We recognize the value of professional development for our members – whether to support you in interpreting your assessment data, exploring ERB’s products and services, learning from subject matter experts, or engaging with a community of independent school educators.
After the ERB National Conference returned to New York City last April, we hit the road to kick off our ERB Connections Regional Conference Series. With events already having taken place in the fall in Pasadena and Houston, we’re now gearing up for our next conferences in Atlanta in March and Philadelphia in April.
Driven by the broader theme of “Connections: Impacting the Learning Landscape Through Data and Insight,” our regional conferences enable educators to explore data-driven insights and understand the importance of supporting the whole child at school and in the classroom. After all, we know that factors beyond academic performance – such as a student’s sense of well-being at school and their social-emotional skill set – can foster and impede student growth. You will leave the day inspired and equipped to leverage data and the stories data tell us to help each student reach their full potential.
But that’s not all. At ERB Regional Conferences, you’ll learn from ERB and outside experts, connect with your peers, and share best practices to drive continuous growth.
Top Reasons to Attend an ERB Conference This Year
Whether you’re an educator who has served the independent and private school community for decades or are new to your role, there’s always room to learn and grow.
1. Join Engaging Conference Sessions
ERB Regional Conferences offer sessions on topics ranging from admission best practices to using data to inform instruction and whole-child growth. Our conference sessions are:
- Inclusive: You’ll find sessions for professionals at all levels — whether you’re an administrator, faculty member, counselor, or learning specialist.
- Robust and varied: We offer sessions ranging from nuts-and-bolts tactics and practical implementation to key topics facing educators today like well-being on campus and equity in admission. With over 20 sessions to choose from, we have something for every member of the school community.
- Action-oriented: We’ve designed our agenda with the “use it on Monday” mindset, so you can learn today and apply your new insights in your school tomorrow.
Conference Sessions Include:
- Admission sessions for admission and enrollment professionals, plus a special meeting for our ISEE Consortia members in Philadelphia
- Pedagogical sessions on topics related to educational philosophy, practice, and theory
- Research sessions focused on the latest trends in education
- Listen-and-learn sessions
- Interactive workshops
- Sessions designed to help you get the most out of your ERB products, including how to interpret data and use data to their fullest potential
2. Hear from Leaders in the Field
Throughout each conference, you’ll learn from expert practitioners in education, including respected researchers, association and partner leaders, member school educators, and ERB staff and leadership.
This year’s ERB Regional Conferences feature presentations from One Schoolhouse, Character Lab, NAIS, and more on topics like artificial intelligence in the classroom, how to apply the latest research on social-emotional skills, and using data to support equity. Keynote speakers include:
- Tom Rochon, ERB President
- Sarah Hanawald, Senior Director of the Association for Academic Leaders
- Fran Bisselle, Head of School at Hathaway Brown School, for the Philadelphia event
- Stuart Gulley, President of Woodward Academy, for the Atlanta event
ERB President Tom Rochon at the regional conference in Pasadena, California in October 2023.
3. Gain Insights from Your Host School
At ERB Regional Conferences, the learning isn’t limited to a hotel ballroom. Our hosts are ERB Member Schools, and we carefully select cities with plenty to offer attendees before and after the conference.
In Atlanta, our host school is Pace Academy, a PreK-12 day school with 1150 students. In addition to hearing from Pace leaders, attendees will also have the opportunity to explore their newly expanded campus and learn how the school has sustained — and adapted — a child-centered approach for over 60 years.
Our Philadelphia host is the Shipley School, a PreK-12 day school enrolling 780 students. Tour their historic campus and hear how the school’s leaders have upheld its 130-year legacy while using the latest research to inform its approach to student well-being and performance.
4. Network with Your Peers, ERB Staff, and Partners
ERB Regional Conferences offer both formal and informal networking opportunities. You’ll share meals and conversations between sessions with other ERB member school administrators and educators and exchange thoughts, insights, and ideas.
You’ll also be able to match faces with the names of ERB staff you work with regularly. You can meet and hear from our senior leadership team, ERB’s Board of Trustees, and the experts who help you get the most out of your ERB membership.
Finally, at our conferences, you can get to know leaders from our partner organizations, like Character Lab, which collaborated with ERB to develop the Check-In Survey on student well-being at school, and representatives from associations including the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS).
Plus, downloading the Whova app lets you connect further with fellow attendees, join interactive discussions and forums, and stay in touch after the conference ends.
5. Bring Key Takeaways Back to Your School
After you attend an ERB Connections Regional Conference, you will have everything you need to share your learnings with the rest of your school — including slide decks, handouts, and more.
All of those resources will be accessible on the Whova app even after the conference ends. Conference attendees are also the first to learn about ERB’s newest initiatives and research.
Sarah Hanawald of the Association for Academic Leaders at the Pasadena conference.
6. Keep the Conversation Going and Shape Future Events
Before and after attending an ERB Regional Conference, you can share questions, ideas, and takeaways with us and your fellow attendees using the #ERBConference hashtag on social media and on the Whova app. Doing so is a great way to stay in touch with colleagues in your region — and to connect with peers in other areas of the country.
Interested in taking a more active role in future events? Attendees are invited to join our list of educators interested in being part of future planning committees. Members can submit presentation proposals for future conferences, help plan future content streams, and identify speakers.
Make an ERB Regional Conference Your Next Professional Development Priority
We designed ERB Regional Conferences for maximum impact in just one day. That means a full day of learning and insights to inform your work moving forward. No matter what you’re focusing on — curriculum design, student well-being, utilizing assessment data, communicating with families, or all of the above — you’ll find sessions to take your practices to the next level.
Learn more about session specifics from the full agendas for the Atlanta and Philadelphia conferences. Then, register to secure your place and take advantage of discounted fees for ERB member schools and groups. Questions? Email us at conference@erblearn.org.
We can’t wait to see you in person!
Explore how the ERB Connections Regional Conference Series can enable you to learn, connect, and share over the course of a dynamic and thought-provoking day.
