Sep 16, 2026 · 54 min · 9 segments
Debra Wilson, president of the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), took an unconventional path into education leadership. After law school and a start at the Department of Justice, she…
I would love it if you would take a few minutes and just give our listeners some thoughts about the twists and turns that have landed you into this role as president of NAIS, because I'm sure it's been quite the adventure.
But even before that, little did I know, I went to a small independent school in Connecticut on Connecticut College campus.
They create their own programs, you know, limited by, you know, whatever state structure they're functioning in.
And until 2000, when I applied to join NEIS, I didn't even know what an independent school was, honestly.
When I was growing up, there were private schools and there were public schools.
And Williams, as far as our whole family was concerned, was a private school.
My siblings and I were the first generation to go to a private school in our family.
My grandparents all worked in mills and restaurants growing up in Connecticut, and so my parents were the first generation to go to college.
And so they chose Williams for us because we had a pretty big high school near us and a pretty big junior high.
And they really were looking for a smaller atmosphere for us and more challenging academics.
So we went to Williams and I went through college and took a couple of years.
I would love it if you would take a few minutes and just give our listeners some thoughts about the twists and turns that have landed you into this role as president of NAIS, because I'm sure it's been quite the adventure.
But even before that, little did I know, I went to a small independent school in Connecticut on Connecticut College campus.
They create their own programs, you know, limited by, you know, whatever state structure they're functioning in.
And until 2000, when I applied to join NEIS, I didn't even know what an independent school was, honestly.
When I was growing up, there were private schools and there were public schools.
And Williams, as far as our whole family was concerned, was a private school.
My siblings and I were the first generation to go to a private school in our family.
My grandparents all worked in mills and restaurants growing up in Connecticut, and so my parents were the first generation to go to college.
And so they chose Williams for us because we had a pretty big high school near us and a pretty big junior high.
And they really were looking for a smaller atmosphere for us and more challenging academics.
So we went to Williams and I went through college and took a couple of years.
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