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2026 Annual Conference Sponsorship and Exhibition

Saturday, November 7, 2026 at 9:00 AM (CST) to Monday, November 9, 2026 at 4:30 PM (CST)
120 Seats Remaining
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Overview

The Annual Conference of the Tennessee Association of Independent Schools is the organization's signature opportunity for educators to grow together. In 2025, the Annual Conference brought together nearly 600 teachers, leaders, visionaries, and resources from across Tennessee and the Southeast. Over 180 presenters led 100+ sessions highlighting the robust work of TAIS teachers and leaders. The 2026 TAIS Annual Conference will be held at Presbyterian Day School in Memphis, Tennessee, on November 8th and 9th.

Target Audience: All school roles

Expected Attendance: 550-650

Parallel Event: 2026 Heads' Retreat

Focus & Form: See What Matters. Create What’s Next.

In a fast-paced world saturated with 10-second clips and automated solutions, attention is fragmented, human connection is strained, and clarity in decision-making is diminished at every level. The 2026 TAIS Annual Conference invites educators and school leaders to look more closely, practice discernment and articulation, and shape learning and leadership with greater purpose. Join us in looking to art and innovation to build the skills needed to lead our school communities with vibrancy and greater intention.

Annual Conference Exhibitor Booth

A booth at the TAIS Annual Conference offers high-visibility, high-touch engagement with Tennessee’s independent school community across two days, connecting your team with 500+ educators and school leaders.

At the 2026 Annual, the Exhibition Hall is the hub of the conference, sharing a space with breakfast, snack, and lunch service; seating for attendees; and special entertainment. Positioned indoors and often as a passage for breakout sessions, attendee connections are natural and repeated.

The Annual Conference Exhibitor Package includes:

  • A dedicated 6- or 8-foot information table
  • A two-day ticket for two representatives (meals included)
  • A centrally-located, indoor exhibitor space, which also draws attendees with snacks, coffee, meals, and special entertainment
  • Visibility on the conference app
  • Capability within the app to create a custom Digital Exhibitor Booth, share product videos or live showcases, run promotional offers or in-app push campaigns, digitally collect and export leads, schedule one-on-one conversations, and more
  • High-touch engagement with 500+ attendees over the span of two days

TAIS uses the Whova Event Management System for the Annual Conference and Heads' Retreat. Very familiar to our attendees and often to exhibitors, too, Whova offers:

  • Exclusive access to the conference app, Whova, to build a custom Exhibitor Booth Profile

  • Ability to share product videos, host live showcases, and initiate meet-ups

  • Options to run promotional offers or in-app push campaigns

  • Digital lead capture with the ability to collect and export contacts

  • Tools to schedule conversations and meet-ups with attendees

Presbyterian Day School is located on the 29-acre campus of Second Presbyterian Church in East Memphis. Vendor tables will be set up in the Original Gym, located directly behind the main entrance. Snacks, lunch, beverages, and entertainment will also be in the Original Gym—making it easy for attendees to gather and creating more natural opportunities for vendor engagement throughout the event.

Campus Map

Presenter Eligibility & Commitment

TAIS Annual Conference session presentations are reserved for TAIS Members, TAIS Corporate Partners, or invited guest speakers. Proposal submitters must be (a) employed by a TAIS Member School, (b) explicitly invited by TAIS staff to propose a session, or (c) representing an organization that intends to become a TAIS Annual Corporate Partner for the 2026–2027 year.

Proposals accepted under option (c) are contingent upon the presenting organization formally committing to a 2026–2027 Corporate Partnership by July 1. Sessions will not run without this confirmed commitment.

Annual Conference Exhibition Only, Annual Conference Foundry Sponsorship, or Reception Hosts Only are not pathways to session presentations. The Annual Conference Lead Sponsorship, which affords access to the 2026-2027 Gold-Level Annual Corporate Partnership, is a pathway to propose an Annual Conference session. The Annual Conference program is finalized and published several months in advance of the event. Therefore, partnership commitment must be received by July 1, 2026, to propose an Annual Conference session.

Evening Reception Host 

Take center stage at our evening celebration on Sunday, November 8th. Partner with TAIS in hosting an energizing and highly relational gathering of leaders from across the TAIS network. To protect the event's essence of camaraderie and goodwill, hosting is limited to five partners. Leverage this opportunity to position your brand as a champion of education leadership while connecting with and celebrating that very work within the TAIS network.

  • Exclusivity of only five sponsoring organizations will be featured
  • Prominent visibility on the Evening Reception invitation
  • Logo placement on reception signage
  • Complimentary registration for two representatives
  • Formal recognition in the Executive Director's welcome remarks
  • Option to place marketing materials or individually-wrapped, branded sweet treats on the reception tables
You'll connect with TAIS heads of school, board members, and other key leaders, like the Administrator Services Committee (ASC), Teacher Services Committee (TSC), and featured presenters. You'll also get to know thought-leaders from across the region, with attendees traveling from Mississippi, Kentucky, and Arkansas—making this a valuable moment for visibility and authentic connection.

Agenda

November 7
9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Exhibition Load-In and Setup All exhibitions must be loaded in and set up on Saturday, November 7th. On Sunday, November 8th, there will not be access to the conference site before the opening of registration.
November 8
6:00 AM - 1:00 PM No Access to Conference Site
12:59 PM - 5:00 PM Exhibitor Arrival Conference Site and Parking Lot Open at 1:00 pm CT (No Early Access Available)
Exhibitors must complete setup on Saturday and be ready to greet attendees when registration opens at 1:00 PM CT on Sunday. Parking and campus spaces cannot be accessed before 1:00 PM on Sunday.
1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Exhibition Hall Open View the detailed attendee agenda for Sunday, November 8, here.
5:00 PM Campus Closes
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM Evening Reception An invitation-only gathering attended by hosting partners, network leaders, and special guests. Hosted on a secondary site.
November 9
6:30 AM Conference Site and Parking Lot Open
7:00 AM Exhibitor Arrival
7:30 AM - 3:30 PM Exhibition Hall Open View the detailed attendee agenda for Monday, November 9, here.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Exhibition Hall Breakdown
Credits Price
Exhibition Booth: For-Profits Organizations
Registration Ends 9/6/26 at 1:00 PM CST
12.00 (Sponsor Contract 26-27) $850.00
Exhibition Booth: Non-Profit Organizations
Registration Ends 9/6/26 at 1:00 PM CST
12.00 (Sponsor Contract 26-27) $650.00
Credits Price
Annual Conference Lead Sponsor
Registration Ends 9/6/26 at 1:00 PM CST
12.00 (Sponsor Contract 26-27) $4,600.00
Annual Conference Foundry Sponsor
Registration Ends 9/6/26 at 1:00 PM CST
12.00 (Sponsor Contract 26-27) $1,800.00
Credits Price
Reception Host
Registration Ends 9/6/26 at 1:00 PM CST
12.00 (Sponsor Contract 26-27) $1,500.00

Other Ways to Engage

Heads' Retreat Sponsorship

Full Corporate Partnership