2026 Institute for Administrative Assistants: Full Schedule

1:00pm EDT

Registration

Wednesday June 17, 2026 1:00pm - 2:00pm EDT

Registration

2:00pm EDT

Welcome & Opening

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Speakers

Elizabeth Maglio

Director of Professional Learning, SAIS

Elizabeth joined the SAIS team in July 2021. She began her career in education in 2005 as a leadership program faculty advisor for middle school students at Envision EMI in Washington, D.C. She continued there as a program coordinator and professional development manager. In 2012... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

General Session

2:30pm EDT

Break

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:30pm - 2:45pm EDT

Meals & Networking

2:45pm EDT

AI Tools, Safety & Skills for What's Coming Next

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

This session introduces you to practical, high-impact AI tools designed to save time and reduce repetition. We’ll look at real use cases relevant to day-to-day work, exploring ways to streamline processes. But the goal isn’t just efficiency. We’ll also talk through safety concerns - what you need to know about data privacy, bias, and AI-generated content -and then shift toward the skills...
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Speakers

Evan Harris

President, Pathos Consulting Group

Evan Harris is a national expert on emerging AI risks in schools, with a focus on deepfake abuse and digital safety. He has advised the Office of the First Lady, the Department of Education, and the General Counsel of the National Association of Independent Schools, where he co-authored... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

Breakout

2:45pm EDT

Planning & Managing Daily Demands

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

Executive assistants and support staff are the backbone of independent schools, often juggling multiple priorities, last-minute requests, and competing demands from various stakeholders. This interactive workshop will equip you with practical strategies to take control of your day rather than letting your day control you. You'll explore proven techniques for prioritizing tasks, managing...
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Speakers

Elizabeth Maglio

Director of Professional Learning, SAIS

Wednesday June 17, 2026 2:45pm - 3:45pm EDT

Breakout

3:45pm EDT

Break

Wednesday June 17, 2026 3:45pm - 4:00pm EDT

Meals & Networking

4:00pm EDT

Deepfake Safety for Administrative Assistants

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

As a trusted partner to your school’s leadership team, you manage sensitive information; coordinate financial transactions; and often serve as a point of contact for families, vendors, and other outside stakeholders. That central role makes you a likely target for AI-powered scams and deepfake deception, but it also puts you in a powerful position to be your school’s first line of defense. In...
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Speakers

Evan Harris

President, Pathos Consulting Group

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Breakout

4:00pm EDT

Supporting School Leaders From Behind the Scenes

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

In independent schools, much of the visible leadership happens from the front of the room. But just behind every successful head of school or principal is a trusted assistant or operational partner ensuring the mission moves forward with excellence and grace. This session explores the often-overlooked role of executive and administrative assistants—not just as support staff, but as culture...
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Speakers

Dusty Tresnak

Executive Assistant to Associate Head of School, Legacy Christian Academy

Dusty Tresnak serves as the executive assistant to the associate head of school at Legacy Christian Academy in Frisco, TX, where she has spent the last eight years supporting school leaders and administrative teams. She works closely with principals, faculty, and families to help... Read More →

Wednesday June 17, 2026 4:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

Breakout

5:00pm EDT

Reception

Wednesday June 17, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

Meals & Networking

7:00am EDT

Morning Wellness: Yoga (Optional)

Thursday June 18, 2026 7:00am - 7:45am EDT

Speakers

Elizabeth Maglio

Director of Professional Learning, SAIS

Thursday June 18, 2026 7:00am - 7:45am EDT

Wellness

8:00am EDT

Continental Breakfast

Thursday June 18, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Meals & Networking

9:00am EDT

Keynote | Navigating Transitions: Supporting Leadership & Yourself Through Change

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Organizational change is constant in independent schools, impacting senior leadership teams and those who support them. This workshop focuses on the unique role administrative professionals play during times of transition. Participants will explore practical strategies for navigating change, maintaining alignment, and supporting evolving leadership needs. The session emphasizes adaptability,...
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Speakers

Liz Layne

Freelance Executive Assistant

Liz is a seasoned administrative professional with 25 years of experience supporting senior leadership in New York City independent schools. Her career included roles in head of school and board offices, as well as finance and development, where she built systems that strengthened... Read More →

