NWAIS Diversity Practitioners Retreat

November 16-17, 2025

Silver Cloud Hotel Tacoma at Point Ruston Waterfront

Registration Is Open For This Event!

Register Here

Conference Overview

Led by our conference facilitator and DEI coach, André Withers, there will be an opportunity for learning, action planning and being in community. The conference program will emphasize joy and re-affirm the critical nature of our work in schools by exploring avenues of community care, risk mitigation and program substantiation.

Who Should Attend?

This program will serve those who identify in their community as a diversity practitioner, meaning they serve in a capacity that involves facilitating growth and supporting others in work around cultural competency, equity, inclusion and belonging. Many people for whom this work is a component of their job will find this program valuable including: educators, directors of admissions, school leaders, librarians, trustees, those who serve on a diversity committee and of course, diversity directors. 

Tentative Agenda

Sunday, November 16, 2025

1:00-1:30 Registration

1:30-5:30 Conference Programming

5:30-6:00 Break

6:00-7:00 Dinner

7:00-7:30 Day One Wrap-up and Preparation for Tomorrow

Monday, November 17, 2025

7:30-8:30 Breakfast

8:30-11:30 Conference Programming

11:30 Conference Conclusion

Meet Out Facilitator: André Withers

André Withers is a much sought after consultant and DEI expert having done extensive work with NAIS as well as a host of NAIS schools.

Originally from Indiana, André has been in independent schools for over 24 years. The initial foray into the world of independent schools was The Orchard School in Indianapolis, IN. He found an immediate home as a Middle School teacher and Advisor. As the School grew and as opportunities arose, André was able to also find that his gifts and talents were aligned with an additional role of Director of Diversity. Those roles brought tremendous growth and preparation for the role of Director of Middle School that he assumed in 2001. While teaching and running the division, there were significant additions introduced as part of his tenure. Some of those included enhancements in Advising, Student-led conferencing and technology standards. Concurrent to the work at those two schools, André was invited to serve on the board of ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States) where he chaired the Equity Committee and was a member of two accreditation teams. That valuable work also led to additional service  with NAIS. André was a faculty member of the Summer Diversity Institute and subsequently worked as the director of that professional development opportunity for three years. 

In 2004 André was named Assistant Head of School at The Lowell School in Washington, DC. That term was also coupled with leadership and service opportunities. While at Lowell André served a term on the Board of AIMS (Association of Independent Maryland Schools) while also being a regular presenter at PoCC and NAIS’ Annual Conference. Upon completing five years at Lowell, André was hired as the Director of Madeira’s signature experiential program, Co-Curriculum. With immediate success in that role André was named Assistant Head of School where he served until 2022. 

André joined Educators Collaborative in July of 2022. Having become a Certified Executive Coach, he will be active in not only leadership searches for schools but also supporting schools and their leaders evolve in ways that can ensure institutional success.

Pricing and Registration

To receive the early bird or regular discount, your registration must be complete and payment must be postmarked or received by the stated deadline.

• For registrations with payment by check, payment must be postmarked by the stated deadline
• Online registrations completed by credit card must be completed by 11:59pm on the stated deadline.

Accommodations

We have reserved a limited number of rooms at a special group rate of $209/night. Please be aware that there are other NWAIS happening at the hotel on the same dates so the link below will reference those events. It is the correct link.

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.