2021 - 2022 Professional Development

NJAIS offers many different Professional Development opportunities for faculty, administrators, and Trustees.  We aim to be relevant and responsive, and welcome your ideas and participation in these workshops and conferences.

 

NJAIS PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES

EVENT CALENDAR for 2021 - 2022

We will be adding to and updating these offerings frequently.  Please check back for the latest professional growth offerings.

Contact Rachel Folan, rfolan@njais.org, with any questions, suggestions, or partnership ideas.

 

These workshops have been developed for the use of NJAIS members only and are not to be downloaded, copied, used, or distributed without permission.

 

 

Monday, September 27, 2021:
EARLY CAREER TEACHER PROGRAM:
INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS 101 AND MENTOR TEACHER GUIDANCE

For: Independent School Associate Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Teaching Fellows, and Early Career Teachers

This opening session will provide participants with an understanding of the independent school landscape.  What is an independent school?  What is a mission statement?  Why is it imperative that the actions within the school reflect the mission?  What is the role of the teacher in an independent school?

 

Wednesday, September 29, 2021:
WHAT IT MEANS TO BE 'NEWS LITERATE' - AN
INTRODUCTION TO NEWS LITERACY EDUCATION

For: All Educators

          This SESSION WILL PROVIDE AN OVERVIEW OF THE NEWS LITERACY CONCEPTS AND SKILLS THAT STUDENTS NEED TO BE RELIABLY INFORMED, SUCH AS RECOGNIZING THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NEWS AND OPINION, IDENTIFYING MISINFORMATION, EVALUATING EVIDENCE, USING FACT-CHECKING AND DIGITAL VERIFICATION TOOLS, AND DISCERNING VARIOUS TYPES AND FORMS OF BIAS.

Wednesday, October 5, 2021:
CLIMATE CHANGE BASICS: WHAT EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW

For: All Educators

HOW DO COVID-19, THE JET STREAM, AND WHAT YOU EAT ADD UP TO A PLANET-WIDE EMERGENCY? IN THIS EVENT WE WILL LEARN ABOUT "EARTH SYSTEMS" AND THE IMPORTANT CONNECTIONS BETWEEN YOUR EVERYDAY LIFE CHOICES AND THE FUTURE EARTH WE ARE LEAVING FOR OUR CHILDREN. WE WILL DISCUSS THE BASICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE INCLUDING GREENHOUSE GASES, CIRCULATION IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND OCEAN, GLACIERS, AND RAINFORESTS, AND PAST CLIMATES.   
** THIS SESSION IS PART OF CLIMATE AWARE AND ACTIVE SCHOOLS SUBSCRIPTION SERIES**  

 

 

Thursday, October 14, 2021:
CLIMATE CHANGE: IMPACTS AND IMPLICATIONS

For: All Educators

          researchers tell us that is global warming continues, large parts of the tropics and mid-latitudes will become unlivable, potentially displacing one-third of humanity within only 50 years. this has political implications that have already been set in motion. join us for a discussion of global security, food and water shortages, extreme weather events, and the growth of intense heat. 
** THIS SESSION IS PART OF CLIMATE AWARE AND ACTIVE SCHOOLS SUBSCRIPTION SERIES**

 

Wednesday, October 20, 2021:
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
BUILDING BLOCK I: EXPLORE

For: 2021 - 2022 Leadership Institute Cohort

THIS OPENING SESSION OF THE 2021-2022 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE COHORT WILL BEGIN ITS COLLABORATIVE JOURNEY, ORIENT PERSONAL LEADERSHIP STYLES, AND DIVE INTO THE LANDSCAPE OF SCHOOL LEADERSHIP.

 

Thursday, October 21, 2021:
SOLUTIONS: CUTTING EMISSIONS AND PROTECTING NATURE 

For: All Educators

IT IS NOT INEVITABLE THAT THE WORST ASPECTS OF CLIMATE CHANGE MUST HAPPEN. WE KNOW HOW TO PREVENT A DANGEROUS FUTURE AND THERE ARE EARLY SIGNS OF SUCCESS. BUT WE ARE STILL FAR FROM WHERE WE NEED TO BE IF WE WANT TO LEAVE THE NEXT GENERATION A WORLD WHERE THEY CAN THRIVE. JOIN US FOR A DISCUSSION ABOUT THE TRANSFORMATIONAL ACTIONS THAT ARE NEEDED TO STOP CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE DESTRUCTION OF NATURE.       

                      

Monday, October 25, 2021:
EARLY CAREER TEACHER PROGRAM:
SCHOOL CLIMATE AND CULTURE

For: Independent School Associate Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Teaching Fellows, and Early Career Teachers

THE CLIMATE AND CULTURE OF A SCHOOL GUIDES THE LEARNING AND INSTRUCTIONAL ENVIRONMENT. THIS SESSION WILL EXPLORE SCHOOL CLIMATE AND HOW IT AFFECTS LEARNING AND THE LEARNER. HOW MIGHT YOU BETTER UNDERSTAND YOUR SCHOOL'S CLIMATE? HOW MIGHT YOU EMBOLDEN IT TO BEST SERVE YOUR STUDENTS?

