The Consortium convenes study groups to explore topics of mutual interest, such as school leadership, 21st Century Skills, student learning, and assessment. Below is a list of the Consortium’s study groups:
The Tri-State Consortium Superintendents’ Network will meet on a monthly basis for intense and collaborative learning focused on the unique challenges educational CEOs face as they (1) focus on improving teaching and learning at scale, (2) promote coherent, systemwide change, (3) support the learning of each and every child, (4) work with boards to create a sustainable and focused local policy environment, and (5) respond to forces disruptive to the educational mission.
The Network will use dynamic and collaborative processes anchored in all that the field knows about how leaders learn best. We will:
Work on problems of practice that are relevant and timely to the issues superintendents are facing in their districts
Use problem-based learning, simulations, and case studies to ensure that discourse is anchored in the real and practical realities leaders face
Import sources of expertise--from proven leaders and scholars--that can challenge our thinking and point toward more optimal solutions
Create a culture that balances pressure and support, fostering the conditions for superintendents to discuss sensitive topics in honest ways and to give each other productive feedback
Put superintendents in the driver’s seat, leveraging their lived experiences and deep sources of expertise to frame the topics at hand and identify potential solutions.
The group is facilitated by:
Richard Lemons - Executive Director, Partners for Educational Leadership
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (8:30 am - 11:30 am, breakfast provided)
September 10
October 16
November 12
December 3
January 7
February 4
March 26
April 22
May 19
This study group is composed of deputy and assistant superintendents and district level directors of curriculum. We consider the needs, interests, and goals of curriculum leaders as they support continual improvement and provide professional learning in their home districts. We also look at how districts can leverage the Consortium model to strengthen their work and how the Consortium model can grow to better support that work. Meeting topics are based on the expressed interests of the group and include text-based discussions and analysis of problems of practice.
The group is facilitated by:
Andrew Selesnick - Executive Director, Tri-State Consortium
Lauren Allan - Assistant Director, Tri-State Consortium
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (8:30 am - 11:30 am, breakfast provided)
September 9
November 10
February 10
April 9
The Special Education Leaders Study Group is designed to support the study of topics relevant to the challenging work of Special Education Administrators. The group meets four times each during the school year. The study group uses protocols and/or a Socratic approach to engage the thinking of each member. A typical study group question is : How can we use current brain research to support students with disabilities with Common Core Standards?
This group is facilitated by:
Assistant Superintendent for Special Education and Student Services, Scarsdale Public Schools
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (12:00 pm - 2:00 pm, lunch provided)
October 17
December 12
January 23
This group meets several times annually. Centered on the power of leadership study, the group has analyzed texts (Thomas Friedman's Hot, Flat and Crowded; Leadership on the Line by Heifetz and Linsky; Creative Innovators by Tony Wagner, for example) and also focuses on case studies presented by members of the study group.
The group is facilitated by:
Lou Wool - Superintendent, Harrison Public Schools
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (8:30 am - 1:00 pm, coffee/lunch provided)
October 14
January 13
March 10
May 12
THIS GROUP IS ON HIATUS in 2025-26.
Please reach out to Andrew Selesnick if you have questions.
This study group meets four times each year and will focus on topics relevant to your current work. The agendas will be co-created to support your leadership in your various initiatives and goals. Some topics may include specific content, such as literacy, science, and math, instructional practices, assessment of student learning, teacher evaluation, school culture, and innovation. Meetings may begin with discussions of relevant readings and end with discussions of case studies presented by members of the group.
The group is facilitated by:
Jen Lamia - Superintendent, Byram Hills Central School District
Tim Kaltenecker - Deputy Superintendent, Byram Hills Central School District
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (9:00 am - 11:00 am, breakfast provided)
October 15
December 2
January 27
April 16
This study group is open to all Assistant Principals in our member districts. Assistant principals typically do not have opportunities to discuss their roles with each other, so the topics for discussion are based on the role of the assistant principal at all levels of the system and are often linked to relevant concerns and professional articles.
