2025 Annual Conference | Schedule

*Separate registration fee required.

Speakers: Ari Betof, Mission & Data, and Christian Dotchin, EMA

This workshop will explore practical, data-informed strategies to ensure schools meet enrollment goals while complementing core mission and promoting long-term financial sustainability. Participants will explore how to assess market demand, differentiate in crowded markets, better communicate the value of their programs, and refine tuition and financial aid models to support accessibility and institutional goals.

The session will include discussion about perceived value and affordability and share data from the Enrollment Management Association’s (EMA) 2025 report, An Independent School Education: Family Perceptions of Value and Affordability. We will examine strategies to engage families, attract mission-fit students, and adapt to shifts in affordability and demographics. Real-world independent school examples, tools, and actionable frameworks will empower school leaders and trustees to align their enrollment strategies with both their mission and the financial realities of the community they serve.

*Separate registration fee required.

Speaker: Dr. Carrie Grimes, Vanderbilt University

What keeps early career teachers in their roles—and what compels them to leave? This workshop presents findings from a year-long study exploring the experiences of early career educators in SAIS independent schools, with a focus on what contributes to their sense of connection, satisfaction, and long-term commitment. Drawing on survey data and participant insights, the session will highlight patterns in recruitment and retention and invite school leaders to reflect on how their institutional practices, cultures, and relationships can strengthen teacher belonging and engagement. Participants will leave with actionable takeaways to support the growth and stability of their early career faculty.

*Separate registration fee required.

Speakers: Connie White, Woodward Academy, and Elizabeth Helfant, Ravenscroft

Prepare your school to navigate the rapidly evolving educational landscape. Join this pre-conference workshop to develop strategies to implement curriculum mapping, AI integration, mastery-based grading, and the “Portrait of a Graduate” framework. We will align teaching and learning with the skills students need for an uncertain future, emphasizing critical thinking, adaptability, and real-world problem-solving. We will understand how to leverage data-driven decision-making to enhance student achievement and support instructional growth.

Join us to build a future-focused school culture that empowers educators and ensures long-term success. This session provides independent school leaders with actionable strategies to implement these trends in a way that preserves their school’s unique identity while fostering innovation. By preparing educators and students for an evolving world, leaders can sustain excellence, attract  families, and position their schools as leaders in education.

*Separate registration fee required.

Speaker: Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS

This dynamic workshop is designed for heads of school and trustees to explore the Governance Health Index—a framework that defines six core competencies essential for effective, mission-aligned governance in today’s evolving educational landscape. Together, we’ll examine each competency, reflect on board and leadership roles, and use a practical self-assessment tool to evaluate your school’s current governance health. Whether you’re looking to strengthen collaboration, clarify strategic direction, or enhance accountability, this session will offer actionable insights and meaningful dialogue to help your board operate at its highest potential. Heads and board chairs & trustees are welcome.

Speakers: Pat Cuneo, SAIS, and Jo Stoltz, SAIS

Are you a team member responsible for administering your school’s upcoming accreditation process? This workshop includes an overview of the accreditation process and offers the opportunity to ask questions in an informal setting.

*This session is included with annual conference registration, but attendees must pre-register to participate.

Speaker: Jill McKenzie, CAE, SAIS

First-time attendees and those new to SAIS are invited to join this brief orientation. Learn about a variety of member services, meet fellow newcomers and first-time attendees, and learn how to make the most of your conference experience.

Need a break? Visit the Connections Lounge in for networking, “brain break” games, and a specialty coffee bar.

Visit the SAIS Selfie Station to capture the memories. Be sure to tag us in your photos. #SAISAC

Need a break? Visit the Connections Lounge in for networking, “brain break” games, and a specialty coffee bar.

Visit the SAIS Selfie Station to capture the memories. Be sure to tag us in your photos. #SAISAC

Speakers: Lisa Hà, St. Anne’s-Belfield School, and Kelsey Dowling, St. Anne’s-Belfield School

Want to see your school in the news for all the right reasons? In today’s competitive media landscape and ever-shrinking newsrooms, grabbing a reporter’s attention takes smart strategy and quick action. The problem is you’re working on a shoestring budget with a very talented, but very stretched, comms team (or comms person). This fast-paced session will give you practical, easy-to implement tips to dial up your current efforts and get positive press beyond just athletics. Whether you’re a head of school, CFO/COO, or communications pro, you’ll walk away with a full list of plug-and-play ideas to get your school the coverage it deserves.

