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Charlotte, NC 28204
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2024 Annual Conference
Sunday, October 20, 2024
at 4:00 PM (EDT)
to Tuesday, October 22, 2024 at 12:00 PM (EDT)
Sheraton Charlotte
555 South McDowell StCharlotte, NC 28204
Join peer independent school leaders at the 2024 SAIS Annual Conference. Over three days, you’ll gain new insights on timely topics such as retention & recruitment, AI, and community & connection.
With keynotes from Mesmin Destin, Michelle Icard, and Grant Lichtman, plus more than 30 breakout sessions, you’ll discover new strategies for success and learn about emerging trends, all while expanding your network and connecting with other independent school leaders.
Choose from any of the four learning journeys:
- leadership & governance
- teaching & learning
- community & connection
- brand & communication
Participate in The Exchange for one-on-one insights from top-notch experts.
There will be opportunities to expand your network and connect with colleagues from peer schools. The Annual Conference is geared toward heads of school, associate/assistant heads, division heads, deans, directors, and other administrative and aspiring leaders.
Keynote Speakers
 |
 |
 |
| Mesmin Destin | Michelle Icard | Grant Lichtman |
Registration
|
SAIS |
Non-Member |
Non- |
|
|
Until Aug 9 |
$550 |
$679 |
$800 |
|
Aug 10-Sept 13 |
$600 |
$729 |
$850 |
|
Sept 14-Oct 11 |
$650 |
$779 |
$900 |
|
After Oct 11 |
$750 |
$879 |
$1,000 |
Penny Abrahams
Executive Director of Advisory Services & Senior Consultant
ISM
Rachel Adams
Head of School
Stratford Academy
Kristin Ahler
1st Grade Teacher & Global Education Coordinator, Lower School
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
Islam Alaeddin
Account Executive
ChalkBooks
Njeri Allen
Placement Counselor
Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Lynette Allison
Director of Advancement
The Savannah Country Day School
Lucas Ames
Chief Technology Officer
Global Online Academy
Maria Amor
Director of Admission & Enrollment
Saint Thomas Episcopal Parish School
Lucas Anderson
Head of Upper School
Pulaski Academy
Suzanne Anderson
Director of Human Resources
Porter-Gaud School
Ty Antle
Sales Manager
Disney Imagination Campus
Jennifer Anton
Academic Dean
Father Ryan High School
Karen Arant
Associate Director of Intermediate Grades
Lake Highland Preparatory School
Sarah Arensman
Assistant Head of School
Brookstone Schools of Mecklenburg County
Tosha Arriola
Head of Upper School
Providence Day School
Jen Baccus
Head of Lower School
Ravenscroft School
Allisha Baine
Director of Advancement
Calvary Day School
Jamie Baker
Director of Marketing & Communications
McCallie School
Lanae Baker
Director of Admissions & Enrollment
Christian Heritage School
Chuck Baldecchi
Head of School
Charlotte Latin School
Arvi S. Balseiro
Head of School
The Cushman School
Paul Baly
Senior Search Consultant
Big Back Pack
Sammy Barlia
Board Chair
Commonwealth-Parkville School
Amber Beason
Director of Enrollment, Marketing, & Communications
Skyuka Hall School
David Belford
Managing Partner
EduTrak
Sami Belhareth
Head of Business Development
Flint
Brent Bell
Head of School
Darlington School
Alex Benoit
Dean of Upper School Students
Greenfield School
Meghan Blackmon
Dir. of Servant Leadership & Blanchard Leadership Institute
Brookstone School
Lee Blakely
Board Chair
Woodlawn School
Mary Bleech
Search Coordinator
ST Search
Brett Bodnar
Senior Placement Manager
Educator's Ally
Jolinda Boelkins
Director of Finance & Operations
Brookstone Schools of Mecklenburg County
Liz Boeschen
School Counselor/Dean of Wellness
Porter-Gaud School
Trish Bogdanchik
Associate Head of School and Head of Upper School
Mount Vernon School
