The Puzzle: Blog

We're (re)turning for 2021!

After the unbelievable success of our virtual event last year, we are excited to announce the return of the Women's (Re)Institute for 2021. A virtual spinoff of our annual in-person event, the Women’s (Re)Institute is a dynamic monthlong online learning and networking experience dedicated to supporting women working in education.

When it became clear that, due to the COVID-19 crisis, the 2020 Women's Institute would not be able to be held in person, it wasn't a question of if the Institute should still be held, for us it was a question of how. For us, the work we are doing to support women — both as leaders and at various stages of their careers — was just too important to pause. After a lot of discussion and brainstorming, our Women's (Re)Institute was born. We decided to (re)imagine our annual Institute by (re)developing this important event to fit into a virtual space. Over the course of four weeks in June, nearly 2,000 women from around the world joined us for a month of professional development and comradery. Needless to say, we were blown away by the response! Read a recap of last year's (Re)Institute.

This year, we're back for another month packed full of programming, including a lineup of inspiring keynote speakers, 20+ live sessions covering a vast range of topics, and some new and exciting features.

Keynote Speakers

With more speakers being announced shortly, it is an honor to present Dot Kowal from Sonoma Academy and the Co-Executive Directors of the Unconscious Bias Project as keynote speakers.

Dot Kowal is the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Director of College Counseling at Sonoma Academy. In addition to her work at Sonoma Academy, Dot is on the board of directors for the Northern California arm of POCIS (People of Color in Independent Schools). Most recently, she has co-facilitated workshops and retreats spanning topics of inclusion dashboarding to track student sense of belonging, the role of APISA (Asian Pacifica Islander Southeast Asian) educators in the Black Lives Matter Movement, Deconstructing the Model Minority Myth, and anti-bias parenting. She recently published an essay highlighting her own realization of the practice of self-gaslighting as a response to racialized oppression of Asian Americans. Dot also consults for various schools in the Bay Area, and sees her job as fighting for equality and justice in the greater community of educators, students, and beyond. A licensed psychotherapist and seasoned independent school administrator, Dot has a unique outlook on the independent school experience.

The Unconscious Bias Project (UBP) was co-founded in 2017 by two scientists who knew from their own lived experiences that in order to make true system change happen, we needed to do more. They use scientifically-backed tools and approaches to drive systems change. The UBP empowers the individual, group, and collective using the latest best practices to do more to address systemic inequities of racism, xenophobia, ageism, ableism, and others excluded in society. Their hope is that they build a community and a workplace where everyone can pursue their dreams. We are excited to welcome Co-Executive Directors Alexis Krohn and Dr. Linet Mera.

Crissy Cáceres, an educational leader with over 20 years of experience, is the Head of School at Brooklyn Friends School, a Quaker independent school. Crissy was a long-time member of Call to Action, an NAIS think tank devoted to social justice efforts nationwide, and she has been a faculty member for 14 years at the NAIS Diversity Leadership Institute as well as part of the faculty at the NAIS School Leadership Institute. She has served as a Middle States Accreditation Commissioner, co-chaired the NAIS People of Color Conference, served on various leadership associations, and has partnered with schools, boards, and organizations nationwide as consultant, presenter, and facilitator on various school leadership, social justice, and school culture and student engagement topics.

An Engaging Schedule

Just like last year, each week revolves around a theme and features new and exciting live sessions, recorded videos, articles, and more. New content will be released at the start of each week. Offerings will include both synchronous and asynchronous content so you can choose your own adventure and participate in what is relevant to you, at your own pace. Browse the sessions and see the presenters from across the education space.

Equity, Inclusion & Community Thread

Aligning with Carney Sandoe’s mission to provide resources and support that help foster diverse, inclusive environments, the Equity, Inclusion & Community Thread features a variety of content addressing the challenging and complex issues that face underrepresented educators, staff, and school leaders, as well as those working toward creating more equitable and just school communities. Check out the Thread's sessions.

Conference Cohort Groups

Based on feedback from last year's attendees, we are happy to introduce the option of joining a cohort group. Groups will be led by a Carney Sandoe team member and will meet at various times throughout the month. Cohorts are designed to be safe spaces for discussion, storytelling, reflection, and networking.

1:1 Career Advising

Back by popular demand, registrants will have the option of signing up for a 30-minute advising session with a member of Carney Sandoe’s Placement or Search Groups to discuss whatever is on their minds—the next steps in their career, a job search, a leadership challenge, or a review of their written job materials. Last year, our advising sessions filled up so fast that we had a waiting list!

Register Now

While women are especially underrepresented in school leadership roles, the goal of our Women's (Re)Institute is to contribute to the overall development and empowerment of women in all stages of their professional journeys, whether that's serving as a teacher, head of school, friend, mentor, or classroom leader.

The (Re)Institute welcomes any person in the education community—both women and their allies. Visit the event website to learn more and register today. We can't wait to see you in June!

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