Concrete Strategies for Improving School Culture for Students, Faculty/Staff, and Parents

Jan 20, 2026 3:30PM—Mar 10, 2026 5:30PM

Location

Virtual

Cost Early Bird Pricing for Members (Available until December 31) $685 members; $575 group-rate 3+; $1,105 non-members

Categories , , ,

Register

Concrete Strategies for Improving School Culture for Students, Faculty/Staff, and Parents

PART 1: January 20, 2026 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm

PART 2: February 10, 2026 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm

PART 3: March 10, 2026 | 3:30pm - 5:30pm

REGISTER NOW
Beyond California Educator

Do you work at an independent school outside of California? Click here for a discount on our non-member registration!

ABOUT THIS VIRTUAL WORKSHOP SERIES

This three-part virtual intensive series focuses on seemingly small but strategic maneuvers to move the needle on the three main culture-keeping groups in our institutions: students, faculty and staff, and parents/guardians. Ideal participants are school leaders who are on the ground and invested in making their communities stronger and more aligned with the mission and vision of the school, not just in theory, but in the day-to-day operations.

The result? More partnership and collaboration, and an increase in trust and goodwill across the community. Positive culture change that is people-centered ultimately reduces workload and increases joy, leading to fewer emotionally tangled email threads, less charged parent/guardian conversations regarding discipline and boundaries, and a greater understanding between faculty and staff, parents, and students overall.

Sign up for all three sessions to weave and identify connections across all three aspects of school culture and community, or choose the session(s) that most directly touch your spheres of influence.

  • Session 1: Engaging student leaders as community & culture creators/holders

  • Session 2: Addressing faculty and staff engagement outside of the classroom

  • Session 3: Parent/guardian community building to drive a culture of partnership

LEARNING GOALS

Participants will:

  • Explore how students, parents/guardians and faculty and staff create, steer, and uphold culture
  • Understand how to leverage coalitions and teams to create meaningful engagement opportunities where culture is co-created across community members
  • Generate ideas to leverage pattern interruption for cultural change, practice alternative communication pathways to foster trust, and restructure feedback loops to collaborate and partner across community members

AUDIENCE

Session 1: Student Culture
Class deans, Advisors, DEI Directors, Deans of Students, Division Heads, Asst. and Associate Heads, Athletic Directors (student-facing positions in and outside of the classroom).

Session 2: Faculty and Staff Culture
Heads of School, Deans of Faculty, Division Heads, Asst. and Associate Heads, Department Chairs (anyone with a role that impacts the experience of faculty and staff, or manages faculty or staff).

Session 3: Parent/Guardian Culture
Advancement and Development teams, parent facing administrators, administrators providing parent education, Division Heads, Asst. and Associate Heads, Athletic Directors (anyone who is engaging with parents on behalf of the school).

PRICING INFO: ATTEND ONE, TWO, OR ALL THREE SESSIONS

ABOUT THE FACILITATOR

Dorothy Kowal, CATDC Facilitator

Dorothy Kowal is an accomplished educational consultant and leadership coach with over a decade of experience leading cultural change and enhancing all areas of school life in highly relational academic environments. Most recently, she served as the Head of Upper School at Crystal Springs Uplands School where she excelled in human-centered management and strategic culture change, while fostering healthy community culture. With a background as a licensed psychotherapist (MFT) and previous roles as Director of College Counseling and DEI Director at Sonoma Academy and Director of College Counseling at Woodside Priory School, Dorothy brings a unique values-based, wellness-centered, and growth-oriented approach to her leadership, emphasizing student well-being, impactful communication during crises, and developing multiple pathways to success.

Cancellation Policy

Life happens. We understand that there will be times when you cannot attend a workshop that you have registered and paid for. We strive to be as helpful and flexible as possible when things out of your control happen. Please visit our FAQ page for detailed information about our cancellation policy and answers to frequently asked questions about enrollment and membership.