Speaker: Karen Firminger, Bear Creek School

Imagine partnering with parent leaders who actively build trust and foster a strong, vibrant school community. Imagine parents who create meaningful engagements that strengthen the bond with your school. Learn how to design a parent program tailored to your school’s unique needs. Discover actionable steps for implementation and, crucially, how to operationalize a program that stands the test of time. Walk away from this session with concrete strategies to boost retention and positively transform your school culture. Don’t miss this opportunity to cultivate a committed, united parent community!

Speaker: Bridget Johnson, Deans’ Roundtable

Preview a comprehensive toolkit for evaluating student life programs in independent school settings. This demonstration session showcases how strategically designed assessment tools gather meaningful data from all stakeholders—administrators, faculty, parents, and students—to create a complete picture of student life operations. Observe how the toolkit identifies strengths and challenges across key domains, including communication systems, student support, crisis management, disciplinary processes, and community building. See examples of how schools have measured operational efficiency, resource allocation, and staff workload balance using these instruments. Learn about implementation strategies that maximize response rates and produce actionable insights.

Participants will explore sample surveys, data visualization examples, and implementation frameworks during this interactive demonstration. Discover how this assessment approach could align with your school’s unique context and mission while addressing the evolving needs of your community. Leave with a clear understanding of how comprehensive assessment could transform your student life programs.

Speakers: John King, Ransom Everglades School, and Bob Bandoni, Students Shoulder to Shoulder

Explore how the Holzman Center of Applied Ethics transformed ethical inquiry into a dynamic, school-wide initiative. Learn how an independent school built a robust ethics program, including a speaker series, medical ethics roundtables, student-led advisory activities, and an ethical leadership partnership with Students Shoulder to Shoulder.

Discover strategies engaging students in program development and fostering leadership through applied ethical decision-making, on and off campus. Gain insights into how travel experiences and real-world case studies deepen students’ ethical engagement and moral imagination and shift the mindset of “service learning” to a more collaborative “learning service.” Attendees will leave with ideas for creating and expanding ethics programs in their schools, practical models for student leadership in ethics, and a broader understanding of how ethics can shape school culture. Whether starting from scratch or looking to enhance an existing initiative, this session offers a roadmap for embedding ethics into the fabric of independent school life.

Speakers: Diana Curtis, Webb School of Knoxville, and Miller Callaway, Webb School of Knoxville

Join us to experience the AI Co-Lab approach—a collaborative professional development model where educators actively explore AI tools together. In this session, you’ll see how this model creates spaces for teachers to interrogate AI’s power, potential, and pitfalls through hands-on exploration rather than passive learning. We’ll demonstrate how the methodology centers classroom educators in the discovery process, empowering them to develop pedagogically sound AI integration strategies they can immediately apply. Learn how this collaborative framework builds solidarity among participants and supports them in bringing practical insights back to their schools. Discover a professional development approach that’s both timely and actionable, placing teachers’ expertise at the forefront of educational AI implementation.

Speakers: Ellen Ives, Ensworth School, and Jennifer McGee, Ensworth School

Implement a coaching model that meets the needs of teachers and students by using research-based, high-impact practices. Collaborate with teachers and team members, listening intentionally to their classroom experiences and needs. Ask guided questions to teachers about their current practices and ideas to identify goals or areas for growth, then assist them in setting attainable goals to implement in their classrooms. Plan and provide high-impact teaching practices and strategies that benefit both students and teachers, supporting the implementation of new strategies or goals in the classroom. Observe teacher and student responses to instructional changes, collecting data alongside the teacher to inform practices. Support the teacher through the reflection process, analyzing results to refine instructional approaches. Re-evaluate goals and outcomes to establish next steps, fostering a growth mindset for both teachers and students.

Speakers: Brooke Peterson, Advent Episcopal School, and Claire Vaughn, Advent Episcopal School

Discover how Advent Episcopal School strengthens its unique value proposition through Discover Bham, a place-based capstone project that has evolved into a school-wide learning program extending beyond the classroom. By integrating Birmingham’s cultural, historical, and scientific resources into the curriculum, the program deepens interdisciplinary and project-based learning while staying true to the school’s mission.

