Breakout Session H — 2025 ICGS Conference

Breakout Session H
June 25, 2025
10:40-11:30 a.m.

Mission Alignment: When Curriculum and Collaboration Finally Swipe Right
Strategic planning is an essential tool to articulate the power of a school’s mission as well as a key element of change management. Strategic planning principles of empowering multiple stakeholders and building collaborative communities are especially instrumental to ensure curricula is driven by and aligned with the school’s mission. Educators can become too focused on “the what” that “the how” becomes overlooked as an equally important aspect, especially in girls’ education. This session presents the pains and gains of taking on a schoolwide curriculum mapping endeavor of a mission-driven school, navigating deliberative pathways, and facing challenges in building collaborative communities.

Presenters: Suzanne Walker, Latin and Theology Teacher; Alison Kelly, Dean of Academics | Merion Mercy Academy (United States)

Brand, Rebrand, or Uplift Thee Brand!

Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how to define, refine, or uplift their school’s brand, supported by a strategic action plan that is data-driven, community-focused, and ready for implementation.

Presenter: KaTiedra Argro, Principal | The Philadelphia High School for Girls (United States)

Building Motorcycles and Building Confidence: Shop Class as an Introduction to Mechanical Engineering through Motogo
In 2019, Motogo piloted its Introduction to Mechanical Engineering course with 6 students at Magnificat High School in Cleveland, Ohio. These young women built vintage Honda CB350 motorcycles, and learned to embrace failure as a necessary step on the road to mastery. For girls often praised for perfection, Motogo offers something radical…the space to get it wrong. Join this session to hear the incredible story of 6 high school seniors who took the leap of faith to pilot what has become an integral part of Magnificat’s life-long learning, college preparedness curriculum, and launched a nonprofit education program that is changing the face of learning across the country. This is the story of the return to shop class.

Presenters: Molly Vaughan, Executive Director; Brian Schaffran, Co-Founder and Coach | Motogo; Angie Boie, Dean of Student Life & Formation; Colleen Greller, Dean of Faculty & Academics | Magnificat High School (United States)

How We HUMM: Harnessing Leadership through Curriculum Design and Experiential Outreach
The HUMM Institute, launched in 2022, was founded on the principles of entrepreneurial leadership and the goal of being like a “school within a school.” This session will highlight how the curriculum develops leadership skills using Design Thinking. Through active exercises and role play, presenters will demonstrate learning objectives necessary for human-centered design leadership. Participants will gain concrete strategies and experiential examples of how this curriculum can be implemented in a wide array of learning environments and leave with an understanding of how to apply Design Thinking to broaden opportunities for active leadership.

Presenters: Erin Straine, Visual Art and Design Faculty; Kali Lambrou, STEM Teacher | Trinity Hall (United States)

Nurturing Professional Growth through Reflective Practice
Through the use of goal setting, Professional Learning Groups discussions and classroom observations, teachers and administrators work together to foster a culture of professional growth through reflection. The session will describe the format that our school uses to bring teachers together to have open and courageous conversations about how their teaching practices impact student learning and grow year to year. Participants will be able to take away a concrete strategy to combine feedback on teacher practice with professional development.

Presenters: Jodi Hafenbrak, Principal of Senior School; Bryan Williams, Principal of Middle School | Balmoral Hall School (Canada)

Building Effective Student Support Systems for Lasting Change
The purpose of this interactive workshop is to present a model for creating student support policies across various school teams. Presenters will share their processes for building teams and creating policy with guiding questions and principles around the purpose of the policy, the people it impacts, and precedents. During the workshop, participants will have an opportunity to draft a policy proposal from scenarios and experiences within their own schools. The presentation will empower participants to develop sustainable protocols at their schools as well as include practical tips for building participants’ own systems and procedures for policy creation within their schools.

