Women + Leadership (Northern California)
Feb 06, 2026 9:00AM—3:30PM
Location
Edge & Node House of Web3, Presidio, San Francisco
Cost Early Bird Pricing for Members (available until Jan 16) $525 members; $445 group-rate 3+; $825 non-members
Categories Conference, In-Person, Intensive, Leadership
Women + Leadership (Northern California)
Cultivating Our Collective Wisdom
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
Join the California Teacher Development Collaborative for our 16th annual Women + Leadership Conference! This powerful event brings together women educators from our member schools to celebrate our journeys and strengthen our individual and collective impact. We will gather on February 6, 2026 in San Francisco at Edge & Node House of Web3.
This year’s theme, Cultivating Our Collective Wisdom, invites us to reflect on and share the knowledge, strength, and insight we hold as women, and as leaders. Designed by a planning committee of inspiring women from across our member schools, the day will be filled with opportunities to connect, reflect, and grow together. Through interactive activities and story telling, we will explore ways to honor and celebrate the spiritual, practical and communal wisdom we carry and lead from as women.
Featured Activities:
- Engage in interactive sessions that spark connection and build new leadership skills
- Participate in facilitated conversations that draw from the wisdom in the room
- Hear from a dynamic panel of women leading change across California independent schools
- Take time for reflection, restoration, and meaningful conversation
- Conclude the day with a hosted happy hour at 3:30 PM, continuing our dialogue and deepening connections
Come celebrate, recharge, and cultivate the collective wisdom that sustains and strengthens us as women, educators, and leaders.
INTENDED AUDIENCE
Women + Leadership is an affinity space that is welcoming and respectful of women of all backgrounds, including trans women, nonbinary, and gender non-conforming individuals who are comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women. We recognize and acknowledge the intersection of race and gender identities, and it is our hope that we can offer an inclusive and intentional space that challenges white supremacy and celebrates the uniqueness, experiences, and contributions of each participant.
PROGRAM DEVELOPER
LAUREN BENJAMIN
Lauren Benjamin has cultivated a thriving career as a multidisciplinary artist and educator for over 20 years. Lauren earned her BFA in painting and photography and holds a Master’s in Education. She is an alum of dance epicenter Jacob’s Pillow and CATDC’s Leadership Fellows. She worked as a supervisor to student teachers at Mills College Graduate School of Education, where she was able to mentor and coach new teachers as well as experienced professionals new to the field of education. Lauren believes in sharing the power of identity development through the lens of the arts and has published her curriculum with Frameline Organization and presented at educational conferences, including conferences held by the Center for the Advancement and Study of International Education (CASIE) and Project Zero of Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. During Lauren's eight-year tenure at Sacred Heart Schools Atherton, she held multiple roles including Dance Program Director and Fine Arts Department Chair. Her most recent position was Assistant Principal of Mission & Culture, where she centered belonging in the school’s adult onboarding and school-wide student programs. In 2023, Lauren joined the CATDC team as the Northern California Director, bringing her extensive experience in education and leadership to facilitate professional growth and collaboration among teachers in the region. She identifies as a love practitioner who aims to build community through her teaching practice and leadership.
GUEST MODERATOR
TESHA POE
Tesha has spent over a decade working as a senior administrator in Independent Schools in the Bay Area. In this capacity Tesha has partnered with leadership teams to set and implement innovative educational strategies and provide growing revenue streams through admissions and fundraising K-12. She’s also helped raise over $100M, including direct solicitations of 6 and 7 figures. She served as the Chief Development Officer for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula and as the Chief Advancement Officer for Castilleja School in Palo Alto, California, where she helped to lead the largest campaign in the school's history. Formerly she served as Associate Head of School for Hillbrook School in Los Gatos, California where she later returned to serve as a trustee. Tesha currently serves as a Trustee for Prospect Sierra School in El Cerrito, California, EatReal Certified in San Francisco, Challenge Success, and is the Board Chair for the Mariposa Foundation DR based in the Dominican Republic. Most recently, she served as Interim Head of School at the Girls’ Middle School in Palo Alto, California. An accomplished speaker and thought leader, she has captivated audiences nationwide with her presentations at prestigious conferences, shared her fundraising and business expertise on numerous podcasts, delivered inspiring TEDx talks, and co-authored the transformative book Beyond Widow.
