Dalton Conference 2026

Whole Child, Whole School: An Ecological Approach to Wellness

This year, the Dalton 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 regard to mental health and wellness in independent schools. 

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.

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.

More about the Conference:

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.