Registration 

Middle School Summit, January 22-24, 2025

CSEE Member Schools 

• Event plus accommodations at The Maritime Conference Center plus full breakfast, lunch, and dinner:
  • Early Bird registration (before December 20, 2024): $800 *
  • Registration: $900 *
  • Late Registration (after January 16): $1000 *
    
• Day-Only Attendees (includes full breakfast, lunch): $600
  • Late registration (after January 16): $700

Non-Members

• Event plus accommodations at The Maritime Conference Center plus full breakfast, lunch, and dinner:
  • Early Bird registration (before December 20, 2024): $1000 *
  • Registration: $1100 *
  • Late Registration: (after January 16): $1200 *
  Day-Only Attendees (includes full breakfast, lunch): $800
  • Late registration (after January 16): $900

*Our policy for hotel cancellation differs from our event cancellation because of differing obligations for hotel contracts. For this event, you must cancel 30 days before the event to be refunded hotel costs.

Target Audience

This event is for Middle School teachers and administrators who want to learn more about how to identify, measure, and elevate engagement with students and faculty. Schools are encouraged to send more than 1 member from their Middle School to help create better understanding and conversations during the Summit that will lead to progress and action when they return.

About

The overall goal of the Summit is to become anthropologists at your schools to learn more about what you think you know or what you do not know in order to help find ways to make all students, faculty/staff, admin, and families feel more connected and engaged with the school. Our Middle School Summit participants will learn how to define and identify what high levels of engagement looks like at your school and how that can improve the overall experience of all community members. From there, participants will learn specific strategies that can measure and strengthen engagement, including using survey tools and data from an information and data specialist.

Topics will include:

• Different dynamics and the interplay of relationships between students and their peers, students and faculty, and the adults on campus
• Areas of student life such as community agreements, agency, phones/screens/technology
• Faculty/staff teams in schools to do this work.
• The format of the Summit will include general sessions for all participants together for introductions to topics and also smaller group discussions and workshops based on interest and school profiles.

Participants will takeaway:

• Concrete tools for administering surveys
• Tips on how to analyze the data Processes to brainstorm generative solutions
• How to use feedback received about initial ideas and plans
• Connections with other educators committed to building strong communities

Agenda

Wednesday, Jan 22:

• 4-5:30 pm: Arrival and Registration
• 5:30 pm Dinner
• 7:00-8:00: Game Night

Thursday, Jan 23:

• 7:30-8:30: Breakfast
• 8:30-10:15: Session 1: Setting the stage
• 10:15-10:30: Snack Break
• 10:30-12:15: Session 2: Relationships and Community Norms
• 12:15: Lunch
• 1:15-2:45: Session 3: Managing Technology and Screens
• 2:45-3:00: Snack Break
• 3:00-4:00: Session 4: wrapping up the day
• 5:30: Dinner

Friday, January 24:

• 7:30-8:30: Breakfast
• 8:30-10:15: Session 5: Student Life and Co-Curricular Activities
• 10:15-10:30: Snack Break
• 10:30-12:15: Session 6: Measuring Engagement using data or surveys
• 12:15: Lunch
• 1:15-3:00 Session 7: Peer Workshop and Closing
• 3:00: Depart

About the Presenter:

Tung Trinh currently serves as the Dean of Faculty at Collegiate School in Richmond, Virginia and coaches Varsity Spring Track. Previously, Tung was Collegiate’s Head of the Middle School working with students, faculty, staff, and parents to help provide support for a meaningful learning experience. Prior to joining Collegiate, Tung served as the Head of the Middle School and Middle School Dean of Students at Garrison Forest School in Owings Mills, Maryland, an all-girls preschool-12th Grade with a boarding program. Tung started his teaching career at Shore Country Day School in Beverly, Massachusetts in the History and Social Studies department as well as coaching various sports.

During his time working with Middle Schoolers, Tung has developed a deep appreciation for the tremendous authenticity and growth that takes place during early adolescence. Middle Schoolers are at the wonderful stage in their life where learning takes on a whole new meaning with the development of their own self-agency while negotiating the balance of independence and building healthy relationships with their peers and teachers. Tung particularly enjoys thinking and dreaming about programming around community building, advisory activities, social-emotional learning, parent partnerships,interdisciplinary curriculum development, and just being part of the fabric of a school in general.

