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2025 New & Aspiring Leaders Institute

Sunday, April 6, 2025 to Tuesday, April 8, 2025

Whether you’ve been newly appointed to a leadership role or you’re looking for a refresher on how to best lead others, the New & Aspiring Leaders Institute provides a strong foundation for developing your leadership style. 

With a four-pronged approach, attendees will learn

  • how to lead self, using a focused Predictive Index and analysis, followed by action planning;
  • how to lead others and build effective teams;
  • how to lead your school community and dialogue across differences;
  • and how to lead for the future by developing a growth plan.

This powerful institute is sure to leave participants with practical, actionable steps for making a meaningful impact in your leadership role.

This program will be particularly helpful for

  • newly appointed administrative leaders,
  • newly appointed heads,
  • aspiring heads of school,
  • those looking for a refresher.

Registration

Member

Non-Member

Through Feb 7  

$675

$809

Feb 8-March 28 

$775

$909

After March 28  

$875

$1,009

Trish Bogdanchik
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Trish Bogdanchik Head of Upper School Mount Vernon School
Alex Bragg
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Alex Bragg Upper School Teaching & Learning Specialist Woodward Academy
Miranda Carroll
Miranda Carroll Substitute Specialist Atlanta Speech School
Jean Crosby
Jean Crosby Vice Principal - Middle School Saint Joseph's Catholic School
Rebecca Duke
Rebecca Duke Head of School Montessori School of Huntsville
Whitney Duquette
Whitney Duquette Dean of Students/History Teacher Charlotte Latin School
Gena Dye
Gena Dye Dean of Faculty/Dir of Curriculum Lamar School Foundation
Delicia Egerton
Delicia Egerton Director of Choral Music Lake Highland Preparatory School
Rhonda Holloway
Rhonda Holloway Partner Six20 Partners
Brett Jacobsen
Brett Jacobsen President SAIS
Wanda Jaraczewski
Wanda Jaraczewski Assistant Head of School Saint Joseph's Catholic School
Monica Johnson
Monica Johnson Chief of Staff to the Head of School Trinity Episcopal School-NC
Scotty Jones
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Scotty Jones Middle School Head McCallie School
Stacey M. Jones Lee
Stacey M. Jones Lee Chief of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Action Mount Vernon School
David Klecker
David Klecker Assistant Head of School Benedictine Military School
Ryan Koon
Ryan Koon Vice Principal for High School Saint Joseph's Catholic School
Camille Kuperman
Camille Kuperman Assoc. Dean of College Counseling Lake Highland Preparatory School
Gabriel Lewis
Gabriel Lewis Director of Mission & Ministry Saint Joseph's Catholic School
Marsha Little
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Marsha Little Sr. Consultant/Dir of Professional Learning & Development Carney, Sandoe & Associates
Jon Mizell
Jon Mizell Middle School Director Brookwood School
Paige Muma
Paige Muma Occupational Therapist Atlanta Speech School
Andrew Reich
Andrew Reich Director of College Counseling / Dean of Recruitment Girls Preparatory School
Farrar Richardson
Farrar Richardson Head of Middle School Spartanburg Day School
David-Aaron Roth
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David-Aaron Roth Director of Student Leadership Dev. Charlotte Latin School
Scott Schamberger
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Scott Schamberger Head of School Indian Springs School
Drew Shaner
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Drew Shaner School Counselor Lake Highland Preparatory School
Josh Smith
Josh Smith HS Dean of Student Life Wesleyan School
Cecil Stodghill Jr.
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Cecil Stodghill Jr. Head of School The Altamont School
David Suber
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David Suber Upper School Director University School of Jackson
Mikelyn Sumner
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Mikelyn Sumner Executive Director Central Private School
Marvella Taylor
Marvella Taylor Lower School 2nd Grade Teacher Greensboro Day School
Emilee Transou
Emilee Transou Early Childhood Dept. Chair Greensboro Day School
Tracey J Vanneste
Tracey J Vanneste Dean of Students Charlotte Latin School
Kavita Vasil
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Kavita Vasil Head of School Highlands School
Weslie Wald
Weslie Wald Dean of Students Indian Springs School
Alan Weiler
Alan Weiler Director of Finance & Operations Athens Academy
Thomas Westerman
Thomas Westerman Teacher & Class Dean Porter-Gaud School
Scott A. Wilson
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Scott A. Wilson Consultant ISM
Sunday, April 6, 2025
4:00-4:30 PM – Registration | Empire (16th Floor)
4:30-5:30 PM – Welcome & Kick-off

Speakers:
Dr. Brett Jacobsen,
SAIS President
Elizabeth Maglio, SAIS Director of Professional Learning

Join us for an engaging welcome session designed to help you connect with fellow participants and establish the foundation for our intensive two-day learning experience. During this hour, you'll have the opportunity to introduce yourself in meaningful ways, understand the community agreements that will guide our interactions, and gain clarity on our learning objectives. Dr. Brett Jacobsen will frame our journey through the lens of leadership at multiple levels: self, team, and community. This overview will connect the different components of the institute and prepare you for the transformative learning experience ahead. Come ready to participate, connect, and set intentions for our time together!

