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Building a School Culture of Integrity Through Shared Values
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: Does it feel like the ethical barometer is falling? Like the moral compass seems off-kilter? How can we support students with their awareness of values (both individual and collective) so they can shape positive relationships, make ethical decisions, and guide their actions for good? Explore the power of creating shared values—how this differs from our typical way of approaching a code of ethics. See its effectiveness for driving a deeper and analytical awareness of why understanding values matters. Join this interactive workshop to learn how to facilitate this work in your own school.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- See the possibility of a group of individuals agreeing on a core list of shared values.
- Understand how to facilitate this exercise with constituents at your school.
- Collectively discuss why and how this work is important.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Very interactive
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Presenters: Vanessa Wade, King’s-Edgehill School (Canada)
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Transforming School Culture: Integrating the Five A's Approach to Mental and Emotional Well-Being
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: Explore a systemic model for promoting mental and emotional well-being in schools. The five A's approach offers educators and school leaders a comprehensive guide to embedding well-being into the educational landscape in the face of a pressing youth mental health crisis. The five foundational principles of our approach equip educators and school leaders with the tools needed to create supportive and caring environments and create a culture of wellness. Join us for an engaging and interactive session and leave with actionable takeaways.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Understand the five key elements of the five A's approach for fostering mental and emotional well-being in schools.
- Explore practical strategies to integrate the five A's approach into school.
- Discuss the role of educators and school leaders in fostering a culture of wellness in schools.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Diego Estrada and Stephen Popp, The John Cooper School (TX)
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Building Bridges: Foster Effective Partnerships Between DEIB Practitioners of Color & White Allies
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: In today's diverse independent schools, effective collaboration among educators of different racial backgrounds is essential. Focus on fostering effective partnerships between white allies and Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) practitioners of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB). Use our time together as a platform for addressing challenges, enhancing understanding, and maximizing the impact of diversity in education. Let’s strive to build inclusive environments and strengthen collaboration. Leave empowered to leverage your perspective, identity, and experiences to create more inclusive, equitable, and enriching learning environments for all students.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Explore racial diversity in educational settings and develop strategies for building trust, communication, and mutual respect in cross-racial partnerships.
- Identify challenges faced by white and BIPOC educators in partnering effectively and foster understanding through open dialogue and shared experiences.
- Provide practical tools and resources for navigating difficult and critical conversations and addressing implicit biases.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Jennifer Dirga and Kerryn Hinds, The Chestnut Hill School (MA)
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Teaching Beyond the Binary: Interdisciplinary Approaches to the Science of Sex and Gender
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Teaching and Learning |
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Summary: The scientific study of sex and gender informs the way these topics are addressed within the humanities—and vice versa, but it’s rare that these disciplines are brought together in the same class. Share the challenges and successes of our three-year collaboration designing and teaching an interdisciplinary elective for grades 10-12, The Science of Sex and Gender. Join us as we offer a practical guide to collaboration across disciplines, demonstrate some of the activities that introduce our students to research in multiple academic fields, and discuss the assessment of student work within a team-taught class.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Explore possibilities for professional collaboration across departments.
- Model assignments that provide opportunities for students to develop interdisciplinary research skills.
- Build course materials and assessments that center student perspectives while addressing issues of current social and political controversy.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Deborah Banner and Lisa Ellis, Marlborough School (CA)
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Transform Your Hiring and Evaluation Strategies by Infusing Ideal Team Member Traits Into Both
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Leadership |
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Summary: Discover how one school revolutionized its evaluation and hiring processes by embedding traits of the ideal team member. Designed for administrators and human resource directors, get guidance in defining your institution's ideal traits, integrating them into employee evaluations, and streamlining your hiring to find the perfect fit. Learn from division heads of lower, middle, and upper schools and an executive administrator as they share data, common pitfalls, and successful strategies. Unite your community of educators and employees with these proven methods. Join us to transform your approach to hiring and evaluation!
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Transform evaluation processes centered on professional growth.
- Streamline hiring processes to recruit talent suited to the needs of your institution.
- Build a community around a common goal.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Julie Bianchi, Sean Ball, Jay Mahn, Jessica Banks, and Kelly Rose, The Out-of-Door Academy (FL)
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Implementing an Effective Executive Function Goal-Setting and Coaching Model
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Teaching and Learning |
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Summary: As independent learning expectations increase throughout middle and high school for all learners, students need to understand how they can operationalize their executive function strengths to overcome their executive function challenges. Join us for an introduction to the goal-setting and coaching program used at The Southport School. After a brief overview of our executive function program, walk through the executive function reflection and goal-setting processes and explore the core elements of our coaching model. Examine ways you could adapt this program for high school learners.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Explore reflection activities for teachers and students to engage in diagnostic and prescriptive executive function instruction and application.
