A Training for New Independent School Board Chairs
April 19 and 26, 2023
12:00 – 3:00 pm ET
Live, Interactive, Online Program
Presented by:
Who Should Attend? Incoming Board Chairs who will begin their term as Chair in 2023.
April 19, 2023
12:00 – 12:15 pm ET
Welcome from ISCA Executive Director
12:15 – 1:15
Welcome to Your New Role as Board Chair
Cathy Trower, Ph.D.
In this introductory session, we will highlight your new, unique responsibilities as Chair and explore the key leadership skills needed to be effective and successful in your role. We will cover tips for running your very first board meeting and early actions you can take to establish trust and confidence with your board.
1:15 – 1:30
Break
1:30 – 2:30
Establishing a Healthy Board Culture
Cathy Trower, Ph.D.
As Board Chair, you need to set the tone for the culture of your board. In this session we will define board culture and why it is important. You will learn the key dimensions of board culture and how board culture is exhibited. You will be empowered to create the kind of board dynamics that are essential to high board performance.
2:30 – 3:00
Lessons from Experienced Board Chairs – Panel Discussion
April 26, 2023
12:00 – 12:15 pm ET
Welcome from ISCA Executive Director
12:15 – 1:15
Creating a High Performing Board
Georgy Ann Peluchiwski
Managing the work of the board is one of the most important responsibilities you have as Chair. You will learn how to create the optimal committee structure and processes for your school to maximize board performance, including the important role a well-designed Executive Committee can play. We will consider how to develop committee goals that align to your school’s strategic priorities and are intentionally integrated with the work of your Head of School and their leadership team. We will end this session by discussing Board and Head of School feedback and assessments.
1:15 – 1:30
Break
1:30 – 2:30
Leading Trustees and Partnering with the Head of School
Lee Dieck and Lynn Wendell
In this final session, we will discuss the key factors that contribute to a successful Head/Chair partnership and why this partnership is so important to your school. As the leader of your board, we will dive deeper into your communication and facilitation skills with a focus on fostering a team mentality, handling difficult conversations, and leading during a crisis.
2:30 – 3:00
Lessons from Recent ‘New’ Board Chairs – Panel Discussion
Fees:
Complimentary for current ISCA members
$150.00 for non-members. Registrants can apply this fee towards ISCA membership for the ’23 – ’24 year when joining ISCA before June 30, 2023.
Cathy Trower, Ph.D. is one of the nation’s leading experts on non-profit board governance. She has worked extensively with independent schools, universities and colleges as well as health care institutions and other community service organizations. Dr. Trower has more than 25 years of experience in non-profit board governance. She is the former Senior Research Associate and Research Director at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, author of “The Practitioner’s Guide to Governance as Leadership” and is current Chair of the BoardSource Board of Directors. Dr. Trower has been a valued ally of ISCA having presented previously at our fall governance conference and contributing monthly to our Online Forum discussions
Georgy Ann Peluchiwski is a Partner at Greenwich Leadership Partners who brings three decades of experience spanning financial services, non-profit board service, and independent school leadership. She serves as a consultant and coach, advising boards, executive directors and heads of school. She serves as Faculty for the GLP Women’s Leadership Summit. Her areas of expertise include governance, finance, strategic planning, organizational design, and enterprise risk management. She served for 12 years as a Trustee at the Latin School of Chicago including four years as Board Chair. She serves on ISCA’s Board of Directors.
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 at several conferences for the California Association of Independent Schools and currently serves on the ISCA Board of Directors as a Vice President and Co-Chair of the Program Committee.
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 has held a variety of positions. She recently 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 Chair Emerita of the board of Professional Children’s School where she continues to serve as a trustee. A founding member of Heart of Character, a non-profit providing professional development for educators to promote well-being, academic success, and positive character development in schools, Lee serves as their board chair. Lee also serves on ISCA’s Board of Directors as a Vice President and Co-Chair of the Program Committee.