| | | | Dear Friend, January invites a fresh start, and this year, it feels especially needed. For many, these past months have been complicated and exhausting. My hope is this new year offers all of us a moment to breathe and to reconnect with what matters most: community, purpose, and one another. And for Pollyanna, we're still celebrating a milestone. We turned 10, and are marking the moment by bringing our work to a national stage for the first time. From January 20 to 22, over 40 school communities from 17 states will gather in Minneapolis for our National Conference to explore how we can continue Building Stronger and Kinder Communities together. As we step into 2026, the future we imagine becomes possible when we commit to shaping it together. If your school has not registered yet, there are only a few spots left. I hope you'll join us and help shape the next decade of this work. Wishing you a very Happy New Year! | |  | | | | | Ali & Jason Headline Our January Online Workshops We’re kicking off the year with two powerful Workshop Series sessions designed to support school leaders in this complex moment. On Wednesday 1/14, Jason Craige Harris will offer a clear framework for leading through uncertainty, with practical tools to break down big challenges, assess risks, and mobilize teams. On Tuesday 1/27, Ali Michael will explore the political attacks on DEI and share research-based strategies to respond with clarity, strengthen your approach, and stay aligned with democracy and belonging. | | | | Meet Our Conference Keynote Speakers From corporate trailblazers to nonprofit changemakers and higher education leaders, they will each bring bold ideas and fresh perspectives to inspire meaningful change in the K-12 space.
Megan L. Hogan | Global Head of Talent, Goldman Sachs
Natosha Reid Rice | VP, Global Housing Opportunities & Mission Engagement, Habitat for Humanity
Charles Vogl | Author, The Art of Community
Jamil Zaki | Author, Hope for Cynics Only a handful of spots remain. Register now and make sure your school is part of this national movement toward Building Stronger and Kinder Communities. | | | | | | Leadership Team Convening Launches in 2026 We’re excited to invite you to Resilient Leadership in a Time of Change, Crisis, and Conflict, launching in New York City this spring – created by Pollyanna and hosted by The Hewitt School and St. Luke’s School for NY schools. Designed for senior leadership teams, this two-part convening strengthens alignment between mission, priorities, and decisions. Guided by Jason Craige Harris, we’ll engage in role-based discussions and intentional team planning, leaving with tangible takeaways, actionable insights, and a clear roadmap for mission-aligned progress. Click here to learn more and register. | | | | | | | | | | | | | | From Our Workshop Series to Our National Conference If you’ve been inspired by our 2025-26 Pollyanna Workshop Series, get ready — the National Conference takes that learning even deeper. Two of our fall workshop facilitators, Noah Arhm Choi and Megan Saxelby, are bringing their wisdom, tools, and energizing facilitation to Pollyanna National Conference. Educators walked away with tangible steps for creating safer, more inclusive schools — starting with the courage to take one action. Key insights included: - Finding an ally to bring this work to your school community.
- Turning learning into collective action that supports every student’s dignity.
| | | | | | AISNE's 2025 BIPOC Symposium Pollyanna Senior Advisor Jason Craige Harris co-facilitated, alongside Martha Haakmat, AISNE’s wellness symposium for educators of color as part of its incredible annual professional development series. The 1.5-day symposium was described by participants as practical, relatable, meaningful, and transformative. Educators left feeling renewed, connected, and empowered, with tools and insights to support both their personal well-being and their professional lives. We are deeply grateful to AISNE for its investment in the care, sustainability, and flourishing of educators of color, and to the participants whose openness, wisdom, and generosity made the experience so powerful. | | | | | | Chandler School's Community Seminars From MA to CA, Jason Craige Harris was recently featured in a day-long residency at The Chandler School, where he led seminars for students, the professional community, and parents/caregivers. Across the day, Jason explored dialogue across differences, navigating and managing conflict, and concrete steps for bystander intervention—all in service of promoting a culture of belonging for all. His seminars were peppered with relatable stories, punctuated by laughter, and shot through with meaningful opportunities for dialogue and practice. Thank you to The Chandler School for partnering with Pollyanna and for its commitment to cultivating a community rooted in care, courage, and connection. | | | | | | | | | | | | Strategenius Hosting Virtual Career Fair and Networking Event Join on Saturday, February 7, 2026, from 9:00-11:30AM PST for this premier virtual fair that connects independent schools committed to equity with a diverse, dynamic network of educators and leaders. Click here to sign up now! - Candidates can explore roles across teaching, administration, operations, advancement, admissions, and more, while receiving free resume feedback from TopResume.
- School leaders will engage with a curated pool of candidates, conduct interviews, and participate in mini workshops on ethical, inclusive hiring. Candidates gain access to national and international opportunities, real-time interviews, and career-building workshops.
Let your next opportunity within an independent school come to you! -------------------- Join a dynamic community of educators, researchers, parents, and school community in the San Francisco Bay Area - on March 12 and March 13, 2026 - for two days of bold ideas, deep exploration, and powerful connection. This year’s theme, EnlightenEd: Shifting Paradigms for Living and Learning, invites us to reimagine what education can be—for our students, our schools, and for ourselves. Come ready to challenge assumptions, spark new thinking, and explore innovative approaches to teaching and learning in a rapidly changing world. Whether you're a returning attendee or new to ILC, this is your chance to be part of a conference community that honors curiosity, celebrates creativity, and inspires change. | | | | | | | | “Pollyanna is giving teachers and administrators the support they need, offering students interesting assemblies and—most importantly—we’re giving them a voice.” Paquita Davis-Friday, Pollyanna Board Chair | | | | A FINAL THOUGHT “Tomorrow belongs to those of us who conceive of it as belonging to everyone." Audre Lorde | | | | | | | | | | | | | Pollyanna, Inc. is a not-for-profit corporation 501(c)(3). © 2025 Pollyanna | New York, NY 10075 | | | | | | | |