5:30-6:30 PM – Reception | Rooftop

Monday, April 7, 2025
8:00-8:30 AM – Breakfast | Empire (16th Floor) 
8:30-11:30 AM – Leading Self: Empowering Your Leadership Journey

Speaker: Rhonda Holloway, Six20 Partners

Session: 8:30-10:00 AM
Break: 
10:00-10:30 AM
Session: 10:30-11:30 AM

Using the Predictive Index, participants will foster self-awareness of their strengths and potential pitfalls for leadership growth. 

11:30 AM-12:30 PM – Lunch | The Yard (Lobby Level)
12:30-4:15 PM – Leading Team & Others: Building Effective Teams

Speaker: Marsha Little, Carney Sandoe & Associates

Session: 12:30-1:15 PM
Break:
1:15-1:30 PM

In this highly participatory session, you will learn the basics of structuring meetings consistent with the principles of adult learning, share tools for fostering emotional safety for your participants, and think about how to leverage the unique strengths of your colleagues. Drawing on the work of Elena Aguilar and Priya Parker and experience as a school leader, leadership coach, and team coach, Marsha will share practical tools you can implement immediately. After completing this session, you will be prepared to lead meetings in a meaningful way, leaving the adults in your community with the understanding that meetings matter.

Speaker: Scott Wilson, ISM

Session: 1:30-2:15 PM
Break:
2:15-2:30 PM

Presented by ISM, this session explores the essential elements of strong, high-performing teams in independent school settings. Participants will examine key leadership strategies that foster collaboration, enhance communication, and build a culture of trust. Through interactive discussions and real-world scenarios, school leaders will gain insights into creating team alignment, navigating challenges, and strengthening professional relationships. This session emphasizes practical strategies that can be immediately applied to develop cohesive, engaged teams.

Speaker: Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS

Session: 2:30-3:15 PM
Break: 
3:15-3:30 PM

Explore how to effectively manage polarities - those persistent, interdependent tensions that exist within independent schools. You will learn to identify common polarities (such as tradition vs innovation, individual vs community needs, and academic rigor vs student well-being), and develop strategies to leverage these tensions for institutional growth. By leveraging the upsides and mitigating the downsides, you'll ensure both organizational health and mission alignment for your school by leveraging the upsides and mitigating the downsides.

Speaker: Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS

Session: 3:30-4:15 PM
Adjourn for the day:
4:15 PM

Learn practical decision-making skills using the WRAP framework (Widen options, Reality-test assumptions, Attain distance, Prepare to be wrong). Through interactive exercises and real-world scenarios, you will learn to avoid common decision-making traps and lead your teams through complex choices. This workshop emphasizes both individual leadership growth and collaborative problem-solving techniques essential for building high-performing teams in educational settings.

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
8:00-8:30 AM – Breakfast | Empire (16th Floor)
8:30 AM-12:30 PM – Leading Community: Fostering Connection & Collaboration

Facilitator: Elizabeth Maglio, SAIS Director of Professional Learning

Session: 8:30-9:15 AM

Speakers: Moderated panel featuring Scott Schamberger, Indian Springs School; Cecil Stodghill, The Altamont School; and Kavita Vasil, Highlands School

Session: 9:15-10:30 AM
Break: 
10:30-11:00 AM

Join experienced independent school leaders for an insightful discussion on building inclusive school communities. This moderated panel explores the essential elements of effective community leadership, from nurturing authentic relationships to creating spaces where diverse perspectives thrive. Our distinguished panelists will share practical strategies and lessons learned from their leadership journeys, addressing

    • Building trust and meaningful engagement across their community,
    • Cultivating a collaborative culture that empowers faculty and staff,
    • Navigating challenging conversations and decisions with empathy, and
    • Creating sustainable structures for community involvement and feedback.