Layne 1 Transitions Handout for Participants pdf

Thursday June 18, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

General Session

10:00am EDT

Break

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:00am - 10:15am EDT

Meals & Networking

10:15am EDT

Head of School Panel Discussion

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:15am - 12:00pm EDT

Join an engaging conversation with heads and assistant heads of school as they share candid insights about the partnership between school leaders and their administrative assistants. This interactive panel moves beyond generic advice to offer real-world perspectives on what makes this relationship transformative for both the leader and the school.You'll gain insight intoWhat heads value most in...
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Speakers

Heather Caponi

Associate Head of School, Ensworth

Dr. Heather Caponi is an educational leader with 30 years of experience in independent schools. Currently serving as the associate head of school at Ensworth, she transitioned into this executive role in 2023 after initially joining the community as lower school head in 2020. Her... Read More →

Meghan Fulton

Director of Administrative Operations, Durham Academy

Meghan Fulton joined Durham Academy in 2017 as an athletic trainer. She was named assistant athletic director in 2019 and was asked to lead Durham Academy’s schoolwide Wellness Committee in 2021. After displaying strong organizational leadership in a variety of roles at DA, Meghan... Read More →

Tara Terry

Head of School, The Fletcher School

Dr. Tara Terry is the head of The Fletcher School, an independent K-12 school for students with learning differences located in Charlotte. Tara has spent the majority of her career in schools that educate students with language-based learning disabilities such as dyslexia and ADHD... Read More →

Thursday June 18, 2026 10:15am - 12:00pm EDT

General Session

12:00pm EDT

Lunch

Thursday June 18, 2026 12:00pm - 1:00pm EDT

Meals & Networking

1:00pm EDT

Keynote | Discretion, Diplomacy & Professional Self-Advocacy

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Administrative professionals supporting senior leaders in independent schools play a key role in managing trust, access, and communication. This session focuses on handling sensitive situations with discretion and diplomacy while also advocating professionally for one’s role, time, and expertise. Thoughtful self-advocacy strengthens effectiveness and sustainability in high-trust environments....
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Speakers

Liz Layne

Freelance Executive Assistant

Layne 2 Discretion Handout for Participants pdf

Thursday June 18, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

General Session

2:30pm EDT

Break

Thursday June 18, 2026 2:30pm - 3:00pm EDT

Meals & Networking

3:00pm EDT

Roundtable Discussions: Small Group Problem-Solving Sessions

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

Roundtable Discussion Topics:
Working with the board and trustees
Celebrations and retirees
Crisis response and the admin assistant's role
Working effectively with administrative teams
Technology troubleshooting and shortcuts
Managing up: Supporting different leadership styles
First year as an admin assistant: Lessons learned

Thursday June 18, 2026 3:00pm - 4:30pm EDT

General Session

4:45pm EDT

Afternoon Wellness: Guided Walk (Optional)

Thursday June 18, 2026 4:45pm - 5:30pm EDT

Wellness

8:00am EDT

Continental Breakfast

Friday June 19, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am EDT

Meals & Networking

9:00am EDT

Keynote | How I Found My Reset Button: Self-Care, Boundaries & Avoiding Burnout

Friday June 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

Being everything for everyone can leave you feeling like there’s nothing left for yourself. Whether you're managing calendars, fielding curveballs, or supporting school leaders through it all, your heart is at the center of your role. But what happens when your energy runs low, your boundaries blur, or burnout creeps in? This inspiring and interactive session offers a chance to pause, reflect,...
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Speakers

Tricia Manning

Owner & Executive Coach, White Cap Coaching

Tricia Manning is a certified executive coach, speaker, and author of Lead with Heart and Leave a Legacy.

After spending 25 years rising through the ranks in corporate America—including as one of only two women on her company’s executive leadership team—she brings firsthand

... Read More →

Friday June 19, 2026 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

General Session

10:00am EDT

Break

Friday June 19, 2026 10:00am - 10:30am EDT

Meals & Networking

10:30am EDT

Workshop | Motivating & Inspiring Forward Momentum

Friday June 19, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

Speakers

Tricia Manning

Owner & Executive Coach, White Cap Coaching

Friday June 19, 2026 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

General Session

11:30am EDT

Closing

Friday June 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm EDT

Speakers

Elizabeth Maglio

Director of Professional Learning, SAIS

Friday June 19, 2026 11:30am - 12:00pm EDT

General Session

12:00pm EDT

Adjourn

Friday June 19, 2026 12:00pm - 12:00pm EDT

Registration

1:00pm EDT

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