* Denotes session is being recorded.
8:00 AM-8:45 AM
Speakers: – Jack Hall, Partner, CarterBaldwin Executive Search – Derrick Willard, Head of School, Ravenscroft School
With the lens of both an interviewer and interviewee, this session will dive deeper into how to create a robust dialogue that provides a truly transparent understanding of the current state of the school and helps all parties find a great match.
Speaker: Christina Lewellen, Executive Director, ATLIS
This to-the-point session will dig into the tools independent school leaders are using to unlock new layers of productivity and efficiency in their daily work.
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Speakers: – Jennifer Carroll, Attorney, Fisher Phillips – Ilanit Fischler, Partner, Fisher Phillips
Whether it is a request for accommodation for their child, or behaviors relating to an ugly child custody matter, school administrators find that they spend substantial time each year avoiding such issues. Today’s challenge lies in maintaining a respectful, professional relationship between schools and parents while retaining control over the educational environment. In this session attendees will learn to handle various parental requests, manage behaviors impacting child custody, and navigate complex school-parent dynamics. Explore legal and practical strategies through case studies, ensuring respectful yet controlled school-parent relationships amidst student rights.
Expert: Cliff Kling, Senior Executive Compensation & Leadership Strategist, Mission & Data
Do you have a pressing leadership question? If so, head over to The Exchange.
Offered for the first time, The Exchange is a come-and-go, flexible space where attendees can engage an expert in a relaxed environment. Please note space is limited.
On Monday, various experts will be available at each block to exchange ideas and answer your questions focused on the following topics:
No presentation needed. Questions required.
1:45 PM – 2:45 PM
Speaker: Robert McGehee, Head of School, St. Nicholas School
Faced with declining enrollment, overstaffing, and a substantial deficit, how do you make budget and staffing cuts without negatively impacting school culture? In this session, we will talk about how a school’s enrollment had dropped over 35% in 5 years, no staff had been cut, the school was faced with a huge deficit, and the strong probability that its cash reserves would be exhausted in 8 months. Through strategic choices, the school was able to grow its enrollment, annual giving, auction income, and extra-curricular programming.
Experts: – Scott Wilson, Senior Consultant, ISM – John Burton, Principal, John Burton Coaching
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
Speakers: – Sandra Nagy, Managing Director, Future Design School – Sarah Prevette, Founder & CEO, Future Design School
Independent school leaders in the U.S. and around the world are implementing exciting new initiatives designed to elevate and support their middle level leaders. The downstream impacts of these innovations: enrollment growth; improved student achievement; long-term talent retention; innovation in teaching and learning; and more. How might you leverage rising talent in your school, and effectively support those already in leadership roles? In this breakout, we will present action research on middle level leadership from work with education leaders in more than 65 different countries and provide provocations for heads and senior leaders to develop an action plan to address their leadership growth needs.
Expert: Jack Hall, Partner, CarterBaldwin Executive Search
4:30 PM – 5:15 PM
Speaker: Toni Boyd, VP for Finance and Operations, The Westminster Schools
This session will be recorded.
This breakout session is designed for independent school leaders who want to explore the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the finance operations within their institutions. We will discuss and demonstrate the role of AI in business information analysis, and visualization, as well as current trends and the next steps for integrating AI in your finance office.Transforming Work in the Finance Office With AI (Toni Boyd)
Speaker: Mike Hanas, Coach/Consultant, Furthering
The sustainability of our schools will be informed in no small part by the sustainability of the people leading them. Trustees and heads may want to consider different forms of coaching and consulting in support of their partnerships. This workshop will share one example of a year-long project designed to fortify a board’s culture and the working relationships between trustees, the head of school, and senior leaders. Instead of another one-day board retreat, the Brandeis School asked Mike Hanas to join them as a “process observer” over the course of the 2023-24 school year. Join this session to learn what’s possible when a board process observer shares what’s seen, names sources of tension, and recommendations action.
Expert: Pat Cuneo, Director of Accreditation, SAIS
8:00 AM – 8:45 AM
Speakers: – Ray Casey, President, Westminster Christian Academy – Sean Casey, Head of School, Franklin Road Academy – Doreen Kelly, Executive/Leadership Coach, The Creds Group
Join this breakout session where three siblings come together to share their invaluable insights gained from a collective 45+ years of experience as heads of school. This engaging session will delve into the complex world of independent school leadership, offering reflections on leadership approaches, the art of mentoring, effectively managing boards, and tackling the common challenges faced by all school leaders. Through anecdotes and thought-provoking discussions, these sibling leaders will share the path to their success and reveal the invaluable lessons they have learned throughout their respective journeys.
Speakers: – Joshua Ireland, CEO, Jefferson Bridge Capital – Mark Reed, Board Chair, Jefferson Bridge Capital
Join us for a focused information session designed specifically for heads of school. In this session, we will delve into the crucial questions you should be asking your financial advisor to ensure your personal financial health after becoming a head of school. Whether you’re planning for retirement, managing investments, or navigating new financial questions, this session will provide actionable insights to support your financial well-being.
Speakers: – Eric Heilman, Senior Institutional Research Strategist, Mission & Data – Cliff Kling, Senior Executive Compensation & Leadership Strategist, Mission & Data
Peter Drucker is credited as saying, “What gets measured gets managed.” With this insight in mind, this session will dig into understanding and leveraging data for recruiting and retaining talent, as well as achieving strategic human resource goals. The interface of these tools matters, but their true power is informing meaningful discussions about the organization’s workforce in service to the school’s mission. Join this session to explore best practices and key indicators of talent acquisition and retention positioning to ensure your school remains a top choice for educators and staff. This session will provide insights on creating a thriving work environment that supports both the student experience and strategic objectives of your school.
Speaker: Dave Michelman, President, Michelman Consulting
Board education often focuses on governance issues. And while those are important, little attention is given to how the board should function as a team. This session will review the attributes that make a great team and the challenges a board faces in personifying those attributes. We will then strategize on how to overcome the challenges facing the board in becoming a team that really supports the head and the school. This session is for heads of school and senior leadership team members.
