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Pollyanna 2025-26 Workshop Series
EVERYONE MAKES A COMMUNITY
1 price per school for all 16 workshops
for your entire school community of Administrator, Faculty, Parents, Staff and Trustees
- The fee for schools/corporations with 500 students/employees and under is $1900 for the summer and for schools/corporations with 501 students/employees and over is $2400. Please email info@pollyanna-us.org and let us know if this presents a financial hardship.
- The early pricing of $1700 for 500 students and under, and $2200 for over 501 students is available through September 15, 2025.
- All sessions are one hour on Zoom at noon ET / 9AM PT, and workshops are recorded and available on demand until May 30, 2026.
OCTOBER 2025
Wednesday 10/15
Jan Abernathy, We’re All Members Here – Better Communications for a Stronger PA
This session explores how parent associations can foster belonging through effective communication. Learn strategies to increase engagement, boost attendance, and ensure all families feel welcomed. By creating inclusive environments, parent leaders can help make school communities where every family contributes and thrives.
Tuesday 10/28
Kelly Bird, Using Literature to Teach Children About Race and Identity
Discover how books can help children explore race, identity, and diversity. Through hands-on group reading and reflection, participants will gain tools to use literature as a springboard for conversation about complex topics like race, gender, and family. Walk away with strategies for meaningful engagement at home.
NOVEMBER 2025
Thursday 11/6
Noam Arhm Choi, It Takes Just One: How Educators Can Transform the Lives of LGBTQ+ Students
Learn how educators can protect and affirm LGBTQ+ students amid anti-trans legislation. Learn inclusive practices, strengthen school policies, and dispel myths through a 360-degree lens. This session offers tools to safeguard students and promote gender equity in lasting, systemic ways.
Monday 11/17
Megan Saxelby, Belonging Through Shared Humanity: Dignity, Adolescence, and the Stories We Tell
Explore how dignity and storytelling can shape school culture. Learn how adult narratives impact adolescent belonging and how youth can drive change when adults model shared language and respect. Leave with strategies and tools to nurture connection and dignity across roles and generations.
DECEMBER 2025
Tuesday 12/9
Samantha Hosein, Empowering Students Through Community Engagement & Service Learning
Learn how to design service learning projects that inspire student leadership and civic responsibility. Through real-world examples and interactive activities, this workshop will help educators integrate social justice, reflection, and community impact into student learning experiences.
JANUARY 2026
Wednesday 1/14
Jason Craige Harris, Leading Through Complexity: A Strategic Approach to Tackling Big Challenges
Gain a practical framework to lead through uncertainty and complexity. This session equips school leaders with decision-making tools to break down high-stakes challenges, assess risks, plan strategically, and mobilize teams effectively. Participants will apply their learning to real scenarios.
Tuesday 1/27
Ali Michael, What Doesn't Kill DEI Could Make it Stronger
Explore the politically motivated attacks on DEI, and strategize how school leaders can respond with clarity and purpose. Learn to distinguish genuine critiques from political attacks and examine research-based strategies to protect and evolve DEI efforts so they remain aligned with democracy and belonging.
FEBRUARY 2026
Wednesday 2/12
David Smith, Centering DEIB in Advancement
Examine how advancement teams can align fundraising, alumni engagement, and events with DEIB goals. Learn to assess your team’s practices, train staff and volunteers, and engage boards in inclusive strategies that reflect your school’s mission and strengthen donor relationships.
Thursday 2/24
Ivy Alphonse-Crean, The Pluralism Pit: Why this Framework Excludes
This session examines the shift from DEI to “pluralism” and why it may unintentionally uphold exclusion. Learn how pluralism can obscure systemic inequities and explore critical questions about its role in institutional change. Gain tools to assess and advance authentic inclusion.
MARCH 2026
Tuesday 3/3
Derek Lipscomb, A Seat at The(ir) Table
What does it really mean to have a seat at the table? This session explores power, voice, and decision-making through the lens of marginalized experiences. Learn how to navigate those spaces with confidence and advocacy, and how your voice can open doors for others.
Thursday 3/12
Gardy Guiteau, Partnering for Belonging: Parents as Partners in Fostering Inclusive School Communities
This workshop explores how to build genuine partnerships with parents in fostering inclusion and belonging. Through research, practical tools, and shared reflection, participants will reimagine how schools and families can co-create environments where every student thrives.
APRIL 2026
Wednesday 4/8
Naledi Sean Semela, Serving on a Hiring Committee: Centering Mission and Equity in a Search
Gain tools to confidently participate in equitable hiring practices. From application reviews to interviews, this session highlights mission-driven approaches, identifies common pitfalls, and offers strategies for inclusive hiring decisions that support long-term school culture and success.
Thursday 4/16
Jaleesa Anselm, Seeing the Unseen: The Invisible Plight of Disabled BIPOC Women in Independent Schools
BIPOC women with non-apparent disabilities often face stigma when prioritizing their health in school settings. This workshop shares one educator’s self-advocacy journey and offers strategies to challenge assumptions, center well-being, and build authentic support. Learn how to advocate for yourself and support others facing invisible challenges.
Tuesday 4/21
Shernice Lazare, Advancing DEI for Trustees & Board Members
Explore how trustees can lead inclusively through governance and policy. This session provides practical tools for embedding DEI in decision-making, strengthening community relationships, and championing institutional change through a board-level lens.
MAY 2026
Wednesday 5/6
Shanie Israel & Paris McLean, From Policy to Action: Safe, Supported, and Informed Communities
Policies are only effective when communities understand and apply them. Learn how to translate school policies into living documents that inform, support, and reflect your values. Explore how to respond when policies are challenged and how to communicate them clearly to all constituents.
Thursday 5/14
Rosetta Lee, Parenting with Identity in Mind
Explore identity development and how parents can nurture healthy self-concepts in children. This session offers age-appropriate strategies to affirm children’s identities while supporting their growth as inclusive, empathetic community members.
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