The Green Vale School had the honor of hosting the New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS) for their 2024 Regional Meeting, bringing together independent school leaders, educators, and administrators from across Long Island. This gathering provided an opportunity for schools to come together, share insights, and discuss the future direction of education in New York. The day was filled with thought-provoking presentations, strategic discussions, and opportunities for collaboration.
The meeting began with a presentation led by NYSAIS' Chief Operating Officer George Swain, who explored the topic, "What Makes a School Great?" Following Swain’s keynote, the participants engaged in a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats) analysis session. This hands-on workshop allowed attendees to examine their own schools through a strategic lens, identifying key areas for growth and development. By encouraging reflection and strategic thinking, this session enabled schools to better understand how they can evolve.
NYSAIS Executive Director Vince Watchorn delivered a compelling presentation on the "NYSAIS Strategic Vectors," emphasizing mission delivery and desired outcomes. He discussed the importance of embodying the organization's mission and refining institutional language to create a clearer identity. Watchorn highlighted the need to foster and demonstrate expansive equity practices while facilitating member school leaders' use of data in their decision-making processes. He also emphasized the importance of delivering member value through responsive, high-impact services and programming, providing schools with the tools they need to thrive in a competitive environment.
Watchorn continued with an “Albany Update,” which provided an overview of key legislative changes affecting independent schools in New York. This included updates on evolving graduation requirements, special education services, and substantial equivalency standards. The conversation focused on how independent schools can adapt to these changing expectations while continuing to deliver high-quality education.
Andrew Cooke, NYSAIS' expert on communications and technology, led a session on how schools can enhance their digital presence. Cooke explored the growing importance of mobile apps and other technologies that streamline communication between schools and families. His presentation on the effectiveness of targeted messaging and mobile-first strategies was timely, as schools continue to navigate the balance between traditional communication methods and modern digital tools. He also shared insights on reducing email clutter and increasing engagement through smarter use of technology.
Associate Director for Evaluation and Accreditation Shannon Rogers and Swain presented on accreditation, addressing key topics such as accreditation volunteers, the ICAISA review process, and substantial equivalency standards. They also introduced a Financial Dashboard, which included metrics on enrollment, revenue, expenses, change in net assets, assets, and liabilities. This comprehensive approach aims to help schools enhance their financial health and accountability.
Data-driven decision-making was the focus of Chief Financial Officer Suzanne Baumgarten’s session, where she discussed the importance of leveraging school data to inform leadership decisions and offered a high-level review of key trends in independent schools (e.g. teacher retention). Baumgarten highlighted the role of the DASL (Data and Analysis for School Leadership) platform and how schools can use industry and regional data to enhance their operational and strategic planning. Her session underscored the value of using data to improve everything from student outcomes to financial management, all while ensuring schools stay competitive.
Associate Director of Professional Learning and DEI Initiatives Matt Suzuki and Associate Director for Professional Learning Worokya Duncan shared highlights from the professional learning initiatives, noting that over 4,600 participants from 188 member schools engaged in development activities across New York. Looking ahead to 2024-25, the focus will be on addressing critical challenges in private education such as teacher retention, differentiated instruction, DEI initiatives, and artificial intelligence. Governance programming will include both in-person and online conferences, alongside a trustee series and a leadership retreat.
To conclude, Suzuki and Watchorn led a discussion on NYSAIS’ DEI initiatives, emphasizing the importance of refining organizational language to better align with the mission. They reflected on the ongoing “mission conversations” held between 2022-2024 with various NYSAIS stakeholders, including the board, staff, and regional groups. These conversations highlighted themes such as clarifying the "what" versus the "why" of NYSAIS’ mission, the need for a simple and inspiring mission statement, and centering efforts on continuous school improvement. The discussion also explored NYSAIS’ role in supporting member schools and its primary accountability in strengthening these institutions.
Throughout the day, the meeting’s presenters helped paint a picture of the future for independent schools, encouraging reflection on current practices while providing actionable strategies for improvement. As schools face both long standing challenges and new opportunities, the importance of collaboration and forward-thinking leadership was emphasized again and again.
Attendees left with not only new insights and ideas but also a renewed sense of purpose. The discussions at this year’s NYSAIS Regional Meeting demonstrated that independent schools on Long Island are well-prepared to embrace the future, ensuring that they remain institutions of excellence for decades to come.