2026 SPARC National Conference

Auxiliary leaders regularly make decisions that impact hiring, supervision, performance management, and employee retention, but many have never received formal training in employment law. This practical session will explore the legal considerations that arise throughout the employee lifecycle, from recruiting and interviewing to onboarding, documentation, evaluations, discipline, and separation. You'll also examine policies, handbooks, wage and hour considerations, and common pitfalls that can expose schools to unnecessary risk. Designed specifically for independent school auxiliary programs, this session will provide practical guidance and real-world examples to help you build strong teams, make informed decisions, and confidently navigate challenging personnel situations.

Whether you're contracting with vendors, renting facilities, partnering with outside organizations, or launching new programs, every agreement carries legal and financial implications. This session will provide a practical framework for evaluating contracts and understanding the provisions that matter most, including indemnification, insurance requirements, liability limitations, cancellation terms, payment provisions, and risk allocation. Participants will learn what to look for before signing agreements, when to seek additional legal review, and how thoughtful contract management can protect both their programs and their schools. Leave with a stronger understanding of common contract provisions and greater confidence in navigating agreements that support successful auxiliary operations while minimizing institutional risk.

Have you noticed your camp enrollment trending younger? Designing programs that appeal to older middle school students (Grades 7–9) can be a challenge—but with the right framing and strategic partnerships, you can capture this elusive demographic. In this session, Jim Patterson (Harvard Westlake) and Kat Yorks (Lakeside School) will share how they developed offerings that resonate with older students, including programs like Entrepreneurship Camp, Leadership Lab, and AI Innovators. You’ll learn how to leverage existing programs, faculty expertise, and community connections to expand and “level up” your current offerings. Participants will gain insight into our design process and leave with practical strategies for reimagining existing camps—or identifying untapped strengths within their own teams—to better engage older middle schoolers.