This session explores how Discover Bham and its Foundations Programs help define and amplify the school’s vision, demonstrating how small, strategic steps have positioned Advent as “the beacon of excellence… in downtown Birmingham.” Attendees will gain practical strategies for identifying and leveraging their school’s unique strengths to create meaningful learning experiences. Through guided discussions and interactive exercises, participants will develop a blueprint for integrating their own local assets, starting small, iterating often, and aligning initiatives with their school’s mission. Walk away with actionable steps to shape and strengthen your school’s distinct educational impact.

Speaker: Tricia Roos, Role Call Consulting

Your school has probably changed over time, but your audience is changing faster! As we transition from Generation X parents to Millennial parents, what are the main differences between the two, and how should we market our school differently to each group?

In this session, we will explore the differences in which millennials respond to marketing and messaging and learn about proven strategies that schools can use to engage millennial parents.

Speakers: Liz Farr, Huron | GG+A Global Philanthropy, and Lindsey Field, Huron | GG+A Global Philanthropy

In this panel discussion, Heads of School Meredyth Cole, Lovett; Megan Cover, Girls Preparatory School; DuBose Egleston, Porter-Gaud; and Cecil Stodghill, Altamont; will burn down misperceptions in campaign planning and share how each prepared their school their school, their board, their advancement team, and themselves for a successful, efficient, and goal-achieving campaign. The panelists will share the keys to their successes, the challenges they encountered and overcame, and the surprises along the way.

What have they learned that they wish they knew before? How much time have they devoted to campaign work? What are their regrets, if any? What are their words of advice? Topics addressed will include distilling campaign priorities from strategic and master plans, ensuring collaboration among board committees, resourcing and partnering with the advancement office, working with campaign volunteers, and more. Come prepared with your own questions to ask!

Speakers: Nina Kumar, Authentic Connections, and David Peden, The Galloway School

Decades of research show that resilience rests fundamentally on relationships, and relationships are at the core of independent school life. Results from surveys administered to over 200,000 students and 25,000 educators at independent schools have provided rich data on the areas of school life – including relationships with parents, peers, and school climate – most linked to mental health.

In this session, Nina Kumar, co-founder and CEO of Authentic Connections, will highlight important trends in community well-being and share focus areas and actionable recommendations. Additionally, David Peden, assistant head of school at The Galloway School, will discuss how they have leveraged data-driven insights to prioritize interventions, improving overall well-being and fostering deeper connections. Attendees will leave with an expanded knowledge of the current state of mental health across schools and ways to bring their community together to support well-being.

Speaker: Dr. David Yeager, Stanford University

Following his keynote, Dr. David Yeager, author of 10 to 25, will lead a breakout workshop designed for educators and school leaders who want to translate science into practice. The session will offer concrete strategies for designing learning environments, mentoring relationships, and systems of support that foster long-term motivation and well-being in students aged 10 to 25.

Speakers: Jennifer Carrol, Fisher Phillips, and Ilanit Fischler, Fisher Phillips

This take on the legal landscape highlights the critical, evolving issues affecting independent schools today. From navigating complex employment laws to staying ahead of compliance shifts like discrimination and employee accommodations, schools must stay agile. Get ready for a look at the trends reshaping policies and learn how independent schools can stay proactive in addressing legal challenges while fostering an inclusive and compliant environment.

Speakers: Dr. Carrie Grimes, Vanderbilt University, and Dr. Michael Neel, Vanderbilt University

This workshop for school leaders brings together practical problem-solving approaches with promising practices. Using a data-informed decision-making approach, you will learn to support leaders in actual dilemmas that they are currently facing. School leaders will be invited to identify a decision that they want to work through and will be invited to explore the relevant situation through three targeted rounds of analysis and reflection. Workshop activities and facilitators will invite consideration and exploration across three analytical domains that will bring the most salient matters to the surface. When fully engaged, this deliberation workshop results not only in a fitting response to the challenge/decision, but also organizational learning that promotes greater effectiveness and ethical action over time.

Speaker: Sarah Barton Thomas, Trinity Episcopal School

Community building is often misappropriated to mean “happy hour” or social gatherings. What if community building engaged faculty and staff in engaging time while grounding and affirming the mission? In this session, we will center on the work of Priya Parker, Peter Block, and Parker Palmer to engage in strategies for building community time based on your school’s mission. Participants will leave the session with philosophical and practical tools to share with small and large teams.

Speakers: Jane Hulbert, The Jane Group, and Jim Hulbert, The Jane Group

In today’s 24/7 news cycle with social media, issues can quickly turn into full-blown crises. In this session, presenters will share the importance of preparation with leadership and board trainings, hypothetical scenario preparations, and attention to cultural and political issues relative to your school’s mission and values. We will share techniques for sound decision-making and accurate and authentic communications for managing divisive rhetoric and criticism.