PANELISTS
ANGELA TAYLOR
Angela Taylor is a veteran independent school leader and progressive educator whose three decades in TK–8 education reflect a deep commitment to equity, joyful learning, and the transformational power of school communities. Since 2020, she has served as Head of School at Park Day School in Oakland, California, where she leads with clarity, compassion, and a relational approach grounded in mission and social justice. Her leadership has guided the school through significant program growth, strategic campus planning, and meaningful community-building during one of the most complex eras in education. Angela began her career as a Pre-K teacher and went on to teach across multiple grade levels in Atlanta, Oakland, and Boston before stepping into senior leadership. She spent twenty years at Convent & Stuart Hall in San Francisco, ultimately serving as Head of the Convent Elementary School and previously as Interim Head and Lower School Head at Stuart Hall for Boys. Across these roles, she became known for cultivating faculty excellence, building trust with families, and championing student-centered, inquiry-driven learning environments that honor identity, belonging, and voice. A graduate of Spelman College with a B.A. in Child Development and the University of Massachusetts Boston with an M.A. in Educational Administration, Angela has long been an advocate for anti-bias education, the focus of her graduate thesis. She is a frequent presenter on leadership, equity, and progressive pedagogy, and was an active and proud board member of CATDC. Widely recognized for her collaborative leadership style and her commitment to developing courageous, compassionate young people, Angela brings to her work a powerful blend of warmth, wisdom, and vision for what schools can make possible
CHERYL TING
Cheryl Ting is the Head of School at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland, California, where she has served since 2020. A transformational and human-centered leader, Cheryl brings nearly 30 years of experience in independent schools, having previously served as classroom teacher, department chair, dean, DEI coordinator, admissions director, and assistant head of school. She serves on the Board and Executive Committee of the California Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) and on the Board of the Asian Educators Alliance (AsEA), and she has previously served on the boards of CATDC, Maybeck High School, and The Wesley School. A frequent presenter and facilitator, Cheryl leads professional learning on equity, belonging, leadership, and community engagement. She is the mother of two amazing humans—Maia, a musical artist, and Dylan, an artist and architect. Cheryl loves to cook, read, travel, listen to music, swim in rivers and lakes, work on a camper van conversion with her partner, Cameron, and spend time with fur babies, extended family, and friends.
JULIE GALLES
Julie Galles (she/her) started her career in education over 30 years ago. After earning both a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and a Master’s Degree in Education from Stanford University, her career began as a middle school science teacher in Los Angeles and the San Francisco Bay Area. After 15 years in the classroom, she moved into independent school administration and has served as Assistant Head and Head of School at multiple institutions. She and her wife, Megan, are the founders of Chrysalis Academy, a school designed for queer, trans, and nonbinary students, and Chrysalis Educational Consulting, through which they work with schools on gender inclusion practices. Julie has two grown children and lives in the LA Area with Megan and their two dogs, Nilla and Doodle.
LISA HANEY
A lifelong educator of youth and adults, Lisa Haney believes deeply in the transformative power of education. She began her career focused on international and multicultural education, teaching in Japan, Mexico and Martinique before landing at the Athenian School in Danville, California. In her 25 years at Athenian she served in many roles, including international program director, literature teacher, and humanities department chair, before becoming dean of faculty development and a member of the leadership team. Beyond Athenian, Lisa has engaged in teacher education through UC Berkeley Extension, as well as the Berkeley and San Francisco Unified School Districts, and was selected for a year-long fellowship by the US State Department to support teacher development in Tanzania. Lisa holds a B.A. in English from the University of California, Berkeley and a M.A.T. from the School for International Training, Vermont. She is board chair at the Berkeley School and an enrolled student in a Masters/PhD program in community psychology at Pacifica Graduate Institute.
PANKTI SEVAK
Pankti Sevak is the Head of School at San Francisco Friends School. She has worked in schools for almost three decades, most recently serving as both the Middle School Head and Dean of the Faculty at Friends Seminary, a K–12 Quaker school with a 200-year history in New York City. Until her recent move to the West Coast, Pankti also served as a faculty member and director for the Divisional Leadership Institute of the New York State Association of Independent Schools.
MEREDITH HERRERA
Meredith Herrera is a nationally sought-after certified executive coach and Board-Certified Coach with nearly 20 years of senior leadership experience, partnering with schools and mission-driven organizations across the country. She specializes in supporting historically marginalized leaders—including women, BIPOC, and neurodivergent leaders—helping them navigate complexity with clarity, confidence, and authenticity. With a coaching style defined by warmth, candor, and grounded strategy, Meredith creates spaces where leaders feel seen, supported, and empowered to lead in ways that are sustainable and deeply aligned with their values.