Speakers: Trish Bogdanchik, The Mount Vernon School, and Dr. Stacey Lee, The Mount Vernon School

Session: 11:00 AM-12:30 PM

Learn how to foster meaningful dialogue and navigate challenging conversations in your school community through the Dialogue Across Difference Framework. This interactive workshop demonstrates practical strategies for creating spaces where diverse perspectives can be shared respectfully and productively. Drawing from The Mount Vernon School's implementation, participants will explore concrete tools for

    • Establishing shared vocabulary and ground rules for difficult dialogue;
    • Building trust and psychological safety among stakeholders;
    • Moving beyond polarization to find common ground;
    • Empowering student, faculty, and parent voices in community conversations.

This session provides immediately applicable approaches to strengthen your school's capacity for authentic dialogue and inclusive community-building.

12:30-1:30 PM – Lunch | The Yard (Lobby Level)
1:30-3:00 PM – Leading Forward: Developing Your Growth Plan

Speaker: Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS President

Session: 1:30-2:00 PM
Break: 
2:00-2:15 PM

In a rapidly changing educational landscape, the ability to anticipate and adapt to future challenges is critical for emerging leaders. This interactive workshop invites leaders to explore the significant shifts shaping education today through the lens of a plausible futures framework. Participants will engage in scenario planning, strategic thinking, and collaborative dialogue to identify opportunities and challenges within these shifts. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with actionable insights to help future-proof their leadership and their schools, ensuring alignment with mission-driven goals while embracing innovation.

Speaker: Dr. Brett Jacobsen, SAIS President

Session: 2:15-3:00 PM
Adjourn:
3:00 PM

Create a personalized professional learning agenda. You will identify key competencies for growth, establish meaningful learning objectives, and develop concrete strategies for skill acquisition. Through structured self-assessment and peer consultation, you will craft actionable plans that align with your career aspirations and school leadership needs. 

Speakers

Trish Bogdanchik
Head of Upper School, The Mount Vernon School

Trish Bogdanchik serves as the head of upper school at The Mount Vernon School in Atlanta, GA. With extensive experience in both international and domestic education, she is a dynamic leader known for her deep knowledge of best practices. Trish excels in developing key support services and instructional programs and is highly effective as a mentor, delivering impactful professional development. She is dedicated to shaping organizational culture and leading during times of transformational change.

A passionate advocate for personalized and customized learning, Trish has designed and launched successful programs in social-emotional learning, competency based education , ESOL intervention, curriculum development, and professional learning. She specializes in establishing and growing schools and culture with expertise in competency-based, project-based, expeditionary, and place-based learning. As a former chemistry teacher, Trish values the impact that genuine inquiry can have on a child's life.

Website

Rhonda Holloway
Partner, Six20 Partners

Rhonda is a collaborative and resourceful professional with over 20 years of experience optimizing processes for organizations globally. Known as a “dot-connector,” she excels at integrating complex pieces to identify the best path forward. Her expertise in people processes, particularly for early talent and sales professionals, has led to significant improvements in efficiency and productivity for her clients. Rhonda holds several professional certifications, underscoring her dedication to her field.

Website
LinkedIn
Instagram


Dr. Brett Jacobsen
President, SAIS

Brett joined the SAIS team in July 2024, having most recently served as the chief executive officer at The Mount Vernon School in Atlanta. During his tenure, the school experienced exponential growth in enrollment and gained a national reputation for innovation in education. Illustrating this, Mount Vernon’s upper school launched a school-within-a-school model, Innovation Diploma, whose students have served as consultants for Delta, Mercedes, AT&T, Porsche, and the National Center for Civil & Human Rights. In 2012, Brett started an R&D lab known as Mount Vernon Ventures, serving educational communities throughout the world. Over the past decade, Ventures has welcomed more than 1,000 teachers and administrators to education visitation days, workshops, and summer conferences. Recently, he founded Mount Vernon Online, an online high school, enrolling its first cohort of students in August 2022.

The transformational story at Mount Vernon was recognized in 2021 by NBOA, when Brett received the inaugural Jeffrey Shields Innovation in Operations Award. Additionally, he was highlighted by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the 2017 Most Admired CEOs in the education category. Prior to coming to Mount Vernon, he served as head of school at Second Baptist School in Houston, Texas, where he began his teaching career and deepened his expertise as division head, dean, and development director.

Dr. Stacey Lee
Chief of Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Action, The Mount Vernon School 

Stacey has served educational organizations across higher education, boarding, and PK-12, with a passion for designing environments that optimize growth and potential for all. With expertise in residential learning, human development, and program implementation, Stacey inspires individuals and communities to seek engagement, education, and experiences to build capacity necessary for maximizing the impact of educational experiences.

