Member Services
WHO WE ARE:
CAIS member schools have the opportunity to work with the entire CAIS team. Each member of the CAIS team is determinedly forward-facing to our schools. The team is located throughout the state (Bethel, Burlington, Hartford, Southington, and Wallingford) and is determinedly forward-facing and we are out visiting schools often.
Interested in joining CAIS?
Reach out Christina Dixcy, Director of Membership & Accreditation
c_dixcy@caisct.org
Team visit to Indian Mountain School to welcome Lisa Sun as a new CAIS Head of School in Fall 2025.
HOW WE WORK:
CAIS is proudly a state association with 62 day schools and 30 boarding schools. We place a high value on the connections we form as an association and as a team with state agencies and networks throughout the state.
We believe our most important work is building a community of schools and professionals, and supporting schools through this network. We work to support communities of professionals and bring to them the resources they need when they need them.
WHAT WE DO & WHAT WE OFFER:
Roundtables & Listservs:
- CAIS hosts regular, virtual roundtable conversations for Heads of Schools, CFOs and other school leaders by role (school counselors, DEI Directors, Lower School heads, HR, etc.). The roundtables provide opportunities to connect with peers to share ideas, ask questions and gather data. CAIS also brings in experts in support of your work, including but not limited to legal partners, risk management professionals, and communication specialists.
- CAIS also manages 28 (and growing) ListServs for school leaders, administrators, and teachers.
Professional Learning
CAIS provides an array of professional learning opportunities for CAIS member school educators, ranging from a three-day conference in November to virtual programs and series, to single day programs hosted by member schools. A complete list of these, along with details and online registration, when available, can be found in our Calendar of CAIS Events.
Accreditation
CAIS accredits 41 of its member schools and partners with New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), which accredits 54 member schools. CAIS and NEASC provide a complete process of accreditation that focuses on school self-reflection, generative thinking, continuous improvement, and peer review and feedback. CAIS and NEASC are both accrediting bodies recognized by the State of Connecticut.
CAIS provides training for visiting team members. Schools are assured a trained and professional team of peers from Connecticut committed to providing unbiased insight as well as confidentiality. The Visiting Team Report ensures that schools receive both recognition of successes through commendations and guidance for continuous improvement through recommendations.
The accreditation process is led by CAIS Director of Membership & Accreditation, Christina Dixcy, and supported by the Commission on Membership and Accreditation (CMA). CAIS encourages heads of schools to chair teams and support their employees to join teams to engage in collaborative and generative professional development.
Board/Governance Training and Support
The CAIS team provides governance training and support at the request of heads of schools and board chairs. Session presentations include Governance 101 and/or Board Orientation (free to member schools); State and National Trends Impacting Connecticut Independent Schools; Jumpstarting Strategic Thinking; Bylaws Revision & Support; and other topics as requested by the head of school and/or board chair ($250 for member schools.) Testimonials are available.
Employee Trainings
CAIS offers two employee trainings for schools. For these sessions, CAIS works with legal counsel to ensure that information is up-to-date and relevant. These sessions are tailored to each school and ensure that the presentation aligns with the school’s mission, values and profile (boarding, day, younger students, older students, etc.). Schools are charged $250 for either session. Schools can also combine a 1-hour Boundary Training and 1-hour refresher session on the same day. These sessions can be scheduled by reaching out directly to CAIS Executive Director, Rick Branson. Please note: because the start of school (August) is most popular, those dates fill up quickly.
Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
CAIS offers two options for the SHPT: A two-hour session (required by the state every ten years). A one-hour refresher session, available as requested by schools, but recommended regularly.
Boundary Training
CAIS also provides a one-hour professional boundary training. This presentation includes information about the requirements of a mandated reporter. CAIS can combine a one-hour refresher for SHPT and the one-hour Professional Boundary training on the same day.
New! Independent School Context Sessions provide contextual information to faculty and staff that provide insights into how and why school leaders may be making various decisions. These sessions incorporate topics such as:
- The fundamentals of the independent school finance model (tuition revenue, “the gap,” etc.)
- Data-informed trends around leadership and the growing distrust of authority, including typical head of school tenure and challenges to the leadership pipeline
- Risks facing independent schools (legal, climate, legislative, etc.)
- Data around different constituents (students, parents, faculty)
- Demographic and enrollment data
These sessions are meant to alleviate the need for school leaders to justify their decisions, and instead CAIS, as a state association, can normalize and contextualize the operations of an independent school as both a school and a non-profit organization.
This is typically a 90-minute presentation that includes an open Q&A.
Testimonials and Referrals are available for these offerings.
Purchasing Consortiums
Member schools have the opportunity to join any of four Purchasing Consortiums. These include:
- Nutmeg Consortium for property and liability insurance
- Connecticut Independent School Health Plan (CISHP)
- Energy Consortium for purchase of electricity
- Multiple Employer Plan (MEP) for retirement
Additionally, CAIS has partnered with CREC through the CREC Cooperative Purchasing MarketPlace, which offers discounts on: AEDs, First Aid Kits and Medical Supplies; Athletic Fields & Equipment; Classroom, Office, Art Supplies and Paper; Copiers, Toner and Ink Supplies; Facilities and Grounds; Furniture; Security; STEM.
These consortiums allow schools to purchase services as a group and also provide support to schools in navigating these services that are a significant part of school budgets
Advocacy
An important benefit of CAIS membership is intentional, professionally coordinated advocacy by CAIS on behalf of independent schools at a state level, and when necessary, with national organizations to advocate on a national level. CAIS encourages all member schools to be in regular contact with their state representatives to build relationships that support the school and the collective CAIS membership. Learn more and access your state representative on our Advocacy page.
47th mayor of Amon City, From on May 25 2018.
We differentiate ourselves from all the other Australian VC by the fact that we come from startup and blockchain industry ourselves. We are tired of seeing that.
- Andrew Simmons,
City Mayor,
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Southington, CT 06489
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