2026 NEASC Leadership Conference: Full Schedule

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7:30am EST

Breakfast

Tuesday November 17, 2026 7:30am - 9:00am EST

TBA

Good morning and welcome to Day 1 of the conference. Join us for a light breakfast and start your day in good company!

Tuesday November 17, 2026 7:30am - 9:00am EST
TBA

Meal

7:30am EST

Information/Registration Desk (available 7:30a-5p)

Tuesday November 17, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm EST

Foyer

NEASC staff will be available at the Welcome/Registration desk throughout the active hours of the conference. Stop by for assistance and to say hello!

IMPORTANT:
Remember to download the Sched app and connect to the #NEASC2026 event to use the agenda and networking tools. Make sure to set your profile to "Public" so you can interact with other attendees and turn on announcements so you don't miss updates from the event organizers.

Tuesday November 17, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm EST
Foyer

Break/Exhibits

7:30am EST

Meet our 2026 exhibitors!

Tuesday November 17, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm EST

Foyer

Stop by to say hello to our exhibitors. View the complete exhibitor directory.

Tuesday November 17, 2026 7:30am - 5:00pm EST
Foyer

Break/Exhibits

9:00am EST

DAY 1 Opening - EdTalk

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:10am EST

Ballroom

Description to come

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:00am - 9:10am EST
Ballroom

Main Stage

9:10am EST

DAY 1 Opening - President's Welcome

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:10am - 9:20am EST

Welcome to NEASC2026

Speakers

Cameron Staples

President, CEO, NEASC

Cameron C. Staples, an attorney and former Connecticut State Representative, has been President/Chief Executive Officer at NEASC since 2011. Mr. Staples has a breadth of educational and legislative experience.

NEASC accredits over 1600 independent schools and public schools throughout New England as well as 500 international schools in over 85 countries. As President/CEO, Staples manages a staff of 50 employees and a volunteer base of nearly 8000 individuals. As the leader of the organization... Read More →

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:10am - 9:20am EST

Main Stage

9:20am EST

Keynote- Recentering What Matters: Listening to Student Voice

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:20am - 9:45am EST

Ballroom

Centering the voices of students and families to better understand the intersection of language, identity, and learning.

Speakers

Jon Nordmeyer

School Network Director, Multilingual Learning Research Center

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:20am - 9:45am EST
Ballroom

Main Stage

9:45am EST

Keynote 2

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:10am EST

Ballroom

Description to come

Tuesday November 17, 2026 9:45am - 10:10am EST
Ballroom

Main Stage

10:10am EST

Morning Recharge

Tuesday November 17, 2026 10:10am - 10:20am EST

Ballroom

The morning session will end with a short, guided activity to regulate energy and attention, offering a structured pause to re-center and engage more fully in the rest of the day's programming. Thank you to ____________for providing this special session closer.

Tuesday November 17, 2026 10:10am - 10:20am EST
Ballroom

Main Stage

10:20am EST

Coffee break, networking, exhibits

Tuesday November 17, 2026 10:20am - 10:50am EST

Foyer

Join us for coffee, company, and conversation!

Tuesday November 17, 2026 10:20am - 10:50am EST
Foyer

Break/Exhibits

10:50am EST

Session 1

Tuesday November 17, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am EST

TBA

Description

Tuesday November 17, 2026 10:50am - 11:50am EST
TBA

Session

11:50am EST

Lunch - Networking and Conversation

Tuesday November 17, 2026 11:50am - 12:20pm EST

Ballroom

Tuesday November 17, 2026 11:50am - 12:20pm EST
Ballroom

Meal

12:20pm EST

Lunch continues with Student Performance, EdTalks, Awards

Tuesday November 17, 2026 12:20pm - 1:20pm EST

Ballroom

Continue lunch and join us for a musical performance by the ______________, followed by EdTalks with ________________for a discussion of important themes in school leadership. Finally, we will honor NEASC award recipients for 2026.

Tuesday November 17, 2026 12:20pm - 1:20pm EST
Ballroom

Main Stage

1:30pm EST

NEASC Commission Session - Independent Schools

Tuesday November 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

TBA

Join the staff of the NEASC Commission on Independent Schools for updates, Q&A, and conversation. We look forward to connecting with you in person!