Online scrutiny of our schools is at an all-time high, which is why the risk register should be developed. In this session, attendees will discuss key strategies for school leadership and for the board. We will discuss crisis trends, and interactive real (anonymized) case studies will be shared.

Speaker: Amber Stockham, NBOA

In a recently released report by NBOA, 77% of respondents identified recruiting and retaining high-quality faculty and staff as a top priority for the next few years. In another recent NAIS survey, 47% of respondents reported increasing wages above projected inflation rates to retain faculty and staff.

Join Amber Stockham, NBOA’s senior director of human resources, to discuss successful retention strategies for every school type and budget. Learn how to determine what is important to your faculty and staff, focus your efforts on proven strategies, and identify options that can improve your retention rate in the coming years.

Speakers: Dr. Yerko Sepúlveda, Porter-Gaud School, and Rev. Palmer Kennedy, Porter-Gaud School

How do schools support students who have violated community norms (identity-based harassment, cheating, bullying, etc.) after disciplinary action? While many institutions have strong support systems for those harmed, fewer have structured pathways for the offending student’s reentry into the community. This session explores a redemptive approach that moves beyond punishment toward transformation. Participants will learn how to foster accountability, self-reflection, and reconciliation, ensuring that students who have caused harm and broken rules engage in meaningful learning, take responsibility, and reintegrate in a way that promotes belonging and well-being for each member of the community. Using real examples, attendees will gain strategies to develop structured reentry programs that align with their school’s values, whether faith-based or non-sectarian.

Speakers: Dr. Michelle Klosterman, Forsyth Country Day School, and Dr. Yolanda McClure, Forsyth Country Day School

Tired of evaluations that stifle, not inspire? Step into our story: a school that dared to rewrite the rules. We traded rigid metrics for genuine reflection, shedding the weight of endless paperwork. Witness the power of personalized growth plans and targeted feedback, tools that ignited teacher confidence. We’ll share our journey – the bumps  and the triumphs – revealing how this shift empowered educators to take ownership of their development. Leave with practical insights and the inspiration to transform your own evaluation system, fostering a culture where teachers flourish.

Details coming soon.

Speaker: Chris Cleveland, Wesleyan School

Using a variety of storytelling techniques, historical narratives, and personal experiences, the speaker will remind and encourage over-extended and weary school leaders of what they likely already know but need to hear again. Five key principles that leaders can carry with them will be introduced and reinforced with the hope that leaders will walk away feeling inspired and reminded of their calling.

Details coming soon.

Speaker: Nija Majmudar Meyer, Woodwood Academy

Join us for a dynamic workshop designed to transform your approach to enrollment management. In today’s evolving educational landscape, success requires innovative strategies for recruitment and retention. This interactive session covers the following topics:

• Know Your Market – Understand audience behaviors, preferences, and trends to refine outreach and engagement.
• Personalize the Process – Move beyond large open houses to tailored experiences that make every applicant feel valued.
• Organize for Success – Strengthen collaboration between admissions and marketing to craft compelling messaging and branding.
• Unleash the Potential of AI – Discover how AI is reshaping enrollment, including SEO best practices, to optimize recruitment.
• Master Retention Marketing – Shift from recruitment to retention by fostering lifelong relationships through personalized communication and community-building.

Leave with actionable strategies to elevate your enrollment approach and drive long-term institutional success.

Speaker: Taylor Marlatt, Christ Church Episcopal School

Traditional fundraising has its place, but what if we told you that breaking out of the box (and out of the formality) can build deeper connections and inspire more giving? In this session, we’ll explore how humor, heart, and authentic storytelling can transform donor engagement. We’ll share real-life examples of how video storytelling, playful eblasts, and warm, conversational messaging can inspire action while building a stronger school community.

You’ll leave with practical strategies for

• Using video to solicit and steward gifts in a way that feels genuine, not transactional.
• Creating eblasts that people want to open.
• Planning an exciting giving day marketing plan that builds buzz and boosts participation.

Whether you’re just starting to experiment with creative fundraising or you’re ready to level up your storytelling game, this session will provide you with fresh ideas and tools to make your messaging more memorable—and your campaigns more successful.

