Friday, May 1 in Chicago

Contemporary Art & Children's Play

Explore exciting strategies for cultivating children's creativity in the classroom.

Join returning presenter Dr. Louisa Penfold, Co-Chair of Arts and Learning at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, for a day of interactive mini workshops that demonstrate how art, play, and inquiry can serve as powerful pathways to learning. Through engaging sessions such as Cardboard Construction, Sound Sculptures, Textile Weavings, and Performance Art, participants will experience how open-ended materials and creative exploration can strengthen children’s thinking, language development, collaboration, and problem-solving.

In this workshop you will:

• Examine the essential role of art and play in early childhood development and academic learning
• Explore Pedagogical Curation, an approach to designing learning environments and centers that intentionally connect contemporary art practices with children’s play and inquiry
• Learn practical strategies for sourcing materials and organizing classroom centers that inspire exploration
• Discover ways to scaffold learning through thoughtful choices of materials, tools, vocabulary, and techniques

Educators will leave with practical ideas for integrating creative learning centers into the early childhood classroom in ways that support both joyful discovery and meaningful academic growth. Add to your program this year or grow expertise to use at the start of the new school year.

Dr. Louisa Penfold

Louisa Penfold, PhD is a lecturer and the co-chair of arts and learning at Harvard University. Her work focuses on contemporary art, early childhood education, and play across schools, museums, and public spaces. She has worked in the learning departments at international art museums, including Tate, the Serpentine, and the Ipswich Art Gallery, as well as serving on UNESCO's Advisory Committee for the Implementation Guidance of the Framework for Culture and Arts Education. Her forthcoming book, Every Child is an Artist: A Parent's Guide to Cultivating Children's Creativity Through Contemporary Art, will be released in 2026.

Intro Video

Friday, April 17 in Chicago

Emerging in Your Leadership with Emotional Intelligence:
Strengths & Styles

What kind of leader are you—and what kind of leader could you become?

In this hands-on workshop, Vanderbilt University professor and independent school veteran Carrie Grimes guides teacher leaders through a dynamic exploration of personal leadership strengths and styles. Drawing on her dual expertise in leadership theory and 15 years of real-world experience as a teacher, counselor, and administrator in independent schools, Grimes bridges the gap between academic research and the day-to-day realities of school life.

Participants will dig into how their individual approach to engaging with students, colleagues, and administrators shapes team culture and workplace dynamics, learning how to harness that self-knowledge as a strategic asset. Through the lens of emotional intelligence, you'll build a clearer picture of your leadership identity: what energizes you, where you have room to grow, and how to show up more intentionally in every professional relationship. Expect reflection, discussion, and takeaways you can put to work immediately.

Carrie Grimes

Carrie Grimes currently serves as a professor at Vanderbilt University’s Peabody College, in the department of leadership, policy and organizations where she teaches at the master’s and doctoral level and directs Peabody’s MEd in Independent School Leadership. Her expertise includes leadership theory/practice, online instruction, strategic planning, institutional advancement, instructional design, and program evaluation/management. Her current research agenda focuses on leadership persistence, faculty retention, and strategies for building community in adult online learning environments. Prior to her role in academia, Grimes served for 15 years as a teacher, school counselor, and administrative leader in independent schools in Maryland and California.

Intro Video

Tuesday, April 28 in Chicago

Academic Leaders
Chicago Regional Forum

Collaborate, Reflect, and Grow:
A Day Built for Academic Leaders

The Association for Academic Leaders Regional Forum series offers a professional learning experience designed specifically for Academic Leaders. Attendees will explore key challenges facing schools today and discover mission-aligned strategies to address them effectively. The April 28 Forum will take place at the ISACS Classroom. 

What to Expect
The Association for Academic Leaders Regional Forums return in 2026 with a full day designed specifically for the work and leadership challenges Academic Leaders face every day. This year’s Forums will focus on two timely leadership themes:

• GenAI without the Hype: Smart, Safe, and Useful Ways to Incorporate GenAI into Your Work
• Leading in the Gray: Priorities, Tensions, Imperfect Choices

Through conversation, shared case studies, and practical frameworks, participants will expand their leadership toolkit and leave with ideas they can put to use right away. As always, Forum attendance is included with Association membership.

