Behind Every Great School: 2026 Administrative Professionals Retreat
The Inn at Villanova
601 County Line RoadWayne, PA 19087-4610
United States
Behind Every Great School:
2026 Administrative Professionals Retreat
Strengthening Skills, Systems & Self
Independent schools run on the expertise, care, and quiet leadership of administrative professionals. This one-day retreat brings together assistants, coordinators, office managers, and executive support staff to sharpen practical skills, streamline systems, and invest in personal wellbeing.
Through hands-on workshops, peer problem-solving, and candid conversations, participants will learn time-saving tools, improve communication and workflow across departments, and build confidence to lead from every seat.
Come celebrate your essential role, leave with immediately useful strategies, and connect with a network that has your back—so you can keep your school moving forward with calm, clarity, and impact.
space
A Resilient Assistant
presented by: Shelagh Donnelly, Exceptional EA
You and your school went through a lot during the first half of this century’s “Roaring Twenties”. Not long after making it through a pandemic, we saw the emergence of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI). Whether GenAI is seen as a threat, a resource, or both, it’s continuing its forward charge. As we embark on the second half of this decade, it’s anticipated the pace of change will continue to escalate, even for those working in traditional environments. With that in mind, we’ll examine different degrees of change and how you and your leaders can best prepare for them.
While assistants are often known for adaptability, living through the latest industrial revolution – as we make our way from IR4.0 to Industry 5.0, also known as Society 5.0 – can lead to stress. Then again, some of us create self-imposed stress or head down a path to burnout through the pursuit of perfection.
The good news: We can effectively navigate changes and challenges, just as our predecessors in this career made it through groundbreaking changes during previous industrial revolutions. We can counter stress and burnout through something Shelagh calls informed optimism, and Shelagh will equip you with practical strategies you can take to nurture your resilience. These are wins for all involved, as your personal resilience supports your school’s resilience.
What You'll Learn:
- Understanding resilience, and its importance in times of change and challenge
- How to choose informed optimism
- Intentional resilience, strategies to nurture yours, and a challenge
Speaker, Trainer, Writer, and Founder of Exceptional EA
Authentic, expert and inspiring, Shelagh (pronounced “Sheila”) Donnelly cares about your success. This former private school girl walked your walk for decades, as an assistant and in education. Shelagh began her career in the corporate sector, where she reported to C-Suite executives before becoming a software trainer for the same national corporation. As her family grew, she made the move to education, working initially in K-12 before spending two decades in higher education.
Over the course of her office career, Shelagh co-launched internal networks that function to this day. She’s led multiple projects, teams, and a corporate division. She’s had the benefit of her own assistants, chaired a national board of directors, and continues to be a lifelong learner.
In college environments, Shelagh was a direct report to four CEOs. She honed governance expertise through ongoing education while working alongside four board chairs. She launched her Exceptional EA website in 2013, and assistants around the globe trust and turn to Shelagh for the insights and practical perspectives she delivers with a healthy sense of humor.
Since leaving the office environment in 2018, Shelagh has traveled to 11 countries to deliver keynotes and other presentations. She challenges, educates and inspires assistants who want to perform at a high level in careers they enjoy. She works with assistants and management in education, healthcare and utilities, and in corporations including the NBA … and we’re delighted to welcome Shelagh back to ADVIS.
Participants may choose to attend one of the following workshops:
Assistants are often the ones on the front lines of conflict – they are manning the main office and addressing visitors, fielding calls from parents, and serving as a sounding board for faculty. Unfortunately, not all of these interactions are delivered in a pleasant, level-headed way, and we often find ourselves caught in the middle! In this session we will delve into the psychology of this conflict and and you will come away with tips for dealing with difficult (or emotional) people, with concepts highlighted from the NAIS book, Hopes & Fears. NAIS’s Executive Assistant, Erica Zematis, will discuss the skills needed to clarify, understand, and respond to these types of interactions – and how we can remain calm in the face of polarization.About the Presenter
Erica Zematis serves as Special Assistant to the President’s Office at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) supporting NAIS President, Debra Wilson. Prior to that, she worked at the Jacksonville Country Day School as Executive Assistant to the Head of School. She has over 25 years of experience serving in administrative support roles. Erica has published articles to help assistants grow their professional skills, covering topics such as taking board meeting minutes, growing leadership skills, providing support in a virtual environment, and maintaining positive relationships. She has championed new NAIS initiatives to serve school executive assistants through webinars, peer connections, and a new toolkit. She holds a master’s degree in business administration (M.B.A.) and a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) in Psychology from the University of North Florida. Her role as a military spouse has allowed her the opportunity to live, work, and make friends in many different parts of the world..
This session will explore how administrative professionals can use AI tools, Google Workspace, and iOS features to streamline their daily tasks, reduce busy work, and create more time to focus on what matters most—being fully human in their work and relationships.About the Presenter
After nearly a decade supporting educators and refining her expertise in organization and efficiency, Leah founded Claim Your Time to help independent school administrators streamline their work, empowering them to focus on what truly matters..
We are pleased to offer convenient hotel accommodations for event participants at
The Inn at Villanova.
To reserve, call the Inn directly at 1-610-450-4953 and request a room from
the ADVIS Advancement Retreat block.
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Member Early Bird Rate
Registration Ends 12/19/25 at 11:59 PM EST
|
$175.00 |
|
Member Regular Rate
Registration Opens 12/20/25 at 12:00 AM EST
|
$195.00 |
|
Member Late Rate
Registration Opens 2/5/26 at 12:00 AM EST
|
$225.00 |
| Price | |
|---|---|
|
Non-Member Regular Rate
Registration Ends 2/4/26 at 11:59 PM EST
|
$250.00 |
|
Non-Member Late Rate
Registration Opens 2/5/26 at 12:00 AM EST
|
$275.00 |
ACT 48 CREDITS
• You may request credit up to 7 days after the event.
• Per the PA Department of Education, ADVIS is required to report your successful completion of Act 48 evaluation within 30 days of the event.
• Available to members only.
• Contact Mandie Curtis Banks for more information.
ACCESSIBILITY
We strive to make our events inclusive and accessible for all. Request accommodations on the registration form, or contact Mandie Curtis Banks with accessibility questions. Please give at least two weeks’ notice to help us ensure seamless access.
EVENT CONTACT
Dena Torino, ADVIS Director of Programming