Conferences and Workshops
(Click here for the 2019-2020 Professional Development Series PDF)
 

Many new division heads begin a leadership journey in this pivotal position without formal training.  ISACS has created an event for new division heads in their first 2 years of divisional leadership.  Current and experienced ISACS division heads were consulted to identify the most common areas of challenge and we have brought together an exceptional team of experts to share strategies in successful leadership.  If you are a new division head, we invite you to join other new leaders to hear from the following national experts for this two-day Academy. Click here to view a tentative agenda. 

Dates: Thursday, June 22 and Friday, June 23, 2017 
Times: Thursday, June, 22: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm and Friday, June 23: 8:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Who Should Attend: Division Heads in their first two years of divisional leadership.

Day One - Thursday, June 22: 

Running Effective Meetings with Barbara Braham, Ph.D.
This experiential workshop is designed for people who use meetings as part of an overall strategy to get things done, execute plans and build a team. The emphasis will be on how to use meetings to produce action and results as opposed to using meetings only as a venue for information sharing.  You will have an opportunity to practice the meeting management skills being taught in simulated meetings. You will get the most out of this program if you come with your meeting challenges in mind. 

Participants will be able to:

• prepare agendas designed for action
• create rules of engagement that lead to more productive meetings and teams
• maximize engagement during meetings (including virtual meetings)
• eliminate the “meeting after the meeting”
• manage and minimize potentially disruptive behaviors
• practice meeting management techniques (including decision making) that build teamwork
• leverage meetings as one part of an overall strategy to accomplish objectives

Thick Skin, Soft Skills:  Real Life Communication Strategies for New Division Heads with Ken Rogers  
Moving from intention to outcome when communicating requires a division head to possess a level of self-awareness, self-management, and discernment; often in situations that are tense and charged; with people frequently driven by urgency, fear, and worry.  This interactive workshop is designed to enable division heads to more effectively manage this most critical part of the job.  Because effective communication requires division heads to be mindful and intentional at every point of engagement with others, this session will equip participants with tools to productively move discussions forward, while honoring the dignity of everyone involved.

Participants will be able to:

• develop an awareness of their individual communication style and its impact
• demonstrate care without compromising the message
• create a process to prepare for planned conversations
• build a toolbox of specific techniques for difficult and unplanned conversations
• collect a bank of helpful phrases and clarifying questions
• practice techniques by analyzing and responding to scenarios

Day Two - Friday, June 23: 

It's All About the Law: What School Leaders Should Do & Should Not Do to Stay out of Trouble & Out of Court with Dana Fattore Crumley, Partner, Franczek Radelet P.C.
Whether confronted with a serious student discipline issue, a difficult parent, or a troubling issue involving an employee, school st be prepared to address volatile situations in the moment, making decisions that may later be challenged by stakeholders informally or through the courts. In this session, we will review common scenarios that can result in litigation, and identify best practices to prevent liability, diffuse conflicts, and maintain stakeholders’ trust in your institution.

Working Peacefully & Productively with Resistance with Dave Mochel
Resistance and disagreement within your faculty are normal and useful. A healthy balance of affiliation and accountability is facilitated by working with resistance and disagreement gracefully and effectively. Awareness and acceptance of our internal reactions to resistance and disagreement allows us to be skillful externally. Participants with leave with an understanding of the neurobiology of resistance as well as specific, simple tools that they can use immediately to disarm resistance and build connections in the presence of disagreement.

Presenters (listed in order of appearance)

Barbara Braham, PhD is an executive coach and organizational development consultant, who works with leaders who want to move their organizations forward, and with individuals who want to realize their potential.  A member of the International Coach Federation, she has earned their highest designation, Master Certified Coach. 

Ken Rogers, a trained counselor, is a former faculty member of The Association of Independent Maryland Schools Fellows Program for New Teachers and is currently on the faculty for the ISACS New Teacher Institute. With independent school experience as a teacher, dean, and head of middle school, he is a frequent ISACS presenter and consultant to independent schools. Ken is the middle school principal at Charlotte Christian School (NC).

Dana Fattore Crumley, Partner, Franczek Radelet P.C.­ speaks on education law topics, including teacher employment and dismissal, special education, student records and confidentiality, and student discipline. She has taught school law classes at Loyola University’s Graduate School of Education, the University of Illinois at Chicago and Roosevelt University. Prior to joining the firm, Crumley was a public school teacher. She served as a school board member and school board president of the Winnetka Public Schools District 36 Board of Education. She is a member of the National and Illinois’ Councils of School Attorneys, and is a founding member of the Women’s Network of School Administrators, an organization devoted to promoting educational leadership opportunities for women and supporting emerging educational leaders as they strive to foster equity in all aspects of public education.