Speaker: Thad Persons, The Westminster Schools

Hiring is hard, and it’s getting harder. This interactive workshop will optimize your hiring funnel from sourcing and selecting to closing. We will provide you with data-driven strategies to find the best teachers and staff out there, even when they’re not looking. “Build a bench” of viable candidates primed to fill future openings.

Speakers: Jared Colley, The Mount Vernon School, Matt Sculley, Providence Day School, and Rob McDonald, Trey Education

School leaders understandably ask questions about which tools or policies they should adopt in response to Artificial Intelligence. How do schools support faculty, nurture student learning, and anticipate AI’s challenges and opportunities? In our interactive workshop, we’ll shift the conversation from one focused on predictions, policies, and tools to one centered on a school’s mission and human-centered values as the framework for thinking about alternative, preferable futures related to AI’s impact on both student and workforce experience. The future doesn’t happen to us; we can shape its impact in ways that are mission informed. Attendees will participate in constructivist exercises like signal clustering and sense-making, scenario gallery walks, and a cross-impact analysis that reveals for each participant how future scenarios clarify possible plans of action so organizations can position themselves to support their people, provide protection, and transform practices and programs for the better, no matter what future scenario unfolds.

Speaker: Sheri Burkeen, SAIS, and Eric Heilman, CIRIS/Mission & Data

You asked for more relevant, actionable data—we listened. Join us to explore how Meridian delivers regional insights, including exclusive findings from our 2025 Annual Benchmarking Survey on teacher compensation. Discover SAIS’ comprehensive roadmap for delivering the meaningful data you need for informed leadership and how these resources will support your school’s operational excellence in the years ahead.

Speakers: Dr. Jeffrey Mitchell, Currey Ingram Academy, and Jennifer Dulski, Rising Team

Currey Ingram Academy has reimagined leadership development through its Growth Plan, a structured approach designed to be manageable, research-informed, and impactful. This model integrates organizational psychology, leadership science, and team development research from Who: The A Method for Hiring, Vertical Leadership Development, Atlas of the Heart, and the Rising Team platform. Over three years, Currey Ingram has successfully implemented this approach, with objective data confirming its positive impact on team engagement and leadership growth.

Attendees will learn how to create Growth Profiles using key elements such as mission clarity, outcome-based competencies, and Vertical Leadership Outcomes (VLOs). This interactive session will include a Rising Team leadership activity, offering participants first-hand experience with a science-backed tool for enhancing collaboration and trust. Attendees will leave with a Growth Profile template—an actionable resource for developing leaders and building stronger teams, and a free Rising Team kit they can use with their own teams.

Speakers: The Rev. Adam Greene, Episcopal School of Jacksonville, and Sam Geisler, Episcopal School of Jacksonville

As independent schools plan for institutional sustainability, strategic and missional mergers are creative options to consider. Learn how to conduct due diligence to determine whether to merge schools from an experienced team of educators who have recently led an effort to merge three Episcopal schools in Jacksonville, FL. Discover how to conduct the process and the key metrics to make an informed, strategic, and mission-driven decision. Take away key lessons learned in how to manage the process successfully from due diligence through the early stages of becoming one organization.

Speaker: Scott Wilson, ISM

Most independent school heads rise to their positions with little or no experience in development, yet one of their primary responsibilities is leading their school’s fundraising efforts. ISM Consultant, Executive Coach, and long-time school head Scott Wilson will discuss how to create and sustain a strong partnership between the head and development office.

Attendees will learn

• the donor cycle and the head’s role in each phase of the cycle.
• how the head’s skills can be coordinated with development program needs.
• the basics of annual funds, capital campaigns, and planned giving programs, including
  the right time to engage fundraising counsel.

Speaker: Michelle Fiscus, Providence Day School

In an era where attention is scarce and digital overload is real, how can independent schools ensure their communications reach and engage parents? The key lies in data-driven decision-making. This session will explore how schools can use real-time analytics to refine their communication strategies across newsletters, social media, and websites. By analyzing two years’ worth of data, we’ll uncover what works, what doesn’t, and how to pivot based on insights—not guesswork.

Attendees will leave with actionable strategies to

• Monitor key performance indicators (KPIs) to understand parent engagement.
• Use your website to create an agile, lead-generating tool.
• Adjust messaging, frequency, and content in real-time to maximize impact.
• Align communication strategies with the changing behaviors of parents.
• Differentiate crisis communications’ messaging from everyday messaging.
• Anticipate where school-based communication is headed in the next few years.

