Re-Centering Student Life with Care, Clarity, and Connection

Date & Location

Tuesday, January 20, 2026
Middlesex School
1400 Lowell Rd, Concord, MA 

Build more intentional, sustainable practices that serve both student development and staff wellbeing, whether you’re a dean of students, residential life coordinator, advisor program director, or administrator overseeing student life functions.

We will review a diagnostic framework for student life assessment, relationship-building strategies with healthy boundaries, systems alignment tools, and a peer network for ongoing support

Pricing and Registration

Your workshop registration includes both breakfast and lunch.
 

REGISTER NOW

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.

Agenda at a Glance

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

• 8:00 – 8:45 AM | Arrival & Breakfast
• 8:45 – 9:00 AM | Welcome & Framing the Day
• 9:00 – 10:15 AM | Decoding the Signals of Student Life
• 10:30 – 11:45 AM | Student Focus Groups for Improved School Climate and Student Wellbeing
• 11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch & Roundtable Conversations
• 12:30 – 1:45 PM | Aligning Values and Systems
• 2:00 – 3:15 PM | The Caring Dividend: Leading Your Student Life Team
  
• 3:15 – 3:45 PM | Closing Synthesis: Care + Clarity + Connection
• 4:00 – 5:00 PM | Self-Care Sessions (Optional)

Detailed Agenda

Tuesday, January 20 

8:00 – 8:45 AM | Arrival & Breakfast
Start the day with an opportunity to connect with colleagues over breakfast. 

8:45 – 9:00 AM | Welcome & Framing the Day
Join us for the workshop welcome as we set the tone for the day ahead. Bridget Johnson and Dr. Brooklyn Raney will open the workshop with introductions, framing the day’s purpose, and previewing the sessions and experiences to come.

9:00 – 10:15 AM | Decoding the Signals of Student Life
Disengagement, burnout, and behavior challenges often signal deeper misalignment within school culture. In this session, we will explore The Eight Essential Dimensions of Student Life framework and engage in an interactive “Culture Scan” exercise to map your school’s current strengths and stress points. Leave with a diagnostic lens to move beyond anecdotes and uncover the root causes impacting student and community wellbeing.

10:30 – 11:45 AM | Student Focus Groups for Improved School Climate and Student Wellbeing
Discovering the power of “One Trusted Adult,” this session shares research-backed strategies for building healthy boundaries and meaningful connections in residential and student life contexts. Engage in an interactive activity using the Focus Group Protocol and the 3P’s—Presence, Play, Possibility—and leave with practical tools for gathering student insights and translating them into actionable plans, community goals, or annual reports.

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM | Lunch & Roundtable Conversations
Enjoy lunch while engaging in roundtable conversations with colleagues. Share ideas, insights, and experiences in an informal setting, fostering connection and collaborative learning.

12:30 PM – 1:45 PM | Aligning Values and Systems
Examine case studies of schools that have successfully restructured student life roles for greater clarity and sustainability. In an interactive Impact Planning Sprint, participants will draft 1–2 potential changes in structure, staffing, or priorities, then engage in peer coaching within triads to refine their plans. Leave with a clearer vision for aligning program goals, staff energy, and school values.

2:00 – 3:15 PM | The Caring Dividend: Leading Your Student Life Team
Explore insights from The Caring Dividend on how care drives retention, satisfaction, and culture. Reflect on the difference between leadership for likeability versus authentic connection, and assess your own care communication strengths and growth areas. In a small-group design challenge, craft your personal care statement and develop a plan for sharing it with your student and residential life team. Leave with concrete practices to foster high-trust, care-centered environments for both students and staff.

3:15 – 3:45 PM | Closing Synthesis: Care + Clarity + Connection
Bridget Johnson and Dr. Brooklyn Raney bring the day’s learning full circle. Together, we will reflect and identify our Top 3 Action Steps to implement back at your schools, then join a closing circle to share one key insight or intention for the year ahead, leaving inspired and ready to act.

4:00 – 5:00 PM | Self-Care Sessions (Optional)

• Yoga
• Mindfulness
• Middlesex School Campus Tour

About the Presenters

Bridget Johnson is founder of the Deans’ Roundtable, a professional development community established in 2012 to support student life professionals in independent schools. With over two decades of experience in education, she has held significant roles such as Dean of Students at Milton Academy, Associate Executive Director at Prep for Prep, and Associate Director of Admissions at Episcopal High School in Northern Virginia. Through the Deans’ Roundtable, Bridget offers coaching, leadership development, and training to schools and mission-based organizations, emphasizing conflict resolution, difficult conversations, and strategic change management. Her work aims to foster supportive and respectful school environments, advocating for restorative practices and collaborative leadership. Bridget is also the host of the Deans’ Roundtable Podcast Series, where she engages with educators and administrators to discuss innovation and best practices in student life. The podcast addresses challenges in modern education, from crisis management to building inclusive communities, offering strategies to shape the future of learning. Her contributions to the field are further exemplified through the development of the Student Life Assessment Tool, designed to help schools assess the quality of their student life programs. As a Georgetown University graduate, Bridget continues to be a passionate advocate for creating environments where students and educators can thrive.

Dr. Brooklyn Raney is a leadership researcher, educator, and speaker specializing in trust, boundaries, and relational dynamics across educational and organizational settings. With over 15 years of experience, she has trained thousands of leaders—from heads of school to CEOs—through keynotes, workshops, and innovative frameworks that foster sustainable, care-driven leadership. Dr. Raney holds a BA from Colgate University, an MA in Educational Theater from NYU, and both an MS and EdD from the University of Pennsylvania. Her doctoral research explored the intersection of student perception, teacher sustainability, and parent expectations, grounded in an ethic of care. She is the creator of frameworks such as The Caring Dividend™, ABCs of Trust, and Responsive Care Communication, which equip leaders to build meaningful, effective, and sustainable relationships. Dr. Raney is also the author of One Trusted Adult: How to Build Strong Connections & Healthy Boundaries with Young People, providing practical strategies for educators, parents, and mentors to make a lasting impact on young people.

We look forward to learning alongside you and your peers at this event. 

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 $150 administrative fee. This fee covers the cost of our minimum commitments with our hotel partners; thank you for your understanding. Transfers of registrations from one person to another are permitted up to 3 business days before the start of the event.

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