April is shaping up to be a meaningful month for ADTSEA-FL, with a statewide summit on the calendar, a national conference opportunity for Florida professionals, and a well-earned point of recognition for our CEO.

USF/CUTR Driver Education Summit, May 19-20

ADTSEA-FL invites Driver Education and Traffic Safety professionals from across Florida to join us for the Driver Education Summit at CUTR @ USF in Tampa on May 19-20, 2026. This face-to-face event is designed to bring together educators, administrators, trainers, and partners who are working to strengthen Driver Education across our state.

Sessions include:

• Building an Ideal Driver Education Program
• How to Build Progressive Range Instruction
• USF/CUTR Traffic Safety Resources
• Volusia County Driver Education
• Teaching Neurodiverse Drivers in Driver Education
• Building Florida’s Model Driver Education Curriculum
• Driver Education Best Practices Round Table

Please note that session registration is first come, first served. Each session is capped at 30 attendees, and Day 2 lunch requires a separate reservation.

The event itself is free to attend. Parking is the attendee’s only cost.

View details and register for summit sessions

Attend the ADTSEA National Conference in Cary, North Carolina

ADTSEA-FL also encourages Florida professionals to attend the ADTSEA 2026 National Conference, taking place July 11-15, 2026 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Raleigh Durham Research Triangle in Cary, North Carolina. This year’s conference theme is “The Wright Way Forward: Inspiring Safer Roads.”

National conferences matter. They sharpen practice, build professional networks, expose us to new ideas, and remind us that Florida is not doing this work alone.

To help increase Florida participation, ADTSEA-FL has created a sponsorship opportunity called the National Conference Fellowship Sponsor.

If you are planning to attend, consider approaching a business, community partner, or supporter to make a donation to ADTSEA-FL as a Fellowship Sponsor. ADTSEA-FL can then use those funds to reimburse eligible conference expenses for a Florida professional. It is a practical way to turn sponsorship into professional development instead of just another brochure on a table.

Sponsors interested in supporting a Florida attendee, or members interested in pursuing this opportunity, should contact ADTSEA-FL for next steps and coordination.

View ADTSEA National Conference information

Sponsor Information for Conference Reimbursement 

National Recognition for Florida Leadership

ADTSEA-FL is proud to share that Derek Stewart has been awarded the ADTSEA Teacher Excellence Award (TEA) for 2026.

The Teacher Excellence Award honors outstanding Driver and Traffic Safety educators whose work reflects excellence in teaching, service, and leadership in the profession. It recognizes educators who do more than cover content. They build programs, influence practice, and move the field forward.

This recognition reflects Derek’s work on behalf of Florida Driver Education, his leadership with ADTSEA-FL, and his continued commitment to strengthening the profession through collaboration, innovation, and practical action.

Learn more about ADTSEA awards

How You Can Help

1. Register for the USF/CUTR Summit and reserve your sessions early.
2. Make plans for the ADTSEA National Conference and represent Florida in Cary.
3. Share the Fellowship Sponsor opportunity with businesses and partners who want to support Driver Education professionals.
4. Forward this newsletter to a colleague who should be in the room, at the summit, or in the conversation.

CEO Corner

Florida has strong people in Driver Education. What we need now is stronger connection, stronger participation, and stronger follow-through.

I hope to see many of you at USF/CUTR in May and even more of you representing Florida at the national conference in July.

Derek Stewart CEO, ADTSEA-FL