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
LIZ DAVIS
Liz B. Davis, Ed.D., is a longtime independent-school educator and leader whose work centers on building vibrant, inclusive learning communities where students and teachers flourish. Over her 20+ year career, she has served as Head of Middle School, Assistant Head of School, Director of Curriculum, and Academic Technology Director, helping schools strengthen their programs through thoughtful leadership, collaboration, and innovation. She has guided major initiatives in schedule redesign, STEAM integration, student well-being, DEIB, and accreditation, always with an eye toward what supports teachers and unlocks student potential. She now works at the intersection of school leadership and consulting, supporting families and schools in admissions coaching, strategic planning, and school improvement.
ALEXA HART
Alexa is a committed educator with classroom expertise ranging from teaching third grade in Peru to high school Literature at a Jewish day school in Vancouver, BC. As a school leader, Alexa has supported various international endeavors such as Reclaim Childhood, Boundless Life’s pioneer middle school program, Trailblazers, and American Councils for International Education in Washington, DC. Alexa currently teaches at The Nueva School in the Bay Area, where she was named Distinguished Educator as an Upper School faculty member. When not teaching, she enjoys reading, traveling, and watching her family grow and learn.
JACQUELINE KURZER
A native San Franciscan, Jacqueline Kurzer has committed her professional life to educational equity and access for children. Since graduating from Barnard, she has worked for both schools and nonprofits including: Cathedral School for Boys (Director of Lower School), Marin Horizon School (Director of Enrollment Management), Alta Vista School (Dean of Students), San Francisco University High School (math teacher), Breakthrough Summerbridge (Associate Director of Academics), Aim High (master teacher and academic coach), The Ivy Key, Jumpstart for Young Children, and America Reads. She has presented 25+ trainings and seminars on curriculum design, student support and cultural competency at Columbia University, Drew School, Aim High, Breakthrough Collaborative, at the NAIS People of Color Conference and the National Enrollment Management Association Annual Conference. Currently she is the Director of Institutional Impact at San Francisco Day School. She lives in Marin County with her loving family, son Theodore and husband Harrison!
MAGGIE KARLSON
Maggie Karlson is an experienced independent school educator with a background in elementary teaching and leadership. She taught third grade at Mount Tamalpais School (MTS) in Mill Valley, and previously worked at The Hamlin School in San Francisco and the Shady Hill School in Boston. During her time at MTS, she served on hiring committees, the DEI Committee, the Professional Community Care Committee, and co-led the Empowering Young Women group. Maggie has also supported the planning of the California Teacher Development Collaborative’s annual Women and Leadership Conference for the past three years. She recently earned a Master’s degree in Independent School Leadership from Vanderbilt University, where her graduate research focused on faculty evaluation and feedback systems to promote professional growth. Maggie believes education is most powerful when it inspires action and is especially energized by collaborative work that elevates storytelling, drives innovation, and builds meaningful community impact.
TANVEER ALIBHAI
Tanveer has worked in education for over 25 years in diverse roles, including school administrator, teacher, parent educator, and consultant. She holds a B.Ed. and a B.S. in elementary education from McGill University, an M.Ed. from Notre Dame de Namur University in California, and a certificate in Pedagogical Coordination in the Reggio Emilia Approach from Webster University. She began her teaching career, working in elementary schools across Canada and the U.S as a classroom teacher. Her leadership roles include Head of Lower School, Head of Early Childhood Education, and Director of Extended Day at The Seven Hills School in Walnut Creek, as well as Head of Lower School at St. Paul’s Episcopal School in Oakland. Currently, she serves as the Head of Lower School at Black Pine Circle School in Berkeley. As a consultant, Tanveer has supported schools locally and abroad through teacher and leadership coaching, professional development, parent education, and K–8 distance learning design, inquiry learning, values-based leadership, and more. Her Bay Area consulting partners include Prospect Sierra, Bentley School, Marin Preparatory School, Imagination Lab School, The San Francisco School and Presidio Hill. Tanveer has served on the boards of People of Color in Independent Schools, Pact, An Adoption Alliance, and the Bay Area Teacher Training Institute (BATTI). Born in Nairobi and raised in Canada, she now lives in the East Bay with her family, including her husband, son, daughter and dog. Deeply committed to equity, inclusion, and grounded in the needs of the best interests of children, she also enjoys reading, painting, photography, gardening, yoga, biking, spending time in nature and international travel, and time with her family.
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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.