Thursday, July 23 in Chicago

Administrative Assistants
at the Center

A day of connection, learning & resources thoughtfully designed to support you as you prepare for the year ahead.

Administrative Assistants play a vital role at the heart of school communication, operations, and daily life. Join fellow independent school Administrative Assistants for a dedicated day focused on your unique responsibilities and professional needs.

 Morning Session
Directing Traffic: Communication at the Heart of School Life

Every day, administrative assistants stand at the busiest intersection in the school. Parents arrive with questions, teachers need quick support, students bring urgent requests, and administrators rely on clear coordination. Like skilled traffic directors, admin assistants keep the flow moving—knowing when to wave people through, when to slow things down, and when to pause and redirect.

The morning session will build confidence and strategies for communicating with clarity, warmth, and professionalism in the unique context of independent schools. Through practical activities, role-plays, and reflection, participants will:

• Strengthen email and phone communication skills that balance professionalism with care.
• Practice de-escalation techniques and language that protect boundaries while supporting families and colleagues.
• Explore a “traffic light” framework for knowing when to go, slow, or stop in tricky situations.
• Leave with ready-to-use communication tools that can be applied immediately at the front desk or in daily interactions.

By the end, you will feel more equipped to manage the fast-moving intersections of school life with calm, clarity, and confidence. 

Ken Rogers

Ken Rogers, a trained counselor, serves as Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction at The Park School (MA) after previously leading the Middle Division for four years. With extensive independent school experience as a teacher, department chair, dean, and head of middle school, he brings a systems-oriented approach to leadership, curriculum design, communication, and faculty development. Rogers is a frequent presenter for ISACS and the Association of Independent Schools in New England (AISNE) and consults with schools and associations on instructional leadership, program coherence, and strategic communication practices.

 Afternoon Session
Working Smarter with AI in Administrative Roles

The afternoon session will focus on Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, Gemini, and NotebookLM as they rapidly become ubiquitous in workplaces, including independent schools.  Yet many professionals are still unsure how or whether they should use them in their day-to-day work or large projects. Administrative assistants will explore how generative AI can support the kinds of tasks they already manage: drafting communications, organizing information, preparing colleagues for meetings, and helping leaders manage complex situations. Rather than focusing on technical concepts, practical experimentation and confidence-building will be emphasized. 

Participants will work directly with AI tools using structured prompts designed around real administrative scenarios. Through exercises, they will learn how to guide AI by providing context, audience, and clear direction—much like giving instructions to a colleague rather than typing a quick internet search. All will practice designing prompts and tools to support your work.

Leave with a better understanding of what generative AI does well, where the work still requires human judgment, and how to leverage these tools to help work more efficiently while maintaining the professionalism and care your role require.

Participants will be able to:

• Understand what generative AI can and cannot do well in a professional school environment.
• Recognize how existing skills—communication, judgment, organization, and attention to audience—translate to effective use of AI tools.
• Experiment with generative AI tools in practical scenarios that reflect common administrative tasks.
• Guide AI tools more effectively by providing clear context, audience, and goals rather than short search-style prompts.
• Evaluate and refine AI-generated content to ensure it aligns with your school’s tone, expectations, and professional standards.
• Identify two to three tasks where generative AI could improve efficiency or clarity.

From 3–3:30 p.m. Hanawald will stay to offer time for questions, conversations, and guidance in building your own bots.

Sarah Hanawald

Sarah Hanawald is an experienced academic leader who helps educators and school leaders make sense of emerging ideas and translate them into practical, mission-aligned work. With more than 25 years in independent schools, she has led innovation in curriculum, pedagogy, and professional learning while helping colleagues navigate moments of change with clarity and confidence. Today, Hanawald works extensively with school leaders and educators who are exploring how Generative AI can support their work. As executive director of the Association for Academic Leaders, she supports academic leaders across the country as they strengthen teaching and learning in their schools and grow in their own leadership.