NJAIS PROFESSIONAL LEARNING I ON-DEMAND ONLINE COURSES
NJAIS now offers on-demand online courses to provide anytime, anywhere access.
CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS
Explore our offerings below. Click the image thumbnails or linked text for more information.
NJAIS 2026 Leadership Conference
From Disruption to Direction - Leading for What's Next
April 29-30, 2026
In-person at Minerals Hotel & Resort, Vernon, NJ 07462
This two-day conference brings together 150+ independent school leaders across all functional areas—heads of school, academic leaders, admission and advancement professionals, business officers, and equity and belonging practitioners—to navigate unprecedented challenges and opportunities in independent education.
Unlike traditional conferences, we've designed specific learning experiences that emphasize peer learning, practical application, and cross-functional collaboration. Through collaborative sessions, role-alike deep dives, and reflective practices, you'll explore innovation in school design, access and affordability strategies, enrollment resilience, leadership prioritization, financial scenario planning, and the human side of leadership in high-strain environments.
The conference features keynote speaker Dr. Yong Zhao, Foundation Distinguished Professor at the University of Kansas, whose recent work reimagines education beyond meritocracy through a Human Interdependence Paradigm where diverse talents collaborate to solve real-world challenges.
Between sessions, connect with colleagues through our Peer Learning Hub—a dynamic space for collective problem-solving—and optional Leadership Speed Circles, where meaningful conversations replace traditional networking. This conference is designed not just to inform, but to equip you with actionable frameworks, strengthen your network, and renew your sense of purpose as you lead through disruption.
To learn more and register, click here.
February 27, 2026, 9:00am-4:00pm
In-person at George School, 1690 Langhorne Newtown Rd. Newtown, PA 18940
This affinity space is designed for employees who identify as people of color and seek fellowship, shared experience, mentorship, and collective self-care. We recognize the unique experiences educators of color may encounter, and offer this intentional space to rest, restore, and reconnect with purpose and in community, practicing skills transferable to the broader commitment to belonging and inclusion for all staff.
During this optional full-day retreat, we will uplift educators who identify as people of color in PAIS and NJAIS member schools, by centering self-care and BIPOC healing traditions rooted in ancestral wisdom. Through ceremony, ritual, and holistic practices, we will restore balance and resilience while honoring the Earth and our ancestors.
Long before “trauma-informed” became a buzzword, yogis and indigenous healers carried practices of equilibrium and release—held in community, rooted in ritual, and connected to spirit. What neuroscience calls “vagus nerve regulation,” yogis and indigenous folks knew as prana, life force, and ashe flowing through the body.
In this optional day-long retreat, we will come together to remember what has always been true - that healing is collective, cultural, and spiritual. In this shared space, we will reconnect to ancient wisdom, and our physical, mental, emotional, energetic, and spiritual layers – filling our own cups so we can more fully serve our relationships, our schools, our students, and our communities.
To learn more and register, click here.
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Join NJAIS for the 2026 Advancement Summit: Advancing Together—Strategy, Storytelling, and Stewardship, a one-day gathering of advancement professionals and industry experts dedicated to strengthening philanthropy, engagement, and mission across independent schools.
Designed for advancement directors, development officers, alumni/ae relations professionals, and others in the advancement field, this interactive day features multiple breakout sessions offering actionable tools, innovative strategies, and peer-to-peer collaboration.
Topics include major and planned giving, alumni/ae engagement, data-driven fundraising, stewardship at scale, and leading advancement teams through change. You’ll leave inspired, connected, and ready to advance your school’s mission with renewed purpose.
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MOTIVATION MATTERS: Igniting Purpose, Passion, and Persistence in Teaching
January - February 2026
Ready to rediscover what makes teaching extraordinary? This energizing series invites K–12 educators on a journey into the heart of motivation—exploring what truly ignites powerful learning and sustains passionate teaching. Together, we'll dive into the forces that matter most: curiosity and awe, psychological safety, student self-efficacy, teacher enthusiasm, and the transformative power of whole-school culture.
Each session blends research-backed strategies with space for authentic reflection, offering grade-level-specific insights that you can bring directly into your classroom. Whether you're looking to rekindle your sense of purpose, deepen student engagement, or build momentum that lasts all year long, this series will equip and inspire you.
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Small Schools, Big Ideas: A Professional Learning Series
October 15 - February 25
Small schools face unique opportunities and challenges that require creative solutions, innovative thinking, and collaborative approaches. That's why we're excited to launch this specialized series designed specifically for our community of small schools.This four-part series brings together personnel from small schools to share practical strategies, foster peer connections, and explore how smaller communities can thrive through creative solutions and collaborative approaches. The four virtual one-hour sessions (4:00 p.m.) include:
- October 15 - "'Small Shop' Approaches to Talent and Structures"
- November 20 - "Doing Without _____(fill-in-the-blank): Share Your Hacks!"
- January 15 - "Feeling Safe in Small Schools Today"
- February 25 - "Living the Mission: Aligning Culture, Communication, and Community"
Institute for Emerging Leaders
October 15 - April 22, 2026
This program is intended for educators who have not yet held a supervisory role, but are interested in exploring pathways to leadership. Participants in the NJAIS Institute for Emerging Leaders will engage in five comprehensive sessions designed to deepen their understanding of educational leadership, strengthen their management capabilities, and expand their awareness of the evolving opportunities within independent education during this transformative period.
Registration is closed; cohort is filled to capacity.
Watch for application opportunities in the spring of 2026.