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2026 LEAD AI: Timely Challenge Conference

Monday, November 9, 2026
8:30 AM - 4:00 PM (EST)
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The acceleration of technology, specifically AI, is transforming how we live, work, play, and learn. How do we lead this moment instead of being led by it?

 LEAD AI is a one-day SAIS event equipping leaders with real data, expert context, and design space to move from insight to impact on AI in our schools.

In the morning, participants Learn and Explore alongside researchers, industry leaders, and practitioners who are shaping the conversation on AI in education. Sessions draw on original SAIS research, emerging trends, and direct input from teachers and students across member schools. 

In the afternoon, participants Adapt and Design. Each attendee selects a design pathway focused on people, processes, programs, or culture, then works alongside SAIS staff through a structured design sprint grounded in the morning's research, evidence, and dialogue. The sprint is collaborative and context-driven, giving attendees space to co-create solutions relevant to their own school and leave with concrete next steps, not just new ideas.

The four design sprint pathways are:  

  • People: How might we leverage AI to support the talent, roles, and capabilities of faculty, staff, and leaders that drive the school’s mission? Choose this pathway if you want to Adapt and Design a professional learning arc outline for faculty learning focused on AI.
  • Process: How might we integrate AI in the systems, workflows, and procedures that structure how work gets done? Choose this pathway if you want to Adapt and Design your school’s AI position or policy for faculty and students.
  • Programs: How might we design academic experiences that work intentionally with AI and represent our school’s mission and core values? Choose this pathway if you want to Adapt and Design a student assessment built intentionally for use with AI and leveraging cognitive engagement frameworks.
  • Culture: How might we apply our shared values, beliefs, and norms to the decisions that AI asks of us now? Choose this pathway if you want to Adapt and Design faculty norms for using AI aligned with your school’s mission and vision.

You will be asked to select a pathway when registering. 

Get ready to LEAD.

Speakers

David Cummings Carrie Grimes Mark Orchison 
CEO & Founder, Atlanta Ventures Director of Independent School Leadership Graduate Program, Vanderbilt Peabody College Founder & CEO, 9ine

A full agenda, additional speakers, and session details to follow soon.

Registration

  • By August 31: Members $325 | Non-Members $399
  • After August 31: Members $425 | Non-Member: $489
Credits Price
MEMBER
Registration Ends 11/9/26 at 4:00 PM EST
$325.00
Price will increase to $425.00 on 9/1/26 12:00 AM EST
Credits Price
NON-MEMBER
Registration Ends 11/9/26 at 4:00 PM EST
$399.00
Price will increase to $489.00 on 9/1/26 12:00 AM EST

HOTEL RESERVATIONS: 

SAIS has reserved a limited number of rooms at the following local hotels:

Courtyard by Marriott Vinings/Galleria
2829 Overlook Pkwy
Atlanta, GA 30339

  • Group rate: $169/night
  • Cut-off date: Oct 18 (or earlier if the block is full)  
  • Reservation link here  

Hyatt House Atlanta/Cobb Galleria 
3595 Cumberland Pkwy SE 
Atlanta, GA 30339

  • Group rate: $117/night
  • Cut-off date: Oct 18 (or earlier if the block is full)  
  • Reservation link here  

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

NOTE: 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 link provided to secure your reservation directly with the host hotel.

Who Should Attend: Academic Administrators, Assistant Heads, Division Heads, Department Chairs, Deans of Students, Ed Tech, Inclusion & Belonging, First-Time Heads, Heads of Schools, Teacher leaders

Event Policies & Acknowledgments

Payment may be made by credit/debit or ACH. The form defaults to credit/debit but ACH is selectable.

Cancellations received 21 days before the event via this form will receive an 80% refund. After that date, replacement registrants are welcomed but no refunds are available. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis following the conclusion of the event.

Participation in SAIS events signifies an attendee’s acknowledgment of infectious and other diseases and voluntary assumption of the risk of exposure or infection by attending the event. Attendees agree to comply with all guidelines and procedures, including distancing and/or masking, that may be implemented by SAIS, in accordance with recommendations from the CDC and other public health authorities.

Participants expressly acknowledge the intellectual property of the presenters of this conference and these other terms that are conditions of attendance. This acknowledgment includes the understanding that creating any form of recording, including but not limited to video or audio is a violation of the intellectual property of the speakers as well as a violation of the terms of participation in this event. Participants expressly agree not to independently record, or knowingly let anyone else record, any of the conference sessions in which they participate. Participants will also not share their unique link to the conference platform or the content therein with anyone else. The unique link to the conference platform will be used solely by the participant.

Registration, attendance at, or participation in SAIS meetings and other activities constitutes an agreement by the registrant to SAIS’s use and distribution (both now and in the future) of the registrant or attendee’s image or voice in photographs, videos, electronic reproductions, and audio of such events and activities.

  • For registration or special accommodations, contact info@sais.org.