- Identify specific executive function challenges and create goals and objectives that foster executive function growth.
- Examine how executive function coaching can be implemented school-wide.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: A sit-and-learn session
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Presenters: Jeffrey Ruggiero, Julie Papp, and John Robbins, The Southport School (CT
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Scaling the Glass Cliff: Women, Leadership, and Resilience
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Leadership |
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Summary: Attend this highly interactive workshop to learn the current obstacles women face in entering top leadership positions in independent schools. Share results from a mixed-methods study in partnership with NAIS about factors that contributed to female head of school turnover in the last three years. Panel members offer recommendations for how to combat these issues based on their lived experiences as former heads of school who now run searches for RG175 and board members who have engaged in successful searches.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Summarize and synthesize current research on gendered experiences of leadership during and after the pandemic.
- Apply research-based strategies as you plan for gender equity in your organization's hiring processes.
- Engage with experts (e.g., hiring firms, board members) regarding gender-equitable hiring.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Very interactive
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Presenters: Sarah Odell, San Francisco University High School (CA); Lauren Bailes and Yubin Jang, University of Delaware, School of Education and Human Development; Tom Hudnut and Bodie Brizendine, RG175
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|
How to Secure Positive Media Coverage for Your School
|
A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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School Operations |
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Summary: Are you struggling to get reporters to write positive stories about your school beyond athletics? Are you curious about how earned media improve your brand reputation, provide proactive public relations, and move the bottom line of your business goals? Learn how St. Anne’s-Belfield and its public relations partner grabbed the attention of newsrooms—newsrooms that are universally facing shrinking staff and greater competition. Leave knowing how to identify newsworthy stories, write compelling hooks, and pitch media. Heads of school, CFOs/COOs, and communications professionals won’t want to miss this interactive workshop.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Learn the six key elements of a newsworthy story.
- Learn to craft strong hooks to generate media interest in your stories.
- Learn best practices for working with competitive newsrooms.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Lisa Ha, St. Anne’s-Belfield School (VA); Angelica Flynn, AKCG Public Relations Counselors
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The Strategic Potential of College Counseling
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Strategy and Innovation |
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Summary: Increasing uncertainty in the college-going process has impacted students' emotional health and caused more families to (re)consider the value proposition of independent schools. At the same time, college counseling has tended to be divorced from larger school life. In fact, we note that it's not typically included in the NAIS conference proposal themes or tags. Join us as we apply a framework and visual tool to three strategic areas: redirecting student and family energy in the college process, highlighting growth opportunities within a college counseling program, and connecting college counseling programs to potential school initiatives.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Learn how to help students and families think logically and confidently about choice opportunities in the college process.
- Learn how college counseling teams can analyze their work for future strategic growth.
- Learn how to think about connecting observations from college counseling to potential school initiatives.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Beth Wilner, University School (OH)
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Leveraging Faculty in Leadership for Belonging and Deep Learning
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Leadership |
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Summary: The core business of schools is deep learning, which hinges on teacher efficacy and teacher and student belonging and engagement. School leaders must care for both the mental and professional well-being of educators in order to empower student well-being and learning. A robust mentorship program supports culture and teachers by enhancing the belonging of adults and promoting efficacy through professional growth—ultimately improving the depth of student learning. Explore how leveraging teacher experience to build a professional-growth culture can foster student and adult well-being, belonging, and efficacy, resulting in deep learning for all.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Understand how fostering a sense of belonging among teachers for professional vulnerability, growth, and efficacy can improve student-learning outcomes.
- Explore mentorship program development and implementation, leveraging faculty experience to support a culture of shared learning and professional growth.
- Share one exemplar of such a mentorship program, iterations, strengths, and areas for growth.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Andrea Weber and Michael Simmonds, Strathcona-Tweedsmuir School (Canada)
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Redefining Success: Combatting Achievement Culture by Centering Student Voices
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: In today's educational landscape, the pressure to excel often overshadows students' holistic development. The Lovett School, a K-12 independent school in Atlanta, has partnered with Challenge Success to address this issue by promoting a balanced approach to success. Over the past two 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. Join us to hear insights from Lovett’s journey, highlighting the importance of shared decision-making in creating meaningful change.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Identify strategies for promoting student well-being and intrinsic motivation through collaborative decision-making and data-driven approaches.
- Understand the benefits of inclusive teams in fostering a balanced, student-centered educational environment.
