Head of School Letter: 2024 FCIS Convention

The Florida Council of Independent School (FCIS) held its annual convention with the theme of Growth and Wellness, a three-day event that was anchored by extensive programming aimed at enhancing our work as educators. Held in November of each year, the Convention rotates through different regions of Florida. With over 130 FCIS member schools registered, the FCIS Convention attracted over 1700 attendees with approximately 126 exhibitor representatives in attendance. The size of the event has grown so that this year, it was held at both the Hyatt Regency Orlando International Airport and an additional satellite location at member school Lake Highland Prep.

Participation at the annual Convention was an outstanding opportunity for faculty members and administrators to share their expertise and passion for education. Numerous topic tracks held sessions geared towards administrators who hold different roles and faculty members who teach a variety of ages and subject matters. Some topics cut across discipline and divisions, appealing to all. 

This year six sessions were led by Shorecrest educators, with descriptions below. Many other Shorecrest faculty attended those sessions to support their colleagues. The chance to lead sessions provided the opportunity for Shorecrest speakers to showcase their innovative ideas and network with other FCIS educators while promoting Shorecrest as a leader in independent school education. The Shorecrest-led sessions included:

Embracing Generative AI? A Hands-On Guide for College Counselors
Speaker: Meghan Schneider, Senior Associate Director of College Counseling

An interactive discussion session with hands-on exploration time. Discussion of how Generative AI is already being utilized in college admissions and what this means for independent school counselors. We’ll examine survey data on Generative AI adoption, research on biases in AI evaluations, and practical strategies for leveraging Generative AI to improve your work. Discuss action plans, share experiences, and explore how the availability of paid tools will impact the work of college counselors. Join us to better understand and navigate the ethical considerations and practical applications of AI in admissions.
 

From Chaos to Sanity: Managing High Conflict Parent Situations
Speaker: Kate Fierce, Lower School Counselor

Without a plan for handling high conflict situations, teachers and administrators are at risk for increased stress, decreased job satisfaction, and burnout. Drawing upon the work of Bill Eddy, founder of the High Conflict Institute, this session will equip educational professionals at all levels with the skills they need to de-escalate hostile situations and create more positive, productive school-family relationships. Participants will leave with the confidence to navigate conflict constructively, while maintaining professional and personal boundaries.

The Art of Photography in Early Childhood
Speaker: Ginger Thompson, Alpha Lead Teacher

This session describes how learning about photography emerged in a student-centered classroom and how it demonstrated the interest in photos and cameras by young children. We will discuss the process we started with and how it evolved into having a photo booth in our classroom. Attendees will be able to see how the art of photography could be taught in their own classrooms and the equipment they can use.

Pedagogical Documentation: A Powerful Tool for Storytelling in Early Childhood Education
Speaker: Victoria Sweet: Alpha Lead Teacher

We will look at different forms of pedagogical documentation (photos, videos, quotations, student work samples, and observational notes) and discuss how they could be combined to create learning stories for young children. Attendees will leave with enriched knowledge about the purpose of pedagogical documentation and see many examples of how learning stories can be created and presented.

College Counseling: Guiding Your Students to Finding Their WHY
Speakers: Victoria Scott, Assistant Director of College Counseling
Meghan Schneider, Senior Associate Director of College Counseling

Guiding students to their why is pivotal in ensuring all students maximize their high school career. As college counselors we begin this discussion and guidance during our students' ninth grade year. In this session, we will provide attendees different approaches to developing their college counseling curriculum and how to chunk out the college readiness journey to help students and families better navigate this complex process beginning fall of ninth grade.

Roundtable Conversation on Performing Arts
Speaker: Adriana Hollenbeck, Head of Experiential School

Your facilitator will help to organize smaller groups within your tables or rearrange people and provide some initial questions to begin discussion. Come discuss the Performing Arts impact on students of all ages. 

How We Got Here and What It's Like: Paths to Leadership
Speakers: Nancy Spencer, Head, Shorecrest Preparatory School 
Steve Salvo, Head, St. Mary's Episcopal Day School

A conversation for administrators who are considering becoming a head of school. Come connect with other prospective heads and hear two different heads talk about their experience and perspectives. Q & A will follow.

As educators, we are committed to continuous learning and growth to better serve our students and families. Professional development allows us to model our mission of lifelong learning. The FCIS Annual Convention has been an incredible opportunity to recharge and connect with fellow independent school educators across the state. We take pride in representing Shorecrest through these professional development opportunities and appreciate the recognition they bring to our faculty and school.

All the best,
Nancy