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Dear PAIS Community,
August has a particular quality to it — the year hasn't started, but it's right around the corner. With its summer heat, it is full of hope for what is to come. This, after all, is a particular child’s only freshman year…or kindergarten year..or… It might be one more year in our long tenure, but for a student this year is not a dress rehearsal and has no do-over. It makes what we do matter more than other industries.
PAIS begins this year with our own sense of hope: five strategic imperatives, built from the work we did together at the annual meeting and synthesized by the board and staff. That work was led by Tekakwitha Pernambuco-Wise, who began her service to the Association as Board Chair in July. We are grateful to her.
You'll see these imperatives in everything we do this year, especially in our programs, which have been shaped intentionally by what we've learned from being in your schools.
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There are events not to miss. Elevate Learning in Pittsburgh, for teachers and academic leaders. The Convening at The Hershey Resort, for Heads and CFOs. Both are built so you leave with practical resources you can use.
You'll also hear a good deal about advocacy, which is less dramatic than it sounds. It means getting to know our representatives, learning what they care about, and telling the independent school story clearly and often enough that it's familiar to them. Luke Hladek has joined us to lead that storytelling and to help you tell yours to your parents and your donors. Welcome, Luke.
My wish for you this year is an unhurried one. That somewhere in the middle of a full September day, you find yourself standing in a doorway watching something go well that you had nothing to do with — a class, a conversation, a kindness between students — and that you let yourself stay there a minute longer than you should.
| Liz Hofreuter, Executive Director | |
| | This graphic highlights PAIS's strategic imperatives—
the framework guiding our work throughout the year. | | ACCREDITATION | Jay Harvey | | "Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning." - Benjamin Franklin
To be effective, accreditation must be a process of constant reflection and growth. This year PAIS has the opportunity to participate in accreditation not only as the accrediting body for 11 member schools but also as the participant in its own accreditation review by the International Council Advancing Independent School Accreditation (ICAISA). Members of the staff will be drafting a Self Study and then members across the Association will participate in a modified visit to assess our strengths and give us valuable feedback to be leveraged for growth. We have major recommendations from a 2021 visit to update and a vision for our future to address. | | | |
We look forward with great anticipation to this experience of being on the other side of transformative accreditation work.
PAIS welcomes the opportunity to partner with these schools as they undergo their full scale accreditation visits during the 2026-27 school year:
Center School
Friends School Haverford
Germantown Academy
Holy Ghost Preparatory School
Kohelet Yeshiva
Malvern Preparatory School
Miquon School
St. James School
State College Friends School
West Chester Friends School
YSC Academy
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PAIS strongly believes our schools are stronger when connected. Prioritize connecting with peers in other PAIS schools:
Circle of Peers Roundtables: Designed to gather our members with shared roles, roundtables are great ways to discuss topics important to you in your role. PAIS is offering roundtables for 10+ roles for no additional charge to our members.
Roundtables: Admissions, Advancement, Auxiliary Programming, Counselors, Early Childhood/Lower School Directors, Ed Tech, Learning Specialists, Middle School Directors, School Nurses, School Security, Upper School Directors
Registration and more details coming in mid-August.
PGVs: Professional Growth Visits are designed to build a cross-school community of peers and resources, affirm your school’s processes and programs, and experience professional learning in a community.
October 22: Delaware Valley Friends School & Holy Ghost Preparatory School
November 5: Gwynedd Mercy Academy High School
March 10: Germantown Friends School & Linden Hall School
April 21: AIM Academy & Scranton Preparatory School
Registration and more details coming in mid-August.
Listservs: Listservs are a great way to connect with colleagues through email. Ask questions, share resources, exchange ideas, and offer advice and support. More than 15 listservs are available to foster connection and collaboration across our member schools. Learn more and join a listserv here.
| | WELCOME LUKE HLADEK | PAIS Director of Learning & Innovation | | Luke is a storyteller at heart whose 15-year career in education has taken him from the science classroom to advancement and marketing leadership. Throughout each role, he has been driven by a passion for helping people connect through meaningful stories, amplifying new voices, and creating opportunities for growth and collaboration. He believes that innovation begins with curiosity and a willingness to challenge traditional thinking, and he is committed to fostering learning experiences that inspire educators, strengthen school communities, and encourage fresh perspectives. | | | Guided by our strategic imperatives, programming intentionally is responsive to the needs as identified in the PAIS accreditation process, and it remains relevant to the latest trends in education and supports our teachers and leaders. Three areas of programming to highlight are outlined below. | | |
TEACHING & LEARNING
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The Teaching & Learning Series includes 10 virtual programs led by expert presenters on topics that matter most to educators. A school subscription provides access for all teachers and staff at a tiered rate based on school size.
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The annual Elevate Learning Conference returns October 19 in Pittsburgh, featuring keynote speakers, interactive workshops, and networking opportunities. This year's three tracks are AI in Education, Learning Differences in Our Classrooms, and The Science and Design of Student Engagement. Submit a workshop proposal here (closes August 25).
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STUDENT PROGRAMMING
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PAIS values creating opportunities for students to connect. RISE, our Middle School Student Leadership Summit, will be held October 7 at The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr. The program brings together 7th and 8th grade students, along with their teachers and advisors, for a day of leadership development. Submit a workshop proposal here (closes August 31) and mark your calendar.
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Learn more about ALL of our upcoming professional learning
opportunities by visiting the PAIS UPCOMING PROGRAMS page. | | October 7
RISE: Middle School Student Leadership Summit
(in person at The Shipley School, Bryn Mawr)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR | | |
October 8
Forward Together: A Symposium of Women School Leaders
(in person at The Baldwin School, Bryn Mawr)
REGISTRATION OPEN
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October 18 & 19
Elevate Learning Conference (in person at Carlow University, Pittsburgh)
Registration opens soon
REGISTRATION OPEN
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November 9 & 10
Every School Schedule Tells a Story
(in person at Tower Hill School, Wilmington)
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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December 13 & 14
Heads and CFOs’ Convening
(in person in Hershey)
A collaboration with PAISBOA
MARK YOUR CALENDAR
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