- Apply practical tools to redefine success and enhance holistic development within your school community.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Jessica Sant, The Lovett School (GA); Jonathan Kleiman, Challenge Success
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Financial Literacy: Empowering Students to Thrive in the Real World
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Teaching and Learning |
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Summary: Empower your students to thrive with essential financial literacy skills. Gain practical strategies for integrating financial education into K-12 curricula. Discover the importance of financial literacy, explore successful implementation examples, and access valuable resources. Engage in interactive discussions, hands-on activities, and collaborative brainstorming to enhance your teaching. Join us to inspire and equip your students for a confident financial future, fostering a generation prepared to navigate the real world with competence and success.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Delve into the Importance of financial literacy.
- Find out how to integrate financial education into the curriculum.
- Get tools and resources you can use at your school to empower students with financial literacy.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Brian Li, Providence Day School (NC)
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Head Instead: Empowering Leadership Teams for the Unexpected
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Leadership |
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Summary: Discover the transformative concept of "head instead," introduced at the NAIS Institute for New Heads. Explore how strategically empowering leadership teams can ensure organizational resilience during unforeseen challenges. Drawing on extensive research, learn to foster psychological safety and trust no matter your role. Through interactive discussions, gain practical tools for building strong, empowered teams ready to lead in any situation. Take this ideal opportunity for leaders in educational institutions and organizations seeking to enhance team effectiveness and preparedness.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Understand the concept of "head instead" and how to embed it into your leadership practice.
- Understand the concept of "psychological safety" and the essential elements of building trust on a team.
- Get practical takeaways and tools to strategically empower your team and ensure success in the face of the unexpected.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Very interactive
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Presenters: Annette Fallon, AIM Academy (PA)
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Navigating Challenging Conversations at School
|
A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: Join us to gain the facilitation skills, structures, and resources to lead productive conversations about challenging political and social issues at school. Begin to build an understanding of the norms and facilitation techniques that encourage deliberative dialogue, the role of language and labels in fostering civil discourse, and ways to project openness to multiple perspectives. Examine a values framework to better understand why people disagree, use a set of scenarios to consider how to respond, and gain strategies to use when discourse breaks down.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Evaluate classroom norms to understand how they can foster—or hinder—civil discourse.
- Examine an issues-based framework to help as civil discourse is engaged in the classroom.
- Analyze real-world scenarios and case studies to discuss best practices for addressing challenges that arise during classroom dialogue and deliberation.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Blake Kohn and Sante Mastriana, Close Up Foundation
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10 Years of the Educator's Notebook: Reflections on What Drives Us and Brings Us Together
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A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Strategy and Innovation |
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Summary: With over 13,000 curated articles sent to thousands of readers with hundreds of thousands of data points, what has resonated? Which topics have come and gone? What truths have persisted? How have different readers applied their learning in schools? Ultimately, these and other questions lead us to wonder: How does the news shape us and how do we shape our schools based on the news—whether current events, new research, or emerging practices in education? Come dive into stories and data from the last 10 years and help interpret it so we might better understand both school and life.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Understand what drives positive change in schools across a range of topics.
- Understand patterns and cycles in schoolwork and leadership.
- Understand some of the behind-the-scenes workings of the newsletter.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Peter Nilsson, The Educator's Notebook
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Cultivating and Retaining Exceptional Educators: Strategies for Independent School Leaders
|
A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Leadership |
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Summary: In an era where recruiting and retaining talented educators is more crucial than ever, independent school leaders must consider innovative and sustainable strategies to nurture and retain their talent. Join us to gain a deeper understanding of the current challenges and opportunities in teacher talent management within independent schools. Explore proven frameworks and strategies that support teacher development and long-term retention, practical tools for creating a growth-driven professional environment fostering teacher satisfaction, and an actionable plan to implement in your school to improve teacher retention rates and enhance professional learning communities.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Understand the current challenges and opportunities in teacher talent management and retention, including the trends accompanying the incoming generational workforce.
- Identify proven frameworks, strategies, and tools that nurture teacher growth and create a professional environment conducive to satisfaction and retention.
- Develop an actionable plan to implement in your school to foster community and improve teacher retention rates.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Very interactive
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Presenters: Alex Bragg, Woodward Academy (GA); Elizabeth Maglio, Southern Association of Independent Schools
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Moving Through Conflict: Considerations in Complaints and Investigations
|
A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Leadership |
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Summary: Schools are receiving an increase in allegations on a broad range of issues, including student misconduct, claims against the business office and administrative team, personnel issues, and trustee issues. Each allegation presented does not necessarily fit neatly and squarely within a particular policy, such as whistleblower or student conduct policies. Schools must examine the appropriate response to various types of allegations, considering their scope of jurisdiction, the legal and reputational risks, fiduciary duties, and community expectations. Use case studies to discuss the various approaches and considerations in investigations and complaint resolution.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Learn how to weigh and assess complaints within the community.