Aileen Bolger
Partner
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, CPAs
Michelle Bostian
Executive Coach
Bostian Coaching and Consulting
Sandy Boyd
Head of Upper School
The O'Neal School
Sarah Boynton
Director of Development
Brookstone Schools of Mecklenburg County
Andy Bradshaw
Associate Head/Upper School Director
Brentwood Academy
Jefferson Brant
Dean of St. Dominic School
St. Agnes Academy-St. Dominic School
Marcisha Brazley-Keith
Head of Lower School
St. Mary's Episcopal School
Katie Brewer
Associate Head of School
Woodlawn School
Katy Bryant
Grade 4 Teacher
Jackson Preparatory School
Lee Burns III
Head of School
McCallie School
Armando Calvillo
Director of Collections
New Day Collections
Lisa Carboni
Director of Curriculum
Carolina Friends School
Ray Casey
President
Westminster Christian Academy
Sean Casey
Head of School
Franklin Road Academy
Maria Castano
Exhibitor Representative
Earp Safety
Tracie Catlett
Head of School
Greensboro Day School
Erin Cawley
Head of MS & US Student Life
Noble Academy
Dennis Chapman
Head of School
The Village School of Naples
Amy Chauncey
Head of Lower School
Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill
Anthony Clay
Dir. & Chief Imagination Officer, Inst. for Teaching & Learning
Carolina Friends School
Mike Cobb
Futurist in Residence
Forsyth Country Day School
Bre Conley
Associate Director of Admission and Enrollment Management
Klingenstein Center at Columbia University
Emily Cook
Partner
SST Accountants and Consultants
Sean Corcoran
Head of School
Brainerd Baptist School
Alfonso Cruz Aguilar
Assistant Head of School
CUAM Morelos
Jessica Cunningham
Account Executive
NWEA
Jane D Currin
Director of Communications & Operations
Trinity Academy
Cindy Curry
Head of School
Omni Montessori School
Matt Curtis
Marketing & Outreach Manager
BYU Independent Study
Barbara Daush
Senior Consultant
Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Dave Davies
Consultant/Coach
The Education Group
Deneane Davis
Assistant Head of School
The Piedmont School
Lori Deason
Middle School Assistant Principal
Fellowship Christian School
Brian Deaton
Business Development Manager
The Budd Group
Glenn DeLaney
Middle School Head
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Stephen Denny
Director of Special Projects
High Point University
Mesmin Destin
Associate Professor
Northwestern University
Arlene Devoe
Vice President of Event Logistics
NAIS
Yash Dhir
Co-Founder
Jochi
Bill Diskin
Director of Admission & Financial Aid
Cannon School
Esther Diskin
Director of Communications
Norfolk Academy
Brian Dolinger
Head of School
Commonwealth-Parkville School
Emily Dollberg
Business Developer
NOVA Engineering and Environmental
Katie Donahue
Dean of Academic Initiatives
Porter-Gaud School
Scott Donaldson
Director of Member Engagement
NAIS
Andrea Drath
President
GTR Business Systems
Shannon Drosky
Director of Marketing & Communications
Charlotte Country Day School
Hannah Earnhardt
Director of Advancement
Omni Montessori School
Kevin Earp
Founder
Earp Safety
Fred Eaves
Assistant Head for Operations & Co-Curricular Programs
Battle Ground Academy
Michael Ebeling
Head of School
Summit School
Drew Echternach
Vice President
Jefferson Bridge Capital
Brooke Edwards
Account Executive
My Hot Lunchbox
Mike Ehrhardt
Head of School
Cary Academy
George Elder
Vice President, Schools & Colleges
Psychemedics Corporation
Ed Ellison
Head of School
Cape Fear Academy
Danielle S Ferguson
Director of Equity, Belonging, & Engagement
Charlotte Preparatory School
Brink Fidler
President
Defend Systems
Bill Fiordalis
Associate Head of School
Lake Highland Preparatory School
Jessica Flaxman
Dean of Faculty / Dir. of the Ctr. for Innovative Teaching & Learning
Rye Country Day School
Tom Franz
