2026-27 Leadership Discussion Group

Monday, September 21, 2026

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (EDT)

Zoom

Event Details

Join us for six Monday conversations with other independent school leaders who understand exactly what your days are like. SAIS is partnering with Rob Evans & Michael Thompson for year seven of a Zoom discussion group exclusively for division heads, assistant division heads, assistant heads of school, and other mid-level leadership roles.

Past participants have praised Rob & Michael for their facilitation style and ability to push, pull, and explore with the group rather than offering generic solutions. They help you help each other. There will be humor, there will be validation, there will be community, and there will be uplift.

The group will meet via Zoom from 3:00-4:00 PM Eastern / 2:00-3:00 PM Central on six Mondays:

September 21
October 19
November 30
January 25
March 1
April 5

Audience:

Division heads, assistant division heads, assistant heads of school, and other mid-level leadership roles

Registration

$325 per person / SAIS members
$379 per person / non-members

Note:
Due to the nature of the conversations and topics, these sessions will not be recorded and AI note takers will not be admitted.

Facilitators:

Dr. Rob Evans

Bio

Dr. Rob Evans is a clinical and organizational psychologist and the former executive director of the Human Relations Service. A former high school and pre-school teacher, and for many years a child and family therapist, he has consulted in more than 1,700 schools throughout the U.S. and internationally. His interests have focused on change and resistance to change in schools and organizations, on the challenges of leading innovation, and on changes in American families and their impact on schools. He is currently concentrating on ways to improve collegiality and candor among educators and to promote realistic dialogue about accountability. Dr. Evans is the author of many articles and three books: Seven Secrets of the Savvy School Leader: A Guide to Surviving and Thriving, The Human Side of School Change, and Family Matters: How Schools Can Cope with the Crisis in Childrearing.

Dr. Michael Thompson

Bio

Dr. Michael Thompson is a consultant, author, and psychologist specializing in children and families. He is the supervising psychologist for The Belmont Hill School and has worked in more than 700 schools across the U.S. as well as in schools in Central America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Dr. Thompson is the author or co-author of several books, including New York Times bestseller, Raising Cain: Protecting the Emotional Life of Boys, as well as Best Friends/Worst Enemies: Understanding the Social Lives of Children, and The Pressured Child: Helping Your Child Achieve Success in School and in Life. A dedicated speaker and traveler, he has appeared on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Show, ABC 20/20, CBS 60 Minutes, and Good Morning America. He also wrote, narrated, and hosted a two-hour PBS documentary entitled Raising Cain.