THE HUDDLE
The monthly webinar series for school leaders on the topics that are most on your mind.
Thank you to this season’s presenting sponsor Big Back Pack—specializing in placing great people in the nation’s top independent schools.
What’s Trending in Accreditation
Date: Wednesday, April 22, 2025
Time: 12:00 pm EST
Cost: FREE
The Huddle will be recorded and shared with all registrants.
Join two veteran leaders in independent school accreditation, Andy Gilla, Director of Accreditation at Independent School Association of the Central States (ISACS), and Treavor Lord, Head of School of The Hill School of Middleburg (VA) and longtime Virginia Association of Independent Schools (VAIS) Accreditation Committee Chair, to hear about why accreditation practices have continued to evolve and how accreditation supports sustainability at your institution.
Andy and Treavor will highlight often cited accreditation committees recommendations. They’ll also offer advice and examples on preparing your community for an accreditation visit, and how to align the work of accreditation with your strategic planning efforts and annual school-wide priorities. Our goal is to have participants depart this conversation with an understanding of the value and purpose of accreditation along with practical tips to make the process less stressful.
Learning Objectives:
Understand key trends and recommendations in independent school accreditation.
Learn how the accreditation process aligns and differs across different accrediting associations.
Discuss good practices around aligning your accreditation work with strategic planning and annual school-wide goals.
Understand how to prepare your community for an upcoming accreditation visit.
Who Should Attend?
Head of School
Senior Administrators
Aspiring Leaders
Trustees
Presenters:
Passing the Baton:
A Peek Inside NWAIS’ Leadership Transition
Date: Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Time: 2:00 pm EST
Cost: FREE
The Huddle will be recorded and shared with all registrants.
After six years of successful leadership at NWAIS, Mark Crotty will step down as Executive Director this summer. His successor, Chris Watson, a longtime Head of School in the Association, will assume leadership July 1.
Join us for a discussion about leadership transitions at the Association level. Learn about how NWAIS has thoughtfully planned for the transition and discover how NWAIS’ unique culture of community will be a guiding force as the leadership baton is passed.
With 111 member schools stretching across multiple states, NWAIS is a regional association with schools of various missions, sizes, and locations. Even though you might not be at an NWAIS school, join us for a rich discussion about leadership, culture, and governance.
Learning Objectives:
Discover what leading at 50,000 feet looks like in service to all member schools.
Understand the differences in governance between an independent school and an association.
Explore how NWAIS is grappling with questions like, “What does it mean for an association to be a community?”
Hear how this incoming Executive Director envisions supporting school leaders during a time of consistent change?
Who Should Attend?
Head of School
Senior Administrators
Trustees
Association Leaders
Presenters:
Chris Watson, Head of School, Soundview School (WA); Incoming Executive Director, Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS)
Mark Crotty, Executive Director, Northwest Association of Independent Schools (NWAIS)
This webinar is offered in collaboration with NWAIS.
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