Senior Associate of Partner Development
Building Solutions
Lee Gaby
Exhibitor
Earp Safety
Lulu Gao
Head of Teacher Experience
Flint
Abby Glover
Vice President, Associate Placement Director
Educator's Ally
Nicole Godwin
Executive Assistant to the Head of School
Tuscaloosa Academy
Erin Goedde
Associate
WGM Design
Christi Grindstaff
High School Academic Dean
Oaks Christian School
Mike Gwaltney
Consultant
ISM
Steven Hadaway
Academic Dean
Riverside Preparatory Academy
Elise Hagstette
Dean of Students
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Ethan Haines
Asst Director of Athletics & Operations
Tuscaloosa Academy
Kelsey Hall
Chief Membership & Engagement Officer
Global Online Academy
Matthew Hall
Director of Middle School
Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill
Mike Hanas
Founder; Coach / Consultant
Furthering
Kerrie Hancock
LS Math Specialist/Coach & Special Area Team Leader
Providence Day School
Elizabeth Hardaway
Chief of Staff, Assistant to Head
Christian Heritage School
Andrea Harris
Elementary Principal
Saint James School
Evan Harris
President
Pathos Consulting Group
Kent Harrison
Head of School
Christian Heritage School
Ari Hausman
Director of Finance & Operations
The Fletcher School
Dylan Hawkes
Head of Upper School
Tuscaloosa Academy
JP Hemingway
Asst Head of School for Academics
The Altamont School
Matt Herman
Middle School Assistant Principal
The Alfred and Adele Davis Academy
Shana Hetherington
Community Studio Principal
Little Diversified Architectural Consulting
Elizabeth Hickman
Client Development Manager
Fisher Phillips
Madison Hicks
Marketing and Communications Coordinator
Defend Systems
Jonathan Hiett
Dean of Counseling/US Assoc. Dir. of Student Services
Lake Highland Preparatory School
Davidson Hobson
Head of School
Gaston Day School
Bryan Holbrook
Partner
Fisher Phillips
Kara Holden
Head of School
Westlawn School
Tim Holland
Head of School
Caldwell Academy
Christiana Holyer
Assistant Head of MS for Student Life
Cannon School
Holly Honeycutt
Head of School
Woodlawn School
Christopher Hooper
Head of School
Isle of Wight Academy
Josh Hubbard
Senior Manager
Capin Crouse
Jessie Hudson
Lower School Librarian
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
Celeste Huffstutler
Director of Enrollment Management
Trinity Academy
Fabio Hurtado
Head of Upper School
Cannon School
Michelle Icard
Author & Speaker
Michelle Icard LLC
Joaquin Infante
IT Director
Jewish Leadership Academy
Josh Ireland
CEO
Jefferson Bridge Capital
Francys Jacomino
Sales Manager
Disney Imagination Campus
Julie J. Johnson
Enrollment & Systems Manager
Landmark Christian School
Danielle Johnson-Webb
Director of Equity & Community Engagement
Cary Academy
Catherine Jones
Middle School Dean of Studies
Cannon School
Kim Jones
Asst Head for Academics; US Division Head
St. Paul Christian Academy
Jeff Juliano
Principal
Collins Cooper Carusi
Theresa Kasay
Associate Head of School
Charlotte Christian School
Stephanie Keaney
Executive Director
NCAIS
Katie Kearney
Account Executive
The Social Institute
Kevin Keim
Trustee
Ravenscroft School
Heidi Kelley
Director of Development
Charlotte Preparatory School
Bill Keslar
President
Building Solutions
Avery Kiefer
Communication Coordinator
Saint Thomas Episcopal Parish School
Berit Kimrey
Director of Community Marketing
Heifer International
MaRon King
High School Assistant Principal
Little Rock Christian Academy
Cliff Kling
Sr. Executive Compensation & Leadership Strategist
Mission & Data
Nathan Kloes
Senior Audit Manager
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, CPAs
Cindy Kluttz
Director of Advancement & Enrollment
Summit School
Becky Knight
Lower School Principal
Mount Pisgah Christian School
Emily Knotts
Marketing & Communications
