Join us for this Chair Chat where we will discuss strategies to educate and coach trustees who behave like they are on a corporate, for-profit board. Well-intentioned trustees who have 'lots of board experience' in their professional lives often have difficulty adjusting to the culture and needs of an independent school board.  Expectations around the […]

If you will be assuming the role of Board Chair in 2023, this training is for you.  We have designed a program that will help you get off to a successful start in your new leadership role so that you can be a great leader to your board and an effective partner to your Head […]

If you are a new board chair in the '22 - '23 year, join us for our New Chair Chats that will be facilitated conversations with experienced board chairs. Connect with other first year board chairs, discuss challenges you might be facing, and find support and guidance. We look forward to chatting with you! *Note […]

Heads of School are different from Trustees in both predictable and surprising ways. In this session, you will learn how personality affects leadership style, including motivation, communication, and problem solving and how the fundamental differences between the personality of a Board Chair and a Head of School could be a problem or an asset. Using […]

One of the most important responsibilities of a board is to steward the school’s mission. And while boards may engage in a periodic mission review or revision process, very few have found effective ways to measure if their school is delivering on its mission. Many boards have begun to use dashboards to track progress towards […]

In this webinar Pete Commons, a lawyer who has helped negotiate hundreds of Head of School employment agreements, will share his perspective on how Board Chairs and Heads can work to find a fair agreement that provides support for Heads and security for schools. He will provide guidance for Board Chairs on timing, approach, perspectives, […]

Join ISM Consultant Phil Higginson in exploring four key trends in major gift campaigns for independent schools of any size. In this post-pandemic era, staying atop donors’ priorities and employing nuanced approaches to fundraising are essential for a successful campaign. Phil will present considerations on how your board can incorporate these trends and new strategies […]

For New Board Chairs and their Heads of School In your new role as board chair, you and your head will set the tone for effective leadership in the boardroom and in school.  By fostering a culture of collaboration, and trust supported by open communication, clear, shared goals and expectations, and regular measurements of progress, […]

For members with a new Head of School beginning this summer, please join us for this Chair Chat on how to initiate a strategic partnership with your HOS from the very beginning. What does a strategic partnership look like and how would that get created in practical terms in your Head’s first year? Tom Olverson […]

With the Supreme Court overturning a decades-long practice of using race in college admission decisions, what are the implications and potential ripple effects of that decision for independent schools? What do Boards need to understand and prepare for in this new legal climate? Join attorney Caryn Pass of Venable, LLP who will explain the implications […]