June 20-22, 2023 ♦ The Tides Inn, Irvington
Navigating the Tides of Leading & Learning

Join your colleagues to celebrate VAIS’ 50th! Enjoy a refreshing respite in the Northern Neck with time to collaborate, grow, and strategize. Anticipate engaging Professional Learning where we will shape our thinking with national experts and plenty of time to relax and refresh with your VAIS colleagues. 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: 
 Navigating the Tides Creatively: Developing a Curious and Creative Mindset In a Post-covid World, Antonio Viva, Executive Director, Artisans Asylum
The challenges of working together and finding joy in our work have become increasingly more challenging. Artists and designers are uniquely equipped with the skills and mindsets needed to adapt and flex when opportunity knocks. Building curious, forward-thinking, design-focused, and creative team structures will become increasingly more important as we explore the future of education. After the keynote presentation, groups will engage in a futurist mindset exercise. Building on the work of Jane McGoniga we can begin to see how we need to approach our work in new ways. Groups will imagine school in ten years using a futurist thinking mindset.
Antonio Viva is an educator, researcher, artist, leader, and executive coach. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Artisans Asylum, one of the oldest, largest, and most vibrant maker spaces in the country. Artisans members – artists, hackers, hobbyists, engineers, designers, performers – create awe-inspiring works that produce wonder and joy. For the past twelve years, he has served as the Head of School at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, one of the top independent arts high schools in the country. During his tenure, he transformed programs and expanded artistic facilities, including the creation of a Writing, Film, and Media Arts department, the design, funding, and construction of the Delbridge Family Center for the Arts, and most recently, The Boston Ballet School Professional Division at Walnut Hill, the nation’s premier all-inclusive professional ballet academy. Prior to leading Walnut Hill, Antonio was the Associate Head of School and Chief Information Officer at Worcester Academy in Worcester, MA.

Opening Remarks: 

Tim Hightower, Episcopal High School Graduate, Director of Alumni Relations for the Washington Commanders, Former Pro Football Player, Author 

 A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different  Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage, Tim Elmore, Best-selling Author & International Speaker
Dr. Tim Elmore is founder and CEO of Growing Leaders, an Atlanta‐based non‐profit organization created to develop emerging leaders. His work grew out of 20 years serving alongside Dr. John C. Maxwell. Elmore has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, USA Today, Psychology Today and he’s been featured on CNN’s Headline News and Fox and Friends to talk about leading multiple generations in the marketplace. He has written over 35 books, including Habitudes: Images That Form Leadership Habits and Attitudes, and his latest, A New Kind of Diversity: Making the Different Generations on Your Team a Competitive Advantage. 

EXPLORE ACTIVITIES/RECESS FOR GROWN UPS:
Painting - Photography - Golf - Bourbon Tasting - Yoga - Kayaking - Mocktail Mixology - Apiary Experience - Nature Trails - Coastal Ecology - Bikes + More!

TENTATIVE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE:

WHEN
Tuesday, June 20 (starts 4:00 PM) - Thursday, June 22, 2023 (ends 12:00 PM)

LOCATION:
The Tides Inn                      
480 King Carter Drive
Irvington, VA 22480
804-438-5000

Overnight Rooms:  The Tides Inn room block is now full. Please contact Joan Fargis  for other suggestions in the area.

REGISTRATION:
Registration is for VAIS Member School Heads and their spouse/significant other only.

 
A Special Note to Spouses/Significant Others of School Heads:
Spouses/Significant Others are welcome to attend all sessions and meals as listed in the program as part of their conference registration package for $375. 

Registration deadline is Monday, May 22, 2023. No refunds will be issued after that date. (See Cancellation Policy)

REGISTRATION for HEADS OF SCHOOL CONFERENCE IS NOW CLOSED

THANKS TO OUR CONFERENCE COMMITTEE:
Nancy Foy, Head of School, The New Community School, Chair 2023
Garth Ainslie, Head of School, Virginia Episcopal School
Jonathan Brand, Head of School, Grymes Memorial School
Tara Garner, Head of School, Aylett Country Day School
Ashley Harper, Head of School, Wakefield School, Previous Chair 2022
Whitney Thompson, Head of School, Tandem Friends School
Aviva Walls, Head of School, Gesher Jewish Day School

SPONSORS:
VAIS appreciates the support of the following Sponsors for the Heads of School Conference:

Strategic Partners
CCS Presentation Systems
ConnectOne Bank
Creative with manufacturing partners: Steelcase & Smith Systems
Educators Benefit Services
Family Insights
Frost Law
George Mason University
MISBO
One Digital
Pentegra
RCM&D
RSG Building Solutions
Southern Teachers
TIAA
University of Richmond
Virginia Business Systems

Sponsors
Brown Edwards
The Budd Group
CCS Fundraising

Event Sponsors
12M Recruiting
The Education Group
Warren Whitney