Conference Highlights – NAES Biennial Conference 2026

Conference Highlights

Please note, all schedule information below is subject to change.

Early Childhood Education Day

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | 8:45am to 3pm

Kick off your Biennial Conference 2026 experience at Early Childhood Education Day, an immersive pre-conference event hosted at St. James’ Episcopal School. Led by keynote speaker Dr. Sonia Yoshizawa, the day offers a unique opportunity to bridge research with classroom reality, fostering curiosity and a deep sense of belonging for our youngest learners.

  • Location: St. James’ Episcopal School
  • Fee: $100 (In addition to Biennial Conference registration)
  • Learn more on this web page.
  • Select this optional add-on during main conference registration.

Pre-Conference Deep Dives

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | 1pm to 3pm

Take a deep dive into your new role with your peers and NAES leadership! These special programs are for new heads of school and new chaplains (lay and ordained) within their first 1-3 years in their positions. There is no additional charge to participate in these events.

  • Location: JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE
  • Fee: Included with Conference Registration!
  • Select this optional add-on during main conference registration.

Service Event: Gardening with Homeboy Industries

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 | 12:30pm to 4:30pm

Begin Biennial Conference with service by joining colleagues and friends in giving back to the local community! We will be gardening at Home of the Angels, a former monastery that will be converted into a residential and outpatient recovery campus operated by Homeboy Industries. Lunch is not provided—please plan on eating prior to this event and bringing your own snacks/water.

  • Location: Home of the Angels
  • Fee: Included with Conference Registration!
  • Select this optional add-on during main conference registration.

Affinity Group Luncheons

Friday, November 20, 2026 | 12pm to 1:15pm

Maximize your networking at the Biennial Conference Affinity Luncheons, an optional opportunity to connect with peers who share your specific professional role. These gatherings provide a relaxed yet focused setting to exchange insights, discuss shared challenges, and build a lasting national network of colleagues from Episcopal schools across the country. Whether you are looking to brainstorm solutions or simply find community with those who “get it,” these luncheons offer the space to cultivate meaningful professional friendships beyond the general sessions.

  • Roles: Heads of School & Early Childhood Directors, Chaplains, DEIJ Practitioners, Administrators, Faculty, Rectors, Trustees/Vestry
  • Fee: $120
  • Select this optional add-on during main conference registration.

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lisa Miller

Thursday, November 19, 2026 | 8:45am

Lisa Miller, Ph.D., is the New York Times bestselling author of The Spiritual Child and a professor in the Clinical Psychology Program at Teachers College, Columbia University. She is the Founder and Director of the Spirituality Mind Body Institute, the first Ivy League graduate program and research institute in spirituality and psychology, and has held over a decade of joint appointments in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University Medical School. Her innovative research has been published in more than one hundred peer-reviewed articles in leading journals, including Cerebral Cortex, The American Journal of Psychiatry, and the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Conference Worship

NAES Biennial Conference features daily worship, including morning prayer, Holy Eucharist, and a closing service. This year, NAES is pleased to welcome the Most Rev. Sean W. Rowe, Presiding Bishop and Primate of The Episcopal Church who will preach at the conference Eucharist. Worship also prominently features students from local Episcopal schools.

  • Morning Prayer: Thursday & Friday at 7:30am
  • Holy Eucharist: Thursday, November 19 at 5pm
  • Closing Worship: Friday, November 20 at 2:45pm

Workshops

Thursday, November 19 & Friday, November 20, 2026

At Biennial Conference, you will find peer-led workshops designed to provide you with practical, mission-centered strategies that are directly applicable to your school community. These sessions invite you to explore a wide range of topics, from operational essentials like legal trends and school management to the core values of Episcopal education, including chaplaincy, justice work, and spiritual formation. By engaging with colleagues and real-world case studies, you will gain actionable insights and fresh perspectives to strengthen both your professional leadership and your school’s unique identity.