2021 Annual Conference Schedule

* Denotes session is being recorded.

Sunday, October 17

1:00 PM – 4:00 PMBoard/Head Workshop: Tap Dancing on Marbles: Leadership, Governance, and Stewardship * | Maplewood
Anne-Marie Balzano, Senior Governance Strategist, Mission & Data
Ari Betof, Co-Founder & Partner, Mission & Data
Session description
1:00 PM – 4:00 PMAccreditation Workshop | Camellia
Joanne Andruscavage, Director of Accreditation, SAIS

Session description
2:00 PM – 4:00 PMUnderstanding and Developing Anti-Racist Policies and Programs | Oakwood
Allen Broyles, Assistant Head of School for Academics, The Children’s School

Session description
4:00 PM – 7:00 PMRegistration | Ravinia Prefunction
4:00 PM – 4:45 PMFirst-Time Heads Roundtable | Gardenia
4:00 PM – 7:00 PMExhibit & Sponsor Booths Open | Ravinia Prefunction
5:00 PM – 6:00 PMKEYNOTE Breaking the Spell of High Conflict * | Ravinia Ballroom
sponsored by ISM

Amanda Ripley, Investigative Journalist and Bestselling Author

Session description
6:00 PM – 7:00 PMReception | Ravinia Prefunction
sponsored by Flik Independent School Dining

Monday, October 18

7:00 AM – 6:00 PMRegistration | Ravinia Prefunction
8:00 AM – 9:15 AMBreakfast | Ravinia Ballroom
8:00 AM – 6:00 PMExhibit & Sponsor Booths Open | Ravinia Prefunction
9:15 AM – 9:30 AMBreak | Ravinia Prefunction
9:30 AM – 10:30 AMKEYNOTE: Leading an Independent School in a Post-Pandemic World * | Ravinia Ballroom 
sponsored by FACTS
Will Richardson & Homa Tavangar, Co-Founders, Big Questions Institute 

Session description
10:30 AM – 11:00 AMBreak | Ravinia Prefunction
11:00 AM – 12:00 PMBREAKOUTS:
Using Emerging Technology to Tackle SEL Gaps | La Grotta
Marsha Maxwell, Head of Technology and Innovation, Atlanta International School
Session description
Leading School Change (When No One Wants To) * | Maplewood
Anne-Marie Balzano, Senior Governance Strategist, Mission & Data
Ari Betof, Co-Founder & Partner, Mission & Data
Session description
Deep Dive: Post-Pandemic Strategic Design for Schools | Oakwood
Will Richardson & Homa Tavangar, Co-Founders, Big Questions Institute
Session description
Leading Change: Aligning Your School Culture & DEI Strategy * | Dunwoody BC
Nishant Mehta, Managing Director & K-12 Schools Practice Leader, Storbeck Search
Session description
The “Burger” Approach to Increasing Conversions & Yield | Camellia
Mike Connor, President, Connor Associates Strategic Services
Session description
Put Me in Coach: A Guide for New & Aspiring Administrators | Conference Center
Peggy Campbell-Rush, Specialist, U.S. Fulbright Specialist Program
Session description
12:00 PM – 12:30 PMBreak | Ravinia Prefunction
12:30 PM – 2:00 PMLUNCH: SAIS President’s Address, Distinguished Service Award, NAIS Update | Ravinia Ballroom
sponsored by Southern Teachers
Donna Orem, President, NAIS
Debra Wilson, President, SAIS
Session description
2:00 PM – 2:30 PMBreak | Ravinia Prefunction
2:30 PM – 3:30 PMBREAKOUTS:
Preparing Global Citizens for an Interconnected World | La Grotta
Dave Michelman, Principal, Global Connect
Session description
Managing Governance During Times of Crisis and Change * | Maplewood
Keith Evans, Head of School, Westminster Schools
Debra Wilson, President, SAIS 

Session description
Leading Through Disruption: Riding the Tailwinds and Bucking the Headwinds * | Dunwoody BC
Donna Orem, President, NAIS
Session description
Hiring for Equity, Retaining With Excellence: Lessons Learned | Oakwood
Lawrence Alexander, DEI Practice Leader, Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Session description
What (and Who) Now?: Identity, Mission, & Values | Conference Center
Shelly Peters, Principal, CRANE | Atlanta
Session description
Teachers Teaching Teachers: Breaking Silos Through PD Programming| Camellia
Alex Bragg, Upper School Teaching and Learning Specialist, Woodward Academy
Session description
3:30 PM – 4:00 PMBreak | Ravinia Prefunction
4:00 PM – 5:00 PMBREAKOUTS:
Historic Sexual Misconduct: Lessons Learned From The Altamont School | La Grotta
Jamie Forbes, CEO, Learning Courage
Dottie Pak, Trustee, The Altamont School

Session description
Legal Claims on the Horizon: Is Your School at Risk? | Oakwood
Jennifer Carroll, Attorney, Fisher Phillips
Session description
Leading With Compassion and Managing Risk | Conference Center
Stephanie Cantillo, Chief Human Resources Officer, Pace Academy
Amber Stockham, Director, Human Resources Programs, NBOA

Session description
Positioning DEI Practitioners & Initiatives for Success * | Dunwoody BC
Sonja Taylor, Assistant Head of School, Charlotte Latin School
Session description
Financial Planning Tools Every School Should Have | Camellia
Palmer Ball, Executive Director, PAIS
Session description
Developing a Teacher-Centered, Teacher-Approved Evaluation Framework | Maplewood
Natalie Luke, Middle School Dean, Athens Academy
Jeff Stachura, Director of Middle School, Athens Academy

Session description
5:00 PM – 6:00 PMReception | Ravinia Prefunction
sponsored by RG175

Tuesday, October 19

7:00 AM – 12:00 PMRegistration | Ravinia Prefunction
8:00 AM – 9:15 AMBreakfast | Ravinia Prefunction
8:00 AM – 11:00 AMSponsor Booths Open | Ravinia Prefunction
9:15 AM – 9:30 AMBreak | Ravinia Prefunction
9:30 AM – 10:30 AMKEYNOTE: Before, During, and After the Pandemic: A Business Perspective * | Ravinia Ballroom 
sponsored by Checkwriters
Jeff Shields, President & CEO, NBOA
Session description
10:30 AM – 11:00 AMBreak | Ravinia Prefunction
11:00 AM – 12:00 PMBREAKOUTS:
Learning in the World: Reimagining Off-Campus Programs | La Grotta
Clare Sisisky, Executive Director, GEBG
Session description
Hot Legal Issues in Enrollment and Employment Contracts | Dunwoody BC
Grace Lee, Partner, Venable
Session description
Making Data Transparent: Introducing the Head Search Database | Conference Center
Clay Gibney, Director of Technology, SAIS
Autumn Graves, Head of School, St. Anne’s-Belfield School
Vince Watchorn, Principal, Watchorn Education
Debra Wilson, President, SAIS
Session description
The RCA House System: Rewarding and Inspiring Students Using Belongingness | Camellia
Junior Bernadin, Dean of Students and IT Director, The Ron Clark Academy
Session description
The Role of Heads and Administrators in Advancement * | Maplewood
Julie Lucas, Chief Advancement Officer, Darlington School
Natalie Skinner, Senior Vice President, CCS Fundraising
Bob Weston,  Practice Lead, Independent Schools, CCS Fundraising
Session description
Achieve Your Goals Through Strategic Hiring | Oakwood
Shannan Schuster, Consultant, ISM
Session description
12:00 PMAdjourn