Conference Details
"HER: Girls Who Boldly Lead the Way" is a transformative conference celebrating the power, potential, and passion of girls. This event is designed to inspire and empower middle school girls to embrace their leadership skills, break down barriers, and shape their futures with confidence.
Through engaging workshops, dynamic speakers, and collaborative activities, we aim to foster a community of fearless leaders ready to tackle challenges, advocate for change, and uplift one another. Together, we’ll explore the diverse paths of leadership, highlighting the unique strengths each girl brings to the table.
Join us as we celebrate courage, innovation, and the unwavering spirit of girls who are not just dreaming of change but actively creating it. Let’s ignite a movement of bold leadership that paves the way for future generations!
Participation Inquiry Form
This is the first year we are opening up our spring leadership conference to non-WSG students. To ensure that we can deliver an impactful experience for all students, we will be inviting groups of students to attend through a school or extracurricular program, with at least one adult program leader traveling with the group as a chaperone.
If you are an educator or youth program leader who is interested in bringing a group of your students to this event, fill out the inquiry form. A member of our planning team will be in touch to answer your questions and share more about the program. Filling out the form does not guarantee your group's attendance: our planning team will confirm your status with you directly.
Schedule
8:00am – 8:55am Check-in/ Continental Breakfast
8:55am – 9:00am Prayer
9:00am – 9:10am Welcome
9:10am – 9:30am Speaker
9:30am – 10:00am LeadHER
10:00am – 10:45am Session I
10:45am – 10:55am - Break
10:55am – 11:40am Session II
11:40am – 12:40pm Lunch
12:40pm – 1:25pm Creative Flow
1:25pm – 1:35pm - Break
1:35pm – 2:20pm Session III
2:30pm – 3:00pm Q & A session
3:10pm – 3:30pmClosing
Speakers and Leadership
The HER: Girls Who Boldly Lead summit will feature workshops and activities led by inspirational and accomplished women. Check back for more information about our presenters, workshop leaders, and speakers.
Essence Moore
WSG Middle School Dean and Leadership Summit Director
Essence Moore currently serves as the Middle School Dean and Instructional Coach. In addition to her daily work with students and teachers to foster a strong school community and support academic growth, Dean Moore directs leadership development programming, including student government, the Student Ambassadors program, and the Lean In Girls curriculum.
Dean Moore holds a BA from the University of Maryland - Eastern Shore and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership and Administration from St. Thomas University. Prior to joining the WSG staff as a classroom teacher during the 2019-20 school year, Ms. Moore taught in the Prince George’s County Public School system. She also has a professional background in youth mentorship. In 2022, she completed the Archdiocese of Washington Catholic Schools Leadership Academy. Her capstone project inspired the expansion of WSG's leadership programming to include the annual leadership summit.
Sylvia Cason
Session Presenter
Sylvia Cason is a dedicated and experienced professional within the field of education. She has served as an Elementary School Educator, School Counselor, and Administrator and recently, as an Executive Functioning Coach. Sylvia received her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Trinity University, Washington. Since that time, she has obtained three Master’s degrees: Counseling (Trinity University), Educational Leadership (St. Thomas University) & Curriculum & Instruction: Trauma and Resilience (Concordia University). In addition to this, she is a licensed School Counselor, School Administrator & Life Coach.
In the Spring of 2024, she launched her own business, Lifeworkx, LLC which comprises an Academy and Coaching Corner. The Academy is home to Leadership Development, Team Building and customized Professional Development opportunities. Her work was highlighted at the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools Conference in the Summer of 2024, where she served as a presenter sharing her knowledge in Fostering Inclusive Learning Environments: Exploring the Interplay Between DEIB and SEL.
Tiane Doman
Session Presenter
Tiane is a native Washingtonian, and currently resides in Petworth with her husband, daughter, son, and mother. She serves as Senior Counsel in the Legal Division at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau where she represents the Bureau’s interest in employment and labor matters. Tiane has a career in public service spanning over two decades. Her strong interest in educational equity developed during her first career post graduate school when she taught for three years in the District of Columbia Public Schools system. In addition to deepening her commitment to some of our Nation’s most vulnerable students, this experience sparked her interest in equity and fairness issues within the workplace.
Tiane left the classroom, and D.C., for law school in 2005. She spent three years working with a variety of non-profit organizations and government agencies committed to fighting for educational equity, and tackling workplace fairness issues. Following law school, Tiane accepted a judicial clerkship with the Hon. Frederic R. McDaniel. Upon the completion of her clerkship she accepted a position as an Honors Attorney with the Office of Federal Operations at the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Washington, D.C. While she never returned to the classroom, during her time at the Commission, Tiane developed a partnership between the elementary school where she previously taught and the Commission. In 2022, Tiane left the Commission to join the General Counsel’s Office at the Executive Office for Immigration Review at the Department of Justice.
Tiane is an active member of a variety of communities in the Washington D.C. area. She serves on the Board of Directors for Step Afrika!, is a member of the Washington D.C. Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., the Women’s Bar Association, and is a regular participant with the Washington Lawyers’ Committee Workers’ Rights Clinic providing free legal advice to low-wage workers. She’s served the Washington, D.C. independent school community in a variety of roles leading community activities, serving in Parents Association posts, and as a member of the Board of Trustees at St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School.
Tiane has a B.A. in Elementary Education and Law & Society and a M.A. in Special Education from American University. She has a J.D. from the City University of New York School of Law. Tiane is a member of the New York, District of Columbia and U.S. Supreme Court bars.
Shardé Pettis
Session Presenter
Shardé Pettis, PsyD, is a psychologist at Children's National Hospital with a focus on infant and early childhood mental health. Her specialties and interests include behavioral health in primary care, childhood trauma, parent/caregiver-child attachment and parenting.
Emma Whitmyre
Session Presenter
Emma Whitmyre, PhD, is a psychologist at Children's National Hospital and recently completed her APA-accredited predoctoral internship at Seattle Children’s Hospital (Child Track) through the University of Washington, School of Medicine. She spent two years as a research associate at the NYU Child Study IDEAS Center and has trained in pediatric primary care and hematology/oncology at Children’s National. Emma continues to be committed to learning how to best implement evidence-based services, and improve access to care for families, in integrated healthcare environments and is excited to be taking on new roles within pediatric primary care and complex care this year.