Palisades Episcopal School
Katie Koestner
Executive Director
Campus Outreach Services
Tammy Kuku
Middle School Vice Principal
Oaks Christian School
Kevin Kunst
Consultant
Campus Outreach Services
Louise Labus
Principal
Collins Cooper Carusi
Jennifer Lail
Advancement Associate
Palisades Episcopal School
Leah Lambert
Member Engagement Coordinator
NCAIS
Andy Laver
Account Executive
Veracross
Jesse Lazzuri
Head of Middle School
St. Andrew's School
Carrie Lenzen
Sr. Manager, Field Marketing and Events
VenturEd Solutions
Christina Lewellen
Executive Director
ATLIS
Grant Lichtman
Chief Provocateur
The Future of K-12 Education
Patty Little
Dean of Students
Charlotte Christian School
Christine Lizalda
VP of National Customer Success
DENNIS Uniform
Gif Lockley
Upper School Head
St. Andrew's School
Regina Lopez Sanchez
Teacher
Queen Elizabeth School
Lisa Lovering
President, Placement Director
Educator's Ally
Maria Lowder
Executive Director
North Hills Christian School
Gloria Maas
Director of Auxiliary Programs
Defend Systems
Tracie Mallard
Director of Middle & Upper Admission & Enrollment
Jackson Preparatory School
Adam Mangana
Founder | Optima Independent
Optima Independent
Dan Marchetti
Account Executive
Blackbaud, Inc.
Jessica May
Associate Director of Strategic Marketing and Communication
Klingenstein Center at Columbia University
Lauren Mazzari
Head of School
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Allyson McCloud
Dean of Faculty
Randolph School
John McCormack
US English Teacher, PD Coordinator
Hammond School
Derrill McDavid
Dean of Academic Affairs
Stratford Academy
Robert McGehee
Head of School
St. Nicholas School
Christine McGoldrick
Business Development
FLIK Independent School Dining
Adam McIntyre
Director of Training
Defend Systems
Kurt McKinley
Executive Vice President
CCS Fundraising
Nidhi McVicar
Head of Upper School
Charlotte Country Day School
Susanna Mees
Teaching & Learning Coordinator/Multicultural Affairs Coordinator
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
Tracey Mendenhall
VP of Operations
Defend Systems
Steven Mercado
Lower School Director
Duke School
Jonathan Merrill
Upper School Principal
Woodward Academy
April Messer
Director of Admissions
Presbyterian Christian School
John Metallo
High School Principal
First Baptist School
Eugenio Arturo Meza
Head of High School
CUAM Mexico City
Dave Michelman
Principal
Michelman Consulting
Billy Minch
Partner
Carr, Riggs & Ingram, CPAs
Raul Miranda Pasquel
President CUAM Group
CUAM Morelos
Jason Mitan
Enterprise Account Executive
Veracross
Amir Moazami
Co-Founder
Rookly
Katherine Moncure Stuart
President
The Education Group
Josh Montgomery
Asst Head of School for Academics
Battle Ground Academy
Rachel D Morales
Academic Dean & Director of Academic Data & Accreditation
Oaks Christian School
Shanna Morales
CFO
Palisades Episcopal School
Carla Moyer
Head of Middle School
Cannon School
Bill Mulcahy
Head of Lower School
Charlotte Country Day School
Josh Mullins
Hope Academy GSO
Michael Nachbar
Global Online Academy
Sandra Nagy
Managing Director
Future Design School
Rahul Nambiar
CTO
Jochi
Phillip Nash
Regional Director
FLIK Independent School Dining
Emily Nelson
Head of School
Hilltop Montessori School
Lisa Norman
US Assistant Head & Academic Dean
Heathwood Hall Episcopal School
Doug Norry
Head of School
Triangle Day School
Andy North
Head of School
Hammond School
Ellen O'Connor
Trustee
Ravenscroft School
Tracy Onze
Head of Middle School
Trinity Episcopal School-NC
Ryan O'Steen
National Sales Rep
Nations Bus Sales
Steve Outhouse
Merida Coordinator
CUAM Merida
Kathryn Outlaw
Head of Middle School & Director of Support Services
Girls Preparatory School
David Padilla
Head of School
Christ Church Episcopal School
Cece Palazola
Executive Director
