2025 Conference Workshops
WORKSHOP SCHEDULE AT-A-GLANCE
SCROLL DOWN FOR FULL DESCRIPTIONS.
SESSION 1
You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know: When, How, and Why to Engage Stakeholders (For Your Brand and Beyond)
+ Kristen Angelucci, Co-Founder, Myth, NJ
+ Matt Goold, Co-Founder, Myth, NJ
+ Jacklyn Grad, Owner, Melt Media, ME
Effective stakeholder engagement is vital for small schools navigating branding, change, and growth. This interactive workshop provides tools for identifying key voices, building trust, and capturing powerful stories that serve both strategy and storytelling. With expert guidance, participants will learn how to turn engagement into a lever for sustainability and impact.
Participants will leave with:
A step-by-step framework for stakeholder engagement tailored to small school dynamics
Templates and tools to capture stakeholder stories that enhance branding and community trust
The Marathon of Small-School Leadership
+ Dr. Casey Hitchcock, Co-Founder, RootEd Coaching & Design, VA
Leading a small school requires the endurance of a marathon runner—facing self-doubt, shifting demands, and the weight of community expectations. This session explores strategies to sustain leadership, combat imposter syndrome, and build confidence amid the unique challenges of small-school life.
Participants will leave with:
Tools to build sustainable leadership habits and avoid burnout
Practical techniques to manage and overcome imposter syndrome
Partners in Inclusive Education – Embracing Neurodiversity Together
+ Beth DiPerna, MA, EdS, LAC, Head of School, Orchard Friends School, NJ
+ Margaret Haviland, PhD, Head of School, Westfield Friends School, NJ
Small schools can better meet diverse student needs by partnering with one another. Learn how Orchard Friends and Westfield Friends Schools are co-creating inclusive programming for neurodivergent and neurotypical learners—enriching both communities through shared experiences and collaboration.
Participants will leave with:
Tips for designing inclusive programs and curriculum
Guidance on forming impactful partnerships between small schools
To Merge or Not to Merge: Lessons in Finding the Right Path for Your School
+ Marcy Cathey, Head of School, The Doane Stuart School, NY
+ Stephen Holmes, PhD, Principal and Founder, 5Rs Partnership, Singapore
Mergers can seem like a solution to financial and enrollment challenges, but they aren’t always the right fit. This case study-based session shares how two schools explored merging—then chose independence instead. Learn how intentional evaluation, consulting support, and community input led to clarity and strength on both sides.
Participants will leave with:
Lessons from a real-world case study on evaluating school mergers with clarity and care
Tools for assessing alignment, values, and long-term goals when facing big institutional decisions
SESSION 2
The Power of Distributive Leadership
+ Matthew Bradley, Head of School, Friends School Mullica Hill, NJ
+ Geetha Holdsworth, Head of School, The Miquon School, PA
+ Rod Stanton, Head of School, The School in Rose Valley, PA
+ Alli Williams, Head of School, The Pilot School, DE
Explore how distributive leadership strengthens small schools by leveraging the collective expertise of staff. This session introduces a practical framework and real-world examples from school leaders who have successfully implemented distributive leadership. A panel of Heads of School will share insights, challenges, and strategies, followed by a Q&A.
Participants will leave with:
A clear understanding of the distributive leadership framework and how it functions in small school settings
Tangible examples and implementation ideas tailored to resource-limited environments
Centering Intrinsic Motivation for Students and Adults
+ LaShawn Gardner-Bowser, Educational Associate, City Neighbors Hamilton, MD
+ Mike Chalupa, Executive Director, City Neighbors Foundation, MD
Discover how cultivating intrinsic motivation in both students and teachers leads to strong retention and a thriving school culture. This session explores theories of motivation and provides tools to assess and enhance motivation across your school community.
Participants will leave with:
Practical strategies and structures that foster intrinsic motivation in both students and educators
A reflective tool to assess current practices and identify opportunities for growth in their own school
The Middle Matters: Leading with Compassion to Uplift the Unseen and Untapped
+ Detra M. Watson, Lower School Division Head, Carroll School, MA
In small schools, it’s easy to overlook the steady, quiet contributors. This session equips leaders with tools to recognize, support, and elevate those often left in the middle. Participants will explore strengths-based coaching, strategies for psychological safety, and ways to re-engage underutilized staff.
Participants will leave with:
A coaching framework to support and activate untapped potential among staff
Tools to build psychological safety and cultivate a more inclusive, growth-oriented team culture
Responding to Student Support Trends: Strategies for Small Independent Schools
+ Chrissy Khachane, Founder/Consultant, edvise, CT
Small independent schools are seeing a surge in diverse student learning needs. This session uses current data and case studies to explore the evolving landscape and offers actionable strategies for creating sustainable academic and social-emotional support systems.
