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The Dalton Conference
Educating school communities to broaden and deepen inclusion

Launched in 2011, The Dalton Conference is a day-long, dynamic and interactive program designed to educate and connect school communities. Centered on themes of identity and belonging, The Dalton Conference provides an opportunity for members of New York City and regional independent schools to productively engage in discussions that broaden and improve inclusion within their diverse communities, sharing both challenges and effective practices with peer institutions. 
With representation across constituencies (administrators, alumni, diversity practitioners, faculty, heads of school, parents, students, trustees), school groups (“Houses”) participate in guided conversations (“Labs”) around a central topic (“Assignment”). In addition, participants hear from a prominent keynote speaker and a moderated student panel.
In 2010, the idea for the Dalton Conference originated on the Board of Trustees Community Life & Diversity Committee, chaired by Casper Caldarola ’77 P’14. For its first five years, Casper led the conference as a volunteer along with many Dalton volunteer community members. In recent years, the Conference was planned jointly by The Office of Community Engagement and Belonging and Pollyanna, Inc. For 2026, the Conference’s sixteenth year, the Administrative Team is excited to bring the conference back to its roots to be produced entirely by the Dalton community. The Admin Team believes this conference is an opportunity to deepen the engagement of our community with our work in belonging and inclusion.
The Dalton Conference will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026. The Administration Team, a Planning Committee, the Office of Community Engagement and Belonging, and 60+ volunteers from the Dalton community help bring the day to life.

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  • The 2026 Conference

    Save the Date
    Saturday, February 7, 2026
    8:00 AM-4:00 PM
    108 E. 89th Street, New York, NY

    Register Here.
    Register with early bird pricing of $2,000 for your entire group. Early bird pricing ends October 31st, after which registration will increase to $2,300 for your entire group. Conference registration will close by January 15.

    Questions? Contact the Planning Committee.

Conference FAQs

List of 12 frequently asked questions.

  • When and where is the Dalton Conference?

    The Dalton Conference will be held on Saturday, February 7, 2026 at Dalton (108 East 89th Street, New York, NY 10128).

  • What is this year’s theme?

    Whole Child, Whole School: An Ecological Approach to Wellness

    This year, the Conference will explore ways that schools can support the wellness of our diverse communities. During our time together, we will use an intersectional lens to collectively reflect on best practices with regards to mental health and wellness in independent schools. 

  • How much is registration? When is the registration deadline?

    Registration opens October 1 with an early bird pricing of $2,000 for your entire group. Early bird pricing ends October 31st, after which registration will increase to $2,300 for your entire group. Conference registration will close by January 15.

  • What does registration include?

    • 15 spots for your House (school group) which includes the head of school and 2 members from each of the following constituencies: administrators, alumni, diversity practitioners, faculty/staff, parents, students (grades 7-12), and trustees
    • Access to all conference events for your House, including the Keynote and Labs
    • Light breakfast and lunch

  • How can I register?

    • Identify your school contact (this person is responsible for coordinating and submitting your school’s registration as well as facilitating your Afternoon Lab).
    • Submit your registration via our website (only one submission per school).
    • After your school is registered, you will receive a confirmation email with further instructions to submit the rest of your school’s participants (to be completed by a later date).

    Please note that the Dalton Conference is not open to the general public– attendees must be affiliated and registered with a school group to attend.

    If your school is interested in attending, but the cost of registration poses a financial hardship for your institution, please contact daltonconference@dalton.org.

  • What are my responsibilities as a school contact?

    The school contact is responsible for coordinating and submitting your school’s registration. This person also serves as a point of contact between your school and the Conference, relaying any important information to your school’s participants. The school contact typically facilitates your school’s Afternoon Lab discussion (with materials provided), although another faculty member or administrator may volunteer to assist or lead the afternoon discussion.

  • Do I need to know who will attend when I register my school?

    No, you do not need to know who will attend the Conference when you register your school. After your school is registered, you will receive a confirmation email with further information on how to submit the rest of your school’s participants. School participant information must be submitted by January 15.

  • Do I have to bring 15 people?

    A school must have at least 8 participants in their House. There is no discount for registering a group of less than 15. We highly encourage schools to submit a full group to ensure representation across various constituents.

  • What happens if my group changes?

    To update attendee names or other information changes, please follow the instructions in your confirmation email received after registration.

    Please note that community members who are not officially registered prior to the Conference date (February 7, 2026) will not be able to attend.

  • What if someone in my House needs an accommodation?

    Please add any accommodations requests (dietary restrictions, language translation, accessibility and ADA accommodations, etc.) using the question box provided in the registration link.

  • What are past topics that the conference has covered?

    • 2011: Creating a Generation of Inclusive Thinkers and Community Leaders - Deborah Roberts
    • 2012: School Transitions: The K-8 Experience - Wes Moore
    • 2013: Shaping and Sustaining Safe Schools for the LGBTQ Community - Christine Quinn
    • 2014: Socioeconomics - Charles Blow
    • 2015: Race • Privilege • Community Building - Glenn Singleton
    • 2016: Intersectionality - Tricia Rose
    • 2017: Cultivating Racial Awareness and White Engagement - Ali Michael
    • 2018: Raising Empathy and Taking Action - Daniel Lubetzky
    • 2019: Implicit Bias - Jerry Kang
    • 2020: Reflect • Assess • Plan - Deborah Roberts
    • 2021: What Did We Learn? How Will We Continue to Move Forward? - Rodney Glasgow
    • 2022: Inclusion and Belonging - Charles Vogl
    • 2023: Examining Generational Trauma - Elizabeth Rosner and Jason Craige Harris
    • 2024: Building a Gender & Sexuality Affirming School - Schuyler Bailar
    • 2025: Dialogue Across Difference - Jason Craige Harris

  • Why House, Lab, and Assignment?

    House, Lab, and Assignment are the three pillars of The Dalton Plan, which empowers learners to realize their full potential while developing confidence, integrity, and a sense of social responsibility to engage meaningfully beyond the classroom. 

    House serves as a home base where students discover their community and develop a sense of belonging. Assignments represent a partnership between student and teacher designed to inspire growth, curiosity, and independence. Labs can be small group sessions that nurture agency, delve into questions, work through challenges, or further explore topics of personal interest – turning learning into a dynamic, self-directed experience.

    Curious about House, Lab, Assignment? Read more about The Dalton Plan here.

Grades K-3

53 East 91st Street, New York, NY 10128

Grades 4-12

108 East 89th Street, New York, NY 10128

Physical Education Center

200 East 87th Street, New York, NY 10128

Contact Info

212-423-5200    |    info@dalton.org

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