Presidential Priorities Speaker Series

Join President & Head of School Iswari Natarajan for our speaker series that brings together our educators, experts, and thought leaders to explore topics essential to student success and well-being.

These curated presentations and conversations feature our own faculty experts and outside speakers, who share research-based insights and practical strategies on subjects ranging from child development and learning to wellness and character formation. Ms. Ish will facilitate each session, providing opportunities for meaningful dialogue, questions, and community feedback.

We are featuring a guest presentation with Dr. Aliza Pressman, author of “The 5 Principles of Parents: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans,” in April, and will connect it to a book club study event in February. You can find more information below.

Learn more about Ms. Ish's 2025-2026 Presidential Priorities

All SMA community members are invited to attend.

2025-2026 Speaker Series Sessions Events

September 10, 7:45-8:30 a.m. — Coffee & Conversation

September 25, 4 p.m. — Strategic Plan Presentation for faculty and staff

September 25, 5:30 p.m. — Strategic Plan Presentation for students and families

October 21, 8:15-9:15 a.m. — Coffee & Conversation

November 19, 6-7 p.m. — Panel Discussion: Leadership Perspective with our principals, Kristina Carothers (interim), Dr. Andy Aldrich, and Michelle Hayden

December 9, 6-7 p.m. — How Awe and Wonder Can Save Education and the World Lecture with Pete Sniegowski

Wonder and awe never leave us, and once these innate human qualities have been awakened, they lead us onward for the rest of our lives. Educators have long sought the panacea for the scourge of academic ennui—the answer is and has always been, of course, fostering student engagement. Join Pete Sniegowski, SMA’s very own Campus Astronomer, as he talks about the research behind wonder and awe in education and his own experiences with the sublime both in and out of the classroom.

Please join us in the High School Forum.

January 8, 5:30-6:30 p.m. — Alumnae Speaker Series with recent SMA graduates sharing their experiences

January 13, 8:15-9:15 a.m. — Coffee & Conversation

February 11, 7:45-8:45 a.m. — Community book review of "The 5 Principles of Parenting" by Dr. Aliza Pressman

Parents and caregivers and faculty and staff are invited to discuss Dr. Aliza Pressman's insights on effective parenting strategies, sharing experiences and learning from one another.

Dr. Pressman will present to the SMA community in April. More information is available below.

Dr. Aliza Pressman is a developmental psychologist with nearly two decades of experience working with families and the health care providers who care for them. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling book, “The 5 Principles of Parenting: Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans,” and the host of the award-winning podcast Raising Good Humans.

She is the co-founding director of The Mount Sinai Parenting Center and is an assistant clinical professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital. She holds degrees from Dartmouth College, Teachers College, and Columbia University. She is the mother of two teenagers.

Please join us in the Community Center.

March 2, 5:30-6:30 p.m.— Your Essential Guide to Raising Good Humans Presentation with Dr. Aliza Pressman, bestselling author of "The 5 Principles of Parenting"

Dr. Aliza Pressman, author of "The 5 Principles of Parenting," presents practical strategies for raising emotionally healthy, resilient children in today's world.