October 2026 EDGE
October 14, 2026
October 14, 2026
The Edge
The Gift of an Invitation
Fall is the season of gathering: harvest tables, football bleachers, and professional learning communities finding their rhythm again. But there is no gathering without an invitation. Before anyone ever pulls up a chair, someone has to say, “You belong here; come, join us.” Therefore, I invite you to learn with VAIS and the thousands of educators in our association.
An Invitation to Gather
Every VAIS event, MeetUp, and Community of Practice begins the same way: with an open door. Whether you teach, lead, coach, counsel, advance, or keep the whole operation running, there is a seat for you. We design our offerings for every role in the independent school, because we believe the best ideas travel across job titles.
An Invitation to Learn in Community
Every school day also extends an invitation to students. Each assignment, discussion, and problem to solve says, “Come think with us.” The way we phrase that invitation matters. Students lean in when it feels like a real question worth wrestling with, and they pull back when it feels like a demand.
An Invitation to Wrestle with Ideas
Yesterday, a group of educators accepted a particularly bold invitation by joining the first session in our Both/And Subscription series. They were asked to do something that is uncommon in professional learning: sit with two perspectives on one challenging topic, personalized learning vs. socialized learning, and resist the urge to pick a winner. They listened, reflected, and then worked together to wrestle with the tension. Read on, as you are still invited to join us in this “experiment.”
One More Invitation: The Annual Conference
A reminder that everyone is invited to the VAIS Annual Conference on November 16. In fact, below you will find a special invitation from our keynote speaker, Dr. Pascal Losambe.
Connect. Collaborate. Lead.
P.S. An invitation is only complete when someone accepts it. I truly hope you will!
Last Call: Register for Technology Week
October 19-23, 2026 | 9-10:30 a.m. daily | Virtual
VAIS Technology Week is just around the corner! Register now to ensure you and your team can participate!
From governing AI to navigating data privacy, technology decisions now impact every single corner of your school. VAIS’ Technology Week offers five days of targeted virtual sessions designed to help you tackle these rapid shifts with confidence and clarity.
The best part? A single registration covers an unlimited number of participants from your school. Invite your administrators, teachers, and IT staff to join live, and receive all session recordings for future professional learning.
| Day / Time | Session and Description | Presenter | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday
9-10:30 a.m. |
Educator’s AI Playbook: Governing AI in the Year AheadMove beyond early AI experimentation and learn how to build sustainable, whole-school strategies for safe, responsible, and accountable AI governance. | Mark Orchison, Founder & CEO, 9ine | 9ine |
| Tuesday
9-10:30 a.m. |
Redefining Assessment in the Age of AIDiscover how to augment traditional assessment techniques and measure authentic student learning using practical AI tools that capture real-time performance. | Amanda Bickerstaff, AI for Education | AI for Education |
| Wednesday
9-10:30 a.m. |
Practical Governance, Privacy, Security & LiabilityGain actionable insights into establishing robust IT governance frameworks, protecting sensitive student data, and navigating the evolving compliance landscape. | Hiram Cuevas, St. Christopher’s School; Cameron Stoll, Chief Privacy Officer, Blackbaud | Blackbaud |
| Thursday
9-10:30 a.m. |
Homegrown Technology Solutions from VAIS School LeadersGet fresh inspiration from three VAIS member schools as they showcase custom-built technology solutions designed to solve unique campus challenges and streamline workflows. | Facilitated by Darcie L. TeVault, VAIS | SysCloud |
| Friday
9-10:30 a.m. |
Technology Leadership: Decision Making & DelegationBring a real decision you are facing to this interactive lab, where you’ll explore the hidden habits driving your choices and learn to design important decisions more deliberately. | Michael Walker, ClassLink | ClassLink |
A Personal Invitation from Dr. Pascal Losambe
A Message to the VAIS Community: See You in November
Hello, VAIS community!
I am so excited to be with you this November at the Annual Conference.
