As we close out this school year, I want to take a moment to honor all that you've accomplished. You have led your schools through another year of growth, challenge, and transformation. You've made thousands of decisions—some celebrated, some invisible—that have shaped the lives of students, supported your faculty, and strengthened your communities.
This work is never easy. You've navigated uncertainty with wisdom, held difficult conversations with grace, balanced competing priorities with care, and showed up day after day with dedication and heart. Your leadership has mattered profoundly—to the students who learned and grew under your guidance, to the families who trusted you with their children, to the colleagues who looked to you for vision and support.
As graduations conclude, summer begins, and you take time to rest and renew, please know: your work has made a real and lasting difference. Thank you for your resilience, your integrity, your commitment to excellence, and your unwavering belief in the power of education to change lives.
🌟 This Month: CAIS Annual Meeting of Heads of School
CAIS Annual Meeting of Heads of School
📅 June 22–24, 2026 📍 Terranea Resort, Rancho Palos Verdes
Three days on the California coast with the colleagues who understand what you carry. This year's program centers peer-led conversations and candid exchange — including a timely CAPSO update, fishbowl discussions, and unstructured connection time designed to leave you renewed, not depleted.
What's Included:
• Timely update from CAPSO
• Peer-led panels and fishbowl discussions
• Unstructured time to connect with colleagues
Registration: Membership covers one Head of School per school. Additional attendees (co-heads, guests) from $510.
⚠️ Important Deadlines:
• Early bird pricing: Friday, May 22
• Hotel booking: May 29 at 5 PM (or until sold out)
Register Now Book Your Hotel
*Note: This event is for Heads of School only
Featured Summer & Fall Opportunities
Multicultural Teaching Institute
📅 June 16-18, 2026 📍 Boston Area
Featured keynotes Gholdy Muhammad and Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz will share their frameworks with attending teachers. One keynote speaker per day, offering deep dives into culturally responsive and sustaining pedagogies. An exceptional opportunity for teachers committed to equity and inclusion in their practice.
Learn More & Register
New Head Coaching with Alan Sparrow
📅 Ongoing Support New Heads of School
Are you a new Head or do you know of a new Head who is seeking a coach? Alan Sparrow offers experienced coaching support for new heads navigating their first years of school leadership. Contact Alan Sparrow at
alansparrow55@gmail.com
ISCA New Chair/Head of School Partnership Series
📅 July 9 & 16 • 12:00-2:00 PM ET New Chairs & Heads of School
Building a Strong Foundation for Success. This series supports new chair/head partnerships in establishing effective governance and collaborative leadership from the start.
Learn More
CATDC Leadership Fellows Program (10th Anniversary Cohort)
📅 Applications Now Open Experienced Educators & Aspiring Leaders
Supports experienced educators navigating the complex and rewarding work of independent school leadership. Designed for those who are or aspire to be senior leaders and heads of school, the program offers space for personal reflection, practical skill building, and supportive professional connection.
This 10th anniversary cohort is offered in partnership with CAIS and facilitated by:
• Phil Gutierrez, incoming Executive Director of CAIS and Head of Marin Primary & Middle School
• Nisa Frank, Head of Prospect Sierra School
CAIS schools that are not yet CATDC member schools are welcome to join at the member rate.
Learn More & Apply
Lick-Wilmerding Teacher Institute: Grading for Equity with Joe Feldman
📅 August 5-6 K-12 Teachers & Administrators
Join Lick-Wilmerding High School for a two-day intensive featuring Joe Feldman, author of Grading for Equity, focused on building mastery-oriented assessment practices. This professional development institute offers specialized tracks for both K-12 teachers and administrators to help educators move toward grading practices that are more accurate, bias-resistant, and motivational.
Register now to secure early bird rates and join us at LWHS for some joyful learning this summer!
Register Now
GLADYS Pilot: AI with Leaders and Equity in Mind
📅 August 2026 Cohort Equity-Focused School Leaders
We're opening the GLADYS pilot to leaders who believe justice has to be felt before it can be taught—and who are ready to help build the knowledge to make it real. GLADYS is an AI-powered equity leadership co-pilot grounded in equityXdesign 3.0, designed to think with you, not at you.
Founding cohort members don't just use the tool—they shape it, and their practice becomes part of how GLADYS learns to serve equity leaders everywhere. If you're creative, committed, and ready to co-create, the August 2026 cohort is open now.
Join the Pilot
Inspiring Leaders of Color Program - Cohort 6
📅 Info Session: September 9, 2026 • 6-7 PM Leaders of Color
Come hear more about the Inspiring Leaders of Color Program, ask questions, and hear from past participants. Attendance at the information session is NOT required for application. Early applications are welcomed.
A Zoom link will be sent to those who register for the info session.
Register for Info Session Apply Here
ISACS 2026-27 Trustee Series
📅 September 2026 - May 2027 Trustees & Heads of School
Looking for trustee education? CAIS is excited to share details of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) 2026-27 Trustee Series—10 one-hour webinars from September 2026-May 2027 designed specifically for independent school trustees and heads. The first webinar is September 24, 2026.
