INDIANA NON-PUBLIC ADMINISTRATORS’ CONFERENCE

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Conference Overview

Grounded in Purpose, Guided by Hope

Mark your calendar for the Indiana Non-Public Administrators’ Conference (INPAC) scheduled for September 24-25, 2026 at the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel.

INPAC is the only conference designed specifically for Indiana non-public school leaders. Our conference theme, “Grounded in Purpose, Guided by Hope,” reflects the unique and important work of our non-public school leaders.

We are building a program featuring dynamic speakers in topics related to four learning strands:

All Things Indiana
Educational Technology
Instructional Leadership
Operational Vitality

The Serving English Language Learners Pre-Conference begins Thursday, September 24 at 8:30 a.m. This pre-conference is included in the cost of a two-day registration or can be purchased as a stand-alone item.

The All Things Indiana strand will feature a variety of sessions across two days delivered by panels of experts and speakers. Breakout sessions will be offered on topics including but not limited to the science of reading, math, assessments, and new legislation. This strand is ideal for school administrators, literacy coaches, lead teachers, and aspiring school leaders.

The Educational Technology strand will feature sessions across two days delivered on topics including, but not limited to, the effective use of technology, cellphones and other devices, and AI. These sessions are ideal for school administrators, lead teachers, and aspiring school leaders.

The Instructional Leadership strand will feature sessions across two days delivered on topics including, but not limited to, instructional leadership and supervision, instructional and literacy coaching, literacy leadership, and cultivating teacher leaders. These sessions are ideal for school administrators, lead teachers, and aspiring school leaders.

The Operational Vitality strand will feature sessions across two days delivered on topics including, but not limited to, enrollment management in light of universal choice, financial planning, legal issues, and school culture. This strand is ideal for school administrators, chief operating officers, chief finance officers, business managers, board/commission members, pastors, and aspiring school leaders.

Keynote Speakers

Pre-Conference – Thursday, September 24, 2026: Kevin Baxter

The Stranger in Our Midst: Building a School Culture of Welcoming and Belonging

Dr. Kevin Baxter is the Director of the Mary Ann Remick Leadership Program at the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame. In his role as Director, he supports the faculty and staff in the program’s mission to form transformational Catholic school leaders through intentional community building, integrated spiritual development, and rigorous academic preparation to strengthen Catholic schools. Dr. Baxter is also a Teaching Professor and a Fellow in the Institute for Educational Initiatives.

Prior to his current role, Dr. Baxter served as the Chief Innovation Officer for the National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA). He also previously served as the Senior Director and Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.

Dr. Baxter is the author of two books, Greatness in Smallness: A Vision for Catholic Microschools (NCEA, 2021) and Changing the Ending (NCEA, 2011) and he co-edited (with David DeCosse) Conscience and Catholic Education: Theology, Administration, and Teaching (Orbis, 2022).

Thursday, September 24, 2026: Pete Hall

Grounded in Purpose, Guided by Hope…and Accelerated through Strategy

Tenacious, courageous, and incorruptible, Pete Hall shares his optimism, joy, and practical application of strategies for getting the most out of yourself – as a leader, a contributor, a teammate, and a human being, no matter what your role(s) and goal(s) might be. With a down-to-earth personality and humorous anecdotes, he weaves tactical work/life approaches and clear mental shifts into every nook and cranny of his interactions with others.

After a teaching career that spanned grades Pre-K to 8 over three states, Pete served 12 years as a principal in three schools. Under his leadership, each of the schools earned awards for academic performance, growth, and student achievement. His written works include authoring over twenty articles on leadership and publishing 13 books including The Fostering Resilient Learners Workbook: Strategies and steps to support our learners, published last year.

A resident of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, Pete speaks and consults internationally.

Friday, September 25, 2026: Mark Minkus

Beating Burnout: How to Defeat the #1 Enemy of Non-Public School Leaders

Mark Minkus was head of school for 21 years at a Pre-K to 12 Christian school and then was Head of Middle School for 12 years at a Pre-K to 8 Jewish day school. Mark is also the host of The Private School Leader Podcast which has been downloaded in 68 countries and all 50 states.