- Discuss how to develop strategies regarding your approach to investigations.
- Understand the varying legal risks presented by different approaches.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Janice Gregerson and Grace Lee, Venable LLP
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The ABCs of Collaborative Practice: Agency, Belongingness, and Capacity-Building
|
A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
|
Teaching and Learning |
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Summary: Regardless of whether you use collaboration to support new faculty, promote campus leadership development, or improve classroom instruction through instructional coaching, join us to identify the key considerations for building purposeful and proactive collaborative conversations. In addition to highlighting the integral skills needed for successful collaboration, explore how you can leverage foundational practices to further develop agency, belongingness, and capacity in others. Learn to illuminate clear pathways to all faculty and support staff seeking to strengthen and empower capacity-building in others.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Implement identified interpersonal skills (e.g., SCARF, committed listening, presuming positive intent) as a foundation for collaborative practice.
- Apply the collaborative process model as a foundation for purposeful and sustainable collaborative conversations.
- Engage in reflective practice as a means to celebrate accomplishments and identify next steps for action.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Very interactive
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Presenters: Vicki Phelps, Quest Academy (IL)
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Fostering Independence to Help Students Become Confident, Capable, and Resilient
|
A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
|
Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: Want students to start doing and thinking more on their own? Explore how to address decades of declining childhood independence and the resulting “anxious generation” with a streamlined program that helps your students be more adaptive, resilient, and engaged. Through case study and conversation, examine how increased independence, responsibility, and free play build students’ resilience and enhance well-being. Leave with specific resources to effectively partner with parents and encourage them to step back and make room for students’ growth and together offer real-world ways to get kids and teens back to having adventures, solving problems, and blossoming.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Identify how increased independence, responsibility, and free play build students’ resilience and enhance well-being.
- Identify methods to partner with parents to give children more opportunities for self-direction and independence.
- Learn lessons from implementation at a peer school and how to customize your implementation of our programs.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Andrea Keith, Let Grow; Stacy Smith and Amy Cataldo, Edmund Burke School (DC)
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Leading in Transition
|
A |
Thursday, February 27,
11:15 AM - 12:30 PM
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Leadership |
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Summary: A wide variety of experts agree: We are living through a time of significant transition. Traditional institutions are under duress, whether due to artificial intelligence, social-political polarization, climate pressures, staff burnout, or other emerging crises and challenges. Which begs the question: What is the purpose of school in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world? What are the new skills, literacies, and dispositions leaders need to guide their communities into the future? Unpack these big questions and learn tools and strategies to envision more relevant, just, sustainable (regenerative), healthy, and joyful schools, now and into the future.
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Block: A (Thursday, February 27, 11:15 AM - 12:30 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- To gain some of the new dispositions, literacies and skills school leaders need today, like sense-making and fearless inquiry.
- To gain an appreciation of “liminality” and the dispositions needed for navigating as Generation “T” - the Generation in Transition, according to futurists.
- To imagine what it takes to leave a lasting legacy and be a “Good Ancestor” amidst the pressure of immediate demands and what’s trending.
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Presenters: Homa Tavangar and Will Richardson, Big Questions Institute
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Fresh Eyes: Reimagining Board Culture Through Sustained Reflective Practice
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B |
Thursday, February 27,
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
|
Governance |
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Summary: The role of a process observer is not new, but its utility in strengthening board culture may be worth a fresh look. Many of us have questioned whether the governance model of our schools works. What if it does but needs raised expectations and accountability for living more fully into governance as leadership? Heads, trustees, and senior leaders eager for a fresh approach to fortifying board culture, join us for this introduction to a case study of a reimagined model for sustained partnership among a head of school, consultant, and board of trustees.
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Block: B (Thursday, February 27, 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Examine a case study of a structure that may provide a fresh take on board development.
- Get examples of activities to support reflective practice by trustees.