Presenters: Jamie Uva, Director of Student and Family Support; Rachael Flores, Head of Upper School | The Spence School (United States)

EMPOWERHer – Giving Our Girls a Global Voice
EMPOWERHer is a learning session for global education professionals focused on empowering girls in underserved communities as global citizens. The workshop offers strategies and resources to help girls develop skills, confidence, and awareness to engage globally. Through hands-on activities, practical tools, and discussions, educators explore methods to foster global citizenship suited to girls’ unique experiences in under-resourced areas. Topics include self-advocacy, civic engagement, and linking local challenges with global perspectives. Educators gain adaptable tools to empower girls to contribute meaningfully to their communities and beyond, promoting resilience, leadership, and compassionate global engagement.

Presenter: Melissa McKenzie, Librarian / Community Partner (WE GO International) | Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy (United States)

Dux femina facti: Latin, Leadership Curriculum, and the Mission of Girls’ Schools
Leadership remains a significant pillar of the mission of girls’ schools, and this assumes a particular import after the 2024 U.S. elections. This presentation details three ways in which the presenter examines leadership in the classroom: first, as a critical lens through which Latin students consider the queens Cleopatra and Dido; second, as the focus of a review of relevant scholarship; third, as a way for students to reflect on their own leadership. Linking scholastic explorations of literary/historical women as case studies with consideration of contemporary issues and current scholarship allows students to examine female leadership within multiple frameworks.

Presenter: Antonia Young, Latin Teacher, Upper School | Kent Place School (United States)

A Week Without Walls (WWOW): Empowering Girls in Nature Through Mentorship
This interactive presentation showcases the impact of empowering middle school girls through nature-based learning and mentorship with older “Study Sisters.” Attendees will explore how this program builds leadership, confidence, and a bond with nature, highlighted by the girls’ own experiences. In an age where social media heightens depression and anxiety, this program offers an alternative, empowering approach. Younger participants gain confidence and skills through adventurous activities like knife whittling, while older students build self-worth and connection by sharing their expertise. This experience fosters growth, resilience, and mutual learning, creating lasting positive effects for both age groups.

Presenter: Jennifer Rosenbaum, Arts and Outdoor Education Teacher | The Study (Canada)

The Magic of a Student Tour Guide: How to Create an Effective Ambassador Program
This interactive session highlights the positive impact of students’ involvement in the recruitment process at independent schools. From campus visits to virtual events, students remain the strongest resource to showcase an institution’s strengths and differentiators. At Miss Hall’s School, where voice and gumption are valued, the Admissions Ambassador program is an important student leadership position that involves students from across the school community in the daily work of the Admissions Office. Utilize this session to reflect on and brainstorm about how your current students’ voices, perspectives, and experiences can influence and inspire prospective students and families to join your school community.

Presenter: Anna Lawrence, Associate Director of Admissions and Financial Aid Coordinator | Miss Hall’s School (United States)

Perfectionism and the Neurodivergent Student: Making Good Enough Work for Tween and Teen Girls
Do you notice that perfectionism holds your students back and limits their personal, academic or social satisfaction and success? Many neurodivergent tween and teen girls struggle with wanting something to be right so much that it becomes difficult to start tasks, work on assignments and complete projects. Although perfectionism can be motivating, it can keep students overfocused on the end result and not the process of getting there. This leads to increased anxiety, shame, and stress. In this session, Dr. Sharon Saline will provide you with practical tools for changing the unreasonable standards that students set for themselves, their negative comparisons to others and frustrating patterns of procrastination. Participants will walk away with strategies for reducing imposter syndrome, improving executive functioning skills and increasing self-esteem in girls. With these resources, student can accept themselves as they truly are—perfectly imperfect.

Presenter: Dr. Sharon Saline | Psychologist (United States)

Supporting K-4 Emergent Multilingual Students in their Heritage Language Maintenance
Join this dynamic session exploring the vital role of heritage language maintenance in bridging the language gap in the U.S. and empowering emergent multilinguals to expand and reach their full potential while enhancing their competence and well-being. Many students lose their heritage languages due to monolingualism in schools, often before recognizing their value. Mónica will share key research and findings from her work with Hathaway Brown School Prime girls, highlighting their journey toward building a vibrant multilingual ecology. Attendees will gain practical strategies for creating multilingual environments that support girls in thriving as leaders in our multicultural, globalized society.

Presenter: Mónica Vilá Geis, World Language Teacher | Hathaway Brown School (United States)