REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED
HEADS IN PARTNERSHIP (HiP)
September 2025 – May 2026
A Year-Long Cohort to Support Heads of School and Build Community
Program Description
Independent school headship is unique, complex, nuanced, intense, and lonely. One helpful way to cope with the challenges is through sustained connection. HIP with provide an intimate community to provide that essential support and deepen the connection to NWAIS.
Heads in Partnership is a year-long, free, cohort-based program where 6-8 NWAIS Heads of School will meet regularly to connect, support and affirm each other. Participants will rotate light facilitation of the meetings. During your turn at facilitation you will be asked to bring a prompt, article or problem of practice to guide the conversation. A number of sample agendas will be provided at the onset of the program.
Participants will:
- Work through problems of practice in community with a group of colleagues
- Wrestle with case studies and tricky scenarios
- Utilize suggested formats and resources as a starting place for meetings
- Build a lasting network of colleagues
Participants will meet monthly, either on Wednesday or Friday mornings. Participants will primarily meet via zoom
and will have time to connect at the Fall and Spring Heads Meetings. The groups will conclude with a final meeting in May.
Eligibility
This program is open to Heads and Interim Heads currently serving in NWAIS schools.
Group Composition
Groups will be 6-8 people. This size allows for a degree of intimacy, while still being large enough to bring varied perspectives and to keep the work going if a few people miss a session. Because the purpose of this group is to connect
heads to explore the demands of their work, groups will be intentionally diverse based on school type and qualities of the head of school. This will also help people grow their network beyond their natural affiliations. Groups will
be organized to manage for conflicts and direct competitors.
Facilitation
Participants will rotate light facilitation of the meetings. During your turn at facilitation you will be asked to bring a prompt, article or problem of practice to guide the conversation. A number of sample agendas will be provided at the onset of the program. This will allow for shared leadership and responsibility while keeping the program free of cost. The facilitator can choose to utilize these suggested formats or rely on emergent topics from the
group
Program Components
- Gatherings at Fall and Spring Heads Meetings
- Monthly meetings via zoom or in person, depending on the availability of participants
Outcomes
Participants will:
- Build meaningful and transformational relationships with a small group of colleagues
- Support their ongoing learning and learn from the common challenges faced within the role of Headship
- Have an opportunity to facilitate a group of peers in powerful discussion
- Deepen Heads’ connection to each other and the association
Tuition
There is no cost to participate in this program.
Registration
Registrants are encouraged to sign up by September 1.
Proposed 2025-26 Meeting Dates
To facilitate finding a time that works for everyone, participants will sign up for Wednesday or Friday meetings. Meetings will take place at 9am PT / 10am MT.
Wednesday Meetings - Last Wednesday of September, October, January, March, April and May
- October 1 - 9am PT / 10am MT (Please Note Change of Date)
- October 29 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- November 17 - Lunch prior to Fall Heads Meeting
- January 28 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- March 25 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- April 29 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- May 4 - Lunch during Spring Heads Meeting
- May 27 - 9am PT / 10am MT
Friday Meetings - Third Friday of September, October, January, March, April and May
- September 19 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- October 24 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- November 17 - Lunch prior to Fall Heads Meeting
- January 23 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- March 27 - 9am PT / 10am MT (Please Note Change of Date)
- April 24 - 9am PT / 10am MT
- May 4 - Lunch during Spring Heads Meeting
- May 22 - 9am PT / 10am MT
Once we have the groups constructed you will be sent meeting invites and zoom links and a schedule of facilitation.
