Leadership

Born out of the powerful conversations and reflection at the CATDC Women + Leadership Conference, Women Rising creates an intentional space for women leaders to pause, reflect, and grow together. Beginning with a retreat grounded in nature and community, and continuing with a combination of in-person and virtual convening, participants will explore the inner work of leadership while strengthening the tools needed to lead schools, teams, and communities with confidence and authenticity.

This 5-session program will help educators develop practical financial and risk management skills necessary for leadership roles in K12 schools, both day schools and boarding schools. Moving beyond the theoretical and foundational principles of finance, we will ground our work together in the practical tools that educators and schools can use to understand trends, articulate current and potential economic challenges, and develop strategic and action-oriented approaches to sound financial management and financial sustainability.

Grounded in Liza Talusan’s The Identity-Conscious Educator, this ongoing book group invites independent school educators into structured, reflective, and actionable exploration of identity and its impact on professional practice. It approaches identity as formative and centers educator growth as a pathway to belonging and culture shift in independent schools.

This year-long fellowship for experienced educators from throughout California supports the unique demands of independent school leaders—the only program of its kind in California!

This 5-session series focuses on the unique role and responsibilities of educators who support classroom teachers directly and indirectly from positions outside of senior administration. These professionals inside schools—curriculum coordinators, learning specialists, instructional coaches, assistant teacher program directors, and others—who inhabit the space between classroom teachers and administrators often work within this context and without the power to change the overarching systems.

This semi-annual retreat series provides a dedicated environment for school counselors to engage in deep-dive clinical reflection and peer consultation. Participants will have an opportunity to address the core psychological and ethical complexities of the field.

This program will provide new and aspiring leaders with tools and strategies to transition successfully into a leadership role. Throughout this program, participants will also have the opportunity to discuss the dynamics, challenges, and opportunities unique to their roles and schools. Participants will engage in focused conversations around navigating colleague dynamics, becoming a supervisor, prioritizing tasks, and engaging in effective communication strategies.

This ongoing program will provide new leaders and educators growing into leadership roles with the tools and strategies to lead more successfully. With a focus on fostering our own personal growth as well as furthering our responsibility for the growth and development of others, participants will identify and hone the skills and habits of effective leaders, including locating one’s authentic leadership style, leveraging position within an institution, fostering high functioning teams, making informed decisions, navigating change and conflict, and creating and maintaining inclusive school environments in predominantly white institutions.

Explore how identity shapes the way we make decisions individually and collectively. Participants will learn a framework for identity-conscious decision making and practice applying it to challenging situations.

This three-part series equips leaders with practical coaching strategies and sustainable feedback systems that strengthen both educator practice and school culture. Grounded in research on adult learning, psychological safety, and relational leadership, participants will learn how to navigate challenging conversations with confidence, deliver feedback that inspires growth rather than defensiveness, and cultivate environments where educators feel supported, challenged, and empowered to continuously improve.

Strengthen your independent school’s approach to hiring, onboarding, and retention in a changing employment landscape. Participants will gain practical tools for attracting mission-aligned candidates, designing equitable interview processes, and creating onboarding experiences that build belonging and help new colleagues succeed.

This hybrid ongoing program offers a space for coaches and mentors to evolve their current skills and build community with coaching colleagues. Seasoned coaches will facilitate as you add to your toolkit, refine strategies you can apply immediately, and will differentiate experiences for novice and experienced coaches.