A Training for New Independent School Board Chairs
Save the Date
May 5 & 12, 2026
12:00 – 3:00 pm ET
Live, Interactive, Online Program
Presented by:
Who Should Attend? Board Chairs who are beginning their term as Chair in 2026.
May 5, 2026
12:00 – 12:10 pm ET
Welcome
Bethany Di Napoli, ISCA Executive Director
12:10 – 12:50 pm
Welcome to Your New Role as Board Chair
Amy Schneider, ISCA Board of Directors
In this introductory session, we will highlight and explore the unique elements and responsibilities of your new role as chair. As you transition from trustee to board leader, you’ll gain practical strategies to support a successful transition and position yourself for success in your new leadership role.
12:50 – 1:40 pm
Organizing the Work of the Board
Samantha Cross, ISCA Board of Directors
Planning the work of the board throughout the year is the primary responsibility of the chair. You will set the course for a productive and high-impact year. In this session, discover practical tips to stay organized and ensure your board operates with clarity, purpose, and measurable success. 1:40 – 1:50 pm Break
1:50 – 2:40 pm
Leading with Impact: Skills for Board Leadership
Cathy Trower, Governance expert and former consultant
The Board Chair plays a critical leadership role in guiding how a board deliberates, and makes decisions—particularly in moments of complexity, disagreement, and strategic choice. Participants will explore how Chairs frame issues, guide deliberation, and help boards reach sound decisions while maintaining governance boundaries.
2:40 – 2:55 pm
One Insight I Wish I Had as a New Chair
Panel discussion
Seasoned board chairs share one hard-earned insight they wish they had known when they first stepped into the role. Each panelist offers a concise lesson intended to help new chairs lead with greater clarity, confidence, and perspective.
2:55 – 3:00 pm
Closing Remarks
May 12, 2026
12:00 – 12:10 pm ET
Welcome
Bethany Di Napoli, ISCA Executive Director
12:10 – 1:00 pm
Fostering a Healthy Board Culture
Cathy Trower, Governance expert and former consultant
As board chair, you need to set the tone for the culture of your board that fosters inclusive, respectful engagement and accountability. In this session we will define board culture and discuss why it is important. You will learn the key dimensions of board culture, how board culture is exhibited, and how you can improve it. You will be empowered to create the kind of dynamics that are essential to a high performing board.
1:00 – 1:40 pm
Strategic Partner to the Head of School
Oliver (Gil) Prince, Principal, The Prince Group
As board chair, you will be supporting your Head of School in different ways at different times. You will be a sounding board, thought partner, confidante and advisor. In this session, we will explore your critical role as a strategic partner to your Head of School.
1:40 – 1:50
Break
1:50 – 2:40 pm
Guidance for New Board Chairs on Executive Committees and Executive Sessions
Lee Dieck and Lynn Wendell, ISCA Board of Directors
Executive committees and executive sessions are important governance tools that support the board chair in leading the board’s work and partnering effectively with the Head of School. This session equips new board chairs to strategically use Executive committees to move work forward between meetings and distribute leadership effectively. It also prepares chairs to lead executive sessions with clarity and purpose—creating space for real governance concerns to surface without the session becoming a forum for unproductive venting and preserving trust in the board-head partnership.
2:40 – 2:55 pm
New Chairs Ask, Experienced Chairs Answer
Panel discussion
New board chairs pose real questions to a panel of experienced chairs who respond with candid, experience-based guidance. This interactive session is designed to offer guidance and peer wisdom for those navigating the role for the first time.
2:55 – 3:00 pm
Closing Remarks
Fees:
Complimentary for current ISCA members
$195.00 for non-members*
*Registrants can apply this fee towards ISCA membership for the ’26 – ’27 year when joining ISCA before September 30, 2026.
Samantha Cross retired from a 15-year career at Gap, Inc., where she held roles across several of the company’s most dynamic markets, including Los Angeles, New York City, Washington, D.C., and London, UK, contributing to the company’s international expansion. She is the past Board Chair of Marin Primary & Middle School in Larkspur, California, where she served twelve years as chair, trustee, and parents association president, including six years as board chair. She recently returned to Marin Primary & Middle School as a member of the faculty to lead its development efforts. Sam also serves as a trustee of Drew School in San Francisco and as a member of the ISCA Board of Directors.
Eileen (Lee) Mulry Dieck, M.D., practiced internal medicine until 2001 when she retired to care for her family. In 2004, she joined the faculty of The Masters School where she held a variety of positions. She retired from the Masters School as the Ethical Leadership Coordinator, directing programs for students and faculty alike. Lee has served on a number of non-for-profit boards, including that of Northern Westchester Hospital, the Alumni Board of New York Medical College, where she is a past president and the Character Collaborative. She is the former Chair of the board of Professional Children’s School where she served as a trustee until 2022. Lee currently serves as the Education Editor for the Center for Self Determination Theory, and she serves on ISCA’s Board of Directors as a Vice President and Co-Chair of the Program Committee.
Dr. Cathy Trower recently retired in 2025 as the President of Trower & Trower, Inc., a board governance consulting firm, that provided consulting and coaching services to over 330 nonprofits including dozens of independent schools, colleges and universities, hospitals, foundations, federated organizations, associations, and international NGOs. Cathy stays current during her retirement by reading and engaging with her former clients. Cathy has served on several boards and chaired two including at BoardSource. She holds a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and an MBA from the University of Iowa, and a Ph.D. in higher education administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Oliver (Gil) Prince is Principal at the Prince Group providing executive coaching, strategic planning, leader/organization development, and governance consulting services. Prior corporate experience as an operations/process transformation executive and Chief Human Resources Officer. Gil is also a faculty member at Northwestern University and current Director at the Old Town School of Music in Chicago, IL. Gil is the former Board Chair and long serving Trustee at Asheville School, Asheville, NC. He served 5 years as Board Chair and 25 years as a Trustee of Asheville School.
Amy Schneider is retired from a career as a classical mezzo-soprano, voice teacher, and faculty member at Stanford University, North Dakota State University, and Boston University. Amy is the immediate Past Board Chair of Keys School, Palo Alto, CA, where she was a trustee for 6 years, including 4 years as Chair. She currently serves on the board of iSing Silicon Valley, and on ISCA’s Board of Directors as a member of the Program and Nominating/Governance Committees.
Lynn Wendell has been advising many independent school boards and nonprofit boards for the past 14 years. Her work focuses on board governance, board chair coaching, board development, strategic planning, head transition and many other board topics. Lynn served on the boards of trustees of three San Francisco independent schools, including serving a 5-year term as Board Chair of San Francisco University High School and now is Trustee Emerita. Lynn has presented on various aspects of board governance to several state and regional associations, including CAIS (California Association of Independent Schools), ISACS (Independent Schools Association of the Central States), NWAIS (Northwest Association of Independent Schools), PAIS (Pennsylvania Association of Independent Schools) and AISGW (Association of Independent Schools of Greater Washington).