PURPOSE AND POSSIBILITY: A Summer Seminar Series for Heads of School

Join a small, diverse cohort of Heads of School for structured reading and substantive discussion.

Let’s Think Big About the Purpose of Independent Schools, Together.

Most Heads of School entered education because they love learning, ideas, and meaningful conversation. Yet the daily realities of leadership often leave little room for true intellectual engagement.

This summer, join PURPOSE AND POSSIBILITY: A Summer Seminar Series for Heads of School to do exactly that: nerd out about the big ideas that sit behind your daily work with colleagues who understand the particular complexity of headship. Refresh your curiosity and engage in deep, wide-ranging conversations about the purpose of independent schools in today’s changing world.

Conversation will be inspired by precepts of the Purpose Project (co-founded by John Gulla of E.E. Ford Foundation and Ross Peters of EXPLO Elevate) and curated readings. Sessions will be designed by Liza Garonzik (of R.E.A.L.® Discussion) to feel like your favorite class from grad school. Ultimately, this program will challenge you to think differently, read attentively, and listen deeply.

It’s not going to solve your short-term problems (check those budget woes at the door…). But we hope it will do something even more important—create space for you to engage the existential questions facing us all.

Summer Schedule (Virtual)

The series will be facilitated by Ross Peters and Liza Garonzik. Each session is 90 minutes and offered twice. Choose the time that best fits your schedule. We expect you may miss one (please take that family vacation), and hope you can commit to three so we can build an intentional community together.

June 23, July 14, July 21, July 28

Choose 12:00 PM ET or 3:00 PM ET

Readings + Conversation

Readings will range from philosophy to poetry to business, with approximately 90 minutes of reading in advance of each session. Conversations will center on the Purpose Project precepts, including themes of hope, pluralism, independence, and meaning-making in modern school leadership.

Participants Will Leave With:

• Renewed energy for the work of leadership
• Fresh perspective on the purpose of independent schools
• Meaningful connection with thoughtful peers
• A practical discussion framework for leading conversations in your own community
• A reading list worth returning to again and again

Questions? Email facilitators Ross Peters (rpeters@explo.org) or Liza Garonzik (liza@realdiscussion.org). We’d love to hear from you.