The early years are critical for building the foundational reading and writing skills that set students up for long-term academic success. Facilitated by Rebecca Bellingham and Veronica Scott, authors of The Artful Approach to Exploring Identity and Fostering Belonging, and The Artful Read Aloud, this interactive experience highlights how purposeful play activities, storytelling, community poems, expressive movement, and “artful read-alouds” can bring early literacy to life—honoring children’s identities, amplifying their voices, and fostering the belonging that underpins joyful learning and academic excellence.

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 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.