2025 Summer Conference | Schedule

Are you an early career administrator looking to build confidence, strengthen relationships, and make your meetings more meaningful? This workshop is designed specifically for independent school leaders who want to lead from their strengths while building trust and intentionality.

In this session, we will

• Discover your leadership strengths through reflection and peer feedback, learning how to leverage what you naturally do best.
• Understand trust-building strategies that work in real scenarios—from challenging faculty meetings to difficult parent conversations.
• Transform your meetings using a practical framework that ensures every gathering has clear purpose and meaningful outcomes.
• Create a personalized action plan with specific, achievable commitments you can implement immediately.

You’ll also connect with other early career leaders facing similar challenges, building a network of support that extends well beyond the workshop and the Summer Conference.

Speaker: Stephanie Malia Krauss, First Quarter Strategies

In this powerful keynote, author Stephanie Malia Krauss challenges traditional definitions of success, presenting a way of preparing and caring for young people that considers our changing world and what they’ll need to thrive now and in the future.

Drawing from her book Whole Child, Whole Life, Krauss reveals how we can equip young people with the skills and supports they need to build and live lives they love.

Through research-backed insights and practical strategies, participants will discover a whole-child approach to helping young people experience lifelong thriving.

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Speaker: Stephanie Malia Krauss, First Quarter Strategies

In this practical session, explore evidence-based approaches for supporting children’s mental health and building resilience. Drawing from Whole Child, Whole Life, participants will learn strategies to identify warning signs, create supportive environments, and develop effective response systems. Discover how to balance academic expectations with emotional wellbeing while fostering skills that help children navigate life’s challenges.

Speaker: Kristen Orsini, St. Mary’s Episcopal Day School

Looking for an alternative to traditional discipline that serves to (re)build relationships with students, parents, and teachers? Encourage positive student behavior with proactive conversations. Invite students to reflect on their actions and rebuild relationships with classmates and teachers. Include student voice and choice in the process. Balance the need for student autonomy while also strengthening the parent-school partnership. This model comes from a middle school environment but may be applied to students of upper and lower schools as well.

Speakers: Leah Hannon, The Mount Vernon School, and David Ayers, The Mount Vernon School

This workshop explores how student-led conferences, supported by year-round portfolio development, enable students to take ownership of their educational journey. Discover how this model empowers students as young as sixth grade to articulate not just what they’re learning, but why it matters and how it connects to their personal growth.

Learn strategies for guiding students in curating meaningful portfolios that showcase both academic
achievements and character development. Examine how this approach reinforces learning outcomes while creating authentic opportunities for students to demonstrate leadership skills and self-reflection.

School leaders will leave with practical frameworks for implementing a conference model that transforms families from passive recipients of information to engaged audience members in their child’s learning journey.

Speakers: Sam Borkovic, Ravenscroft, and Kendra Varnell, Ravenscroft

The Ravenscroft Health & Wellness Team aims to model exceptional, contemporary student support systems and clinical services at independent schools. The old model of a guidance counselor tucked away in a corner away from the general population no longer adequately meets the increasing mental health needs from students, families, and faculty. Schools would benefit from reviewing the structure and systemic approach they take in caring for student health including physical, psychological and emotional.

Even prior to 2020, youth mental health needs were increasing at schools, particularly impacting specific groups including girls, LGBTQ+, students of color, and student athletes, among others. During this
workshop, you will learn about Ravenscroft and our institutional structure centered on student well-being. Rooted in early identification and prevention strategies, our model aims to equip all members within the community, including students, families, and employees, to support the well-being of students and guide them to appropriate resources.

Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in case study scenarios, handbook policies, and institutional procedures that showcase our clinical services. Participants will leave with an understanding of this framework and steps for implementation.

Speaker: Amy Harriton, Fellowship Christian School

In this session, school leaders will familiarize themselves with dozens of models of school AI Policies or Postures. Review a step-by-step process of leading faculty through the questions of how to assess merits of AI while also protecting institutional integrity. Understand a series of examples of how instructors are using AI in the classroom and put to practice how school leaders are using AI for data analysis in a safe way.

The session will equip school leaders with an overview of the risks involved with AI integration, the ethical questions for schools to answer, and a provided method for shoring up those risks.

Speaker: Meera Shah, Trey Education

This session will help school leaders develop effective strategies and processes for ensuring that each new faculty hire—whether experienced or new to the profession—is prepared for success, from the final interview through the first years of teaching in your school.

New hires must be positioned for success not only in “doing their job,” but as members of communities whose distinct cultures have evolved to bring forth meaningful student learning experiences. Session participants will explore approaches to recruiting and hiring that match their school’s specific aims and needs and be introduced to—and take away for their schools’ own use—adaptable templates for effective and personalized new teacher programming, including handbooks, orientation sessions, and mentorship.

Speaker: Lori Cohen, Lori Cohen Consulting

In this interactive keynote, participants will explore how to build a holistic ecosystem of educator support, where equity serves as the foundation, well-being nurtures the soil, growth cultivates continuous learning, and evaluation tends to the whole system.

Participants will learn how small, intentional action—like fractals in nature—can create systemic change in a school community. Drawing from comprehensive research and practical experience, Lori will pose key questions and approaches to develop a clear equity vision, implement strategies that nurture educator well-being and relationships, cultivate growth through differentiated professional learning structures, and reimagine evaluation practices that center equity. Participants will leave with practical tips to foster educator support that is both equitable and sustainable, transforming fragmented initiatives into a cohesive ecosystem where everyone can flourish.