Participants will leave with:
A data-informed understanding of current student support trends and their impact on small schools
Actionable strategies for building sustainable support systems within staffing and budget constraints
SESSION 3
The Purposefully Neurodivergent School Community
+ Katy Boucher, Founding Director, The Accord School, MA
Small schools are uniquely positioned to support neurodivergent students—but it takes intentionality. This session explores how to create affirming, inclusive environments for learners with autism, ADHD, anxiety, and other diverse profiles. Through reflection and practical frameworks, participants will learn how small shifts in language, structure, and mindset can make a big difference.
Participants will leave with:
A framework for building a neurodivergent-affirming school culture grounded in multiple intelligences
Practical strategies to enhance accessibility through language, embedded supports, and flexible approaches
Stress Reduction for Educators: Theory and Practice
+ Dave Mullen, Consultant, Whitewater Leadership, MA
In emotionally intense small school environments, stress can spread quickly. This session introduces Bowen Family Systems Theory to help educators understand and manage systemic anxiety. Through theory and guided practices, participants will learn to move from reactivity to intentional response, protecting their energy and supporting healthier school cultures.
Participants will leave with:
Daily practices for reducing stress and increasing emotional resilience in school settings
A systems-based lens to depersonalize stress and respond more effectively to workplace tension
Development: How to Help Your Board Help You
+ Jill Goodman, Owner, Jill Goodman Consulting, MD
School leaders and trustees often struggle to align on development responsibilities. This session offers a four-step framework for clarifying board roles, setting expectations, and engaging trustees in philanthropy with confidence. Learn how to turn board participation into a powerful asset for your fundraising program.
Participants will leave with:
A step-by-step approach to clarifying and managing trustee involvement in development efforts
Actionable strategies for engaging trustees based on their strengths, interests, and commitment to the school’s mission
Trial by Fire – Preparing for Emergencies
+ Hannah Nelson, Head of School, Midland School, CA
Are you confident in your school’s emergency plan? This hands-on session helps school leaders evaluate, refine, or build an Emergency Operation Plan (EOP) tailored to their school’s size and setting. Learn practical strategies, review essential components, and walk away ready to lead with clarity in any crisis.
Participants will leave with:
Templates and tools to build or revise an effective EOP
Hands-on practice in emergency response planning and leadership
SESSION 4
The Six Keys to Successful Leadership in Small Schools
+ Edward Hollinger, Principle Consultant, Hollinger Group Consulting, IL
Small school leaders juggle wide-ranging responsibilities, often with limited support. This session introduces the Six Domains of Leadership model, helping participants assess their strengths and identify growth areas. Through reflection and tools for self-awareness, leaders will explore how to show up strategically and sustainably in their daily work.
Participants will leave with:
A clear understanding of the Six Domains of Leadership and how they apply in small school contexts
Tools for assessing leadership strengths and areas for growth to enhance strategic self-awareness
Fractional Director Services: Expert Leadership Without the Full-Time Cost
+ Alex Borders, Associate Partner, Alma Partners, NY
Accessing expert leadership doesn’t have to mean hiring full-time. This workshop explores how small schools can leverage fractional services in Admissions, Development, and Marketing to increase impact without expanding payroll. Through case studies and practical guidance, learn how to bring high-level strategy to your school—efficiently and affordably.
Participants will leave with:
A decision-making framework for evaluating and selecting fractional services that meet school needs
Real-world strategies for using fractional leadership to drive annual planning, campaigns, and strategic outcomes
The Invisible Curriculum: What Our Processes Teach Our Community
+ Dominique Mouthon, Co-Founder/CEO, Clever Education Solutions, NC
Beyond academics, your school communicates values through its systems and workflows. This session helps leaders uncover the “invisible curriculum” embedded in daily operations and align those messages with their mission. Participants will reflect on how forms, communication, and internal processes shape culture—and how small shifts can have a big impact.
Participants will leave with:
A framework for identifying and realigning operational processes to better reflect school values
Tools and strategies for transforming everyday workflows into culture-building opportunities
Changing the Narrative – No Longer the Best Kept Secret
+ Dagan Rowe, Head of School, Seven Hills School, VA
Is your school still “the best kept secret?” That phrase might sound flattering, but it often signals missed opportunities in admissions and marketing. Using NAIS’s Jobs-to-Be-Done research, this session shares how one small school aligned its messaging with what families actually value—boosting interest, applications, and enrollment.
Participants will leave with:
An understanding of how to apply Jobs-to-Be-Done research to admissions and messaging
A practical roadmap for aligning communications with family needs and school strengths