Concord Academy
Seth Parrish
Head of Upper School
Trinity School of Durham & Chapel Hill
Colby Patterson
Director of Communications & Creative Content
Christian Heritage School
Courtney Patterson
Operations & Marketing Coordinator
WGM Design
Larry Peevy
President & Head of School
Tallulah Falls School
Cary Perkins
Principal/Director of Design Engagement
McMillan Pazdan Smith Architecture
Nancy Perkins
Board Member
International American School of Cancun
Shelly Peters
Principal
Crane + Peters
Stephanie Pierce
Chief Financial Officer
Mason Preparatory School
Sarah Pominville
Lexington Independents
Peter Popovsky
Sales
Grand Classroom
Rafael Prikladnicki
SIS Administrator
Jewish Leadership Academy
Lucy Prosper
Director of Human Resources
Miami Country Day School
Natalie Pruett
Assoc. Dir. of Marketing & Communications
Charlotte Country Day School
Heather Ramsey
Director of Educational Technology
The Fletcher School
Nicki Rayburn
Director of Advancement & Strategic Growth
Christian Heritage School
Andrew Reducha
Associate Academic Dean
Father Ryan High School
Amani Reed
Head of School
University School of Nashville
Shannon Reynolds
Director of Strategic Advancement
Chatham Hall
Allison Rhodes
Director of Communications
The Savannah Country Day School
Whitney Rice
Professional School Counselor
Cannon School
Brandi Richardson
Assistant Head & Secondary Campus Director
Presbyterian Christian School
Kim Richardson
Head of School
Linden Waldorf School
Catherine Riley
Director of Marketing
Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds
Michael Rinehart
Assistant Head of Middle School and Scheduling Coordinator
Charlotte Country Day School
Kristen Ring
Head of School
Hutchison School
Hillary Robinson
Teacher / Accreditation Coordinator
Carlisle School
Tom Rochon
President
ERB
Kinsey Rogers
Director of Marketing & Communications
Charleston Collegiate School
Nate Rogers
Director of Teaching & Learning
Cannon School
Daniel Rosen
Revenue Cycle Specialist
New Day Collections
David-Aaron Roth
Director of Student Leadership Dev.
Charlotte Latin School
Lizzy Roy
Director of Marketing & Communications
Salisbury Academy
Sheryl Rudnick
Assistant to the Head
The Cushman School
Molly Rumsey
Director of Information Services
Harpeth Hall School
Jenny Rundle
Head of Lower School and Literacy Development
Noble Academy
Julie Rust
Head of Upper School and Assistant Head for Academics
St. Andrew's Episcopal School
Hank Sadler
Sr. Client Account Manager
VenturEd Solutions
Hailee Sahs
Client Relationship Manager
FACTS Management
Peter Sanders
Head of School
Memphis University School
Jennifer Scharf
Corporate Language Coordinator
CUAM Cancun
Mark Schilmoeller
Managing Director - Education Services
FACTS Management
Damon Scott
Senior Director, Private Education
The Budd Group
Erin Sellers
Winterim Director & Academic Councelor
Fellowship Christian School
Natasha Sembay
Vice President of Sales, Marketing, Client Experience
Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds
Adriana Senties
Language Coordinator
CUAM Morelos
Warren Sepkowitz
Middle School Head & Interim Assistant Head
Charlotte Country Day School
Kasey Shackelford
Assistant Head of Lower School
Jackson Preparatory School
Ryan Shinn
Regional Director of Sales: Southeast
Demco
Kristin Shotland
K-12 Experience Management
Qualtrics
Catherine Skeen
Director of Enrollment
Charleston Day School
Lindsay Skelton
Head of School
Mountain Sun Community School
Shawn Slater
Advancement Success Advocate
ChalkBooks
Kristin Smith
Co-chair Education Practice, Partner
Fisher Phillips
Leigh Smoak
Business Development Manager
Safe Haven Defense
Susan Spence
LS iLab Teacher
Holy Innocents' Episcopal School
Frank Steel
Head of School
Gulliver Preparatory School
Sara Stephenson
