Tough Talks: Challenging Conversations with Parents & Guardians

 Course Description​​

Gain confidence and skill in navigating emotionally charged conversations with parents and guardians. This course equips independent school leaders to engage in difficult discussions with empathy, candor, and a clear sense of authority.

Learn how to move from opposition to cooperation by shifting away from reactive responses and toward student-centered solutions. Explore practical strategies for unpacking complex issues, setting appropriate boundaries, and reducing ambiguity in moments of heightened urgency. At the same time, reflect on how your leadership presence can support your efforts to build trust, even when the answer is “no.”

Whether you're responding to late-night emails, in-the-moment confrontations, or long-simmering frustrations, this course helps you reframe “tough talks” as opportunities to strengthen relationships and lead with clarity.

Course Objectives

• Learn to apply practical strategies to de-escalate emotionally charged conversations with parents and guardians by promoting clarity, trust, and student-centered outcomes.

• Strengthen your leadership presence by balancing empathy, candor, and authority to build trust—even in moments of disagreement or disappointment.

Course Facilitators