Peer facilitators

Lauren Anderson: Lauren received her undergraduate degree from East Carolina University and subsequently earned her Master's degree in Health Education and Promotion in 2009. In the fall of 2009, she returned to her alma mater as the Director of Auxiliary Facilities. In 2012, Mrs. Anderson transitioned to the Admissions Office, taking on the role of Assistant Director of Admission for the Middle School. She advanced to the position of Associate Director in 2014. In addition to her admissions responsibilities, she served as an eighth-grade advisor and coached Middle School field hockey and lacrosse. In 2015, Lauren was appointed as the Dean of Students for the Middle School, during which time she taught a range of subjects, including Geography and Ancient Civilizations. While employed at Garrison Forest, she attended Johns Hopkins University, earning a graduate certificate in Independent School Leadership. In 2023, Lauren was promoted to Assistant Head of Middle School and continued to teach History. Following a year in this role, she was elevated to the position of Head of the Middle School Division at Garrison Forest in the summer of 2024.

Louisa Polos Condon: Louisa currently serves as the Head of Middle School at School of the Holy Child in Rye, NY, where she is committed to growing the middle school program through authentic, experiential, and project-based learning. In this role, she works with middle school staff, students, and parents. Louisa has taught every grade of middle school. She began teaching middle school English at Sacred Heart Greenwich, then taught middle school language arts and humanities at Rippowam Cisqua School, of which she is a proud alumna. Louisa has coached lacrosse and field hockey from the youth level through varsity. She is committed to DEIBJ work through her participation in the Holy Child Community and Belonging Committee and her commitment to the Fairchester Diversity Practitioners' Network. In addition to her work at school, she serves on the One Schoolhouse Academic Advisory Board, serves on a planning board for CSEE Middle School Educators Summit, and is always eager to learn more. She has previously presented at the NCTE Annual Conference as well as the Annual NYSEC Conference. Louisa earned a BA in Political Science from Gettysburg College, an M.S.E. in Curriculum and Teaching from Fordham University, and an Ed.M. in Private School Leadership from the Klingenstein Center at Teachers College, Columbia University.

Peter Gaynor: Peter works at the Montclair Kimberley Academy, where he has been for over ten years serving in a number of different capacities. He has taught History, English, and Health and Wellness, has served as a department chair, dean of students, and coached basketball. In addition, he also assists the school in coordinating and implementing Restorative Practices.

Guido Sanchez: Guido is the Middle School Director at the Birch Wathen Lenox School in New York City. He is part of the Middle School Leadership team, collaboratively leading most aspects of student life in the division. He has also served as the Assistant Head of Middle School and a Health Teacher at The Spence School where he focused on the design and oversight of the identity/equity and health/wellness curricula, as well as student leadership and co-curricular community programs (clubs, assembly, special events, etc). Guido was also a CSEE Visiting Scholar in 23-24. Formerly a community public health practitioner, Guido started as a K to 12 Health Education Department Head, and is always examining evidence-based interventions and sustainable behavior change strategies.

Middle School Summit Planning Committee

• Tung Trinh (chair), The Collegiate School
• Lauren Anderson, Garrison Froest School
• Pete Gaynor, Montclair Kimberley Academy
• Louisa Polos, School of the Holy Child
• Guido Sanchez, The Birch Wathen Lenox School

Please contact kate@csee.org if you'd like more information on serving on an event planning committee

Testimonials

The Middle School Summit gave me good ideas and actionable items I can start when I return to school. I loved networking with colleagues at other schools.

Knowing that all over the nation, teachers are experiencing similar issues was so helpful. The problem-solving that we can take back to school is amazing!

The presentations were jam-packed full of information and the break-out groups were perfect for applying the information in a usable way.

Tung was incredible. The presentation was super teacher-friendly and thoughtful. I'd love to work with him again.

A wonderful gathering of thoughtful and talented Middle School educators, who are committed to their craft. The formal presentations and informal chats were gold.

About CSEE

CSEE is an association that supports independent schools throughout North America to foster communities distinguished in character, integrity, equity, belonging, and purpose.

See CSEE's Event and Cancellation Policy