NYSAIS Divisional Leadership Institute (DLI)

The Divisional Leadership Institute (DLI) is a cohort-based professional development opportunity that supports first-year division heads in learning best practices, asking questions, sharing concerns, and receiving quality feedback.

No matter a new division head’s level of preparation and prior positions, the first year is typically challenging. The Divisional Leadership Institute (DLI) aims to provide space for reflection, guidance, training, and support during the critical first year for a new division head.

DLI cohort members, 2025-26, will participate in:

• A one-day, in-person early summer retreat (June 24th, 2025), Location TBD.
• The three-day Associate Head and Division Head Conference at Mohonk Mountain House (November 19-21, 2025). Participation in DLI includes the registration fee for this conference; participants must pay for rooming at Mohonk Mountain House separately.
• Three additional in-person meetings:
  • October 2025: 10:00-3:00, Location: New York City
  • February 2026: 10:00-3:00, Location: New York City
  • May 2026: 10:00-3:00, Location: New York City
• One-on-one meetings as desired with DLI leaders.

Topics will include:

• Identity and Leadership
• Planning and Organization
• Hiring
• Supervision, Feedback, & Evaluation
• Having Difficult Conversations
• Crisis Management and Conflict Resolution
• Equity, Justice, Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging
• Leadership & Management: Style, Vision, Collaboration
• Strategic Communication

The Divisional Leadership Institute is designed to engage new leaders in learning about and reflecting on the practice and theory of school leadership while establishing a strong, supportive network of colleagues.

Registration for this program is intended for division directors/heads in their first year of service and will be managed on a first-come, first-served basis until the cohort has filled. Participation is for those whose responsibility at their schools is at the level of full leadership of their respective divisions. This institute is not intended for those serving in division-level deanships or as assistant division heads.

2025-2026 Registration is now open!

Cost

Members: $3750

Non-members: $4500

This fee includes registration at the Division Heads Conference, November 19-21, 2025, though participants and their schools must cover rooming costs at Mohonk Mountain House separately.

Staff (2025-26)

Tasha Elsbach, DLI Co-Director, is the Middle School Head at The Masters School. Prior to her time at Masters, she spent sixteen years as Middle School Head and a history teacher at The Brearley School. Earlier in her career, she taught in the San Francisco Bay Area. Tasha was a Klingenstein Fellow at Teachers College, Columbia University and earned her M.A in Educational Leadership there.

Joe McCauley, DLI Co-Director, is the Principal of Fieldston Lower (PreK-5) at Ethical Culture Fieldston School. He has been a NYC based educator for 25 years working in both public and independent schools. He taught 3rd and 4th grade at P.S. 72 and 1st and 4th Grade at Packer Collegiate Institute. Joe served as Assistant Head of Packer’s Pre and Lower School for four years before becoming Fieldston Lower’s Principal seven years ago. He received his M.S.Ed from Hunter College.

Jane Moore, DLI Co-Director, is the Upper School Director at Berkeley Carroll where she has also taught English and history. Jane started her career as a boarding school teacher, dorm parent and coach before working at Riverdale Country School for 13 years as a teacher, dean, and Asst. Head of Upper School. Jane has an M.A. in English from Bread Loaf and a M.S.Ed in School Leadership from Penn.