The format allows for brave sharing and generous listening and for all participants to feel seen, heard, and valued. The topic is Hope + Joy.

This breakout session at the Conference and will bring together people by constituent group to share challenges and effective practices for creating community.

Administrators
Alumni
Community Engagers (Counselors, DEI, Global Ed, Psychologists, Wellness)
Faculty
Heads of School
High School Students
Parents
Trustees

At the heart of Pollyanna’s mission of Building Stronger and Kinder Communities is the belief that meaningful learning happens when we come together with honesty, courage, and care. The learning sessions at our National Conference reflect that commitment. Designed for both adults and students, these sessions invite participants to explore timely and complex topics from navigating conflict and leveraging AI to strengthening family partnerships, advancing equity through governance, and building sustainable activism. Whether you’re an educator, leader, caregiver, or student, these sessions will challenge assumptions, offer practical tools, and spark connection across lines of difference. Each one is an opportunity to reflect, reimagine, and recommit to the work of building inclusive, values-aligned schools and communities.

Click here to print the PDF of the list of offerings and facilitators.

ADULT-FOCUSED SESSIONS

Ali Michael – Keeping Conflict Healthy: A Generative Friction

Conflict in schools is inevitable and it can be a powerful catalyst for growth. When addressed with care, it deepens understanding, strengthens relationships, and reinforces community values. This workshop invites participants to explore how conflict can remain healthy rather than become polarized or entrenched. Together, we’ll unpack strategies for personal accountability, including receiving feedback as a gift and managing forms of identity threat. Through case studies and shared reflection, participants will practice moving through tension with empathy and curiosity, and brainstorm approaches to common school-wide challenges with an eye toward connection, repair, and resilience.

Angelica Cardenas – Embodied Approaches for Social Change

What happens when we bring the body into the work of equity and justice? This workshop challenges the disconnect between mind and body that often shows up in education and activism. Participants will explore how systems and structures shape our physical experiences and how somatic awareness can become a powerful tool for personal and collective transformation. Through discussion and embodied practice, we’ll examine how reconnecting with the body supports resilience, nurtures deeper self-awareness, and strengthens our capacity to stay present in hard conversations. Come prepared to reflect and engage from the inside out.

Brandon Guidry – Presence Reimagined: Leveraging AI to Reclaim Human Connection in Schools

How might educators use technology not to distance, but to deepen human connection? This workshop introduces practical ways to integrate AI tools that reduce administrative burden and restore your capacity to be fully present with students. Participants will explore prompt engineering, automation strategies, and systems like Notion to streamline workflows and preserve institutional knowledge. By increasing efficiency without sacrificing accountability, school leaders and educators can reclaim time for what matters most—building trust, connection, and community. Reimagine presence not as a luxury, but as a renewed commitment made possible through intentional tech use.

David Smith – The Business Case for DEIB: Socioeconomic Diversity and the Future of Independent Schools

As independent schools face mounting financial pressures, how can they stay mission-driven while building inclusive, thriving communities? This workshop explores the intersection of financial strategy and belonging, specifically how schools can align budgets with values. We’ll examine innovative approaches to maximizing revenue, including fundraising and non-tuition income, while centering socioeconomic diversity. Participants will reflect on how every budget is a values statement and how resource allocation can support student access, faculty excellence, and community connection. Join us to reimagine financial sustainability not as a constraint, but as a catalyst for equity and purpose.

Gardy Guiteau – From Empathy to Compassion: On the Importance of Dialogic Processes to Inclusive Practice

In an era of deep polarization and growing resistance to inclusion efforts, it’s essential to return to the core of social justice: our shared humanity. This session explores the transformative potential of intergroup dialogue as both pedagogy and strategy. Participants will examine how dialogic frameworks can foster empathy, reduce harm, and build trust across differences. Drawing from theories of anti-oppressive education and dialogic organizational development, we’ll explore how to integrate dialogue into inclusive strategic planning. This workshop offers both grounding and guidance for those seeking to lead with courage, compassion, and clarity in today’s educational landscape.