Speakers: Bernetta Edmonson, Woodward Academy, and Michelle Rosenthal, Woodward Academy

Strengthen family-school connections with proven engagement and communication strategies. This session will explore how private schools can adopt a service-based model to meet parent expectations for both academic excellence and a positive experience. Learn to create seamless transitions with warm handoff strategies from admissions to ongoing parent engagement. Implement proactive communication methods and high-touch service approaches to cultivate trust and reinforce relationships. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to elevate the parent experience, strengthen the school’s reputation, and support student success from enrollment through graduation.

Speakers: Dr. Michael Neel, Vanderbilt University, and Russ Connell, Bayside Academy

In this session, we bring together key scholarly literature on teaching-learning and practical on-the-ground practitioner experience in teacher engagement. Drawing on extensive scholarship in teaching-learning and decades of experience in independent schools, this workshop offers a practically grounded and theoretically sound approach to analysis of classroom practice and instructional coaching conversations with teachers.

Speaker: Theresa Ward, Fiery Feather

“External motivation might get you started, but only internal motivation will carry you across the finish line.” – Shane Parrish.

This workshop for leaders addresses the complexities of a multigenerational workforce that is more empowered (and distracted) than ever before. The session helps participants unlock the perks of feeling like your “own boss” without losing loyalty to their day job. Using the BADGE methodology, participants learn specific skills to handle the most stressful and draining aspects of work with renewed energy. Theresa shares best practices so both individual contributors and leaders will walk away being more attuned to their authentic passions and see a way to embrace autonomy over their professional path.

Speakers: Dr. Fabio Hurtado, Cannon School, and Dr. Kellen Graham, Episcopal Collegiate of Little Rock

School leaders are coached to “control the narrative” and to be the chief storytellers on campus. But an independent school is a collection of competing and contradictory stories, told and retold by all members of the school community. This session rethinks how stories and storytelling shape our schools. Based on recent scholarship and our own action research, we delve into these questions: how can we, as school leaders, know our schools’ many stories? How might we communicate foundational school stories with different constituent groups? How can we help others let go of old stories and embrace new ones? In what ways do stories themselves lead our schools? This session will provide insights and practical advice to boost your leadership.

Speaker: Ryan Cook, Greensboro Day School

Explore how The College Life Enrichment and Readiness (CLEAR) Lab program at GDS allows students to develop a range of age-appropriate skills and practically demonstrate their new learning. The CLEAR Lab program sees sophomores rotate quarterly through classes in Digital Literacy, College Exploration, Test Prep, and Public Purpose work as they physically build a Tiny House. Similarly, Juniors rotate through Public Speaking, Making My College Plan, Financial Literacy, and another Public Purpose effort as they develop a free kindergarten summer camp for local families. Seniors move through the following classes as a cohort: Completing My College Application and Senior Internship Planning, before having a choice of cool options in quarter 3, and then heading out on their internships in quarter 4.

Attendees will explore the rationale for such programs, consider the program content that might best fit their school community needs, and discuss creative methods for scheduling and assessing such classes.

Step into our karaoke lounge, where the vibe is groovy, the music is iconic, and you are the star! Whether you’re channeling the soul of Stevie Wonder, the glam of David Bowie, or the funk of Earth, Wind & Fire, this karaoke night promises unforgettable performances. Get ready to let your inner superstar shine!

Need a break? Visit the Connections Lounge for networking, “brain break” games, and a specialty coffee bar!

Visit the SAIS Selfie Station to capture the memories. Be sure to tag us in your photos. #SAISAC

Speakers: Taylor Green, Ed Martin, Ann Parker, and Meg Stewart, Brookstone School

Break down silos and bring admissions, development, and marketing teams together for greater institutional success. Learn how Brookstone School created a strategic and unified Institutional Advancement Team that streamlines communication, fosters collaboration, and enhances the family experience at the school, leading to increased enrollment, retention, and record-high fundraising. Discover strategies to integrate messaging, coordinate mission-centered events with shared goals, and use data-driven insights to refine outreach.

Through practical examples, explore how cross-functional teamwork improves current (and prospective) family engagement, strengthens donor relations, and ensures brand consistency. Whether your school is just starting to align these teams or looking to enhance an existing structure, this session provides actionable steps to foster collaboration, maximize resources, and drive institutional growth.

