connect with fellow business educators, explore classroom resources, and help shape our 2027 national conference.

Join NBEA and its Southern Region for the Artificial Intelligence Academy LIVE!, October 12–13, 2026, in Nashville/Franklin, Tennessee.

Led by professional educators, this two-day, in-person program combines hands-on learning, networking, and practical strategies for integrating AI into teaching and leadership. Learn ways to save time while maintaining high educational standards.

Participants who successfully complete the program receive the NBEA AI Educator Digital Credential, valid for two years.

It isn’t too late to attend—make your hotel reservation and register onsite.

Explore the AI Academy and attendance details.

Prefer online learning? The AI Academy will soon be available online. Watch for additional information about this upcoming option.

Your New NBEA Community Is Here

Connect with business educators, contribute ideas, and earn rewards through the new NBEA Community.

To select your topic communities, log in to the NBEA website, open your Member Compass, and select Profile. Choose the communities that match your teaching areas and professional interests, then save your selections.

Update your profile and community preferences.

Not in the community yet? Join free at community.nbea.org and connect with peers across the country.

What’s Happening in the Community?

Explore these recent conversations and classroom ideas:

• “My Pleasure” Is a Business Strategy. Discover how Chick-fil-A’s familiar phrase connects customer service with branding—and what business students can learn from it. Read more.

• Spot the Social Engineer. Help students recognize social engineering attacks with a 10-minute cybersecurity challenge. Read more.

• Create Your Own AI Assistant. Follow a step-by-step guide to building custom GPTs that save teachers time on repetitive tasks. Read more.

• The Customer Left a Review. Now What? Turn negative online reviews into a lesson about professional responses and the customer experience. Read more.

• “I’m Only Five Minutes Late.” Explore why punctuality matters in the workplace and how to bring that conversation into your classroom. Read more.

• Epic Fail: Main Street. Challenge students to turn struggling businesses around with a classroom-ready case study from Shawna Stushnoff. Read more.

• TACTYC Virtual Conference Grants. Learn about grants to attend the November 13 virtual conference. The application deadline is approaching. Read more.

• NBHS Activities Students Enjoy. See what fellow advisers are doing and share an activity that worked for your students. Join the conversation.

Committees and Workgroups Begin Soon

Thank you to the members who volunteered for NBEA committees and workgroups. Your contributions help move NBEA and business education forward.

If you signed up, NBEA will contact you by the end of October to coordinate next steps and schedule meetings for select workgroups.

Membership Digital Badges Are Returning

NBEA is bringing back its popular membership digital badges, making it easier to share your commitment to the association and business education.

Your digital membership badge and certificate will be issued automatically within 24 hours of your renewal. Watch for an NBEA message inviting you to claim your badge. Once claimed, you can share it on LinkedIn and other social media platforms.

Badge issuance was temporarily discontinued after the previous provider increased its fees. We look forward to making this member recognition available again.

Save the Dates: 2027 National Business Educators Conference

March 31–April 2, 2027 | Omaha, Nebraska

Join us for NBEA’s 2027 national conference. March 31 is the pre-conference event day, followed by the main conference on April 1–2.

Explore conference information.

Call for Proposals Now Open

Share your innovative teaching strategies, practical ideas, research, and best practices with fellow business educators.

NBEA is accepting proposals for Concurrent Sessions and the Business Education Research Conference (BERC). The 2027 theme, Building the Future of Business Education, invites sessions that inspire, inform, and strengthen our profession.

Proposal deadline: November 1, 2026.

Submit your proposal.

Nominate an Outstanding Business Educator

NBEA conference award nomination forms are now open. Help recognize excellence in business education by nominating a deserving colleague.

View award information and submit a nomination.

Upcoming Events

October 8 | 5:00–6:00 p.m. EDT
Your AI Teaching Department: Build Personalized AI Assistants That Reduce Planning Time and Teach Like You Do

October 12–13 | Nashville/Franklin, Tennessee
Artificial Intelligence Academy LIVE!

October 21 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. EDT
New (and Returning) Member Orientation Session

October 29 | 4:00–5:00 p.m. EDT
Introducing Compugrade (by B.E. Publishing): Instant Autograding for Microsoft and Google Apps

November 5 | 4:30–5:30 p.m. EST
Let Them Drive and Keep Up Without Burning Out

Browse events and add them to your calendar. You can also access your NBEA Professional Development Transcript.

New Online Courses Coming Soon

More professional development designed for business educators is on the way. Watch for announcements about new NBEA online courses.

Explore the Upgraded NBEA Library

Visit the upgraded NBEA Library for on-demand webinars, lesson plans, and classroom resources. Recent additions include:

• Ditch the Dusty Textbook: AI-built case studies that keep pace with the real business world.

• What Happened to Crumbl Cookies?—Marketing, Growth, and the Product Life Cycle: A lesson exploring Crumbl’s growth and challenges through business and marketing concepts.

• Feedback Without the Fatigue: AI-powered feedback that saves time and supports students.

• From Blank Page to Bell Ringer: Tools and ideas for creating standards-aligned, differentiated lesson plans.

• Spotting and Reporting Consumer Scams: A 50-minute personal finance lesson on recognizing and reporting scams.

• What Went Wrong with Krispy Kreme? A 50-minute marketing lesson examining the company’s rise and fall.

Access varies by resource, with member resources, free materials, and resources available with sign-up.

Explore the NBEA Library.

Bring Business Concepts to Life

NBEA’s Teaching Business Poster Series offers clear classroom visuals featuring Competitive Advantage, Marketing Mix, and Supply and Demand.

Created by business education experts, these posters present key concepts at a glance for high school, college, and career classrooms.

Browse the educational poster collection.

Stay Connected with NBEA

Explore the Library, Career Center, Community, Events, Blog, and YouTube channel.

Ready to join or renew? Join NBEA, renew an individual membership, or renew a group.

Questions? Contact NBEA or call 703-860-8300.