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Navigating Tomorrow

Proactive Risk Management for Independent School Boards

ISCA Annual Governance Conference

February 6, 2025
12:00 – 4:00 pm ET

(virtual via Zoom)

Thank you to our Conference Sponsor
IMA

Menu
  • Overview & Agenda
  • Session Descriptions
  • About our Presenters
  • Register Now!

ISCA’s Annual Governance Conference will be featuring several critical topics related to the board’s work in risk management.
So please mark your calendars and SAVE-THE-DATE of February 6, 2025!

Featuring Keynote Address

by NAIS President, Debra Wilson

Register Now!

Developing an Intentional Risk Culture to Align with Mission and Vision

Pre-Conference Session

“Emerging Areas of Risk Facing Independent School”

January 15, 2025
3:00 – 4:00 pm ET

Presenters: Caryn Pass, Venable, LLP and Ronald Wanglin, IMA

Register for Pre-Conference session

Conference Highlights

  • Developing an intentional risk culture
  • Assessing your own school’s risks
  • Key steps to successful risk management
  • Incorporating risk management into your board’s infrastructure and schedule

Conference Highlights

  • Developing an intentional risk culture
  • Assessing your own school’s risks
  • Key steps to successful risk management
  • Incorporating risk management into your board’s infrastructure and schedule

2025 Agenda

Thursday, February 6, 2025
12:00  – 4:00 pm ET

12:00 – 12:15

Welcome to Navigating Tomorrow

Bethany Di Napoli, Executive Director, ISCA
Tommy Shores, Board Chair, Asheville School, Asheville, NC

12:15 – 1:10 

Keynote

Developing an Intentional Risk Culture to Align with Mission and Vision
Debra Wilson, President, NAIS

1:10 – 2:00

Concurrent Sessions

Assessing and Improving Risk Culture
David Hillson, The Risk Doctor Partnership 

The Risk Management Cycle and Assessing Your Own School’s Risks
Lorri Durbin, Head of School, Cara Wood, Director of Operations, and Wyatt Gruber, Board Chair, Town School for Boys

2:00 – 2:10 Break
2:10 – 2:45

Breakout Sessions

How to Incorporate Risk Management into your Board’s Infrastructure

K-8 Day – Julia Yzaguirre, CFO and Adena Smith, Board Treasurer and Chair of Finance Committee, Turning Point School, Culver City, CA
K-12 Day – Dave Sigal, CFO and Jennifer O’Brien, Board Chair, La Jolla Country Day, La Jolla, CA
Day/Boarding Schools – Carolyn Haperman, Assistant HOS for Finance and Operations and Rob McLear, Risk & Audit Committee Clerk, Westtown School, West Chester, PA

2:45 – 2:55 Break
2:55 – 3:45

Concurrent Sessions

Implementing Your Board’s Risk Management Work:  Moving from Reactive to Proactive
Mark Orchison, Founder and CEO, 9ine

School Insurance Policies:  Key Insights for Board Chairs
Ron Wanglin, Chairman, IMA Financial Group

3:45 – 4:00

Reflections and Next Steps

12:00 – 12:10 pm ET Welcome Bethany Di Napoli, ISCA Executive Director
12:10 – 1:10 pm What Makes a Great Board and Embracing a Growth Mindset In this first session we will discuss important aspects of high-performing teams and how this translates to your board. We will also delve into the importance of operating with a growth mindset.
1:10 – 1:20 pm Break
1:20 – 2:30 pm Enhancing Authenticity, Trust, and Psychological Safety In this second session, we will discuss what authenticity is , why it is important, how it is the foundation of trust and psychological safety, which leads to a strong team.
2:30 – 2:40 pm Break
2:40 – 3:40 pm Embracing Sweaty-Palmed Conversations and Appreciation In this third session, we will discuss why it can be challenging but so important to embrace difficult conversations and have them effectively. We will also talk about the power of appreciation and how it impacts engagement, morale and loyalty.
3:40 – 3:50 pm Personal Reflection/ Commitment
3:50 – 4:00 pm Recap/ Close
Register Now!

Who Should Attend?

Board Chairs are encouraged to bring 1-2 additional guests to the conference that could be fellow trustees, Head of School or Administrator.  Registration fee includes Board Chair with up to 2 guests.

Plan to invite other leaders from your Board and your HOS so you can participate as a team!

“After Nancy and I attended the ISCA conference, our working relationship took on a new level of empathy for our respective jobs. We came away with a renewed passion for professionalizing the structure of our Board and the day to day work of the committees. The ISCA conference helped us understand the necessity of changing the old independent school model of Board leadership and committee work to a vibrant and engaging professional model which continues to serve the school well to this day.”

John PetermanRetired Head of School, Brookwood School, Manchester, MA

Mike Robbins

Author, thought-leader, executive coach

Mike Robbins is the author of five books, including his latest, We’re All in This Together: creating a culture of high performance, trust and belonging.  He’s an expert in leadership, teamwork, and culture who works with some of the top organizations in the world.  His corporate clients include Google, Wells Fargo, Microsoft, Schwab, eBay, and many others.  He’s also worked with and spoken to leaders within public and private educational institutions for over 20 years.  He and his work have been featured in the Harvard Business Review, the Wall Street Journal, and the New York Times, as well as on NPR and ABC News.  Mike hosts a weekly podcast and his books have been translated into 15 different languages.

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