THE HUDDLE

The monthly webinar series for school leaders on the topics that are most on your mind.

Season 3

2025-26

The Cohort Blueprint: A Practical Peer Support Model for School Leaders

Date: Wednesday, February 11

Time: 2:00 pm EST

In this engaging session, Alexis Stern and Dr. Reanna Ursin will introduce a low-cost, high-impact cohort model for peer leadership development grounded in human connection, shared wisdom, and real-time problem solving.

As they implement their fourth round of year-long national independent school leadership cohorts, the presenters will discuss their design process and learnings. They will share their blueprint for a peer support model—including a foundational learning experience, cohort structuring, and a meeting protocol—that establishes trust and engagement and generates momentum.

Participants will understand which design elements matter for building trust and accountability and how to get meaningful returns from a short, once monthly investment of time, enabling them to inform leadership support structures at their own schools when budgets, time, and bandwidth may be limited.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the core components of an effective peer-based leadership development model

  • Review key learnings and best practices for developing effective, engaging, and trusting cohorts

  • Explore practical protocols that promote accountability, real-time problem solving, and ongoing momentum among school leaders

Who Should Attend?:

This session is designed for heads of school, assistant heads, division directors, department chairs, and other school leaders interested in sustainable, relationship-centered leadership support. It is especially relevant for leaders seeking affordable, scalable alternatives or complements to coaching and traditional professional development programs.

REGISTER

Presenter: Alexis Stern, PCC, EdM, Leadership Coach & Consultant

Presenter: Reanna Ursin, Ph.D., Executive Director, Malone Schools Online Network

LeadTeam Past Association Partnerships

  • CASE-NAIS logo
  • Logo of Enrollment Management Association.
  • Logo of Association of Independent Schools in New England.
  • VAIS Logo
  • Logo for the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington (AISGW).
  • Logo for Independent Schools Association of the Central States (ISACS).
  • Logo of the Independent School Chairpersons Association (ISCA) featuring a curved blue arc, a red dot, and text indicating the organization's focus on strengthening governance in independent schools.
  • Logo of SPARC organization with text 'Summer Programs and Auxiliary Revenue Collaborative' in black on a white background.
  • Logo of the North Carolina Association of Independent Schools (NCAIS), featuring large blue initials 'NCAIS' and the full name below in smaller blue text, with red and black accents.
  • Red background with white text reading 'TABS', the logo for The Association of Boarding Schools.
  • Logo featuring a green tree with many leaves, a blue curved ground, and a gold circular border with the acronym 'ESHA' (Elementary School Heads Association).
  • Logo of THE HEADS NETWORK with a blue circular background and green border.
  • Logo of Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools, with the acronym PAIS and the full name written horizontally.
  • Logo for AISAP, Association of Independent School Admission Professionals, in green text with the slogan 'Educate. Elevate. Empower.'
  • A logo for ADVIS with the letters A, D, V, I and S arranged in front of a design of three interconnected hexagons.
  • Logo of the Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington featuring the acronym AISGW and full name in blue and black text.
  • The ATLIS logo with the text 'ATLIS' in bold blue letters, 'Association of Technology Leaders in Independent Schools' underneath, and two green arrows pointing right.
  • Logo saying 'NSSC' in large red letters over a yellow splash background. The National Small Schools Conference.
  • Logo for the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools (AIMs), featuring the acronym 'AIMS' with the full name beneath.
  • Silhouettes of children holding hands, standing on the word 'AIMS' against a blue background.
  • Logo of the Connecticut Association of Independent Schools (CAIS) featuring colorful letters and text.

Testimonials

  • "LeadTeam Partners and The Huddle provide educators with an opportunity to exchange ideas and to remain on the cutting edge of all things impacting independent school education."

    Season One Participant

  • "The Huddle is an excellent resource for school leaders and professionals who are engaged and curious. For just an hour, you can elevate your thinking and connect with respected peers in your field. Thank you, LeadTeam Partners!"

    Season One Participant

  • "This team has presented an abundance of valuable information in a very practical way that allowed me to bring some actionable ideas to our MarComm team at our Pre-K to 8th grade school."

    Season One Participant