NAIS Peer Circles
Learn more about the 2025–2026 NAIS Peer Circles and NAIS Board Chair Circles!
NAIS Peer Circles
Are you ready to connect and grow as a leader? Are you frustrated by the endless stream of tactical meetings when you need a space to deeply explore the complexities of your position and leadership responsibilities? NAIS Peer Circles are your path to connected and effective leadership.
Registration for the 2025–2026 NAIS Peer Circles is now open!
What Are NAIS Peer Circles?
NAIS Peer Circles offer a unique space for open and genuine discussions about leadership realities among peers who empathize with your challenges. Each circle is thoughtfully composed of six to eight individuals outside your geographic location and chosen based on your preferences and role, ensuring a supportive environment where you can freely share and confide with confidence and confidentiality.Sessions will explore topics primarily determined by what each group needs. Past agendas have covered wellness in the workplace, staying grounded in reality, emerging technology and navigating change, career development and workplace dynamics, and reflection and goal-setting.
The 2025–2026 Peer Circles will meet monthly starting in September 2025 and ending in April 2026. Each meeting will be 90 minutes. If you select Tuesdays or Wednesdays, your Peer Circle will run from 4:30–6:00 PM ET. If you select Thursdays, your Peer Circle will run from 1:30–3:00 PM ET. The dates are as follows (each group will meet on one of the days each month):
- September 16, 17, or 18
- October 21, 22, or 23
- November 18, 19, or 20
- December 16, 17, or 18
- January 20, 21, or 22
- February 17, 18, or 19
- March 17, 18, or 19
- April 21, 22, or 23
Why Choose Peer Circles?
- Tailored Groupings: Your circle will be curated to align with your role and/or school characteristics, ensuring relevance and connection.
- Outside Perspectives: Tap into the power of other voices, experiences, and viewpoints.
- Expert Guidance: Each monthly 90-minute virtual session is led by an NAIS member school leader skilled in coaching and facilitation who will create the right balance of structured and unstructured time.
- Consistent Cohort: You’ll meet with your group each month from September 2025 to April 2026 The cohorts will meet during the third week of each month.
- Quality Online Experience: You'll use a virtual platform built for peer-to-peer learning.
What Attendees Are Saying
"What was most impactful for me has been the connection to resources through members of my Peer Circle. ... I believe in the power of connecting with other people doing the work—tapping into the knowledge, expertise, and experiences of others. It helped me feel connected to others in similar roles. I grew in my understanding of the independent school world, too."
"To me, Peer Circles are an opportunity to learn about other schools' practices, to reflect upon one's own practice, and have peer camaraderie through connections built over time. ... Peer Circles are a perfect way to build those connections and think through the application of new strategies, initiatives, and problem solutions."
“It was quite helpful to be with peers who are on similar journeys and carrying similar burdens. I gained some concrete advice for my own challenges, but more importantly was encouraged by the conversation and the ways people were present for each other, even though none of us knew each other outside of this experience.”
“The time spent was beneficial and provided me with a nonjudgemental space where I could be reflective and thoughtful.”
Registration Information
Registration is now open for the 2025–2026 NAIS Peer Circles. Click here to register.- Upon registering, participants will receive a survey that will help NAIS create meaningful Peer Circle groups. Registration closes August 8, 2025, and the survey must be submitted by August 15, 2025, or sooner.
- Participants will receive their specific Peer Circle group information, including their group's dates and times, on August 28, 2025.
Pricing
Pricing is for the 2025-2026 yearlong engagement.| Registration Pricing | Early Bird Pricing (June 1–30, 2025) |
Standard Pricing (July 1–August 8, 2025) |
| Member price | $700 | $725 |
| Nonmember price* | $900 | $900 |
NAIS Board Chair Circles
Now more than ever, independent schools need boards that are knowledgeable, nimble, and focused to effectively sustain and advance the missions of their schools. Yet boards are composed of volunteers who are devoted but often have little experience or training in effective independent school governance. Board chairs in particular have an important role to play in both leading the board and collaborating with the head of school. They, too, benefit from support in fulfilling their role.
Registration for the 2025–2026 NAIS Board Chair Circles is now open!
What Are NAIS Board Circles?
NAIS Board Chair Circles bring together small groups of board chairs from across the country. Each circle is thoughtfully composed of six to eight individuals outside your geographic location and chosen based on your preferences and role, ensuring a supportive environment where you can freely share and confide with confidence and confidentiality.Each circle will meet once a month to explore complex challenges in your leadership position and hear from others to develop strategies that will help you grow personally and professionally. This is an authentic professional development opportunity for facilitated growth with other trustees.
The 2025–2026 Board Chair Circles will meet monthly starting in September 2025 and ending in April 2026. Each meeting will be 90 minutes and will be deliberately framed and facilitated by certified executive coaches who are former heads of school and experienced board members. The dates are as follows (each group will meet on one of the days each month):
- September 16, 17, or 18
- October 21, 22, or 23
- November 18, 19, or 20
- December 16, 17, or 18
- January 20, 21, or 22
- February 17, 18, or 19
- March 17, 18, or 19
- April 21, 22, or 23
Why Choose Board Chair Circles?
Participants in this group coaching experience will benefit from learning in the supportive context of a community of practice with fellow board chairs, led by governance experts and coaches Brooke Carroll and Mike Hanas. This yearlong experience will help:- Fortify your working relationship with your head of school
- Nurture the full and appropriate engagement of fellow trustees
- Ensure trustees know their roles and responsibilities and focus on important, strategic topics
- Make visible the norms/guidelines of your board to support a healthy, respectful, and inclusive culture
- Create effective onboarding, mentoring, and development of trustees
- Facilitate effective, efficient, and productive meetings
- Hold accountable/course-correct a fellow trustee operating outside of the board’s lane
- Tend to succession planning
Registration Information
Registration is now open for the 2025-2026 NAIS Board Chair Circles. Click here to register.- Upon registering, participants will receive a survey that will help NAIS create meaningful Board Chair Circle groups. Registration closes on August 8, 2025, and the survey must be submitted by August 15, 2025, or sooner.
- Participants will receive their specific Board Chair Circle group information, including their group's dates and times, on August 28, 2025.
Pricing
Pricing is for the 2025-2026 yearlong engagement.| Registration Pricing | Early Bird Pricing (June 1–30, 2025) |
Standard Pricing (July 1–August 8, 2025) |
| Member price | $1,500 | $1,550 |
| Nonmember price* | $1,950 | $1,950 |