Speakers: Anna Conn, Saint Stephen’s Episcopal School, and Andrew Forrester, The Bolles School 

In today’s educational landscape, student wellness stands as a cornerstone of middle and high school learning. This interactive workshop explores how an effective advisory program can cultivate authentic connections and mutual respect among students and faculty.

Drawing from years of successful upper school advisory experience, we’ll examine practical
strategies for both established and emerging programs. Dive deep into the essential elements
that make advisory programs thrive. Through hands-on exploration of sample activities and curriculum materials, we’ll discover proven approaches to building trust, fostering meaningful
relationships, and developing student-centered advisory spaces.

Participants will receive a comprehensive collection of advisory programming materials via Google Docs, including tested activities, curriculum frameworks, and implementation strategies. We’ll explore common pitfalls to avoid and discuss how successful advisory practices can be adapted to meet the unique needs of different school communities. Join us to strengthen your advisory program toolbox and learn alongside fellow educators committed to nurturing student wellness through intentional relationship building.

Speaker: Lori Cohen, Lori Cohen Consulting

In this workshop, participants will explore essential coaching skills that build trust and foster growth. Through guided practice and reflection, attendees will explore three foundational coaching competencies: expansive integrated listening, strategic coaching approaches, and conversation stems that prompt deeper thinking. Participants will apply these skills in authentic contexts, with a focus on building the relational foundation necessary for learner-centered conversations. Participants will come away with an understanding of how effective coaching creates conditions for educator development and student success.

THIS SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

Speaker: Latricia Watkins, University School of Nashville, and Trish Buckner, University School of Nashville

Engage in meaningful discussions by examining real-life case studies on topics such as advocating for LGBTQ+ students, supporting students and families of color, and responding to students in crisis. Participants will explore the Ecological Systems Theory perspective and learn student-centered, solution-focused approaches that can address the holistic needs of students and families. Attendees will leave with practical skills and actionable strategies that can be easily implemented in their communities to better support students.

Speaker: Melissa Brown, The Global Education Benchmark Group

Our students want to engage with challenging issues and talk about what’s happening in the world. Yet most secondary schools have limited capacity to provide curriculum-integrated opportunities for real dialogue that develops competencies students need to succeed in schools, workplaces, and beyond.

In this workshop, participants will have the opportunity to explore the various school models of intercultural dialogues, to learn from data collected by the Global Education Benchmark Group (GEBG) over two years of study with a group of educators, and to engage with a new publication on integrating intercultural dialogue in various aspects of a school’s curriculum.

Speakers: Barbara Beachley, Charleston Day School, and Marianne Clare, Charleston Day School

Creating a thriving faculty culture is essential for attracting and retaining talented teachers—and it directly impacts student satisfaction, re-enrollment, and your school’s reputation as a great place to work. While evaluation is often viewed as stressful, when done right, it becomes a cornerstone of positive culture.

This workshop introduces a proven evaluation approach that sets clear, equitable expectations, respects teachers as professionals, fosters a safe environment for growth, and simplifies your role as an administrator. We’ll also explore practical strategies to build trust and provide the predictability and support teachers need, creating a workplace where educators feel empowered, valued, and motivated to stay.

Through interactive discussions, exercises, and role plays, you’ll leave with actionable insights to
strengthen faculty culture, support your team, and position your school as a top choice for
talented educators.

Speaker: Dr. Bryan Smyth, ISM

Life satisfaction measures people’s subjective feelings about their lives and is associated with mental health and happiness. Sadly, approximately 3 of every 10 upper school students and 1 of every 4 middle school students report being dissatisfied with life. Being dissatisfied is not only the product of difficult times, but it also influences how people interpret the world around them. Given the impact dissatisfaction can have on outcomes important to schools (e.g., student well-being, interpersonal relationships, physical health, and academic performance) schools have a vested interest in raising life satisfaction. This workshop will present three constructs that can improve students’ life satisfaction: connectedness, joy, and mastery. It will connect these constructs to actions schools can take to increase students’ assessment of the level of connectedness, joy, and mastery they feel. If you are wondering how you can improve student well- being, this session will help you come away with goals and tactics to help.

Speaker: Peyten Williams, Bowbend Consulting

Transform your parent partnerships in this focused workshop. Designed for deans, counselors, and division heads, you’ll master practical strategies to establish healthy boundaries while strengthening parent relationships. You will learn to model boundary-setting that builds trust and collaboration, guide families in creating effective structures and boundaries with their own children and address common challenges through peer discussion and real-world scenarios. Walk away with concrete tools to foster respectful, growth-oriented partnerships with your family community.

Speaker: Jason Erb, Wesleyan School

The One Page Strategic Plan leverages the work of Dan Heath, Peter Drucker, and Patrick Lencioni into a one-page plan for your team. Many strategic plans are conceived with a great amount of thoughtfulness and effort; however, too often strategic plans are rarely used or referenced by mid-level leaders. Participants will learn how to craft a mission statement, select strategic anchors, establish three-year thrusts, and set semi-annual goals for their department, division, or school. Improve team alignment by creating a one-page strategic plan. Distill your team’s vision into sizeable chunks that lead to successful implementation and accountability.

Speaker: Peyten Williams, Bowbend Consulting

In this interactive keynote—inspired by the ideas of Priya Parker, Brittany Hodak, Dan Siegel, Malcolm Gladwell, and Dan Heath—school leaders will discover the art of transforming parent engagement from routine meetings into vibrant, community-building experiences.

Rooted in research on brain science, the science of belonging, and fostering trust and significance, this session will provide actionable strategies for making every parent interaction—whether a coffee chat, informational meeting, or school event—a powerful tool for connection.