Academic Leaders Forum 2023: Purpose-Built For You

​Why a forum? We call this the Academic Leaders Forum because at its heart, these two days are about coming together–giving Academic Leaders the opportunity to connect, learn in inspiring workshops and round table conversations, and take a moment to renew and recharge in a relaxed and inspiring atmosphere for the coming year. 

We have lined up two powerful hands-on workshops for participants. 

On Thursday, attendees will learn (and practice) how to become more compelling speakers in a session led by The Moth Institute (the organization that powers behind the Moth Story Hour so many of us love on NPR).  Even if you already have deep experience with public speaking, this workshop will help you get to the next level. The MothWorks workshop will teach participants techniques to help them structure their stories in a way that captures and maintains the audience's attention. 

Storytelling can be a powerful tool for leaders to inspire and motivate their teams; whether those are internal teams of educators and students or the larger community of families or peers at a professional conference. Proficient storytellers know how to tailor their stories to different audiences and communicate in a way that resonates with diverse perspectives and backgrounds.  Academic leaders attending the workshop will learn to use stories to communicate vision and values, build trust, and inspire action.

Then, on Friday, we’ll learn from the Human Rights Council’s Welcoming Schools initiative. This workshop will focus on living the reality that all students better thrive in inclusive school environments. Participants will learn strategies for engaging families and community members in conversations about inclusivity and in creating partnerships that support the success of all students. This workshop includes role-playing difficult conversations, understanding the why of becoming more inclusive, and will help Academic Leaders better embrace and support family diversity. 

Beyond the workshops, we’ll have some interactive small group informal conversations on topics that are top of mind for participants. We’ll have opportunities to explore the impact of generative AI (artificial intelligence) on the work done by Academic Leaders. We’ll also look into the coming year and outline the questions that AI sparks about teaching and learning in independent schools. Answers are likely to be ephemeral, but the questions, when founded in schools’ values, can help Academic Leaders manage the ongoing conversations that will need to happen on campus.

Beyond these, we’ll also have good food, abundant coffee, and time to reconnect and relax with your peers from independent schools across the country.

Learn more, become a member and join us at the Forum!