Dave Mochel is the founder of Applied Attention Consulting, a mindfulness consulting company that partners with businesses, schools, and individuals to bridge the gap between what matters most and how time and energy are used. The goal is to teach people how to consistently refocus on what is present, what is important, and what is effective. This simple and powerful practice builds the fundamental skills necessary to embrace challenge, learn from others, and thrive in any circumstance. The result for individuals is greater engagement, flexibility, and resilience. Within teams and organizations, this practice creates powerfully positive and purposeful cultures.
 

Location of Workshop
The workshop will take place at the ISACS classroom at 55 West Wacker Drive, Suite 702, Chicago, IL. 

Directions, Parking & Public Transportation
The location is located in the heart of Chicago, with easy access to public transportation.

Click here for directions to the ISACS classroom including driving, parking and public transportation directions. Parking is available at several area garages. To secure discounted rates prior to your arrival in Chicago, visit www.parkwhiz.com. If possible, we suggest taking public transportation.

Air Travel
Both Midway and O'Hare airports are easily accessible to the ISACS classroom. Fly into Midway (on Southwest Airlines) or into O'Hare and take the "L" (Chicago's public transportation) and be at the ISACS classroom in less than an hour.  

​GO Airport Express (Share-a-Ride) Shuttle Service
ISACS has negotiated a special rate with GO Airport Express for ISACS members – 15% off the standard rates. Reservations MUST be made in advance and online to receive the discounted rate. The standard rate per person to/from O’Hare is approximately $28 one-way; $49 round-trip. The standard rate per person to/from Midway is approximately $24 one-way; $40 round-trip. To receive the 15% discount off the standard rates, please click here for the Go Airport Express website to make a reservation in advance. A credit card is required and charged at the time of reservation. Airport walk-ups are not eligible for the discounted rate. Parties of two more reserving at the same time receive a discount. Please visit their website for more information.  

Hotel Accommodations
** Update on Hotel Monaco room block: As of May 26, the Hotel Monaco room block as reached capacity. Please click here for ISACS neighborhood hotels, which offer discounted rates. If you have any questions or need help with a hotel room, please call the ISACS office at 312-750-1190. 

ISACS has secured a block of discounted rooms at the Hotel Monaco, 225 N. Wabash Avenue, Chicago, which is a few blocks from the ISACS classroom. We recommend making your reservations early.

To make reservations at the $239/night rate for the nights of June 21 and June 22, please call reservations at 1-800-KIMPTON (1-800-546-7866 and mention the Group Name ISACS Academy. To make reservations online, click here: ISACS June 2017. Reservations may be made until 5:00 pm central on May 25, 2017 or until the room block reaches capacity. If you would like to stay any additional nights, please call the 1-800 number to make your reservations.

You may also want to check out other ISACS neighborhood hotels. The hotels are within walking distance of the ISACS classroom and as a member of ISACS you have access to the discounted rates all year long for your professional and personal travel. Click here to find out how to make a reservation at any of the hotels and select the option that meets your travel needs.

If you have any issues when booking a room, please contact the ISACS office at 312-750-1190. 

Registration Fee

• $475 for member fee
• $550 for non- member
• There is no group discount for the Academy.
• The Academy includes coffee/tea, continental breakfast, lunch and refreshments daily.
• Please review the Registration Confirmation information below.

Registration Confirmation Communications from ISACS

• Once registration for the workshop has been completed the following communications will be sent from ISACS:
• Once registration is complete, an email will automatically be sent to the contact person on the registration confirming that registration has been completed.
• Approximately three weeks prior to the workshop, ISACS will send a confirmation email to the registrant with details for the workshop.
• Approximately one week prior to the workshop, ISACS will send a final confirmation email to the registrant with details for the workshop.

If you do not receive these emails prior to arriving at a workshop, please call the ISACS office at 312-750-1190. It is possible your email address was entered incorrectly OR your registration was not completed.

Cancellation Policy
Cancellations must be received in writing to ISACS by emailing programinfo@isacs.org 10 business days prior to the event to receive a 50% refund. Cancellations received within 10 days of the event will not receive a refund. Registration may be transferred to another member from the same school. ISACS reserves the right to cancel the workshop for insufficient enrollment. In this case, participants will be notified and given a full refund. 

Questions? Please call 312-750-1190.