Details:• Webinars offered live at 1:00 PM Pacific, recorded, and available for an extended period
• Only one person from your school needs to register for the Series in the ISACS Member Portal
• ISACS will provide a Trustee Series Zoom Link and Instructions PDF
• Trustees and heads from registered schools MUST register to attend live webinars and/or access recordings
• Registration opens late August/early September
Registration fee for non-members: $700/school
Questions? Contact
karen@isacs.org
ISACS 2026-27 Parent Series
📅 September 2026 - May 2027 Parents & Caregivers
Looking for parent education? CAIS is excited to share details of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) 2026-27 Parent Series—six one-hour webinars from September 2026-May 2027 designed specifically for independent school parents/caregivers. The first webinar is September 29, 2026.
Details:• Webinars offered live at 4:30 PM Pacific, recorded, and available for an extended period
• Only one person from your school needs to register for the Series in the ISACS Member Portal
• Once registered, the entire school community (parents, caregivers, faculty & administrators) MUST register to attend live webinars and/or access recordings
• Registration opens late August/early September
• For more information and registration instructions, visit
www.isacs.org/parentseriesRegistration fee for non-members: $825/school
Questions? Contact
karen@isacs.org
🌟 ARC Fellowship for Division Directors
📅 2026-27 School Year Division Directors & Leaders
AUTHENTICITY. RENEWAL. CONNECTION.
A YEAR-LONG LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
Independent school division leaders are at the heart of our educational excellence—yet they rarely have the space to pause, connect with themselves, and reimagine how to lead from a place of purpose. The ARC Fellowship offers exactly that: a year-long immersion in authentic leadership development, deep peer connection, and personal renewal.
This transformative program creates a supportive cohort where division leaders can step back from daily demands to explore their leadership identity, build sustainable practices, and develop the inner resources needed to lead with clarity and purpose.
💡 Applications opening soon for the 2026-27 cohort
Download Program Overview (PDF)
📚 NJAIS Online Learning Courses
📅 Self-Paced Online Board Members & School Leaders
As an affiliate member of NJAIS, CAIS is now able to offer our members access to NJAIS's online learning courses at a significantly discounted rate.
The following four courses are currently available. Each is offered online and asynchronously, allowing you to complete them at your own pace:
Board Development and EvaluationThis online, asynchronous course provides strategies for building effective governance practices, strengthening board performance through ongoing education and practice, and implementing systematic approaches to assess and enhance board effectiveness.
Financial Literacy for Board MembersThis online, asynchronous course equips trustees with the knowledge and skills to interpret financial statements, understand key indicators of institutional health, and make informed decisions that support the school's fiscal sustainability and strategic priorities.
Risk ManagementThis online, asynchronous course outlines the board's role in identifying, assessing, and mitigating strategic, financial, operational, and reputational risks to ensure the long-term stability and integrity of the institution. A special focus on fundraising is integrated.
Mergers and Acquisitions for Independent SchoolsThis online, asynchronous course provides board members with the core considerations involved in school consolidations, outlining why schools may wish to merge, alternatives to merger, as well as best practices for board members and the Head of School, alignment in governance and culture, mission continuity, and more.
💡 CAIS members receive significantly discounted rates
CAIS Affinity Groups
Affinity Groups Are Now on CAIS Connect!Affinity groups have been reimagined and now live on CAIS Connect — our new online community platform. This new platform makes it easier to connect with colleagues, share resources, and engage in meaningful conversations throughout the year.
Affinity groups are based on constituencies (Heads and Senior Administrators), designed for specific demographics, but open to all.
How to Join Your Affinity Group:1. Go to the
CAIS website and log in (select "Forgot Password" if you need to set one up)
2. Open your profile from the top right navigation and click "Edit Profile"
3. Go to the Discussion Groups section and select the affinity group(s) you'd like to join
4. Click "Save" and allow up to 30 minutes for your membership to activate
5. Visit CAIS Connect at
connect.caisca.org6. Add a profile photo and bio to help others recognize and connect with you
Important: All members must complete these steps, even if you've participated in affinity groups before. CAIS Connect is your new hub for posting messages, accessing resources, and receiving Zoom links from your group leaders.
Want to start a new affinity group? Contact Cheryl Adenekan at
cadenekan@caisca.orgNeed help? Contact
support@caisca.org
LGBTQ+ Heads
Leader: Eric Temple • Tuesdays 4:00-5:00 PM
Upcoming: 6/23 AM
Heads of Color
Leader: Phil Gutierrez • 2nd Thursday 12:00-1:00 PM
Note: Meeting schedules resume in fall
APIDA Senior Administrators
Leader: Janet Lee • Fridays 2:00-2:45 PM
Note: Meeting schedules resume in fall
Jewish Senior Administrators
Leaders: Sarah Cooper and Miriam Singer • Thursdays 11:00 AM
Note: Meeting schedules resume in fall
Black Senior Administrators
Leader: Janine J. • Wednesdays 12:00 PM
Note: Meeting schedules resume in fall
Latin/o/a/x/e Senior Administrators
Leader: Stephanie Carrillo • Mondays 4:00-4:45 PM on Zoom
Note: Meeting schedules resume in fall
White Antiracist Leadership (Heads)
Leaders: Mitch Bostian, Shelly Luke Wille, Melinda Tsapatsaris • 3rd Monday 1:30-2:30 PM
Note: Meeting schedules resume in fall