This study group is facilitated by:
Andrew Selesnick - Executive Director, Tri-State Consortium
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (8:30 am - 10:30 am, breakfast provided)
October 10
December 4
January 26
April 15
The Consortium responds to requests from members to conduct study groups based on specific topics of mutual interest.
In 2025-2026, our topic-based study groups are as follows:
In this study group, district and school leaders will have the opportunity to learn about current trends in AI as well as what’s on the horizon. They will also have time to consider and develop practical approaches for schools today.
Attendance is open to all and may be of most benefit to Superintendents, Curriculum Leaders, Building Leaders, and Instructional Coaches. Districts are encouraged, but not required, to send more than one representative.
This study group is facilitated by:
Jerry Crisci, a speaker, writer, and consultant who helps school leaders navigate the challenges and opportunities of using AI in education. Jerry also hosts "AI in 30," a bi-monthly news show for school leaders across New York. Previously, Jerry was the founding co-director of the Center for Innovation at the Scarsdale Public Schools, where he also served as Director of Instructional Technology and Innovation.
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (12:00 pm - 3:00 pm, lunch provided)
October 1
November 19
February 11
April 22
Are your students able to apply their classroom learning in authentic situations? Do your current assessments measure this skill?
As state education departments increasingly encourage innovative approaches to assessment, and as artificial intelligence challenges us to rethink how we engage students in meaningful, deep learning, Performance-Based Learning and Performance-Based Assessments (PBAs) have never been more relevant.
In this study group, participants will deepen their understanding of the purpose, benefits, and practical implementation of PBAs. Through a blend of research, reflection, and collaboration, educators will explore both theory and application, while designing, sharing, and refining performance based assessments for use in their own classrooms and districts.
Districts are encouraged to send teams of teachers and administrators. Individual participants are also welcome.
This study group is facilitated by:
District and Consortium leaders - including Lisa Brady (Nanuet), Tim Kaltenecker (Byram Hills), Kevin Guidotti (Byram Hills), Tina Henckel (Weston), Lauren Allan (Consortium), and Andrew Selesnick (Consortium)
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (8:30 am - 12:00 pm, breakfast provided)
October 6
October 27
November 18
February 2
This study group will provide a collaborative space for instructional coaches to explore timely topics and share best practices. Each session will focus on issues relevant to current coaching work, with agendas co-constructed by participants to ensure the conversations are meaningful and responsive. Topics may include facilitating adult learning, building teacher capacity, using data to inform coaching cycles, navigating school culture, and leveraging technology for instructional impact. Sessions may include professional readings, collaborative problem-solving, and case study discussions to support continuous growth in coaching practice.
The group is designed for instructional coaches across grade levels and content areas. Coaches from all member districts are welcome and may attend either as a team from a district or as individuals.
This study group is facilitated by:
Caroleann Bombace - Instructional Coach, Rye City Schools
Kimberly Persaud - Instructional Coach, Rye City Schools
Click HERE to register.
Whitby Castle, NY (8:30 am - 11:30 am, breakfast provided)
October 30
December 10
February 25
April 29
PLEASE NOTE: This study group is moving to a virtual model for 2025-26. Meeting dates and more detail will be available soon.
School districts are currently facing an uphill battle to preserve democracy in public education. There is no more important topic in the school curriculum than civic education, which is essential to students' knowledge, skills, and values as citizens of the world, but many roadblocks are hindering democratic growth for students, educators, and school-communities. This study group will explore the current landscape of civic education through the lens of society, school institutions, and the classroom. The facilitators will use case studies and relevant research to frame discussions for school leaders from the Tri-State Consortium with the aim of expanding our professional knowledge and collaborating on strategies to provide high quality, active, and informed civic education through each layer of the school system. This study group is for superintendents, principals, curriculum specialists, and teachers interested in pursuit of democratic education.
This study group is facilitated by:
Christopher Zublionis - Superintendent, North Shore School District
Seth Gordon - Director of Social Studies, North Shore School District
Click HERE to register.
Virtual Meetings
Virtual Meeting Dates TBD