Ivy Alphonse-Crean – Creating Just Community Partnerships in Independent Schools

Independent schools do not exist in isolation, they are part of a broader ecosystem. This workshop explores how schools can move beyond transactional outreach to build meaningful, mission-aligned community partnerships. Participants will examine the historical role of independent schools in their local contexts and reflect on how engagement efforts can foster belonging, sustainability, and mutual growth. Through discussion and case studies, we’ll consider how schools can authentically connect with their surrounding communities, support student and family involvement, and contribute to long-term strategic goals through inclusive and reciprocal partnerships.

Jacqueline Nelson, Window, Mirror, Door: The Ins and Outs of Equity & Inclusion for Families

How can families become active partners in creating inclusive school communities? Grounded in the “windows, mirrors, and doors” framework, this interactive session invites parents and caregivers to reflect on identity, perspective, and belonging. Participants will explore how DEIB practices impact school culture, gain tools to engage in meaningful conversations at home, and learn strategies to partner productively with educators. With a focus on empathy, fairness, and connection, this session provides practical ways for families to deepen understanding, build bridges across difference, and help ensure every student feels seen, valued, and supported.

Jaleesa Anselm, Seeing the Unseen: The Invisible Plight of Disabled BIPOC Women in Independent Schools

Historically, women have carried the burden of emotional and community support in schools. For BIPOC women with disabilities, this weight is even heavier, especially when their conditions are non-apparent and often dismissed. The stigma of being seen as “unable to balance it all” intensifies when they need to prioritize their health. This workshop, led by a BIPOC woman with non-apparent disabilities, explores what it means to advocate for yourself in environments where illness is invisible. Participants will learn how to center their well-being, push back against harmful assumptions, and foster authentic support for both colleagues and students.

Jan Abernathy – Stay Ready – Leadership During Change
In today’s world of Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, and Ambiguity (VUCA), school leaders are called to lead with both steadiness and adaptability. This workshop explores how to transform strategic thinking from a static plan into an active, daily practice. Participants will learn practical tools for balancing urgent operational demands with long-term vision, anchoring decisions in mission and values. Through discussion and reflection, we’ll explore how to build resilient leadership habits—and how to guide school communities with clarity, flexibility, and confidence, even when the path forward is uncertain.

Joanna Lovett – Partnering with Parents/Guardians: Communicating with Dignity, Clarity, and Empathy in Admissions and Beyond

Admissions is more than selection, it’s the beginning of a relationship. Whether navigating tough conversations about program fit, managing expectations, or addressing disappointment, school professionals are called to lead with empathy and clarity. This workshop offers practical tools for admissions teams, administrators, and faculty to approach family communication with professionalism, compassion, and care. Participants will explore strategies to build trust, maintain alignment with school values, and ensure that all families feel respected, heard, and supported during admissions and throughout their school journey.

Kelly Bird – Personal Well-Being as a Professional Strength

School leaders set the tone not just through policies, but through presence. This workshop invites leaders to reflect on how their own well-being shapes school culture and staff dynamics. Participants will explore practical strategies for building support networks, integrating self-care rituals, and cultivating emotional awareness. When leaders model balance and intentionality, they foster healthier, more sustainable habits within their teams. While challenges and conflict are inevitable, a grounded and supported leader is better equipped to navigate them with clarity and compassion. Prioritizing wellness isn’t optional, it’s foundational to leading thriving, connected school communities.

Megan Saxelby – Working With Adolescent Development to Build Cultures of Dignity

Belonging isn’t a reward, it’s a human need. This session blends the science of dignity with a fresh look at adolescence to help school communities build cultures where everyone feels seen, valued, and essential. We’ll explore how adult narratives shape belonging, how dignity violations disrupt it, and why adolescents have extraordinary potential to be culture-makers when the adults around them share a common language and approach. Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or school leader, you’ll leave with narrative-shifting tools, a dignity-based lens, and practical strategies to strengthen connection across roles and generations.