Stacey earned her A.B. in Sociology at Bowdoin College and her M.A and Ed.D. of Educational Leadership at The University of New England.

Marsha Little
Senior Consultant, Director of Professional Learning & Development, Carney, Sandoe & Associates

Marsha Little joined Carney Sandoe after two decades at The Lovett School, a K-12 school in Atlanta, where she served as Assistant Head of School, Upper School Dean of Academics, and Director of College Counseling. In addition to her search work at Carney Sandoe, Marsha has consulted with schools on a range of topics, including strategic planning, retention, and effective transition. She also coaches senior administrators and particularly enjoys designing and facilitating retreats for administrative teams and boards. Internally, Marsha serves as the Director of Professional Learning and Development for CS&A’s Search and Consulting Practice, designing professional learning experiences and supporting the recruitment and onboarding of new consultants. Marsha has lived in Atlanta for 25 years.

Elizabeth Maglio
Director of Professional Learning, SAIS

Elizabeth joined the SAIS team in July 2021. She began her career in education in 2005 as a leadership program faculty advisor for middle school students at Envision EMI in Washington, D.C. She continued there as a program coordinator and professional development manager. In 2012, she joined Woodlynde School as an upper school learning specialist, then was appointed head of lower school in 2014 and assistant head of school in 2016. She holds a B.A. in communications from NC State and an M.S. in education from the University of Pennsylvania. 

Scott Schamberger
Head of School, Indian Springs School

Scott Schamberger became the seventh head of Indian Springs School in July 2020. Prior to that, he served as the assistant head for admissions and college counseling at Woodberry Forest School, director of institutional advancement at Randolph School, and associate dean of admissions at Emory University. He serves on the board at the Association of Independent School Admission Professionals (AISAP), including as board president from from 2018-2022.

Scott holds a Master of Education from the University of Georgia and a Bachelor of Science in biology from Emory University. He has completed his coursework for a doctoral degree in educational policy studies from Georgia State University.

Cecil Stodghill
Head of School, The Altamont School

Cecil Stodghill graduated from the McCallie School in Chattanooga and earned a BBA in Marketing at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL and a M Ed. in school leadership at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

In 1998, he accepted a position as director of multicultural affairs at the McCallie School and has since served as associate director of admissions at the Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, FL; as director of graduate support for the Academy Prep Foundation in St Petersburg, FL; and as director of admissions and enrollment management for Providence Day School in Charlotte, NC.

In 2019, Stodghill was named head of school of the Doane Stuart School in Rensselaer, New York. In November 2021, he was chosen as Altamont's sixth head of school.

Kavita Vasil
Head of School, Highlands School

With nearly 30 years of experience as an independent school leader, Kavita Vasil is a forward-thinker and life-long learner who understands the ever-evolving educational world. As the leader of an independent school with over 350 students and nearly 60 faculty members, her focus is always forward.

She joined Highlands School in 2014, while previously serving in a similar position in a K-8 school in Florida. Vasil holds an undergraduate degree in developmental psychology from the University of Florida and a graduate degree in child development/education from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She also has a Certificate in Advanced Educational Leadership (CAEL) from Harvard Graduate School of Education (HGSE). In addition, she served as an assistant professor of education at the University of Maine, where she focused on early and elementary education. Vasil also serves as an officer on the SAIS Board of Trustees.

Scott Wilson
Senior Consultant, ISM

Scott, a 40-year leader in independent schools, joined ISM as a full-time consultant and executive coach in 2021. Before joining ISM, Scott served as president and head of school at Baylor School (Tennessee), from 2009 until his retirement from headship in 2021.

Prior to his appointment at Baylor in 2009, Scott enjoyed successful tenures as head of school at both Brookstone School (Georgia) and Valwood School (Georgia). Scott also served both Baylor and Hammond School (South Carolina) as a teacher, coach, and member of both schools’ leadership teams.

Scott has served as a director for the Georgia Independent School Association (GISA), the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS), and the Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS). He was mentored by some of the greats in the independent school world, and he now seeks to pass along the lessons learned during his storied career.

      The Elyton Hotel
      Birmingham, AL
      • Lodging is not included with registration. The room block is now closed. Please book directly with The Elyton Hotel here.
      • You may also check rates and availability at the Fairfield Inn & Suites next door.

      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 link 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.

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      Review Event FAQs at this link.
      • For questions about event registration or special accommodations, contact learn@sais.org
      • For questions about speakers and sessions, contact elizabeth@sais.org.