2026 Surviving & Thriving in School Administration

Monday, June 15, 2026 at 2:00 PM (EDT) to Wednesday, June 17, 2026 at 12:00 PM (EDT)

Hilton Charlotte University Place,

Surviving & Thriving in School Administration: A Peer Experience for Independent School Administrators

Life for school administrators grows ever more complex. Expectations—academic, social, behavioral—continue to rise, while enrollment, hiring, and morale face growing pressures. Partnering with parents has become more challenging than ever. In this intimate, highly interactive setting, participants will engage with peers to exchange ideas, share experiences, and explore strategies for navigating these demands.

Psychologists Rob Evans and Michael Thompson will guide participants through key dilemmas facing schools today, offering practical tools to help leaders sharpen their skills, stay energized, and respond constructively to tough challenges.

What you’ll practice

Setting boundaries while preserving rapport
Delivering feedback that fuels growth
Dealing with difficult parents
Self-management: staying steady under pressure and avoiding burnout

Sessions

How Is Your School Coping With the New Normal?
Classic Dilemmas in Middle Management
Changing Voice, Changing Perspective
Hopes & Fears I: Working With Today’s Independent School Parents
Hopes & Fears II: Toolkits for Tough Cases
Managing Change From the Middle
Staying Put or Moving Up: What’s the Right Job for Me?

Hilton Charlotte University Place
8629 JM Keynes Drive | Charlotte, NC 28262

Group rate: $179
Cut-off date: May 23 or when the block is full (whichever comes first)
Reservation link here.

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

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PLEASE NOTE: SAIS does not utilize the services of a housing vendor or third party booking agent for any events. Neither SAIS nor the hotel will call you to make reservations over the phone. Please be aware that occasionally unauthorized third parties not affiliated with SAIS may attempt to coordinate your reservations by phone or email. Please use only the official link from SAIS above to make your arrangements directly with the hotel and not through a third party.

Booth Map

Supporters Page

Who should attend
Current or aspiring administrators who supervisor adults, evaluate teachers, and/or work with parents.

Facilitators

Dr. Rob Evans
Dr. Michael Thompson

Registration

By February 6: Members $1.495 | Non-Members $1,699
By April 3: Members $1,595 | Non-Members $1,799
By May 29: Members $1,695 | Non-Members $1,899
By June 10: Members $1,795 | Non-Members $1,999
By After June 10: Members $1,995 | Non-Members $2,199

Event Policies & Acknowledgments

Event FAQs

Review Event FAQs at this link.

Payment & Cancellation Policy

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

Cancellations received before the stated deadline via this form (May 25) are eligible for an 80% refund. After the stated cancellation date, refunds are not available, but replacement registrants are welcomed. Extenuating circumstances will be considered on a case-by-case basis following the conclusion of the event. In the unlikely event that SAIS cancels a program, 100% of the registration fee will be refunded.

Acknowledgment of Risk & Safety Procedures

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.

Acknowledgment of Intellectual Property

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.

Consent to Use of Photographic & Video Images

Questions

For questions about event registration or special accommodations, contact info@sais.org.