This program will center the lived experiences of educators of color. Open to educators at any independent school.
DATE: Friday, October 16, 2026
TIME: 9:30AM – 3:30PM
LOCATION: Choate Rosemary Hall
(If you work at a CAIS member school but are new to our database, please register your profile before registering for the event.)
PROGRAM: This gathering is designed for educators of color for a day of connection, reflection, and possibility. Participants will have space to build meaningful relationships, step back from the demands of the day-to-day, and think more deeply about who they are, what they want, and where they want to go. The goal is to leave more connected to one another, more grounded in what matters, and with a greater sense of agency over what comes next.
FACILITATOR: Brandon Clark, Founder, No Dreams Deferred
Brandon Clark is the Founder and Principal Consultant of No Dreams Deferred, a Connecticut-based consulting firm focused on helping leaders and organizations build the clarity, capacity, and relationships they need to thrive. His work spans executive coaching, leadership development, facilitation, talent strategy, and organizational culture, with a particular interest in helping people lead authentically, navigate complex institutions, and make intentional choices about what comes next.
Brandon has spent more than 20 years in education and nonprofit leadership, with experience spanning nearly every level of education, from early childhood and elementary school through middle and high school, college, and graduate education. His career has included teaching, recruiting and developing educators, organizing for education policy change, leading teams and organizations, and coaching leaders through periods of growth, transition, and change.
Brandon earned his bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Sacred Heart University, a master’s degree in School Psychology from Fairfield University, and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from The Broad Center. He remains actively involved with The Broad Center, now housed at the Yale School of Management, serving as a capstone advisor, executive coach, and member of the alumni team that interviews prospective Broad Master’s candidates.
Brandon also serves on the Board of Governors of The Unquowa School and as Executive Director of Park City Presents, a Bridgeport-based nonprofit expanding access to music, arts, and creative technology for young people. He lives in Bridgeport with his wife, Brooke, and their three children.
