2025 Institute for Heads

Westin Sarasota

• Group rate: $169
• Cut-off date: June 2 or when the block is full
• Reservation link
• Additional fees:
  • Destination fee: $11/day
  • Valet parking: $30/day

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.

If you receive an error message or if the block is full, please contact learn@sais.org

Institute for Heads | Past Participant Comments

• The SAIS Institute for Heads is an opportunity to step away from the demands of headship and to reflect, refocus, and openly share challenges and needs in a supportive space. There is time to laugh and to regain a sense of balance for a new year. This shared week with expert facilitators and fellow heads and spouses restores the reason that you love this calling to headship. – Rachel Deems, Spartanburg Day School (SC)

• Ten years ago, Cathy and I first attended the SAIS Institute for Heads featuring Rob Evans and Michael Thompson. This incredibly unique opportunity to bond with other heads and their spouses quickly became the most important professional and personal development commitment of each year. Rob and Michael are priceless in leading all participants in important, timely, challenging, and affirming conversations; the time with other heads and spouses is rare to find and meaningful, and the location always has a way of completing that total sense of rejuvenation and renewal. I recommend the SAIS Institute for Heads to every head I know. -Jack Hall, The Walker School (GA)

• A unique combination of learning and therapy in an intimate environment, which is unlike any other program I have ever attended.

• Rob and Michael are two of the very few consultants who truly understand the complexities as well as the joys and challenges of being a school head.

• Meaningful time with a small group of people who do the job you do … the generosity, empathy, and wisdom are hard to match.

• The topics are always relevant, but it is the degree of intimacy and trust that develops rather quickly among the participants that makes this particular program of importance and relevance to me (and my spouse).

• It would be next to impossible to adequately describe this program in a brochure due to the dynamic nature of the overall experience.

• An open dialogue that focuses on the personal as well as the professional and is as energizing for the spouse as for the head of school. Michael and Rob work to ensure many voices are included in the discussions.

• This is a unique opportunity for you and your spouse to be engaged together in professional learning. Rob and Michael are dynamite and the chance to learn from and connect with other heads/spouses are the two reasons why we make this as a priority for our professional development.