The Women’s Leadership Initiative (LeadIn) is excited to announce three leadership development opportunities for the 2025-2026 school year. These programs will continue to advance and promote women in headship and senior leadership positions and will serve alumni of the program, women new to headship, and women with high headship potential. The cohort program will return in its original form in 2026.
LeadIn Tune-Up, November 7th, 2025, Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart – Calling all LeadIn Alumni! Bringing together LeadIn alums, the LeadIn faculty and industry experts, this program will provide a hands-on exploration of skills to enhance your visibility and presence. Participants will leave ready to take on their next leadership role, whether within their own school or elsewhere.
Women Leaders Retreat + Think Tank, January 2026 (date TBD), Virginia Mae Center at the Cathedral – Come in from the cold in January! This program will offer women in the very highest leadership roles an opportunity to participate in a retreat and think tank. Through a combination of guided conversations and professional facilitation, we will engage in frank talk and forward thinking around women leading at the highest levels in our schools. The program will serve women who have previously participated in LeadIn and others who have shown high potential for headship and for shaping the future of independent schools.
In Her Circle, Offered in Collaboration with The Heads Network, April 9th-10th, 2026, Virginia Mae Center at the Cathedral – So you’ve made it to headship. Let’s help you thrive! The Heads Network (THN) and AISGW are joining forces to provide support and development to AISGW and THN members who are new to headship. Drawing on the expertise of veteran faculty from both organizations, this program will create space for authentic dialogue and feedback about the joys and challenges that women experience in the early years of school leadership. The group will meet in person in April preceded by three virtual conversations in October, January and March.
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The Cohort Program Will Return in 2026.
Read about it below.
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Program Goals
- To enhance and advance the impact of women leaders on the educational excellence of independent schools
- To provide women leaders with the affirmation, competencies and personal vision needed to advance to the highest levels of independent school leadership
- To connect participants to a network of current school leaders who will act as mentors, sponsors and advisors to facilitate their development in independent school leadership
- To identify opportunities for women leaders to undertake meaningful leadership roles in projects and initiatives currently available in AISGW schools
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Program Components
- Nine sessions held primarily in-person addressing key leadership topics for women
- Mentoring from a DC-area head of school/senior administrator
- Affinity conversations as needed based on cohort composition
- Reading assignments, webinar recommendations, journal reflections, and a review of case studies and current research on school leadership
- Identification of goals, educational philosophies, and a plan for leadership in support of next steps
- Independent presentation on a school issue
- Potential for participating in real-time leadership projects in AISGW schools
- Complimentary attendance at selected AISGW programs for school heads
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Who Will Lead the Program?
The program will be led by Kathleen O’Neill Jamieson, former head of school at the National Cathedral School. AISGW heads of school, independent school thought-leaders, and independent school consultants from throughout the region and nationally have been invited to share their expertise on specific topics. The program sessions will be guided and facilitated by an advisory faculty comprised of heads of school from a range of AISGW schools.
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Who Should Apply?
This program is for women aspiring to independent school headships or senior leadership roles in academics, enrollment, fundraising, or finance. Applicants should have prior experience working in an administrative or leadership capacity; women currently in director positions are highly encouraged to apply. In addition to formal leadership experience, applicants should exhibit high potential for leading teams, managing change, solving problems and successfully engaging in complex human interactions. While not all cohort members are expected to be interested in a head of school role, it is anticipated that many will be exploring this type of leadership opportunity.
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How is the Leadership Initiative Different from Other Leadership Development Programs?
The Leadership Initiative will have a uniquely local focus on the greater Washington, DC region since both the program leaders and the cohort members will have extensive knowledge and a shared experience of the leadership needs, opportunities and culture of DC-area schools. At the same time, this local focus will be amplified with the wisdom of national experts. The Leadership Initiative also will offer opportunities for hands-on engagement in school leadership work through case studies and participation in real-time school projects. Finally, there will be a distinct emphasis on sponsorship through relationships developed with the head of school advisors and the broad support of current AISGW school heads who are invested in the success of the participants in this program.
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Please note that this program is for women in AISGW schools only.
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