Rector
Chatham Hall
Courtney Stillwagon
Chief Financial & Operations Officer
Mount Vernon School
Elliot Svirnovskiy
Member Services Manager
One Schoolhouse
Maria Noemi Tamayo
English Coordinator
Queen Elizabeth School
Shelaine Taylor
Middle School Principal
Saint James School
Sonja Taylor
Associate Head of School
Charlotte Latin School
Andrea Terry
Board Member
International American School of Cancun
Donisha Thaxton
Assoc. Director of Conferences/Sr. Placement Counselor
Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Highley Thompson
Partner
ST Search
Caitlin Tobin
Director of Marketing & Communications
Charleston Day School
Mark Turner
Sr. Director, Business Development
Lexington Independents
Sharon Tyndall
Branch Manager
NOVA Engineering and Environmental
Hunter Upchurch
Director of College Counseling
Jackson Preparatory School
Kavita Vasil
Head of School
Highlands School
Melissa Vaswani
Upper School Math; Math Department Chair
The O'Neal School
Mariana Velarde González
Executive Academic Director
CUAM Mexico City
Nancy Walker
Regional Vice President
FLIK Independent School Dining
Quinton Walker
Head of School
University School of Nashville
Maret Watson
Middle School Counselor
Jackson Preparatory School
Nathan Watts
Assistant Head of School for Institutional Advancement
Houston Academy
Scott Waybright
Assistant Head of School
Charlotte Country Day School
Elizabeth Webb
Assistant Head of LS, PD Coordinator
Hammond School
Ali Weller
Dean of Student Engagement
Mount Pisgah Christian School
Mona Wesley
Director of Admissions
Brookstone Schools of Mecklenburg County
Jan White
Director of Studies
Saint Patrick Catholic School
Latifah Williams
Instructional Technology Specialist
The Galloway School
Ashlie Wilson
Regional Account Manager
Lands' End School Uniforms
Debra Wilson
President
NAIS
Matthias Winsor
Director
Rookly
Jenny Winston
Trustee
Ravenscroft School
Rudy Wise
Assoc. Director of Admission & US Counselor
Trinity Episcopal School-NC
Courtney Woodfin
Director of Advancement
Trinity Academy
Chad Wortman
CFO
Boyd-Buchanan School
Stacey Yobs
Client Relationship Manager
My Hot Lunchbox
Ronda Zents
Upper School Assistant Principal
Woodward Academy
The SAIS hotel blocks are closed. While the host hotel is sold out, rooms may still be available at the overflow hotels at the prevailing rate:
NOTE: SAIS does not utilize the services of a housing vendor for any events. Neither SAIS nor the hotel will call you to make reservations over the phone. Occasionally unauthorized third parties may attempt to coordinate your reservations. Please use only the above hotel links to secure your reservation directly with the hotel.
Sponsors
GOLD
- CarterBaldwin – sponsoring notebooks
- ISM – sponsoring water bottles & Sunday keynote
SILVER
- Carney, Sandoe & Associates – sponsoring Tuesday keynote
- ERB – sponsoring tote bags
- IndySchool Consultancy - sponsoring Monday keynote
- ST Search – sponsoring Monday lunch
BRONZE
- Bienenstock Natural Playgrounds – sponsoring Tuesday breakfast
- CCS Fundraising – sponsoring Monday breakfast
- Disney Imagination Campus - sponsoring AV
- Educator's Ally – sponsoring Monday reception
- FACTS – sponsoring conference app
- Fisher Phillips – sponsoring wifi
- Flik Independent School Dining – sponsoring Sunday reception
- NAIS - sponsoring the lounge
- The Education Group - sponsoring Monday break
- VenturEd Solutions - sponsoring a promo item
- WGM Design - sponsoring Tuesday break
Event Policies & Acknowledgments
Review Event FAQs at this link.
- For questions about event registration or special accommodations, contact abby@sais.org
- For questions about speakers and sessions, contact elizabeth@sais.org.
- For questions about exhibits and sponsorships, contact anna@sais.org.