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Join Heads of School from across the Association and share experience, best practices and explore trending themes in independent school leadership.
Sessions and Speakers
Featuring Keynote Speakers Carrie GrimesAssistant Professor and Director of the Independent SchoolLeadership Master's program at Vanderbilt University
Presenting: From Fatigue to Flourishing In today’s educational climate, school leaders are navigating unprecedented levels of emotional and organizational strain. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship in psychology, organizational behavior, and educational leadership, this session seeks to address the socio-cultural and emotional drivers of fatigue, including pandemic flux syndrome (Cuddy, 2021), eco-anxiety (Leiserowitz & Lowe, 2023), and burnout (Maslach et al., 2001). In school settings, these challenges are compounded by compassion fatigue (Joinson, 1992), which can erode the emotional resilience of faculty and staff and contribute to attrition, disengagement, and diminished morale. About Carrie Grimes
Carrie Grimes is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in the LPO department and also serves as the Director of the Independent School Leadership Master's program. She completed her Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations at Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on social identity and community of practice theoretical applications to school settings. Carrie's career has been centered in independent school leadership, including roles in administration, teaching, counseling, and institutional advancement in schools and programs in New York, California, and Maryland. Throughout her career, she has focused on community building, imaginative problem solving, and cross-team collaboration across a wide range of stakeholder groups including toddlers through adolescents, parents, adult learners, donors and alumni. Carrie has a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.A. in Applied Psychology from New York University. and Closing Keynote Liza Talusan
presenting: Structuring Self-Care During Social Crisis / Social ChangeThis workshop is ideal for those who tend to focus on the needs of others before their own. As practitioners, we are often drawn to the field of leadership development because of its close work with activism and social change. For example, we have normalized working 16-hour days, engaging in supportive roles, and this “all-or-nothing” approach in the spirit of “doing good work.” Yet, we are well aware of the physical, social, psychological and emotional tolls of avoiding self-care. This session is focused on the difficult work of dismantling problematic cultures that contributes to oppressive conditions and work habits. At the end of this workshop, individuals and organizations leave with a solid understanding of what must be done in order to not rely on “self care” as a strategy but rather engage in real structural change.
Dr. Liza (LIE-zuh) Talusan (taLOOS-ahn) is an educator, speaker, leader, writer, coach and parent.With over 25 years of experience in PreK-graduate education, Liza is an engaging facilitator in conversations about diversity, anti-racism, bias, privilege and power and creates environments that allow for people to discuss these difficult topics openly. Dr. Talusan has been invited to more than 375 organizations across the country and internationally to facilitate dialogue groups, workshops, strategic planning, change management, and community focused sessions.
Liza is the recipient of numerous awards including "Best 40 Under 40"; NASPA Region I Mid-Level Professional Award; NASPA APIKC VIP Award; Asian Women for Health's Peer Leader Award; Promise in Action Mentoring Nominee; Network for Equity, Excellence in Education Award; the REAPA (AERA) Dissertation of the Year Award; the Harriet Buescher Lawrence Prize from Connecticut College; The Early Career Award (REAPA); the YMCA Leadership Award; and a number of institutional grants.
She earned her Bachelor degree from Connecticut College; Masters of Arts from New York University; Ph.D. from University of Massachusetts Boston; Certificate in Human Resources; and her PCC Coaching Credentials from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching. Liza is currently a faculty member in the College of Education and Human Development at the University of Massachusetts Boston where she teaches courses on leadership and anti-racism.
L iza has been a guest on a number of podcasts focused on educational equity and is the new co-host for the podcast Teaching While White. Liza’s book, “The Identity Conscious Educator: Building habits and skills for more inclusive schools”,published by Solution Tree Press, is the 2023 Gold Medal Recipient of IPPY Awards. Her new book “Identity-Conscious Practice in Action” was released in November 2024 and published by Routledge Press.
Also Featuring
Justin Perillo, NAIS Legal Counsel 
presenting: Hot Topics in the Federal Landscape
Independent school leaders are navigating an increasingly complex and fast-changing federal landscape. This session will unpack the latest legal developments emerging from Washington, D.C., and examine how they may affect independent schools. We’ll explore key regulatory trends, highlight both challenges and opportunities, and offer practical strategies to help schools stay compliant, adapt to evolving requirements, and proactively manage legal risks.
Justin Perillo, NAIS Legal CounselJustin Perillo has been the General Counsel at the National Association of Independent Schools since February 2025. Prior to NAIS, Justin was the Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary at Marymount University since October 2022. With more than 20 years of experience in education law, he served as a key advisor on policies and strategies that guide the University in achieving its mission. In this role Justin provided legal counsel and advice to the President, the Board of Trustees, and the University administration, ensuring that Marymount University navigated legal challenges with a strategic and collaborative approach. Before joining Marymount, Justin spent 19 years at American University where he served in various capacities, including Associate General Counsel. His expertise spans a broad range of legal issues in education, including intellectual property, commercial and transactional law, athletics, information systems, student affairs, and scientific research. He has played a critical role in developing key strategic initiatives such as transforming Title IX and Freedom of Expression policies and expanding American University’s trademark portfolio. He earned both his J.D. and bachelor’s degrees from American University. and Karen Kalzer,NWAIS Legal Counsel 
Regional Legal Update Join NWAIS retained Attorney, Karen Kalzer for this session to
catch school leaders and heads of school up on the most recent legal
and policy changes. Attendees will learn what they need to be thinking about
now and integrating into their risk management, HR and student safety handbooks
and documents. During the session attendees will explore policy shifts and
think about how they will impact their school communities. Participants will
work in groups to explore and discuss case studies and scenarios. Learning Outcomes
– Attendees will:
- Explore recent legal and
policy changes,
- Learn what they need to be
thinking about now and integrating into their risk management, HR and
student safety handbooks and documents,
- Apply learning to case
studies and scenarios in small group discussions
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