NAIS-NNSP Student Leadership Conference 2026

On January 27, 2026, Señora Kosman and Mrs. Gill traveled with five students to Washington, D.C., to attend the 2026 NAIS Student Civic Leadership Summit in partnership with the Close Up Foundation. The 5 students were MJ S., Baeti T., Magdalen K., Joslyn H., and Lauren S. This national gathering brought together high school students from across the country to explore civic leadership, engage with experts, and collaborate on solutions to pressing national issues.

During the three-day summit, students participated in discussions and activities focused on leadership, community engagement, and civic responsibility. After choosing one of three focus areas: Economics, Education, or Mental Health, our students selected Education. They worked collaboratively to develop a thoughtful proposal advocating for meaningful educational change, grounded in SHA’s guiding belief that “every girl is known.”

According to the students, the Student Civic Leadership Summit was “new, deliberative, inspiring, engaging, and instrumental”.  When asked about their experience at the conference, they stated:  “We had the chance to engage with peers and educators from around the country.  As a group, we learned new perspectives, explored Washington D.C. (as best as we could with the snow and ice), and had the chance to grow and learn beyond the classroom.  We participated in workshops discussing civic responsibility and leadership, in which we developed ways to take initiative in our school community at SHA.” 

At the same time, Señora Kosman and Mrs. Gill attended the NNSP Annual Conference on Community & Civic Engagement alongside educators from across the nation. The conference emphasized the importance of meeting students where they are, empowering their voices, and helping them see themselves as agents of change. Together, these experiences reinforced a shared commitment to fostering connection, leadership, and purposeful civic engagement within our school community.