Mikki Murphy – Actualizing Inclusion: The Power of Affinity and Community Allyship

Many schools name inclusion as a core value, but how is it practiced, and who benefits? This workshop explores inclusion as a strategic imperative in diverse school communities. Participants will examine the institutional responsibility of fostering belonging and the essential role affinity spaces play in supporting student and adult well-being. Through Far Brook’s Affinity and Community Ally Groups framework, we’ll share how schools can create inclusive ecosystems that involve every community member from early childhood classrooms to administrative offices. Join us to explore how intentional structures can transform values into daily practice and build stronger, more connected school communities.

Naledi Semela – Words Matter: Using Identity-Conscious Language to Foster Belonging

Well-intentioned language can sometimes cause harm. Phrases like “regardless of race” or “no matter your religion” may aim for inclusivity, but often erase identity and lived experience. This interactive workshop supports K-12 educators in recognizing how everyday language impacts belonging. Participants will explore implicit bias, practice using identity-affirming alternatives, and engage in hands-on revision of real-world school communications. Together, we’ll reflect on how to align our words with our school values, ensuring that all students, families, and colleagues feel seen, respected, and fully included.

Noah Arhm Choi – It Takes Just One: How Educators Can Transform the Lives of LGBTQ+ Students

As anti-trans legislation continues to rise, educators play a critical role in creating safe, affirming environments for LGBTQ+ students. This workshop offers actionable strategies to strengthen gender-inclusive policies and protocols through a 360-degree lens spanning classrooms, communications, and institutional systems. Participants will gain tools to dispel harmful myths, reinforce their school’s commitment to gender equity, and navigate shifting legal landscapes, including recent Executive Orders. With a focus on both urgency and sustainability, this session equips educators to protect and empower trans and gender expansive students—now and for the future.

Shernice Lazare – Leading with Purpose: Aligning Mission and Inclusion at the Governance Level

Inclusion isn’t a standalone initiative, it’s a reflection of a school’s deepest values. This interactive workshop invites trustees and heads of school to explore how leadership decisions can authentically embody a school’s mission. Through real-world examples and focused discussion, participants will examine how governance, strategy, and culture intersect with equity and belonging. Together, we’ll identify actionable ways to ensure that inclusion is not just stated, but lived in boardrooms, classrooms, and every corner of school life.

STUDENT-FOCUSED SESSIONS

Alia Carponter-Walker – Courageous Curiosity and Making Your Voice Heard

Change starts with a question. Maybe you’ve noticed who gets left out, whose stories go untold, or something in your school that just doesn’t feel fair. This workshop is a space to name those moments, ask hard questions, and begin creating change. You’ll explore how courageous curiosity can uncover inequities—like who gets disciplined or who’s in the curriculum—and use journaling and small group work to develop a personal action plan. Whether you want to raise your voice, launch a project, or start a conversation, this session will help you lead with purpose, confidence, and care

Derek Lipscomb – Passive or Direct- How to Navigate Dialogue Through Difference

In every moment of tension, we choose our approach – go with the flow or confront directly. This dynamic session explores the complexities of engaging across differences, offering a candid look at the pros and pitfalls of both strategies. Students will examine how power dynamics, whether institutional or social, shape our decisions in conflict, from staff meetings to peer conversations. Through interactive discussion, we’ll explore what it means to strike a balance between harmony and accountability, and how to cultivate dialogue that is both brave and community-centered.

Elizabeth Rosner – Shared Legacies of Trauma and Resilience

The more we learn about how trauma is passed through generations, the more we understand the need for empathy across lines of identity, history, and culture. In this powerful session, author and daughter of Holocaust survivors Elizabeth Rosner guides participants through conversations about trauma that we may inherit, our resilience, and how to grow beyond it all. Drawing on a lifetime of research and inquiry, Rosner offers a framework for cultivating individual and collective awareness—navigating the complexities of memory, ideology, and healing. This workshop invites deep reflection and dialogue at the intersection of personal story and shared history.