- Review an alternative to the traditional board survey to use as a tool for trustees' self-evaluations and fuel for learning.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Mike Hanas, certified executive coach; Dan Glass, The Brandeis School (CA)
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Navigating Bias: Creating and Implementing a Formal Bias Reporting System
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B |
Thursday, February 27,
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
|
Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: Our school launched a formal bias incident support process in 2020, which evolved from idea to implementation and management. Get a framework for implementing or evolving a bias incident support process intentionally designed to apply across various school settings. Our five-pronged approach is rooted in community restoration and cross-functional collaboration while centering the needs of the individual(s) on the receiving end of the incident. Explore the build/launch, navigating pushback, naming the process, and data tracking. Take an opportunity to delve into case studies and workshop the process.
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Block: B (Thursday, February 27, 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Respond to instances of bias or hate in independent schools as a best practice.
- <style type="text/css"><!--td {border: 1px solid #cccccc;}br {mso-data-placement:same-cell;}-->
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<span data-sheets-root="1" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Nunito,Arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;">Garner buy-in from campus stakeholders to successfully implement a model.</span>
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<span data-sheets-root="1" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Nunito,Arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;">Use data to inform strategic planning, outreach, and programming.</span>
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Julian Cook, Tyrone Jean, and Jana Dorsey, Providence Day School (NC)
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Creativity Over Complacency: Creating a Culture That Reflects Your School’s Values
|
B |
Thursday, February 27,
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
|
Strategy and Innovation |
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Summary: Teacher burnout and dissatisfaction are real concerns. Plus, fewer college graduates are choosing education as their profession of choice. How do we keep teachers fulfilled and satisfied in an increasingly stressful job? Getting our faculty and staff engaged in developing creative solutions to persistent concerns changed the life of our school. Discover what we learned from expert advice—as well as from trial and error—as we tackled common issues like compensation, morale, and evaluation. Join us as we share the journey we took to create a culture in which faculty, staff, and ultimately students thrive!
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Block: B (Thursday, February 27, 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Understand the process of engaging faculty and staff in becoming problem solvers and solution creators.
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<span data-sheets-root="1" style="font-size:10pt;font-family:Nunito,Arial;font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;">Learn how to change teacher evaluation to a model that focuses on reflection and growth.</span>
- Gain awareness of how faculty voice and buy-in can make the difference in creating a culture that thrives.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
-
Engaged: A sit-and-learn session
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Presenters: Martha Newson, Hart Roper, Coneale Bethurum, Leila Eads, and Rachel Cleveland, Oak Hill School (TN)
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Addressing Anxious Perfectionism in High School to Prepare Students for Success in College
|
B |
Thursday, February 27,
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
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Equity, Inclusion, Justice, and Well-Being |
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Summary: Confront the maladaptive perfectionist mindsets that permeate schools when achievement culture turns toxic. As college admission grows ever-more competitive, students are increasingly anxious and rigid in their academic approaches. Current research trends demonstrate how subsequent inflexible all-or-nothing thinking, reassurance addiction, and fear-based motivation prime students for burnout and breakdowns, especially when transitioning to new college environments. Explore school-based remedies by considering the social-emotional impact this phenomenon has—on strong students and those with learning challenges—and get frameworks, scripts, and ideas for parent education and professional development for educators.
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Block: B (Thursday, February 27, 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Gain a vocabulary and framework for a struggle that typically goes unnamed, making it much harder to recognize and address.
- Understand the phenomenon from a variety of perspectives (student, teacher, K-12 school administrator, college psychologist).
- Gain practical approaches for addressing anxious perfectionist behaviors with students in real time, plus strategies for more macro-level structural issues.
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Knowledge Level: Intermediate: designed for attendees with some experience in this content area, who are eager to know more.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Patrick McHonett, Flint Hill School (VA); Caralena Peterson, Effortless Perfection Myth author; Gary Glass, formerly of Emory University
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How Parents Pay Tuition and What We Can Learn From It
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B |
Thursday, February 27,
1:30 PM - 2:45 PM
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School Operations |
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Summary: Periodically since 1986, NAIS has surveyed parents to better understand their perceptions of the financial aid process, how they sacrifice to pay tuition, and what feelings they most associate with paying tuition. Join this discussion of the latest findings from the 2023-2024 NAIS How Parents Pay research for insights into where behaviors and emotions have changed and where they’ve stayed the same. Consider how these parent perspectives can inform your financial aid policy, parent education, and affordability communication efforts.
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Block: B (Thursday, February 27, 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM)
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Category: General Workshop
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Learning objectives:
- Understand what parents experience as their key sacrifices and emotions around paying tuition.
- Consider new policy and/or communication efforts around affordability.
- Address misperceptions about families who seek financial aid.
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Knowledge Level: Introductory: customized for attendees with little or limited knowledge about this topic.
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Engaged: Somewhat interactive
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Presenters: Mark Mitchell, NAIS
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