NAIS Workforce Webinar Series: Why Belonging Matters: Creating a Culture Where Teachers Choose to Stay

Teacher retention remains a persistent challenge across independent schools, but emerging NAIS research points to a critical and often under-leveraged driver: belonging. Findings show that educators who feel socially connected, supported, and recognized are significantly more likely to remain at their schools, while weak relationships and unsupportive environments contribute to attrition. This webinar from the 2026-2027 NAIS Workforce Webinar Series will explore how belonging operates at the school level and why it is central to retention strategies. Participants will examine the key conditions that foster belonging, including relationships with colleagues, leadership practices, and school culture, and consider how these factors influence teachers’ day-to-day experiences and long-term decisions.

Presenters: 

• Liz B. Davis, middle school division head, Harker School (CA)
• Jill Bergeron, director of institutional research and policy, Brentwood School (CA)
• Meghan Bollens, associate head of school, advancement, St. Edmund’s Academy (PA)