August arrives in independent schools the way the seasons turn in Virginia; quietly, then all at once.

Faculty handbooks are finalized, opening day rosters are set, and somewhere between the last beach trip and the first mountain sunset, we start turning our attention back to the work of the year ahead. It’s the season when planning becomes practice.

This is also the moment to remind our community of something worth saying plainly: Professional Learning at VAIS is not a single offering, it is an ecosystem.

That is the design principle behind VAIS Professional Learning. It is built for the full architecture of the independent school — Heads of School and Business Officers navigating governance and strategy; teachers refining pedagogy and curriculum; advancement professionals building relationships and resources; security and safety personnel protecting the conditions for learning; school nurses and counselors supporting student wellbeing; chaplains and religious and values-based leaders stewarding the traditions that strengthen a school’s mission. Each role shapes the student experience, and each carries the mission forward in its own way. Every seat at the table deserves learning designed with the same rigor.

In practice for VAIS, that means:

• Conferences and Institutes: In-person events that bring practitioners together across the state
• Virtual Events: Learning that extends access regardless of geography or schedule
• Communities of Practice: Groups of people who share a concern or a passion for something they do and learn how to do it better as they interact regularly, both in-person and virtually
• MeetUps: Free, low-barrier, high-frequency touchpoints for connection and problem-solving in real time
• Partner and Supporter Opportunities: Extra ways of connecting our schools to programming and resources beyond what VAIS designs directly
• Cross-school events: Collaboration that opens doors between schools and expands what “community” means in VAIS

This breadth is intentional. A Head of School and a school nurse are solving different problems, but both are better served by a network than by isolation. That is the premise behind Connect. Collaborate. Lead. — our tagline is not aspirational language; it is a description of what happens when practitioners across roles have real infrastructure for professional growth.

There are several ways to step further into this work:

• Attend: Join an event, a MeetUp, or a Community of Practice built around your role.
• Serve on a Think Tank: Help shape the design of future events and set the agenda for what our community needs next.
• Host a MeetUp: Bring your own expertise to the table with role related peers across the Commonwealth.

Independent schools do their best work when the people inside them are not learning alone. As the new year approaches, I invite you to consider where you might connect… and where you might lead.

Darcie L. TeVault, Ed.D.
Director of Professional Learning
Virginia Association of Independent Schools

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One Big Thing: Register for August’s Momentum Meet-Up with Dr. Derek Porter

Become Burnout-Proof: Practical Strategies for Protecting Your Energy This School Year

August 19 | 1 – 1:45 PM | Zoom Registration Required

As another school year begins, we are once again balancing high expectations, constant decisions, and the desire to make a meaningful difference. In this interactive Momentum MeetUP, Dr. Derek Porter, Assistant Head of Middle School at Greenhill School, TX, introduces a practical framework for understanding burnout through the lens of cognitive load, organizational design, and sustainable habits.

Dr. Derek Porter is a speaker, writer, and researcher who helps schools create healthier cultures where both educators and students can thrive. With more than 15 years of experience in independent schools — including 11 years in VAIS Schools — he is known for translating research on cognitive load, burnout prevention, and organizational design into practical strategies educators can apply immediately.

Participants will leave with three immediately applicable strategies for reducing unnecessary stress, protecting their capacity, and creating healthier habits that support both personal well-being and professional excellence. Rather than adding one more thing to our plates, this session focuses on helping us carry what matters most.

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Register now for our 2026 Annual Conference

Our Annual Conference comes to Richmond this year thanks to our hosts at The Steward School. Registration is now open for the Nov. 16 event. Get in early! More details coming soon.

Register

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CALENDAR AT-A-GLANCE

VAIS Technology Week
October 19–23, 2026, 9–10:30 a.m. daily
Virtual

VAIS Annual Conference
​November 16, 2026
The Steward School, Richmond

Heads & Trustees Week
​January 11–15, 2027
Virtual

Heads of School Conference
January 24–26, 2027
​Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg

Safe & Healthy Schools Conference
February 18, 2027
University of Richmond

Business & Advancement Institute
May 5, 2027
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond

August MeetUPs

August 17, Business Officers, 2 PM via Zoom
August 25, School Counselors, 10 AM via Zoom

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It’s Awards Season at VAIS! Nominate someone now.

Every school has educators whose passion and leadership leave a lasting mark on students, colleagues, and the broader school community. VAIS annual awards celebrate those individuals. Nominate someone now.

The Sally K. Boese Award for Distinguished Service honors individuals who have made exceptional contributions to independent education in Virginia. Named for VAIS’s longtime executive director, the award recognizes the leadership, vision, and commitment that strengthen schools and advance the independent school community.

In addition, the VAIS Excellence in Education Awards recognize outstanding Lower, Middle, and Upper School educators who inspire students, foster professional growth among colleagues, and make a meaningful impact on their school communities. VAIS member educators may nominate themselves or be nominated by a colleague.

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Photos: Teaching and Learning Institute 2026

This year’s Teaching & Learning Institute, held last week at St. Christopher’s School in Richmond, was one for the history books! See the pictures here.

We loved connecting, exploring, and learning with each of the attendees. We can’t wait for next year’s Institute!

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Partner Offerings

Virginia ABC Community Health and Engagement
Alcohol Education & Prevention Materials
Explore Resources

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Corporate partners and sponsors are what make our flagship events, as well as many other programs and offerings, possible.