Speakers: Graeme Scott, MARIO Education, and Jason Simons, Atlanta International School

This will be an interactive and informative session led by a former school leader with 30 years of experience in leadership and student well-being, alongside the middle school associate principal from Atlanta International School, who specializes in student wellness. Attendees will learn about the research behind current global student well-being issues and how almost 50 schools worldwide are using the MARIO approach to address these significant challenges. We will begin with a dive into the research and hear about attendees’ current experiences in their schools. We will then examine some innovative ways of collecting data on student well-being and analyze some real anonymized data, recommending potential next steps. Participants will hear how Atlanta International School has addressed student well-being, leveraging the MARIO approach to give students a voice and enable them to take more control over their own outcomes and become self-directed learners.

Speaker: Dr. Bre Stricklin, UMS-Wright Preparatory School

Harness the power of teacher feedback to drive meaningful growth while preserving the human element in education. Explore strategies to enhance faculty development through instructional coaching, emerging educational trends, and the use of adult learning theory. Discover how to transform evaluations into opportunities for growth, using strengths-based approaches that support and empower educators. Learn practical techniques for fostering reflective practice, providing actionable feedback, and designing professional development that meets teachers where they are. Engage in interactive discussions and real-world scenarios that illustrate how to balance accountability with encouragement. Walk away with strategies to cultivate a culture of continuous learning and improvement, ensuring that faculty feel supported, motivated, and equipped to thrive.

Speakers: Stewart Peery, Charlotte Country Day School, and Louis Tullo, Ravenscroft

This session will explore how artificial intelligence (AI) tools can be harnessed to support students who struggle with task initiation and completion. Drawing from a recent study of procrastination patterns among over 500 secondary school students in grades 7 and 10 from three independent schools, we will delve into the intricate relationships between self-regulation, gender, and age in the components of procrastination. This session will give attendees a unique perspective that builds on foundational theoretical frameworks by exploring connections to technology and innovative practices. Participants will leave with actionable insights on leveraging AI tools to create more effective, personalized interventions for students at different procrastination levels, ultimately fostering a more engaged and self-regulated learning environment.

Speaker: Julie Faulstich, Stony Creek Strategy

A trusting collaborative partnership is the core ingredient for successful board/head school leadership, yet traditional governance training generally focuses on “lanes” and boundaries. While a clear line between board duties and head duties is necessary, it is becoming increasingly important to promote clear communication between the board and the head as schools navigate an increasingly complex landscape and stressful challenges to sustainability. This session will discuss the often-unspoken complications of building a trusting board/head relationship and present practical approaches to promote improved connection, elevating your governance game now, and positioning the school to successfully navigate the
future.

Speaker: Brendan Hoyle, Norfolk Collegiate School

Dial in the frequency for a school culture that amplifies intrinsic motivation, trust, and innovation among faculty and staff. Learning to TUNE: Innovations in Conversation introduces a simple yet powerful framework—Trust, Understand, Nurture, and Empower—to transform meetings, collaborations, and school culture. Through fast-paced, interactive activities rooted in active listening, design thinking, and improv comedy, participants will experience firsthand how small shifts in communication can foster psychological safety, creativity, and ownership. Expect laughter, unexpected insights, and practical tools to strengthen trust, amplify faculty voice, and create an environment where people genuinely want to contribute. Walk away with strategies that inspire collaboration, unlock intrinsic motivation, and fuel a culture of continuous growth—one conversation at a time.

Speakers: Michael Magno, Providence Day School, Tom Balke, Little Architects, and Shana Hetherington, Little Architects

Discover how Providence Day School has embraced a co-designing approach to transform its campus and learning environments. This session will explore three major projects—the IDEAS Exchange, the Auerbach Hall Lower School Project, and a new TK-12 Academic Center (in design)—and how each project evolves from one another. These projects have built critical mass and motivation through a collaborative visioning process, ensuring spaces align with evolving educational needs. Attendees will gain insight into the importance of process-driven design, the challenges of rethinking traditional spaces, and strategies to transform their own campuses into dynamic learning environments.

Speakers: Stephanie Brooks, The Altamont School, and Caitlin Lopez Rogers, The Altamont School

Developing robust alumni relations programs are essential for independent schools. Building and growing these relationships not only benefits the school, but also the current students and other graduates. From making donations to playing key resource roles, alumni can assist with mentorship, internship opportunities, college transition assistance, and career advice. As a built-in network of professionals, alumni can provide valuable connections that support graduates for years to come.