In schools right now, there is so much to hold. We are navigating conversations and questions around AI, student wellness, technology restrictions, busy schedules, new classrooms, new routines, and the constant job of helping students grow in an ever-changing world.
With so much moving around us, a conference like this one gives us something essential: a chance to pause, to reflect, to reconnect, and to think about what type of learning communities we want to create.
This November, we will spend time thinking together about belonging. In my work with students, faculty, staff, families, and school leaders, I have learned that students often carry three quiet questions into every classroom:
Can I learn here?
Do I matter here?
Am I safe enough to struggle here?
And if we are honest, we as adults carry versions of those questions into our organizations every single day.
I hope our time together gives you encouragement, practical tools, and a renewed sense of purpose for the important work you do every single day.
See you soon,
Pascal
75 schools and counting!
Seventy-five schools have already registered for the 2026 VAIS Annual Conference on November 16 at The Steward School in Richmond. Make sure your team has a seat at the table.
There’s Still Time to Join Both/And
Step away from false choices and explore the productive tension between competing educational priorities. This virtual series features thoughtful practitioners sharing different perspectives and provides reflective and collaborative time for educators to navigate this work together. There’s still time to register your school and get access to every upcoming live session, plus the recordings.
Upcoming Live Sessions
Both/And registration link to be added.
Professional Learning Events at a Glance
Heads of School Conference
January 24-26, 2027
Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg
Business & Advancement Institute
May 5, 2027
Virginia Museum of History & Culture, Richmond
Where Ideas and Members MeetUP
October MeetUPs
November MeetUPs
School Offerings
Our schools are up to so many amazing things, and we’d love to share them with you! From festivals to plays and concerts to academic symposiums, there are plenty of opportunities to connect with member schools and learn new things!
Northstar Academy’s Homecoming
Thursday, October 22 | 4:30-6:30 p.m.
Northstar Campus, Glen Allen
Alumni Weekend 2026
October 23-24
Fuqua School, Farmville
Sabot School Fall Fest
October 24 | 2-5 p.m.
Sabot School, Richmond
Strelitz Fall Festival
October 25 | 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Strelitz International Academy, Virginia Beach
Submit your events to be featured in EDGEnotes!
Partner Offerings
Corporate partners and sponsors are what make our flagship events, as well as many other programs and offerings, possible.
Virginia School Counselor Association: Annual Conference
October 14-16 | Hampton Roads Convention Center, Hampton, VA
MERC Zoom Seminar: Literacy Professional Development
Evidence-Based Practices and Insights from Virginia | October 20, 2026 | 3:30-5 p.m.
Mid-Atlantic Educators of Color Conference (MAECC)
April 2-3, 2027 | Baltimore
Learning Forward Virginia 2026 Coaches Academy
October 23 | 9 a.m.-4 p.m. | Spotsylvania County School Board Office
Virginia Council of Mathematics Specialists (VACMS) Annual Conference
November 5-6 | DoubleTree by Hilton Charlottesville
LeadTeam Partners: The Huddle for School Leaders
“Is Your School Ready for a Capital Campaign?” | Tuesday, October 20 | 2-2:45 p.m. ET | Free
University of Richmond: School of Professional & Continuing Studies Information Sessions
Various dates | Virtual
Boost My School: Education Webinars
On-demand and upcoming webinars
Virginia ABC Community Health and Engagement
Alcohol education and prevention materials
9ine: Register for 9ine Trust
9ine Trust resources and registration
National Cybersecurity Preparedness Consortium Courses
Cybersecurity courses and resources
LeadTeam Partners: The Huddle for School Leaders
“Home Field Advantage: Turning Athletics into a Strategic Asset” | Tuesday, November 17 | 2-2:45 p.m. ET | Free
Original partner registration/resource links were not retained in the supplied RTF. Add each destination before publication.
Connect with VAIS
View sponsorship and partnership opportunities, or connect with Darcie L. TeVault, VAIS Director of Professional Learning.
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