Conference Summary

“Innovation” was the theme of the 2012 NAIS Annual Conference in Seattle last week and I was not disappointed.  From top-notch general sessions speakers like Microsoft philanthropist Bill Gates to “Tiger Mom” Amy Chua and slam poet Sarah Kay, to presentations by inspirational educators like World Peace Game inventor and teacher John Hunter (who received a standing ovation), conference participants were the grateful recipients of ideas and insights that, hopefully, will help us to introduce new ways of thinking and innovations that will ultimately improve our own schools.

Distilling the abundance of information that I downloaded into my brain in two intense days has taken awhile.  I am glad that I took lots of notes because it has helped me to reflect on what I learned and to determine which take-aways I can best use in my capacity in the Admissions Division, but also as part of the Strategic Planning Council.  I am encouraged and inspired by this experience to champion and pursue ideas that could be paradigm-shifting or even visionary for KS, and not to be satisfied with the status quo when we can be so much more, even if the dream seems impossible or is not shared by leadership at a particularly point in time.

Along with the general session presentations by the four speakers already mentioned, we also heard presentations by Stephen Carter, a Yale Law Professor and Cheryl Crazy Bull – on the Board of Directors for the American Indian Higher Education Consortium.  Also sharing remarks in the general session was Patrick Barrett, NAIS President.  In addition, dozens of break-out workshops were offered.  I will share my thoughts on those in a separate post.

I am incredibly grateful for having had this experience.