ESHA 2026 Heads Retreat Program & Schedule
Lowcountry, High Calling
Leadership, Values, & Sustainability in Headship
Charleston, South Carolina, October 25th-27th
Saturday, October 24 – Arrival & Connection
7:30 – Evening meetup and activity for early arriving guests
Ghost and graveyard tour with Bulldog Tours
Sunday, October 25 – Welcome & Framing the Work
9:00 – Morning Outing
1:00 – ESHA Executive Committee Meeting
Professional Session I: Where We Are
3:00-4:00 – Opening Circle: Naming the Moment
Icebreakers, introductions and framing questions
4:00-4:30 – Annual Meeting
4:30-5:30 – Opening Keynote: Winslow Hastie
The School Leader As Thoughtful Steward: Preservation, change and stewardship from the lens of a historic preservationist
6:30-9:00 – Welcome Reception and Dinner at Emeline Greenhouse and Courtyard
Monday, October 26 – Leadership, Strategy & Renewal
Professional Session II: How We Lead
Facilitated by Stephanie Kapsis
8:00-8:30 – Breakfast and sponsor introductions
8:30-9:45 – Session I: Leading and Leveraging Talent
Managing teams, building leadership capacity and accountability, leading through changing workforce expectations
9:45-10:15 – Wellness Break
10:15-11:15 – Leading and Leveraging Talent – Part II
11:30-12:30 – Deep Data Dive with Mission & Data
1:30-3:30 – Charleston Tour: Interpreting Difficult History
5:00-6:00 – Happy Hour Hotseat: A Conversation with NAIS President Debra Wilson
Moderated by Jason Patera
6:30-9:00 – Lowcountry Dinner Experience at Halls Chophouse
Tuesday, October 26 – Meaning, Legacy & Re-Entry
Professional Session III: Why We Stay
8:00-8:30 – Breakfast and Sponsor Introductions
8:30-9:30 – Peer Consultations
9:30-10:00 – Productivity Break
10:00-11:00 – Closing Keynote: Jennifer Pharr Davis
What to protect and what to release; sustainability, resilience, joy and purpose in headship
11:00-11:15 – Closing Circle