Learn how to keep alumni active, informed, and involved to enhance your school’s reputation and impact. Whether by celebrating their achievements, integrating them into school programs, or maintaining an up-to-date database, a well-structured alumni relations strategy can strengthen admissions efforts, fundraising, and overall school development. Join us for an engaging discussion filled with practical strategies, proven practices, and useful resources. Whether you’re starting from scratch or revitalizing an existing program, you’ll leave with actionable next steps to take back to your school.

Speaker: Trey Boden, Roar

Define, differentiate, and strengthen your school’s identity through strategic storytelling. This session equips school leaders with a framework for crafting a brand story that resonates with prospective families, donors, and the school community. Learn how to identify your school’s unique value proposition, align messaging across departments, and leverage digital channels to amplify your narrative. Participants will engage in interactive exercises, assess their current messaging, and leave with a practical storytelling blueprint to enhance recruitment and fundraising.

Speakers: Jon Kleiman, Challenge Success, and Jessica Sant, The Lovett School

In today’s educational landscape, the pressure to excel often overshadows students’ holistic development. The Lovett School, a K-12 independent school in Atlanta, GA, has partnered with Challenge Success to address this issue by promoting a balanced approach to success. Over the past three years, this collaboration has focused on redefining priorities, fostering a healthier community, and emphasizing student well-being. Dedicated teams of teachers, parents, students, administrators, and trustees have worked together to broaden the notion of success, guided by survey data. This session will share insights from Lovett’s journey, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making in creating meaningful change.

Speakers: Hacker Burr, Big Back Pack, and Mark Gaunya, Borislow Insurance

Discover how independent schools can make smarter financial decisions by challenging outdated practices in hiring, budgeting, and employee benefits. Explore how heads and boards are shifting toward data-driven leadership, moving beyond traditional independent school hiring models to attract business office leaders from corporate, nonprofit, and higher education sectors. Learn how these leaders bring fresh perspectives, best practices, and financial acumen that drive long-term sustainability. Examine the rising costs of employee benefits and explore self-funded insurance models as a strategy to manage expenses more effectively. Understand how a misstep in CFO hiring or benefits strategy can potentially shift a school’s budget by seven figures. Engage in interactive discussions and real-world case studies that highlight creative solutions for optimizing financial operations. Walk away with actionable strategies to rethink leadership pipelines, push back against the status quo, and strengthen your school’s financial health in an increasingly challenging environment.

Speakers: Rob MacDonald, Trey Education, and Meera Shah, Trey Education

Too often, schools settle for minor curriculum adjustments, fearing how bold changes will be received by colleges, families, and faculty. But the reality? Many colleges welcome students with deep, authentic learning experiences. Many families seek engaging alternatives to traditional models. And many teachers crave opportunities to focus on meaningful skills that empower students to make a real impact. This session dives into case studies of schools that have moved beyond incremental tweaks to transformative curriculum shifts—differentiating themselves and redefining student success. You’ll gain a practical roadmap to navigate change, from high-level vision to classroom implementation, ensuring your school moves beyond content transfer to truly powerful learning.

Speakers: Kasey Short, Charlotte Country Day School, and Warren Sepkowitz, Charlotte Country Day School

Explore strategies for giving and receiving meaningful feedback at all levels—administrators, teacher-leaders, teachers, and students. Learn how structured feedback loops, including observations, surveys, and student input, enhance professional development, strengthen relationships, and promote a culture of reflection and improvement.

Engage in discussions, analyze effective feedback models, and develop actionable plans to implement or refine feedback practices in your school. Walk away with practical tools to empower educators, motivate students, and build a transparent, growth-oriented learning environment.

Speakers: Natalie Pitchford, The Galloway School, and Amir Farokhi, The Galloway School

Beginning with an overview of The Galloway School’s past year and a half of upheaval, our presentation will demonstrate how schools can leverage disruption as a means toward the development and clarification of their organizational identity. We will discuss the recipe for organizational identity and how it differs from mission, how identity and purpose work can manifest from day-to-day learning moments to important milestones such as reaccreditation and strategic planning, and how saying “no” to the sacred cows of culture can help a school get clearer on who they are. We will also share our own identity and purpose journey as it pertains to visual identity, market strategy, and institutional brand. Participants will workshop preliminary purpose statements and walk away with steps toward examining, drafting, and pursuing their own organizational identity as an essential component of strategic initiatives.

*Separate registration required.

SAIS relies on the expertise of heads of school and senior administrators to serve as accreditation visiting team chairs. Typically, those who attend chair training have served on several teams and been recommended by a visiting team chair.