NAIS Thrive Annual Conference

NAIS Thrive 2027: March 3-5, Baltimore

Registration Is Now Open!

Thrive, the NAIS annual conference, is the premier event for independent school leaders.

Each year, Thrive provides critical insights, innovative strategies, and valuable connections that empower you to thrive in your professional role and foster a thriving school community.

At Thrive, you'll find the tools and inspiration needed to create positive, inclusive, and supportive environments that benefit students, staff, parents, and the broader community.  Thrive and its related programming and activities are open to all members of the independent school community.

We Invite You to Thrive!

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Keynote Speakers

Mónica Guzmán

Bridging Divides Through Curiosity
Mónica Guzmán is a bridge builder, journalist, and author who lives for great conversations sparked by curious questions. Her best-selling book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, has been featured in The New York Times, The Glenn Beck Podcast, and Reader's Digest; selected frequently for common read programs at schools across the country; and named one of the 10 best books to read before college by U.S. News & World Report. 
As founder and CEO of Reclaim Curiosity, Guzmán works to build a world that sees itself. She hosts A Braver Way, a podcast that equips people to navigate challenging divides in their everyday lives. Guzmán is both an advisor and a debate chair at Braver Angels, the nation’s largest cross-partisan grassroots organization working to depolarize America, and she also advises Disagree Better, The Viewpoints Project, and Courageous Conversations About Our Schools. 

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Arthur Brooks

Finding Meaning in a Changing World
Arthur C. Brooks is a social scientist, professor, and New York Times No. 1 best-selling author whose work sits at the intersection of behavioral science, philosophy, and human flourishing. He currently serves as a professor at Vanderbilt University and a senior fellow at Harvard Business School, where he has taught popular courses on the science of happiness and leadership. A prolific author of 15 books—including From Strength to Strength and Build the Life You Want, co-authored with Oprah Winfrey—Brooks is a leading voice on how individuals and organizations can cultivate deeper well-being and purpose. 
He writes a regular column on the pursuit of happiness for The Free Press, and his latest book, The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness, extends his research into the crisis of meaning he sees across modern life. Brooks translates rigorous social science into practical tools for living a happier, more purposeful life. 
Photo by Jenny Sherman Photography

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Agenda and Programming

Explore our dynamic lineup of preconference and conference programming, including keynote speakers, immersive Signature Experiences, deep-dive Three-Hour Workshops, a Master Class, general workshops, The Quad, special events, and more. In addition to the core programming, you'll also find special opportunities such as the Heads' Summit, Skills Studio, Coaches' Corner, and a Teacher Seminar.

Schedule at a Glance

Workshops and Special Sessions

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Registration and Hotel Information

Thrive 2027 registration is now open!
Get information on individual and group pricing, hotels,
and travel recommendations.

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Sponsor and Exhibit

Become a Sponsor

Sponsoring Thrive builds visibility for your brand, connects you with educators, and gives you a forum to share your organization’s expertise. Whether you are trying to reach schools at the local or national level, aligning your company with this conference will win your brand valuable exposure to thousands of attendees, including independent school leaders, administrators, and teachers throughout the country.

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Become an Exhibitor

Exhibiting at Thrive offers an excellent way to gain in-person access to the independent school community and its leaders. Exhibiting opportunities are offered within The Quad at Thrive, where attendees gather for resources, programming, networking, lunch and coffee breaks, and more!

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