November 16-18, 2026
NEASC Leadership Conference
FROM INTENT TO IMPACT
School leadership often involves an overwhelming amount of responsibilities and tasks that can seem distant and unrelated to the classroom- budgets, hiring and union contracts, and building construction, to name a few.
How, as a leader, can you create a coherent learning community, where all of these systems in your school are aligned and intentionally focused on your school's core work: high-quality learning for all?
What to expect
Grounded in the NEASC Framework for High-Quality Learning, conference sessions will provide a driving force and design for school transformation and success that supports the highest aspirations for your learners.
Registration
Don’t wait! Early bird pricing is available through September 12, 2026.
Location/Accommodations
Hilton Boston Park Plaza
50 Park Plaza
Boston, Massachusetts 02116 USA
+1 617-426-2000
Book your hotel room online for the discounted event rate. Reservations are based upon availability and should be made no later than October 26th.
Schedule
Monday, November 16
Pre-conference Workshops (including lunch)
9:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
Welcome Reception
4:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 17 - Wednesday, November 18
Keynotes, breakouts, EdTalks, networking
9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Tuesday)
8:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (Wednesday)
Reception
5:00 p.m. (Tuesday)
Featured Speakers
We are pleased to announce that Jon Nordmeyer and Carrie Parker, Co-Directors of the Multilingual Learning Research Center (MLRC), will join us to lead a pre-conference workshop on how leaders can connect research to practice and build collective efficacy in serving multilingual learners and their families.
Jon will also present a keynote address, Recentering What Matters: Listening to Student Voice.
Pre-conference Workshops
Monday, November 16
A Collective Vision for Student Success: Creation, Implementation, and Assessment of your Vision of a Learner
Join educational leaders and NEASC staff as they share their journeys to create a Vision of a Learner to articulate their school’s learning goals for their students.
Learn how schools across New England have used this guiding document to align curriculum, bring staff together around shared philosophy, and assess student success. Presenters and NEASC staff will share examples of successful implementation, and resources and ideas for bringing this process in your school.
Designed for group participation, this workshop is an opportunity to work collaboratively, with your school team or with others, to understand the importance and implications of developing a Vision of a Learner, consider your school's values and learning goals, and start to understand the importance of authentic assessment for that vision.
All participants will receive a handbook for implementation and access to a library of resources and exemplars from public, independent, and international schools.
Presenters:
- Alyson Geary, Director for Accreditation and School Improvement, NEASC Commission on Public Schools
- Carl Johnson, Associate Director for Accreditation and School Improvement, NEASC Commission on Public Schools
Connecting Research to Practice: Transforming Systems Serving Multilingual Learners
How can schools and districts best serve increasingly diverse student populations? How can leaders design systems that leverage multilingualism and support multilingual learner success? This interactive preconference will build shared understanding of how leaders can connect research to practice and build collective efficacy in serving multilingual learners and their families. Using a systems change approach, we will share insights from action research projects designed and implemented at schools around the world to study new strategies and systematically collect data to understand what works and why. You will leave with tools to apply in your own context and opportunities to collaborate within a cohort connecting research to practice.
Presenters:
- Jon Nordmeyer, Co-Director, Multilingual Learning Research Center
- Carrie Parker, Co-Director, Multilingual Learning Research Center
Next Generation Curriculum Design for Transformative Learning
This interactive workshop brings together three essential dimensions of transformational learning: designing future-ready curriculum, developing meaningful assessment systems, and creating aligned learner and teacher profiles that reflect a school’s vision for high-quality learning.
Grounded in the NEASC ACE Learning Principles, a Framework for High-Quality Learning, and emerging global education priorities, participants will explore how schools can build coherent systems that connect curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, and learner outcomes in ways that prepare students to thrive in an unpredictable and rapidly changing world.
Presenters:
- Sharyn Skrtic, International Accreditation Leader, NEASC Commission on International Education
- Diane Ullman, International Accreditation Leader, NEASC Commission on International Education
- Kelly Lyman, Coordinator, Executive Leadership Program, University of Connecticut
Commission on International Education Lead Visitor Training
NEASC is offering Lead Visitor Training for experienced international school visitors who we believe have the potential to excel as leaders of accreditation teams. This one day workshop is for individuals who will be new to the role of NEASC ACE lead visitor, and for those who have been lead visitors, but would like to refresh their skills.
A profile of a successful Lead Visitor includes: school leadership experience, experience on several accreditation visits, understanding of the ethos of NEASC ACE, embracing our developmental approach to accreditation, and belief in our goals to help schools develop future-ready learners.
Please review these important options for registration for this session:
- If you are already an experienced visitor and wish to take the next step, or are Lead Visitor who was trained in the past, this workshop is complimentary. If you have these qualifications, please email cie@neasc.org for a complimentary registration code for this preconference session.
- If you are a NEASC Visitor and interested in the training and hoping to be a Lead Visitor in the future, please register with normal process and fee, and join us for the training to learn more.
Presenter:
Darlene Fisher, International Accreditation Leader, NEASC Commission on International Education
Commission on Independent Schools Chair/Asst. Chair Training
Prepare to take on a leadership role on a NEASC Visiting Team through this focused training for school leaders. Ideal for future Chairs and Assistant Chairs, the session provides a clear, comprehensive grounding in the accreditation process of the Commission on Independent Schools.
Through hands on activities and practical discussion, participants will gain the knowledge and perspective needed to step confidently into these leadership roles.
Independent school leaders who have never served as Chairs or Assistant Chairs — as well as those who haven’t participated in a NEASC visit in some time — are warmly encouraged to attend.
The session begins at 11:00 a.m., includes lunch, and concludes with the Welcome Reception for the NEASC Leadership Conference.
This workshop is free of charge to our volunteers. Please email ckinton@neasc.org for a complimentary registration code.
Presenters:
- Edie Traina, Director for Accreditation and School Improvement, NEASC Commission on Independent Schools
- Beth Hamilton, Senior Associate Director for Accreditation and School Improvement, NEASC Commission on Independent Schools
- Carrie Wilson, Associate Director for Accreditation and School Improvement, NEASC Commission on Independent Schools
Thank you to our Conference Partner, Sponsors, and Exhibitors!
Do you have questions?
Conference registration and logistics
Misha Larson, Events Manager, mlarson@neasc.org
Sponsor/exhibitor opportunities
Contact sponsor@neasc.org.