 

Tuesday, October 26, 2021:
ADVANCEMENT OFFICERS WORKSHOP

For: Directors of Development and All Advancement Professionals

THIS ANNUAL MEETING SERVES TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGIALITY AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL. 

 

Tuesday, October 26, 2021:
CLIMATE CHANGE RESOURCES CENTER: OVERVIEW OF TOOLS AND SUPPORTS FOR YOUR CLASSROOM AND CURRICULUM

For: All Educators

NEW JERSEY IS THE FIRST STATE IN THE NATION TO REQUIRE CLIMATE CHANGE INCORPORATION INTO LEARNING STANDARDS. THOUGH INDEPENDENT SCHOOL CURRICULUM IS NOT REQUIRED TO ADHERE TO THESE STANDARDS, THEY SET A PRECEDENT FOR LEARNING AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CLIMATE-AWARE STUDENTS AND CLASSROOMS. IN THIS SESSION, PARTICIPANTS WILL LEARN TO NAVIGATE THE NJ CLIMATE CHANGE RESOURCE CENTER IN ORDER TO EXTRACT TOOLS AND LEARNING STRATEGIES. ALSO INCLUDED IN THIS SESSION IS HOW THESE STANDARDS MIGHT EVOLVE AND HOW THEY ARE BEING INTEGRATED ACROSS SEVEN CONTENT AREAS (VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS; CAREER READINESS/LIFE LITERACIES AND KEY SKILLS; SCIENCE; SOCIAL STUDIES; WORLD LANGUAGES; COMPREHENSIVE HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ED; COMPUTER SCIENCE AND DESIGN THINKING). 
**THIS SESSION IS PART OF CLIMATE AWARE AND ACTIVE SCHOOLS SUBSCRIPTION SERIES**  

 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021:
AVOIDING THE RABBIT HOLE: TEACHING CONCEPTS OF CONSPIRATORIAL THINKING 

For: All Educators

CONSPIRACY THEORIES ARE BECOMING PART OF MAINSTREAM DISCOURSE AND PUBLIC AWARENESS. FROM QANON TO PANDEMIC-RELATED BELIEFS TO OLDER IDEAS SUCH AS THE EARTH IS FLAT, WE ARE FINDING THAT MORE AND MORE OF OUR FRIENDS, FAMILY, AND LOVED ONES BELIEVE AT LEAST ONE CONSPIRACY THEORY. HOW DO WE TEACH STUDENTS TO AVOID CONSPIRACY THEORIES WITHOUT ACTUALLY TEACHING THEM THE SPECIFICS OF SUCH FALSE BELIEFS? THIS SESSION EXPLORES THE PSYCHOLOGICAL AND COGNITIVE FACTORS BEHIND CONSPIRATORIAL THINKING, INCLUDING THE ROLE OF FEARS AND ANXIETY, COGNITIVE DISSONANCE AND BIASES, MOTIVATED REASONING AND INSTITUTIONAL CYNICISM. WE WILL DISCUSS THE WAYS IN WHICH CONSPIRACY THEORIES EXPLOIT OUR EMOTIONS AS WELL AS FILL OUR EMOTIONAL NEEDS. AS PART OF THIS SESSION, WE WILL OUTLINE ESSENTIAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES AND CONCEPTS AND PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONAL RESOURCES FOR INTEGRATING THESE CONCEPTS INTO THE CURRICULUM, INCLUDING OUR FREE, INTERACTIVE LESSON WHICH IS PART OF THE Checkology® VIRTUAL CLASSROOM.

 

Wednesday, October 27, 2021:
FINANCE OFFICERS WORKSHOP

For: CFOs, Business Managers, HR Directors, and all Finance and Operations Professionals     

   
This ANNUAL MEETING SERVES TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGIALITY AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF FINANCE PROFESSIONALS.

 

Thursday, October 28, 2021:
ADMISSIONS OFFICERS WORKSHOP

  For: All Admissions Professionals  

   

This ANNUAL MEETING SERVES TO SUPPORT THE COLLEGIALITY AND PROFESSIONAL GROWTH OF ADMISSIONS PROFESSIONALS.

 

 

Wednesday, November 3, 2021:
A SOLUTIONS-ORIENTED FRAMEWORK TO TACKLE REAL LIFE CLIMATE CHANGE LESSON EXAMPLES FOR TEACHERS

For: All Educators
 

THIS SESSION IS A FOLLOW-UP TO THE SERIES OPENING SESSION, WHY HOPE IS VITAL FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH CLIMATE CHANGE AND HIGH PRIORITY SOCIETAL ISSUES, AND THE INSTRUCTIONAL FRAMEWORK DR. KELSEY OUTLINES IN THAT PRESENTATION. THIS WILL EXPAND ON HER FRAMEWORK AND GIVE TEACHERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE ANY OF THE PRACTICES THEY HAVE EXECUTED IN THEIR CLASSROOMS IN ORDER TO GAIN INSIGHT AND FEEDBACK FOR FUTURE LESSONS.   
**THIS SESSION IS PART OF CLIMATE AWARE AND ACTIVE SCHOOLS SUBSCRIPTION SERIES**

 

Sunday, November 14, 2021:
LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE
BUILDING  BLOCK II: SERVE

For: 2021 - 2022 Leadership Institute Cohort
 

ThIS SESSION OF THE 2021-2022 LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE WILL EXPLORE THE ROLE OF GOVERNANCE IN SCHOOLS, EXAMINING THE QUESTION, "WHAT IS A TRUSTEE AND HOW DO TRUSTEES SERVE OUR SCHOOLS?".

