2026 Annual Conference

Sunday Keynote:

Our Collective Purpose as Engines of Hope

About Ross Peters

Ross is the founding partner of EXPLO Elevate, leading our consulting team after making significant contributions at the independent schools he has served. Beginning his career with eight years as a middle and upper school English teacher at Providence Day School, he served in significant leadership roles at Asheville School, Hawken School, The Westminster Schools, and St. George’s Independent School. He serves, or has served, on the boards of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools (TAIS), and Bridges USA. He and his wife, Katie, also served as members of the Family Partners Council at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital.

Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, Ross was a 13-year graduate of St. Christopher’s School. From there earned a BA in English at Sewanee: The University of the South, followed with an M.Ed from the University of Georgia. While he is deeply appreciative of the remarkable gift of education he received at every level, his best learning has resulted from being an educator working with students, whether as a classroom teacher or as a school leader. 

A widely published poet and photographer, Ross has completed work on a collection of poetry entitled The Flood is Not the River, and he contributed the foreword and over 100 photographs for a book entitled, Sacred Views: St. Francis and the Sacro Monte di Orta (Punctum Press, May 2020).

Monday Keynote:

The Art of Perception

About Amy Herman

Amy Herman is a lawyer and art historian who uses works of art to sharpen observation, analysis, and communication skills. By showing people how to look closely at painting, sculpture, and photography, she helps them hone their visual intelligence to recognize the most pertinent and useful information as well as recognize biases that impede decision making. She developed her Art of Perception seminar in 2000 to improve medical students' observation and communication skills with their patients when she was the Head of Education at The Frick Collection in New York City. She subsequently adapted the program for a wide range of professionals and leads sessions internationally for the New York City Police Department, the FBI, the French National Police, the Department of Defense, Interpol, the State Department, Fortune 500 companies, first responders, the military, and the intelligence community. In her highly participatory presentation, she demonstrates the relevance of visual literacy across the professional spectrum and how the analysis of works of art affords participants in her program an innovative way to refresh their sense of critical inquiry and reconsider the skills necessary for improved performance and effective leadership. The program has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The CBS Evening News, and Smithsonian Magazine, among others. Her TED talk, A Lesson on Looking, went live in December 2018.

Ms. Herman holds an A.B., a J.D., and an M.A. in art history. Her book, Visual Intelligence: Sharpen Your Perception, Change Your Life, was published in May 2016 and was on both the New York Times and Washington Post best-sellers' lists.  Her second book, Fixed: How to Perfect the Fine Art of Problem-Solving, was published in December 2021. Her third book, smART: Use Your Eyes to Boost Your Brain, was published in October 2022.

The TAIS Annual Conference is built to support every corner of school life, highlight member expertise, and connect all roles—from teachers to leaders—to the camaraderie of our network. Join us for two inspiring keynotes and 90+ practical breakouts across two days.

This year's breakouts include:

Collaborating Across Cultures: Expanding Student Voice through Global Student Partnerships

Joy Stephens, Randall Siefker, and Stephen Campbell of Lausanne Collegiate School, Lausanne Global Schools

Reimagining Learning Environments Through Intentional Design

Haley Dunavant, Christ Methodist Day School

The Classroom as a Lab: An Action Research Journey into Peer Observation

Kenna Chelsoi, Hutchison School

Making Learning Stick: The Impact of Hands‑On Instruction in Math, Literacy, Science, and Early Childhood

Dr. Karyn Tomkinson, hand2mind

Growing Grit, Independence, and Problem Solving in JK

Kelly Stockel and Erin Payne, Woodland Presbyterian School

Music and Fine Arts in an Era of Instant Gratification

Dawn Southerland and Becket Monaghan, Presbyterian Day School

Seeing People First: Using Photography to Frame U.S. History

Jennifer Cordero, Hutchison School

Storytelling with Data: Interdisciplinary Course Design & Implementation

Freya Sachs and Cindy Crenshaw, University School of Nashville

Getting Started with Robolink: Teaching Drones and Drone Competition

David Tran, St. Agnes Academy

Rethinking Solving Multistep Equations in Middle and Upper School Maths through Scaffolding and Manipulatives

Amanda Slater and Isaac Nichols-Paez, Currey Ingram Academy

Aligning for Impact: Creating Continuity in Learning Support Through Vertical Alignment

Ashley Pratt and Michele Rook, Battle Ground Academy

Talking for a Change: How Kids Can Help Us Map Prevention Strategies

Will Straughan and Lee Bergeron, Soundcheck Prevention

Working Hand in Hand: Counseling and College Counseling

Beverly Brooks and Amy Poag, St. Mary's Episcopal School

From Admission to Alumni: Building Parent Engagement That Lasts

Phil Higginson, Independent School Management, and Dennis Ring

Beyond the Posting: How Schools Can Proactively Attract and Select Talent

Meaghan Williams, Franklin Road Academy

Calculating Student Lifetime Value: Smarter Revenue Modeling For Schools

Joe Corbett, Clarity Tuition

From Vision to Traction: Practical Systems to Drive Follow-Through in Leadership Teams

Angie Sanders, Christ Presbyterian Academy

Leading with Confidence: Legal Updates, Policies, and Practical Guidance for Independent Schools

Kathleen Siciliano, Chambliss Law

Clarity Before Crisis: The DEFCON Framework for Strategic Focus in Independent Schools

Dr. Damian Kavanagh, MISBO, and Ross Peters, Explo Elevate

View our full agenda here, and stay tuned as breakout selections continue to expand.

Operating Budget Scholarship

Discounted registration is available on a sliding scale for schools with annual operating budgets of or less than $5,000,000. Please email Sarah at Sarah@taistn.com with the following information for consideration of an Operating Budget Scholarship.

• Name and email of the primary school contact for discussion of finances and discounts

• Name and email of the primary school contact for registration 

• The school’s annual operating budget for the 2025-2026 school year

• Number of faculty at the school

• Approximate number of people who will be registering using the code

• Anticipated registration date

New Attendees Scholarship

Any school sending two or more attendees to our conference from a school that has not attended our Annual Conference in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, or 2025 is eligible for a 15% discount on registration. Please email Sarah at Sarah@taistn.com with the following information for consideration of a New Attendees Scholarship.

• Name and email of the primary school contact for registration 

• Number of faculty at the school

• Approximate number of people who will be registering using the code

• Anticipated registration date

special discounts

Annual Conference Presenter Discount

TAIS values the time and expertise of our session presenters. Presenters receive a discounted registration rate of $180. 

TAIS Committee Members Discount

TAIS is grateful for the work of Administrator Services and Teacher Services Committee members whose efforts are essential to our Annual Conference and year-long programming. Committee members receive a discounted registration rate of $160.

Partners and Exhibitors

Conference attendance is included with Annual Partnership, conference sponsorship, and exhibition. Learn more here.