Mark’s passion is to help private school leaders get out of survival mode and start thriving. He strongly believes that it is possible to have a long and happy and fulfilling career as a private school leader. In addition to keeping busy with his coaching clients, Mark has spoken at several national and state conferences on topics ranging from Growth Mindset to overcoming burnout and working with difficult parents.

Mark’s favorite place on earth is sitting on the beach in Ocean City, NJ with his wife Beth (35 years) and three adult daughters. He’s obsessed with college football, 80’s music and movies, his two dachshunds and everyone else’s dogs.

Conference Schedule

Thursday, September 25, 2026

Pre-Conference
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.	Registration
8:30 a.m. – 8:45 a.m.	Opening Session
8:50 a.m. – 9:50 a.m.	Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kevin Baxter The Stranger in Our Midst: Building a School Culture of Welcoming and Belonging
9:55 a.m. – 10:55 a.m.	Breakout Sessions Programming and Data: Soup to Nuts – Amy Fix and Hidalina Roman, Scecina Memorial High School Leading Schools Where Multilingual Learners Thrive – Kayla Vijil Nuguid, Big Shoulders Fund EL Learners: Instructional Strategies for Early Childhood – Lucy Intriago, Workforce Development Coach and Early Childhood Advocate Welcoming, Belonging, and Thriving – Jen Kocher, St. Mark Catholic School
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Panel Discussion and Q & A with Pre-Conference Speakers Dr. Kevin Baxter, Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame Amy Fix, Scecina Memorial High School Lucy Intriago, Workforce Development Coach and Early Childhood Advocate Kayla Vigil Nuguid, Big Shoulders Fund

General Conference
8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Registration
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. 12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Networking with Exhibitors Wellness Room
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Opening Session
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.	Thursday Keynote: Pete Hall Grounded in Purpose, Guided by Hope…and Accelerated through Strategy
2:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.	Break + Networking with Exhibitors Sponsored by
2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.	Breakout Session #1 Reaching and Teaching the Kids Who Don’t Fit in the Box – Pete Hall, Educational Hall (Instructional Leadership) Cell Phones in Schools – Greg VanSlambrook, Brebeuf Jesuit Preparatory School; Brett Vermeulen, Illiana Christian High School; and Christine Williams, Guerin Catholic High School (Educational Technology) Best Practices in School Safety: A Framework and Practical Tactics to Help You Remain Calm and Adaptive – Julian Petzold, Lion Safety Consulting (Operational Vitality) Leading a School Towards Excellence and Compliance in Mathematics – Dr. Matt Hollowell, Marian University (All Things Indiana)
3:45 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Break + Networking with Exhibitors
4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.	Breakout Session #2 Helping Parents Navigate Technology and Childhood in Community: The St. Carlo Parent Network – Lauren Clark and Phil Funk, St. Carlo Parent Network (Educational Technology) Legal Topics Affecting Non-Public Schools – Dr. Sarah Wannemuehler, University of Southern Indiana Professor Emeritus (Operational Vitality) Science of Reading: What an Administrator Needs to Know – Melissa Abernathy, Indiana Department of Education (All Things Indiana) New Principals Roundtable – Facilitators include Josh Bachman, Immanuel Lutheran School – Valparaiso; Michelle Boyd, Our Lady of Grace Catholic School – Noblesville; Bethany Fewell, Pope John XXIII Catholic School; John Hasty, Bishop Chatard High School (Instructional Leadership); and Kyle Weener, Highland Christian School
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.	Sponsor Reception + Networking with Exhibitors
6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.	Dinner + Armchair Discussion with Dr. Paul Ketcham, Indiana Assistant Secretary of Education