 

Sunday, November 14, 2021:
TRUSTEE ENRICHMENT DAY

For: Boards of Trustees, Heads of School, Finance Officers, and School Leadership Teams
 

NJAIS' ANNUAL TRUSTEE ENRICHMENT DAY IS A BENCHMARK EVENT FOR NEW AND EXPERIENCED TRUSTEES. THIS IS A VALUABLE OPPORTUNITY FOR ADMINISTRATORS AND TRUSTEES ALIKE TO EXPERIENCE A BROAD RANGE OF SPEAKERS AND WORKSHOPS TO SUPPORT STRONG GOVERNANCE OF OUR SCHOOLS.

 

 

Wednesday, November 17, 2021:
YOUTH VOICE AND CLIMATE JUSTICE ACTIVISM THROUGH THE LENS OF EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY AND INTERSECTIONALITY

   For: All Educators 
 

IN THIS SESSION, RESOURCES WILL BE SHARED TO COUNTER THE EXISTENTIAL ANXIETY AND ECO-DESPAIR MANY EXPERIENCE AND WAYS OF EXPLORING IDEAS AROUND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION, AND THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF UNDERLYING SYSTEMS OF DISCRIMINATION AND PRIVELEGE VIS-A-VIS CLIMATE CHANGE. 
** THIS SESSION IS PART OF CLIMATE AWARE AND ACTIVE SCHOOLS SUBSCRIPTION SERIES**

 

Monday, November 29, 2021:
EARLY CAREER TEACHER PROGRAM: COMMUNICATION: HOW TO TALK TO TODAY'S INDEPENDENT SCHOOL PEOPLE

     For: Independent School Associate Teachers, Assistant Teachers, Teaching Fellows, and Early Career Teachers
 

  IN THIS SESSION, PARTICIPANTS WILL GAIN INSIGHTS AND STRATEGIES TO ENGAGE THE FULL RANGE OF PARENTS IN ORDER TO TRUTHFULLY COMMENT ON STUDENT PROGRESS. THIS WILL ALSO INCLUDE NAVIGATING DIFFICULT CONVERSATIONS THAT CAN ARISE WITHIN SCHOOLS, BETWEEN VARIOUS CONSTITUENTS.

 

 

Stay tuned for Winter and Spring professional development programs!

 

 

Completed Programs

 

Sunday, September 12, 2021:
TRUSTEE 101

For: Newly Appointed Board of Trustee Members of Independent Schools or those in their first or second year serving on the Board

This session is for Board of Trustee members in their first or second year of service on the Board, or for those who want a reminder of the principles of good governance.  You will be presented with an overview of the basic concepts and complexities of independent school governance.  Case studies provide an interactive session.

 

Tuesday, August 31, 2021:
CHASING CHILDHOOD
FILM SCREENING AND DISCUSSION

For: All Educators

 

 discussion facilitated by the film's directors and producers, margaret munzer loeb and eden wurmfeld chasing childhood is a feature documentary that takes us to three communities that are trying  to shift culture with the hope of raising kids to become competent, healthy, and happy adults. 
after an asynchronous screening of the film, join your colleagues from across the association for a robust discussion of what schools and school communities can do to support play, independence, and agency for students.

 

Wednesday, August 25, 2021:
PANEL PRESENTATION:
NAVIGATING PUSHBACK AGAINST YOUR SCHOOL'S DEIB COMMITMENTS

For: Heads of School, Board Members, and Communications Professionals

**THIS IS A MEMBER SCHOOL ONLY EVENT**

During this panel presentation, participants will hear from an attorney, a PR/Crisis professional, a DEIB practitioner, an HR professional, and a Head of School who navigated the conflict, press, and public harassment.  Following the guidance, lessons learned, and suggested considerations from the panelists, participants will have the opportunity to ask questions and to discuss action plans with colleagues.

 

Monday, August 23, 2021:
THE INVISIBLE PLAYBOOK: 
HOW TO CREATE A CULTURE OF INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE

For: Athletic Directors, Athletic Coaches, and all other Athletic Professionals

 

This workshop serves to engage athletic professionals in purposeful reflection in order to inspire team cultures of inclusion and excellence. Through a focus on critically analyzing definitions, participants will gain an understanding of how such meanings shape individual views of the world.  As the session highlights common fears that may create barriers to engaging in antiracist actions, coaches and athletic professionals will learn how to have uncomfortable conversations about race, diversity, and themselves.  This experience will inspire participants to deeply examine how to be a change agent in a world of performative allyship.