Leadership Symposium

 

 

 

Carrie Grimes is an Assistant Professor of the Practice in the LPO department and also serves as the Director of the Independent School Leadership Master's program. She completed her Ed.D. in Leadership and Learning in Organizations at Vanderbilt University, where her research focused on social identity and community of practice theoretical applications to school settings. Carrie's career has been centered in independent school leadership, including roles in administration, teaching, counseling, and institutional advancement in schools and programs in New York, California, and Maryland. Throughout her career, she has focused on community building, imaginative problem solving, and cross-team collaboration across various stakeholder groups, including toddlers through adolescents, parents, adult learners, donors, and alumni. Carrie has a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.A. in Applied Psychology from New York University.

People Will Remember How You Made Them Feel
This presentation digs into the science of emotion, in particular the work of leading scholars in emotional intelligence (Brackett, Solovay, Goleman, Caruso) to provide participants with a better understanding of how our emotions, particularly as leaders, directly drive climate within our schools. This presentation will make the compelling case that being more scientific about our emotions empowers us as leaders. Of particular fascination in this material is how the application of specific emotionally intelligent tools and practices can be activated to shift one's leadership mindset, habits, and behaviors, and contribute to positive outcomes related to the work environment. Now more than ever, we need to be actively cultivating positive work environments for our faculty and staff, as school leaders encounter an increasingly competitive landscape in which to recruit and retain employees. 
 

 

Building Trust as a Core Leadership Competency in Schools
In today’s school environments, trust is more than a nice-to-have—it’s a strategic asset. In this session, we’ll explore the concept of the Trust Quotient (TQ), a framework that helps leaders understand the role trust plays in talent, team dynamics, communication, and organizational health. Drawing on research from organizational psychology and school-based case studies, this session will introduce participants to the four components of TQ—credibility, reliability, intimacy, and self-orientation—and offer practical tools for evaluating and improving trust within leadership teams and faculty groups.

 

Presented by: Cara Gallagher, Cara Callagher Consulting

For almost twenty years, Cara has helped public and private schools improve their culture.

Beginning her career in the classroom, she moved on to designing curricula and taking on administrative leadership positions within prestigious schools. Cara has spent years as a consultant and qualitative researcher for independent school heads and boards in the U.S. and U.K. She has worked with organizations such as the Spencer Foundation, University of Wisconsin-Madison, DePaul University, C-SPAN Classroom, and McGraw Hill and contributed to numerous articles, books, and presented at conferences focused on culture and best practices within schools. 

Cara has a master’s in Education and is finishing a master’s degree in Industrial-Organizational Psychology at Harvard. She holds a certificate in Organizational Behavior from Harvard in which she specialized in psychometrics, change management, and organizational behavior, and a certificate in leading with data and research from Teachers College at Columbia University.

Cara’s diverse experience also includes working in finance as a research analyst and as a reporter covering the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. 
 

 

 

The Speed of the Leader, the Speed of the Team: Mental Fitness for Episcopal School Leaders
In schools today, leadership is not just about strategy—it’s about stamina. Heads of School carry the weight of ever-shifting expectations, staff fatigue, student needs, and parent pressures. As Scripture reminds us “to whom much is given, much is required.” The resilience of a leader directly shapes the resilience of their team. This session invites Episcopal school leaders to strengthen their inner lives so their example becomes a wellspring for others. Through stories, humor, and research-backed strategies, Jon Talbert offers a framework for mental fitness that helps leaders cultivate resilience, guard their joy, and lead in ways that ripple through the culture of their school. When leaders run with endurance, their teams do too. Thriving isn’t selfish—it’s stewardship. Together, we’ll explore how to move from surviving the year to leading in a way that renews both you and those who follow your example.
 

 

Presented by: Jon Talbert

Jon Talbert has spent more than three decades at the intersection of faith, leadership, and human performance. Born in Dallas, Texas, Jon has carried his ministry and leadership journey across the country—including many seasons spent in Phoenix, where he has served Major League Baseball players during Spring Training. 

He has walked the sidelines as a chaplain in the NFL, MLS, MLB, and most recently at the CrossFit Games, guiding elite athletes through pressure, loss, and the pursuit of purpose. Beyond sports, Jon has coached thousands of leaders in education, business, and ministry—helping them stay resilient without losing heart, humor, or humanity. 

As a founding team member of Forte, a mental fitness platform born out of Stanford Graduate School of Business, Jon is pioneering upstream solutions to help pastors, educators, and professionals flourish before burnout strikes. A pastor, keynote speaker, and storyteller, he is passionate about helping leaders lead longer, live healthier, and extend their influence for Kingdom impact. 

Jon graduated from Biola University, earned a Masters from Talbot Theological Seminary, and holds a doctorate in Semiotics and Leadership in Emerging Culture at George Fox University. He now makes his home on the coast of California with his wife, Cheri, where they enjoy their vineyard, four adult children, and eight grandchildren who fill life with joy, laughter, and legacy.

8:30 am - Registration 

9:00 am - Welcome and Introductions - Rob Devlin, SAES Exec. Director 

10:00 am - Keynote Speaker - Dr. Carrie Grimes

11:15 am - Campus Tour 

12:00 noon  - Lunch 

1:00 pm - Building Trust as a Core Leadership Competency in Schools

2:00 pm - The Speed of the Leader, the Speed of the Team: Mental Fitness for Episcopal School Leaders

3:00 pm - Wrap-up and Takeaways - Rob Devlin, SAES Executive Director