Jennifer Vermont-Davis – Making Things Right: Healing and Growing After Conflict

Conflict is inevitable—but so is the opportunity to heal. In this interactive workshop, students will explore what it means to take responsibility, rebuild trust, and repair relationships when harm occurs. Grounded in restorative practices, the session offers tools for navigating personal and group dynamics with empathy and clarity. Through reflection and dialogue, we’ll examine how accountability can serve as a bridge to healing, rather than punishment. Whether addressing everyday tensions or deeper rifts, students will leave with practical strategies to foster stronger, more resilient communities where conflict becomes a path to growth.

Marsha Elliott – My Story, Your Story: Exploring Identity Through Narrative

What’s a story you wish others knew about you? Inspired by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s The Danger of a Single Story, this workshop invites high school students to explore how stories shape how we see ourselves—and how others see us. In a world that often relies on labels or assumptions, this session is a chance to share your story, listen to others, and build understanding. You’ll reflect on your identity, what you want people to know about you, and how storytelling can lead to empathy, real dialogue, and stronger, more connected communities.

Mia Burton – Lead with Purpose: Building a Joyful & Resilient Path to Justice

You care about making change and this workshop is here to help you do it with heart and intention. Designed for students, this interactive session explores how activism can be both impactful and sustainable. You’ll learn to balance strategy with self-care, stay grounded in your values, and face challenges with resilience and hope. Together, we’ll build a mindset rooted in progress, not perfection, and connect with peers who share your passion for justice. Leave with a personalized action plan and the tools to lead with strength, clarity, and joy. Your voice matters—and the future needs it.

Pierangelo Rossi – One School, Many Spaces

Every school is a constellation of communities woven together by shared purpose, yet shaped by diverse lived experiences. This workshop invites students to reflect on how schools can care for the collective while also honoring the need for cultural affinity spaces. Together, we’ll explore how naming, protecting, and celebrating identity-based groups strengthens belonging for all. Participants will gain strategies to support both individual and communal identity development, create and sustain affinity spaces, and seek the support needed to do this work well. Join us to consider how holding many communities can deepen connection and nourish your school’s mission.

Please take a look at the exciting sessions by our Sponsors.

Jaleesa Anselm, Ed.D., is a DEI practitioner, researcher, and advocate with 15 years of experience in independent schools. She supports students in affirming their identities and advocating for themselves, and partners with schools and organizations to build cultural competency and address barriers to equity and structural change.

Angelica Cardenas is a licensed mental health professional specializing in trauma-informed, culturally responsive counseling and consultation. With experience across sectors, she promotes equity and healing justice, centering the historical, cultural, and systemic contexts of wellbeing. Her work highlights the deep connection between personal healing and collective transformation.

Marsha Elliott is Director of Equity and Inclusion at St. Stephen’s Episcopal School in Austin, Texas, with over 20 years in independent schools. A senior leader and educator, she is committed to culturally responsive teaching, inclusive community building, and equity-focused programming for students and adults across school communities.

Shernice Lazare is Head of DEIB, People & HR for a large LA school network. A Fulbright recipient, she’s led inclusive education for nearly 30 years as a teacher, coach, and founding director. Shernice designs and facilitates equity-driven programs for educators, families, and leaders nationwide.

Ali Michael is a nationally recognized speaker, writer, and educator. She co-authored Our Problem, Our Path and wrote Raising Race Questions, an award-winning book. Ali also co-edited Guide for White Women who Teach Black Boys, and teaches in Princeton’s Diversity and Inclusion Program. More at alimichael.org.

Elizabeth Rosner is an award-winning author and teacher whose work explores trauma, memory, and listening. Her books, including SURVIVOR CAFÉ and THIRD EAR, have received international acclaim. Elizabeth leads writing workshops and lectures worldwide, sharing stories that promote healing, empathy, and resilience through storytelling and deep listening. ​Watch Elizabeth discuss her workshop here!

Naledi Sean Semela is Chief Equitable Practices Officer at The Browning School and founder of Naledi Strategies, LLC. A consultant and coach, he supports schools in building equity-centered practices, guided by the philosophy of ubuntu. Naledi is a trustee, former NYSAIS committee member, and lives in NJ with his family.