Friday, September 25, 2026


7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m.	Registration, Exhibitor Networking, & Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m.	Opening Session
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.	Friday Keynote: Mark Minkus Beating Burnout: How to Defeat the #1 Enemy of Non-Public School Leaders
9:30 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.	Break + Networking with Exhibitors
9:45 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.	Breakout Session # 3 The Amish Don’t Scroll: Cultivating Healthy Leadership and Culture in a Tech-Saturated Age – Dr. Preston Cosgrove, Concordia University Wisconsin (Educational Technology) Work-Based Learning (All Things Indiana) Supporting Coherent Systems of Teaching and Learning – Lynn Schemel, Indiana Department of Education (All Things Indiana) Instructional Coaching: Walkthroughs that Impact Teaching and Learning – Susan Abelein, FACTS Education (Instructional Leadership)
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. 10:45 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.	Listening Sessions Break + Networking with Exhibitors
11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.	Breakout Session #4 When Parents Push Back: How to Build Effective Relationships with Difficult Parents – Mark Minkus, The Private School Leader (Instructional Leadership) Dancing with the Board: Cultivating and Maintaining Alignment, Synergy, and True Partnership with Your Board – Ben Tierney, Tierney Consulting (Operational Vitality) The AI-Ready Leader: Balancing Innovation with Practical Implementation – Amber Seibert, Five Star Technology Solutions (Educational Technology) N of 1: Indiana’s New Student-Centered Accountability Model – Ron Sandlin, Indiana Department of Education (All Things Indiana)
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.	Lunch + Networking with Exhibitors Sponsored by:
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Breakout Session #5 AI Yay Yay: Understanding and Discerning the Role of AI in Non-Public Schools – Ben Tierney, Tierney Consulting (Educational Technology) Maximizing Funding Through State and Federal Tax Credit Programs – Scott Schumacher, Lutheran SGO of Indiana; and Ted Feeney, Institute for Quality Education (Operational Vitality) Relationships First, Results that Last – Megan Majchrowicz and Jessica Scales, Friendzy (Operational Vitality) Solving the Attendance Problem: Ideas from the Field – Panelists include Jen Kocher, St. Mark Catholic School; Mark Harmon, Blackhawk Christian Schools; Bryon Ritzema, Highland Christian School; and Ben Stellwagen, Emmanuel-St. Michael Lutheran School (Instructional Leadership)
2:00 p.m.	Conference Ends

INPAC 2026 Registration

Conference Registration

If you have questions about your school’s membership status, please reach out to Andrea Anderson at aanderson@inpea.org. Only INPEA member schools can register at the discounted member rate.

INPEA Member Rates:

Full Conference Rate (Thursday and Friday) – $400/person for the first 2 registrants from the same school
Additional Registrants (3+) Full Conference Rate – $350/person from the same school
One Day Only Conference Rate (Thursday + Dinner) – $325/person
One Day Only Conference Rate (Friday) – $325/person
Pre-Conference Only Rate (Thursday) – $175/person

INPEA Non-Member Rates:

Full Conference Rate (Thursday and Friday) – $450/person for the first 2 registrants from the same school
Additional Registrants (3+) Full Conference Rate – $400/person from the same school
One Day Only Conference Rate (Thursday + Dinner) – $375/person
One Day Only Conference Rate (Friday) – $375/person
Pre-Conference Only Rate (Thursday) – $225/person

Hotel Information

Hotel rooms are available through the Renaissance Indianapolis North Hotel at a rate of $169/night + 17% taxes and fees. Conference attendees are responsible for arranging their own accommodations. To book a room through our block, please contact the hotel at 1-800-228-9290 or visit their website. If calling, please be sure to reference the Indiana Non-Public Administrators Conference room block. In order to guarantee our conference rate, reservations must be made by September 8, 2026.

Cancellation Policy

Registrations canceled by September 1, 2026 will receive a full refund. Registrations canceled by September 10, 2026 will receive a 50% refund. Registrations canceled after September 10, 2026 are not eligible for a refund. Cancellation requests must be sent via email to office@inpea.org. Refunds will not be processed until after the conference and will be issued via check. Any credit card processing fees incurred will not be refunded.

2026 Vendor Information

Purchase Additional Exhibitor Tickets

Download Exhibitor/Sponsor Prospectus

SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Meet face-to-face with powerful, dedicated administrators from across Indiana. Expect to meet decision-makers who, on average, manage budgets ranging from half a million dollars to multi-million dollars. INPAC is a great way to meet new prospects. Sponsorships are limited and in high demand, please act quickly to secure your sponsorship.

INPAC delivers a wide range of sponsorship options that can be fully customized to meet your budget.

Sponsorship benefits are designed to create top-of-mind awareness among administrators
Customize a sponsorship package that provides access to attendees before, during, and after the conference
Recognition on INPEA website, newsletters, and/or social media accounts

If you are interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at INPAC in September 2026, please reach out to Tina Machina at tmachina@radiusconsultingllc.com or 317-459-4267.