REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN
Conference Overview
Join over 100 other trustees and heads of school for the premiere independent school governance event in the Northwest. This event focuses on the areas where boards struggle, giving you the information and tools to move your school forward. Sessions are led by national thought leaders and focus on trends in education, independent schools, and strategy. Heads of School find this event especially valuable when they attend with their board chair or executive committee, but trustees of all levels of experience will benefit from the broad mix of sessions and topics.
Announcing Keynote Speakers
Carrie Grimes
Assistant Professor and Director of the Independent School
Leadership Master's program at Vanderbilt University
Presenting:
Response-able School Leadership
and
Closing Keynote
Greg Bamford of Leadership+Design
Presenting:
Curiosity As An Ongoing Strategic Stance
Additional sessions include:
A1.
Is Your Mission Statement Passe? And Is Your Marketing All Wrong?
with Independent School Expert, Skip Kotkins
A2. Succeeding at Succession Planning
with Julie Faulstich, Principal, Stony Creek Strategy
B1. Engaging in Diversity, Inclusion, and Action: The Ins and Outs of Impactful Board Governance
with Liza Talusan: Educator, Speaker, Leaders, Writer, Coach and Parent
B2. Boards That Work: The What, How, and Why of Good Governance
with Lynn Wendell, Independent School Governance Expert
Full Conference Agenda - Sunday, November 16, 2025
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8:30-9:00
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Registration and Breakfast
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9:00-11:00
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Welcome and Keynote
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11:00-12:00
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Focus Sessions A1 & A2
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12:00-1:00
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Lunch
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1:00-2:00
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Focus Sessions B1 & B2
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2:30-4:00
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Closing Keynote Workshop
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Pricing and Registration
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Registration Deadlines |
NWAIS Members
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Non-Members |
Early Bird
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Until October 15, 2025
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$565
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$665
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| Regular |
October 15 - November 3, 2025
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$595 |
$695 |
| Late |
After November 3, 2025
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$640
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$740
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Accommodations & Travel
We have reserved a limited number of rooms at a special group rate of
$209/night.
1. Click on group booking link above to generate discounted rates
2. Select arrival and departure dates and input the number of guests
3. Click "Search for Availability"
4. Click "Reserve" on your available preferred room type
5. Enter all relevant guest information: name, address, phone & email
6. Comments: provide estimated check-in/out time, note special requests, etc.
7. Click "Agree" to hotel policies
8. Click "Make Reservation" and a confirmation email will be sent automatically
PHONE RESERVATIONS: Call the hotel directly at (253) 319-8300 Ext. 1 to ask for the "NWAIS Fall Heads Meeting" discount and a guest service agent will gladly assist with booking your reservation.
RESERVATION CHANGES: Should you need to change, cancel or update a reservation, please email pointruston.reservations@silvercloud.com or call (253) 319-8300 Ext. "1" and one of our guest service agents would be pleased to assist you.
ONSITE PARKING: Overnight valet parking is offered at $36 plus tax per night for registered guests of the hotel. Event daytime parking is offered at a rate of $18 plus tax per day for event attendees. Parking rates are subject to change without notice. Onsite parking is not able to be guaranteed and is subject to availability. Hotel does not offer self parking.
RATE: Group discount is available through Wednesday, October 23, 2025.
After that date, all guest rooms in the group will be released back into hotel's general inventory. Please note all guest room reservations and room types are subject to availability at the hotel.
Program Policies
NWAIS May Help Cover Travel Costs
The NWAIS travel reimbursement policy is designed to reimburse candidate and accredited member schools for some travel costs. This policy applies to a school’s total travel expenses (not the cost of rooms and meals), no matter how many people the school sends to the workshop. If your school spends more than $150 dollars on travel for this event and is traveling a distance greater than 250 miles you will be reimbursed a percentage of your expenses.
Cancellation Policy
Substitutions may be made any time prior to the conference. Written cancellations received by November 6, 2025 are eligible for a refund after a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations received after the cancellation deadline are ineligible for any refund.
In the Unlikely Event of Program Cancellation
Typically, cancellations and postponements are very rare, however the pandemic has forced us to utilize these options more frequently. In
the event that NWAIS cancels a program for any reason, all preregistered participants will receive notification via email. The cancellation will also be posted on the NWAIS website. Preregistered participants’ schools will receive full credit
for all program fees paid.
NWAIS is however, unable to reimburse other expenses (such as travel) incurred by attendees prior to the event. NWAIS strongly recommends that attendees make travel arrangements that allow for some flexibility such as rescheduling, cancellation and/or future credit.
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