More information coming soon…

More information coming soon…

More information coming soon…

More information coming soon…

📍 The Local Peasant – 14058 Ventura Blvd, Sherman Oaks, CA 91423
👥 All Southern California independent school faculty are welcome

Kick off the new school year with good vibes and great company! Join us for Joyful Beginnings: A SoCal POCIS Happy Hour – an evening dedicated to connection, celebration, and taking a well-deserved moment to breathe before the year kicks into high gear.

Grounded in this year’s theme, Cultivating Joy, Illuminating Resilience, this gathering is open to all independent school colleagues ready to recharge, reconnect with peers, and start the year surrounded by community. The first drink’s on us! Come raise a glass, share a laugh, and cultivate some joy with us – we can’t wait to see you there!

Dena Nicole Simmons, Ed.D.

Author, SEL & Equity Leader

Friday May 8, 2026

9:00a – 2:00p

Oakwood Secondary School

11600 Magnolia Blvd

North Hollywood, CA 916

An Open Dialogue hosted by National POCIS Honoring the Legacy & Mission of PoCC Through Gather with Morva McDonald, Ph.D.

NAIS Vice President, Leadership & Governance

April 23, 2026

4:30 PM PST, 7:30 PM EST

Join us on Zoom for this

important dialogue with NAIS.

We suggest you read this letter before the event.

RSVP by April 18 to receive

the Zoom Link

Join us for Rethinking Diversity 2026, an inspiring evening with Don Smith, seasoned educator, compassionate leader, and recipient of this year’s Bessie Bruington Burke Excellence in Education Award.

With over 20 years of experience in independent schools and currently serving as Head of Middle School at The Buckley School, Don brings a powerful blend of intellectual rigor, heartfelt empathy, and deep expertise in child development, multicultural education, and leadership.

Through Don Smith Consulting, he partners with schools nationwide to spark curiosity, strengthen leadership, and champion transformative education. This is a timely and important conversation for our independent school community and one you will not want to miss.

📍 The Buckley School
3900 Stansbury Avenue
Sherman Oaks, CA 91423

📅 March 18
🥂 Light refreshments at 6:30 p.m.
🕖 Program begins at 7:00 p.m.

Open to all independent school faculty, staff, and administrators.

This is the second annual Bring PoCC Home event. A full-day experience designed to bring back the learning, energy, and impact of the NAIS People of Color Conference, right here at home. The day will center on networking, collaboration, affinity spaces, and practical DEI skill-building for our school communities.

For all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators.

When: Saturday, February 21st, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Pilgrim School, 540 South Commonwealth Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90020

*Light breakfast (8:30a-9:00a) and lunch will be served.