Building on the overwhelming success of the NJSBA’s annual Women’s Leadership Conference, this special event brought the same empowering energy to Workshop on Thursday, Oct. 22.
The event kicked off with Alisha De Lorenzo, acclaimed international speaker, award-winning educator, and therapist, delivered an inspiring presentation, helping participants unlock their next level of aliveness and taking them on a transformative journey. Check out clips of the presentation: YouTube video.
This presentation is focused on the social frameworks of what it means to be seen, heard, and valued, addressing the problem of people feeling invisible or feeling that others are trying to make their lives feel insignificant.
The presentation challenged the audience to internalize personal agency and change how they perceive their own influence. The most common way people give up their power is by believing they do not have any. When we can no longer change an external situation, we are challenged to change ourselves. What brings us back is presence, the desire to feel seen and heard.
The program continued with two breakout sessions. One on the five keys to lasting success presented by Fatihah Abdur-Rahman, assistant superintendent at Salem City School District, who focused on how to lead with clarity, build capacity, and create cultures where everyone can thrive without burning out. Participants practical strategies for creating space to reset.
Women’s leadership and transparency, presented by Loretta Rivers and Dr. Gayle Nelson of Piscataway Township Schools, focused on the essential need for transparency to effectuate good governance, public trust, and ethical decision-making. Attendees left with practical tools to help district leaders lead with clarity, openness, and consistency.
To conclude the program, Dr. Kimberley Markus, a visionary and former New Jersey Commissioner of Education, bookended the science of mattering with the “art of mattering.” She guided participants to reflect on the conference insights, connect them to their daily lives and discover how to lead with an authentic spirit.
Using a blank canvas as an example, Dr. Markus directed the participants to scribble on a blank page. She explained that a scribble on the canvas, “blank page,” represents the complexity of imperfections and that it is important to become comfortable with chaos, transition through it, and pull positivity from the messiness. By reframing and gaining clarity, individuals can turn the scribble into a meaningful picture. Dr. Markus led the participants through chaos. Sharing that each of us – our individual presence and energy change the picture by adding “color” to it. The color is the individual and is a way of taking back who a person wants others to see. Turning chaos into something colorful and beautiful. The individual doesn’t simply belong in the picture; they bring something to it that wouldn’t exist without them.
The event was an overwhelming success, with 96% of participants saying that Women@Workshop should return in 2027. Survey respondents noted:
“All the speakers were absolutely amazing presenters who shared their experiences so that we can all work towards thinking beyond expectations. I felt inspired to bring that message back to the district.”
“Please continue offering this very important programming. It is very much needed.”
“Your presenters were AMAZING. Life changing and inspiring.”
Save the date. NJSBA’s Annual Women’s Leadership Conference is scheduled for Friday, March 19 at the College of New Jersey. Registration will be available soon.
