Toni BoydVP for Finance and Operations, The Westminster Schools
Toni Boyd has served as the vice president for finance and operations at Westminster since 2017. A United States Marine Corps veteran, Toni holds a Master of Accountancy from the University of Georgia and certification as a senior professional in human resources (SPHR). She has consulted extensively with independent schools across the country and internationally on business office operations, not-for-profit accounting, and institutional governance. Toni also serves on the SAIS Board of Trustees. In her spare time, Toni enjoys being a member of the board of directors of Extra Special People Inc. (ESP), a charitable organization that serves children and young adults with disabilities and their families.
Casey BellConsultant, ISM
Casey first joined ISM as an adjunct faculty member in 2019. She became a full-time admission and enrollment management consultant in 2023. She specializes in marketing communications, enrollment management, and organizational structures within schools.
In her role at ISM, Casey facilitates consultations in areas such as admission, marketing and communications, and faculty culture; leads workshops and webinars in the areas of her expertise; and leads sessions and is a mentor at the Advancement Academy.
Casey most recently served as the director of enrollment management at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Fort Worth, TX. Prior, she served as the director of admission and enrollment management at Spartanburg Day School in South Carolina. From 2005 through 2018, Casey filled several roles at Linfield Christian School in California.
Casey graduated from Azusa Pacific University in California with a bachelor’s degree in communication studies. Casey pursued master’s coursework in both business and learning design and technology. She completed her Ed.D. in organizational change and leadership at the University of Southern California.
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Jack HallPartner, CarterBaldwin Executive Search
Jack’s understanding of and affinity for independent schools are grounded in a lifetime of experience. He joined CarterBaldwin after serving 23 years as head of school at two schools, The Walker School and Augusta Preparatory Day School. Prior to that, Jack served 11 years at The Westminster Schools. Jack served as president of GISA and AAAIS, participated on twenty accreditation visiting teams for SACS and SAIS, and co-chaired the SAIS Institute for New Heads from 2012-2022. As a trustee for ten years at The Stony Brook School, Jack served as chair of the head of school search committee and board chair, giving him a valuable perspective on leadership and governance.
Jack earned a B.A. from Davidson College, an M.S. from Georgia State, and an M.A. from Columbia University, where he was a Klingenstein Fellow.
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Grace LeePartner, Venable
Grace Lee is a partner at Venable LLP and focuses her practice on employment law, risk management, and other legal issues that impact independent schools. Grace works collaboratively with business officers, board members, human resources professionals, and heads of schools to advance the mission, priorities, and culture of institutions while meeting business needs and mitigating potential liability. She has significant experience formulating and implementing policies and procedures that assist her clients in complying with applicable state and federal laws. Grace develops best practices on a wide range of legal issues facing independent schools, including employee relations, wage and hour compliance, student safety and disciplinary issues, investigations, and board governance and bylaws. Grace previously served as vice president, legal affairs with the National Business Officers Association (NBOA), where she assisted more than 1,300 member schools with a wide range of legal and compliance priorities.
David PadillaHead of School, Christ Church Episcopal School
David Padilla is in his fourth year as head of school at Christ Church Episcopal School in Greenville, SC. Prior to his appointment as head, David spent nearly two decades at Baylor School in Chattanooga, TN. At Baylor, David served a variety of roles as an English teacher, resident faculty member, coach, department chair, dean, and upper school head. A graduate of Sewanee: The University of the South (B.A.), the University of Virginia (M.A.), and the Klingenstein Center at Columbia University (M.Ed.), David has also taught at Phillips Exeter Academy (NH), St. Albans School (Washington, DC), and the McCallie School (TN).
Shannan SchusterConsultant, ISM
Shannan shares her expertise in school management, board/head relations, hiring, scheduling, and new school head support. She worked in public, private, and independent schools for 25 years before joining ISM in 2020.
Shannan previously served as head of The Swain School (PA). Before that, she was assistant head of Friends’ Central School (PA) and the dean of faculty at Flint Hill School (VA). She has also served in division leadership, as a department chair, and as a grade-level leader while teaching and coaching.
Imana SherrillHead of School, Trinity Episcopal School
Imana Sherrill is Trinity’s third head of school and the first female of color to serve as a head of school in the Charlotte area. Imana’s roots run deep in Charlotte. An alumna of West Charlotte High School and UNC Charlotte, Imana began her lengthy career in education as a teacher at the Chantilly Visual and Performing Arts School (now Chantilly Montessori). She also spent 15 years at Charlotte Country Day School as educational technology director and diversity coordinator. Imana joined Trinity from The Episcopal Academy in Newtown Square, PA, where she was head of middle school. Imana oversaw the learning experience and worked to make classrooms more inclusive, provide leadership development opportunities for faculty, and improve parent engagement and communication.
Imana was director of diversity & inclusion at William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia, and at Charlotte Country Day School she established diversity programs and implemented leading practices in school technology, and then taught in public and independent schools in Los Angeles and San Fernando, CA. She received her B.A. in education from UNC Charlotte in 1994, and her master of ed tech from Pepperdine University in 1997.
Dave SkeenHead of School, Spartanburg Day School
Dave Skeen serves as Spartanburg Day School’s eighth head of school. Prior to joining SDS in July 2023, Skeen was the head of school at Harding Academy in Nashville, TN. He also previously served as middle school director at the Canterbury School in Greensboro, NC, and dean of students at the Calvert School in Baltimore, MD, where he was also a teacher and athletic coach.
A native of Baltimore, Skeen received a B.A. in history from Washington & Lee University where he was captain of the lacrosse team. He also earned a master’s in educational studies and independent school leadership from Johns Hopkins University.
Cecil StodghillHead of School, The Altamont School
Cecil Stodghill joined the Altamont School in 2022, bringing nearly 30 years of independent school experience as a teacher, coach, and administrator. He has served SAIS schools including Providence Day, Berkeley Preparatory School, and the McCallie School, his alma mater. Altamont enrolls 385 students in grades 5 through 12 in Birmingham, AL.
Derrick WillardHead of School, Augusta Preparatory Day School
Derrick Willard is a career educator passionate about creating optimal learning environments within the brick and mortar school as well as creating productive virtual learning environments online. Currently he is the outgoing head of school at Augusta Preparatory Day School in Augusta, GA, and in July he will be the incoming head of school at Ravenscroft School in Raleigh, NC.
Scott WilsonSenior Consultant, ISM
Scott, a 40-year leader in independent schools, joined ISM as a full-time consultant and executive coach in 2021. Before joining ISM, Scott served as president and head of school of Baylor School from 2009 until his retirement from headship in 2021. Scott enjoys working with school heads, trustees, and leadership teams on all facets and challenges of school leadership. He understands the unique demands of independent school leadership and the skills necessary for navigating headship effectively—from strategic planning to the realities of working daily with the myriad constituencies of today’s complex school world. Above all, he retains his passion for independent schools and the students they serve. Prior to his appointment at Baylor in 2009, Scott enjoyed successful tenures as head of school at both Brookstone School (Georgia), and Valwood School (Georgia).