Speakers

Beth Hamilton

Senior Associate Director, NEASC

Beth helps guide member schools through the NEASC Accreditation process and partners with them to create cultures of innovation, belonging, and improvement.

Beth joined the NEASC staff in 2016, bringing 35 years of experience in independent, public, and international schools in Connecticut, New Hampshire, Ohio, Brazil, and China. She was the Founding Lower School Head at the Wooster School in Danbury, CT and served as an elementary school... Read More →

Edie Traina

Director for Accreditation and School Improvement, Independent Schools, NEASC

As director, Edie leads a robust team of accreditation professionals dedicated to supporting independent schools in adapting to the changing needs in education.

Prior to joining NEASC in 2024, Edie served as the Assistant Head of School for Faculty and Academics at the Taft School in Watertown, CT. While at Taft, she was responsible for leading daily school operations as well as strategic planning, policy review and coordination, and recruiting... Read More →

Margaret Williamson

Accreditation Leader, NEASC

Margie has served in various roles with NEASC since the 1990s but most recently since 2019 as a Commissioner and since 2024 as Accreditation Leader. She retired from the Archdiocese of Hartford in 2023 after a 45-year career as teacher and administrator at the elementary school and... Read More →

Carrie Wilson

Associate Director, NEASC

Carrie helps guide member schools through the NEASC Accreditation process and partners with them to create cultures of innovation, belonging, and improvement.

Having most recently served as the Head of School for All Saints Catholic Academy in Morrisville, Vermont, Carrie brings 25 years of school service as a classroom educator, administrator, and as a mentor for several Diocesan principals to her role at NEASC. She developed a depth of... Read More →

Tuesday November 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST
TBA

NEASC Commission Breakout

1:30pm EST

NEASC Commission Session - International Schools

Tuesday November 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

TBA

Join the staff of the NEASC Commission on International Education for updates, Q&A, and conversation. We look forward to connecting with you in person!

Speakers

Joseph Kotarski

Associate Director for Accreditation and School Improvement, Commission on International Education, NEASC

Drawn to NEASC because of his passion for school transformation, Joe joined the NEASC team in 2024 with over a decade of experience in the Middle East and North Africa where he served as Head of School and Director of Education. Prior to this Joe was an AP World History Teacher in... Read More →

Tuesday November 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST
TBA

NEASC Commission Breakout

1:30pm EST

NEASC Commission Session - Public Schools

Tuesday November 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST

TBA

Join the staff of the NEASC Commission on Public Schools for updates, Q&A, and conversation. We look forward to connecting with you in person!

Speakers

Alyson Geary

Director of Accreditation and School Improvement, Public Schools, New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Tuesday November 17, 2026 1:30pm - 2:15pm EST
TBA

NEASC Commission Breakout

2:25pm EST

Session 2

Tuesday November 17, 2026 2:25pm - 3:25pm EST

TBA

Description

Tuesday November 17, 2026 2:25pm - 3:25pm EST
TBA

Session

3:25pm EST

Coffee break, networking, exhibits

Tuesday November 17, 2026 3:25pm - 4:00pm EST

Foyer

Tuesday November 17, 2026 3:25pm - 4:00pm EST
Foyer

Break/Exhibits

4:00pm EST

Session 3

Tuesday November 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST

TBA

Tuesday November 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EST
TBA

Session

5:00pm EST

Reception

Tuesday November 17, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm EST

Foyer

Join us for conversation and connection.
Appetizers and beverages will be served.
Entertainment will be provided.

Thank you to our reception sponsor _____!

Tuesday November 17, 2026 5:00pm - 6:30pm EST
Foyer

Networking E9DAF5

7:30am EST

7:30am EST

7:30am EST

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9:10am EST

9:20am EST

9:45am EST

10:10am EST

10:20am EST

10:50am EST

11:50am EST

12:20pm EST

1:30pm EST

1:30pm EST

1:30pm EST

2:25pm EST

3:25pm EST

4:00pm EST

5:00pm EST

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