December 2025

Welcome to Signals, the SAIS monthly newsletter designed to equip you and empower you with timely information to generate new ideas, design strategy, and support purpose-driven plans.

Filtered through your mission, vision, and values, Dr. Brett Jacobsen, president of SAIS, provides a monthly Trend Tracker on the drivers and signals impacting the education sector. In the December edition, he highlights worklife ROI, whole learner, AI integration, learning pathways, and market perceptions. Additionally, he provides real-time perspectives from voices in our association through Pulse Perspectives. This month’s feedback is from SAIS curriculum professionals.

SAIS Motivation and Engagement Survey for Faculty and Students


Understand what drives your teachers and what keeps them at your school. The SAIS Faculty Motivation and Engagement Survey gathers direct feedback from educators about workplace culture, well-being, and the factors that shape their professional experience at your school.


Additionally, the SAIS Student Motivation and Engagement Survey for grades 9-12 gathers feedback from students to help schools understand directly from their perspective what students need to feel a sense of choice, belonging, and success.

Independent School Brand Summit: Where Communications, Marketing, Enrollment, and Advancement Converge


The Independent School Brand Summit, to be held February 11-12, in Chattanooga, TN, is the premier gathering designed for brand strategists, marketing and communication professionals, fundraisers, and enrollment management leaders in independent schools.


Pick your path—or create your own. With five unique learning journeys, dive into one theme or jump between sessions to explore. 


  • Brand & Recruitment 
  • Brand Positioning & Engagement 
  • Brand & Messaging
  • Brand & Development
  • Brand & Strategy 


With keynotes from Mike Flanagan, E3n, and Moira Vetter, Modo Modo Agency, this gathering is a must for practitioners to explore the evolving landscape of school branding, storytelling, and strategic positioning in an increasingly competitive market.

Upcoming Events


High Potential: Developing High-Performing Leadership Teams, December 11, 4:15 PM EST


AI & Assistive Technology in the Classroom, January 8, 12:00 PM EST


Beyond Burnout: Creating Cultures of Connection & Care, January 15, 12:00 PM EST


Blueprint Sprint, January 26-27, Nashville; March 16-17, Orlando; April 20-21, Charleston


Academic Support & Student Well-Being Conference, February 8-10, Chattanooga


TransformEd.: Teaching & Learning Conference, February 10-11, Chattanooga


Designing Inclusion: A Mission-Centered Institute, February 11-12, Chattanooga

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