2025 New Teacher Workshop Series
Best Practices for Educators in Independent Schools
Join fellow early-career educators for a dynamic four-part virtual series designed to inspire, affirm, and equip you as you build your teaching identity and practices. Based on The New Teacher Handbook, this series combines practical strategies, real-world scenarios, and community connection to support your growth and resilience during your first years in the classroom.
Each session includes:
- A brief community-building activity
- A focused presentation of key strategies and concepts
- Breakout discussions to apply learning to authentic scenarios
- Additional tools and takeaways to bring back to your classroom
You’ll leave each session with:
- Concrete strategies to support student engagement and your own sustainability
- Reflective practices to help you grow with intention
- Connection with fellow educators who are on the same path
Whether you’re feeling energized, overwhelmed, or a mix of both, this series is a space for reflection, support, and joy.
Register
This is a 4-part workshop. Your registration is for all parts.
- September 18, 2025 from 3:30-5:00 PM
- October 16, 2025 from 3:30-5:00 PM
- November 20, 2025 from 3:30-5:00 PM
- December 11, 2025 from 3:30-5:00 PM
All sessions are held virtually, via Zoom.
| Attendees | Member Pricing | Non-Member Pricing |
| 1 – 3 | $390/pp | $490/pp |
| 4 – 9 | $350/pp | $450/pp |
| 10 – 19 | $310/pp | $410/pp |
| 20+ | $290/pp | $390/pp |
We strive to create an inclusive learning environment for all. If you have any questions or accessibility needs, please contact us at info@aisne.org.
Program Details
Session 1: Building Relationships and Rapport in Independent Schools
In this engaging session we’ll discover what makes independent schools unique and why strong relationships are at the heart of effective teaching. This interactive session explores the governance, faculty roles, and culture of independent schools while providing practical strategies for building trust and rapport with students, families, and colleagues. We will engage in self-assessment, role-plays, and case studies, and leave with a personalized plan to foster connection and establish a positive classroom climate during the critical first six weeks of school.
Session 2: Establishing Routines and Expectations for a Reflective Classroom
This session supports new teachers in building a structured and responsive classroom environment rooted in student partnership and intentional routines. You will learn how to design classroom systems that promote independence, reinforce clear behavioral and academic expectations, and incorporate rituals that foster a sense of belonging. Through case analysis, peer feedback, and first-week simulations, you will develop practical tools to launch a calm, consistent, and student-centered learning space.
Session 3: Planning for Purposeful and Inclusive Instruction
Learn how to craft thoughtful, goal-driven instruction that meets the diverse needs of your students. This session introduces backward design as a framework for aligning lessons with clear learning goals, while also emphasizing differentiation based on student readiness, interests, and learning styles. We will collaborate in subject- and grade-level groups to design meaningful, real-world-connected learning experiences and will receive peer feedback to refine their lesson and unit plans.
Session 4: Assessment and Feedback Strategies that Drive Learning
Empower your teaching with assessment practices that truly support student learning. This session focuses on designing quick, effective formative assessments, delivering meaningful, student-centered feedback, and using student data to guide instructional choices. Through hands-on activities like creating assessment tools, role-playing feedback conversations, and analyzing student work samples, you will develop strategies to monitor progress and adapt instruction to meet learners’ evolving needs.
About the Presenters
Berit Gordon | Consultant, Speaker, Author
Berit Gordon taught middle and high school for many years, and she still teaches, part-time. She supports schools across the U.S. and Canada in literacy and best practices across content areas. Teachers enjoy her warm and relatable style, her personalized strategies, and her solutions for the hard parts of teaching. They leave energized with tools that produce small shifts right away in student engagement and skills.
Elizabeth Grumbach | Moses Brown School (Providence, RI)
Elizabeth Grumbach is a dedicated Lower School science teacher at Moses Brown School in Providence, Rhode Island. With a passion for interdisciplinary education, she collaborates closely with colleagues across various subjects to create integrated, hands-on learning experiences that resonate with young learners. Grumbach serves as a mentor to new faculty members, guiding them through the school’s culture and pedagogical approaches. She is also actively involved in Moses Brown’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives, working to foster an inclusive environment for all students and staff. Her multifaceted role at Moses Brown underscores her dedication to nurturing curiosity, inclusivity, and a lifelong love of learning among her students.
Ken Rogers | The Park School (Brookline, MA)
Ken Rogers is the Assistant Head of School for Curriculum and Instruction at The Park School after serving as the school’s upper school (grades 5-8) division head for four years. Rogers is on the faculty of the Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS) New Teacher Institute. With independent school experience as a teacher, department chair, dean, and head of middle school, he is a frequent ISACS and Southern Association of Independent Schools (SAIS) presenter and consultant to independent schools. Ken has previously led workshops with AISNE, including “Sustaining Your Practice: Creating Teaching Habits to Last Your Whole Career” and “New Leaders in Today’s Changing Landscape.”
Cancellation Policy
Cancellations and transfer requests must be sent via email to info@aisne.org. Cancellations received up to 10 days before the start of the event will receive a 100% refund, less a $100 administrative fee. Transfers of registrations from one person to another are permitted up to 3 business days before the start of the event, or the first event of a series of events.
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Join today or renew your membership.